Gold nanomaterials (Au NMs), including Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) and Au nanodots (Au NDs), have been extensively explored as optical probes for sensing a wide range of biological analytes such as small molecules, nucleic acids, and proteins, with advantages of stability, selectivity, and sensitivity. Various Au NPs based colorimetric and fluorescence quenching approaches have been developed by taking their size-dependent optical properties, high extinction coefficients, and/or super-quenching efficiencies. On the other hand, fluorescent Au NDs have been used for the photoluminescent detection of analytes. This review summarizes the preparation of Au NMs and their opitcal properties, and highlights the detection approaches of small molecules, DNA, and proteins. Aptamer functionalized Au NMs for the detection of PDGF, adenosine triphosphate, and thrombin are particularly emphasized to show their advantages.