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A combination of golden beaches, a green mountain hinterland and
the most varied theme attractions in Australia, make Queensland's
Gold Coast the nation's most popular holiday playground.
Sixty-five kilometres south east of Brisbane is a tourist mecca
- the Gold Coast. The region's 42km coastline stretches from Southport
to Coolangatta and basks in more than 300 days of sunshine each
year.
Each year, more than four million visitors flock to the Gold Coast for
their holidays, making the Gold Coast the most popular tourism region
in the state.
This can be attributed to the depth and variety of the tourism products
to experience and enjoy. The Gold Coast is a combination of nature's
best and a range of theme attractions and events.
Gold Coast Beaches
Surfing beaches with such alluring names as Palm Beach, Rainbow Bay, Mermaid Beach and Surfers Paradise offer soft golden sand, rolling waves and the perfect setting for a walk along the shoreline at sunset. The clean, uncrowded beaches may be the main thing visitors are looking for in a holiday and the Gold Coast has them all in abundance. Enjoy and relax.
Theme Parks
Nestled behind the sand dunes at the northern end of the Gold
Coast is Sea
World; the nation's most comprehensive marine zoological park.
It gives visitors a unique entertainment and educational window
to the underwater world, as well as the best daily exhibition of
stunt water skiing on a lake that occupies almost one-third of the
24.6 hectare park. The new Shark Bay, which opened in April 2004,
gives visitors the chance to view tiger sharks (as well as others)
from the underwater viewing chamber. For an additional cost, visitors
can scuba dive with the sharks.
Other attractions at Sea World include the seal and dolphin presentations that
keep both children and adults on the edge of their seats as these
beautiful marine creatures go through a series of complicated and
entertaining jumps, flips and rolls. Australia's only
polar bears are housed at Sea World where they delight visitors
with their energetic and playful behaviour. Large underwater
viewing chambers make it easy for guests to see the four bears
in the naturalistic and stimulating environment. Sea
World also has a water park and a series of exciting rides
such as the Corkscrew Roller Coaster and Bermuda Triangle.
There are two other major theme attractions on the Gold Coast: Warner
Bros. Movie World and Dreamworld.
The entry price covers all rides and attractions within each complex.
At Warner Bros. Movieworld, guests can watch real movies being made
and enjoy a variety of stunt shows. Rides such as the Scooby Doo
Spooky Coaster, the Lethal Weapon and the Wild West Falls Adventure
Ride, make it a day to remember.
Enter through the impressive gates of Dreamworld and a day of excitement
awaits you at every turn. See movies in the IMAX cinema, cuddle
koalas, see rare gold and white bengal tigers on Tiger Island, ride
the rapids in a hollowed-out log, or climb aboard the thrilling Tower
of Terror or the Giant Drop.
Dining
The Gold Coast has more restaurants per square kilometre than
anywhere else in Australia.
A mix of cultures and influences has turned the Gold Coast into
a culinary masterpiece, and with over 500 restaurants to choose
from, the delights of dining out is now an integral part of the
holiday scene.
Shopping
For the avid shopper, the Gold Coast is an experience of a lifetime
perfectly supplied with an amazing array of shopping resorts, innovative
boutiques and shopping villages. Cruise boats meander north from
the centre of Surfers Paradise along sheltered waterways to Sanctuary
Cove. Here the waterfront marine village has shops selling the best
of Australian designer labels and creative handicrafts.
Water taxis depart from the wharf at the river-end of Cavill Ave
in Surfers Paradise and travel through the residential canal estates
to Queensland's largest shopping centre, Pacific Fair. This centre
is laid out in a village style, devoid of cars. There is also the
Robina Town Centre; an extravaganza of department stores and scores
of speciality shops.
Evening entertainment
Across the road from Pacific Fair is the exciting Hotel Conrad
and Jupiters Casino. Open 24 hours a day with first class dining
and entertainment facilities, the casino is a very pleasant venue
to win or lose and offers the opportunity to try the gambling game
peculiar to Australia - Two Up. The complex, which never
closes, comprises nine bars, six restaurants, a live international
stage show, nightclub, and an English pub.
