The Gold Coast of Queensland

Gold Coast is the second most populous city in Queensland, and is one of the major tourist destinations in Australia (both locally and internationally).

Home to Warner Brothers’ Movie World and movie studios, Wet ‘n’ Wild water park, Sea World, Dreamworld, White Water World, Q1 (the world’s tallest residential tower) and many more attractions, Gold Coast is filled with sites and attractions to suit all ages and curiosities.

Most famously, the Gold Coast is renowned for its surfing center, Surfers Paradise. Which is now much more than a beach for surfers, it is also the place for stylish nightclubs, lounges, gourmet restaurants, mid-range restaurants, cafes, luxury brand shopping, quirky products shopping, night markets, and many more.

Outwards from Surfers Paradise there is nearby Main Beach and Broadbeach, which have a host of restaurants and beachfront experiences all on their own as well. In fact all the major beach suburbs on the Gold Coast provide a predominantly surfside experience, with plenty of picnic and barbeque areas all installed along the coastline.

Shopping hubs include Surfers Paradise, Marina Mirage (Main Beach), the Oasis and Pacific Fair (Broadbeach), Australia Fair (Southport), Harbourtown (Runaway Bay) and Robina Town Shopping Centre (Robina).

For extreme sport lovers, Gold Coast has all sorts of activities. From kayaking, to surfing, body-boarding, boogie-boarding, skydiving, helicopter riding, rock-climbing, abseiling, balloon-riding, go-karting, and even simulated airplane pilot experiencing at the Q1 building.

Nature and outback tours are also available, as well as the Outback Spectacular show next to Wet ‘n’ Wild and Movie World. Camping equipment is available for hire all over, as well as bikes and other accessories.

For the travellers who just wish to unwind with some fine pampering, there are many resorts and spa retreats available. Prices range from $30 up to $300 or more packages. You can also attend yoga retreats, reflexology sessions, hot stone therapies, sea scrubs, anything. Whatever it is that you’ve heard of in terms of beauty therapy, Gold Coast would have it.

Other things to try may be the wineries in the Gold Coast hinterland.

For those with fond memories of the Meter Maids of the Gold Coast, well, don’t worry, they are still around, and it requires a gold coin donation to take a photo with one or more of them.

Gold Coast by Nicole Chiu