Australia’s Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is considered by many to be Australia at its very best. Tourism is the area’s main economy and with more than 10.5 million visitors each year, it is a popular place to visit with a host of things to see and do.
Australia’s Gold Coast stretches about 35 miles (56km) from Yatala, just south of Brisbane, down to the border with New South Wales. It can be reached via the Pacific Motorway (M1) from Brisbane to the north and from Sydney and Newcastle to the south.
The southernmost town on the Gold Coast is Coolangatta, which includes the lighthouse at appropriately named Point Danger. Twinned with the city of Tweed Heads, this is the most easterly point on the mainland of Queensland. From Coolangatta the Gold Coast runs northwards to Main Beach passing countless resorts and surfing beaches along the way.
Main Beach is a stylish upmarket beachfront area, home to Surf Lifesaving Club, al fresco dining and trendy cafés. To the north of the town is the Spit where Marina Mirage shopping complex, Sea World and the Palazzo Versace hotel can be found.
The Commercial Center of the Gold Coast are the suburbs of Surfers Paradise and Southport. The big draw to the area are the superb sandy beaches known for their excellent surfing. Surfers Paradise Beach has a stunning backdrop of high-rise architecture with a host of shops, galleries and hotels to suit all budgets. The beachfront night markets are legendary, selling crafts, jewelry, art and music. Duranbah Beach is one of the world’s best known surfing locations, sometimes known locally as Flagstaff beach.
The area between the popular coastal strip and the hinterland was once wetland bordering the Nerang River, but it has been converted into man-made canals and artificial islands which are now highly sought-after locations for luxury homes. This beautiful waterfront area gives boat owners direct access to the Pacific coast. Running along the tidal waterways, some popular inland beaches are Southport, Budd’s Beach and Currumbin Alley, among many others.
The Gold Coast Hinterland is a section of the Great Dividing Mountain Range which has been listed as a World Heritage Site due to its outstanding geological features including volcanic craters and rare rainforest wildlife. This area of Australia’s Gold Coast is particularly popular with bushwalkers and visitors.
Image: Gold Coast Australia