There are dinner cruises on the Nerang River, a theme theatre restaurant
called Draculas (which features a Gothic comedy), dinner shows and
nightclubs in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach that all provide a
reason to go out and party in the evening on the Gold Coast.
Nature's best
If a change from the bright lights of shopping or the casino is desired, then tourists can hire a car or take an organised coach trip to the 'green behind the gold' in the mountains and valleys of the Gold Coast hinterland. Seek out the soft illumination of the glow worms at the Natural Arch or unpack a picnic beside a towering waterfall at Springbrook. Sunlover Holidays has gathered the best local tour operators to offer a range of informative and eco-tourism based tours to unlock this special part of the region. Towering waterfalls, crystal clear mountain streams, perhaps a picnic in a World Heritage Listed Rainforest - the choice is endless and is sure to please.
Other attractions
Located in South Tweed Heads, the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural
Centre offers the opportunity to learn about local Aboriginal
customs via detailed exhibits and video presentations. The Centre
houses a display showing all aspects of Aboriginal lifestyle in
the north coast of NSW. There are conducted tours which
include a dance display and bush tucker talk. The centre also includes
an Aboriginal trail which encompasses a walk along the adjoining
mangrove area.
If the surf is flat there are plenty of other water-based adventure
activities to indulge in. Cable Ski World at Runaway Bay offers
the chance to go water skiing without the boat, while a cruise to
South Stradbroke Island Resort, Couran Cove, or to Sanctuary Cove
allows visitors to take in the beauty of the Southport Broadwater.
Back on land but with your feet not completely planted on the ground,
why not try a motorcycle tour by Harley Davidson, or a Quad Challenge
which takes in a wild mountain bike ride, a power boat ride, a helicopter
flight and a choice of bungee-jump, para-sailing or jet-ski.
Arts
The Gold Coast
Arts Centre on Bundall Road in Surfers Paradise is the largest
regional arts and entertainment complex in Australia. The art gallery
is open Monday - Friday 10am to 5pm, and weekends 11am to 5pm. The
complex also includes a theatre that hosts a number of major productions
each year. There is also a cinema, restaurant, and function/community
rooms.
Sanctuary Cove's waterfront Marine Shopping Village has a number
of world-renowned artists in residence. Visitors can browse through
galleries or take a more interactive role at the Jabiou Gallery
of fine Arts which offers visitors a unique chance to work with
some of the artists.
The Marina Mirage shopping complex on the Spit at Southport merges
the arts and shopping into one experience. Dress and fashion boutiques
are alongside world-renowned art galleries. These include the large
Schubert
Gallery which deals in a broad variety of all Australian talent.
A 30-minute drive from the Gold Coast will find you at Tamborine
Mountain; a rainforest oasis nestled high on the range. It has attracted
a community of interesting artists and their work captures the beauty
of the area. Their artwork features an interesting blend of colour,
texture and shape, and includes ceramics, designer silks, sculpture,
painting and leather work. Visitors are invited to enter this community
through the Gallery Walk located on Long Road, Eagle Heights. There
is also a popular community market that is held from morning to
afternoon on the second Sunday of each month.
Gold Coast Markets
The Gold Coast is renowned for quality markets staged regularly
throughout the region. Markets are held as follows:
Surfers Paradise beachfront - every Friday evening
Broadbeach - first and third Sunday
Burleigh - last Sunday
Coolangatta - every second Sunday
Tamborine Mountain - second Sunday
Canungra country market - first Sunday
Paradise Point Art and Craft Market - fourth Sunday
The original and biggest market on the Gold Coast is held each weekend
at Carrara.
Gold Coast Accommodation
Accommodation on the Gold Coast ranges from backpacker hostels
and camping reserves to self-contained apartments and five-star
international hotels. If golf is to be the main recreational activity,
then stay right on the course at one of the fully integrated golf
resorts such as the Royal Pines or Sanctuary Cove.
As the marketing slogan of the Gold Coast proudly boasts - this
is the Coast with Most!
For more information:
Gold
Coast Tourism Bureau
Tel +61 7 5592 2699
Article courtesy of Tourism Queensland
