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The name Gold Coast was originally a nickname of sorts given to a scenic stretch of towns along Australia's coastline where life was centred on the beach and all that goes with it. Surfing was the biggest attraction to this area for many years; there is even a well known town called Surfers Paradise! While surfing is still a major part of the Gold Coast appeal, this stretch of fantastic beaches and wonderful towns has developed into much, much more.
Along the northern part of Gold Coast you will find the more urbanised and commercialised areas, while further to the south are areas more focused on catering to the wishes of families. Just inland from Gold Coast is an area known as "hinterland", which offers a range of activities for those who want a break from the beaches.
As you would expect, the biggest attraction in Gold Coast is the stunning beaches. They extend for over forty kilometres, providing visitors with a wealth of choices to consider. Even better, nearly all of the beaches are protected and patrolled by life guards (professional as well as volunteer) who are easily accessible and quite helpful. And if you have any doubt about the importance of surfing in this area, just tune into Radio Metro and you will hear frequent reports throughout the day detailing surf conditions all up and down the Gold Coast area.
If you want to enjoy the beach experience without necessarily focusing on surfing, a great place to go is Tallebudgeera Creek. This is a relatively calm lagoon area where you can swim, snorkel, and generally enjoy the water without battling large surf and waves. It is a particularly popular area for families who are looking for a place to relax and splash in the water.
Just inland from Gold Coast you will find the hinterland, a stunning area filled with scenic waterfalls, mountains, and other natural attractions. It is an area well known for its fantastic rock formations as well as three spectacular national parks. You can explore the hinterland by hiring a car or taking an organised bus tour; either way you will no doubt enjoy the pleasant rain forest climate and vegetation.
As a modern tourist destination, Gold Coast is well known for offering a plentiful assortment of theme parks. Sea World is the oldest and best established of these, but there is plenty to do at the newer parks such as Dreamworld, Warner Brothers Movie World, and the Australian Outback Spectacular. And of course it wouldn't be Gold Coast without terrific water parks, so be sure to make time for visiting Wet N Wild as well as WhiteWater World.
For those who love to shop and collect souvenirs, Gold Coast will feel like a little piece of heaven. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of t-shirt shops, souvenir shops, and stores offering native Australian items such as opals, sheepskin products, and the like. For the high end shopper who wants a more exclusive shopping experience, there are many lovely and exclusive boutique designer stores located all throughout Gold Coast.
Getting to Gold Coast is relatively easy, thanks to the nearby Coolangatta Airport. There are a few international flights serving this airport, but most flights are domestic. This means holiday travellers will most likely do best arriving at the international airport in Brisbane and then either taking a domestic flight or hiring a car to drive to Gold Coast.
Wiki:- The Gold Coast
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