Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is famous as a holiday Mecca, and pulses with a healthy tourist flow all year round. Life on the Gold Coast is like no where else. Beautiful beaches, a subtropical climate and enough tourists to fill every pub, club and shopping mall in the place means it’s holiday time all the time. If you’re ever bored on the Gold Coast, you’re doing something wrong!

Tourists may well outnumber locals most of the time, with just under half a million permanent residents in this coastal destination. The vibe here is laidback and fun loving, and has attracted more than one famous face to its shores. The fantastic waves bring those that love the sun and the surf, and the temperate climate means that it’s a favourite for retirees. The come-and-go nature of the Gold Coast brings all sorts of people from all walks of life, so there’s an open-mindedness that can be hard to come across.

Holiday makers don’t come here for nothing – wherever you look you’ll find something designed to entertain. The Gold Coast is the theme park capital of the Southern Hemisphere, giving it that bold and festive vibe a big tourist town should have. It seems there’s always a party going on here, with clubs and pubs filled with those looking for a good time all year round, but especially at Christmas and during schoolies week.

The Gold Coast is made up of several towns, stretching along 57 kilometres of coastline. In the background is the hinterland, an area of wilderness that in some places reaches right down to the sea. The beaches themselves are stunning, and with a warm subtropical climate and 287 sunny days each year this is where a lot of the action is.

At the high end of culture, there are theatres showing performances of anything from ballet to contemporary plays to musicals. Shopaholics love the Gold Coast, with major shopping centres, boutique stores and colourful markets selling all manner of bits and pieces.

Eating out on the Gold Coast is more than just refuelling. It’s a cultural experience influenced by the transient nature of its population, and its subtropical location. Dishes here are influenced by cuisine from all corners of the globe, but Gold Coast restaurateurs also make the most of local produce like Moreton Bay Bugs and other fresh seafood, as well as delicious tropical fruits. The warm weather is perfect for alfresco dining, which is a feature of restaurants here.

There are a variety of choices in getting around the 1402 square kilometres of the Gold Coast. Buses and coaches run all the way up and down the different towns, and there is also the option of travelling by water. Ferries and water taxis will take you not only to places on the mainland, but out to some of the pristine islands that are just offshore.

The Gold Coast has been called the lifestyle capital of Australia, and you don’t have to look far to see why. This lively coastal paradise remains the top holiday spot in the country and whether you’re a local or a visitor, there’s nothing quite like life on the Gold Coast.