Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise and 57km Beach, Snapper Rocks Superbank World-Class Surf, Theme Parks (Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World), Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads Dining, Gold Coast Hinterland Rainforest, and Complete Practical Guide
Gold Coast: Australia primary beach resort (Surfers Paradise high-rise, Cavill Avenue), Snapper Rocks and the Superbank (world longest sand-bottom point break, WSL Pro Gold Coast), theme park precinct (Dreamworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Sea World), Broadbeach Star Casino and Burleigh Heads community beach, Gold Coast Hinterland (Springbrook Purlingbrook Falls, Tamborine Mountain, Lamington), and complete practical guide (G:link tram, 2018 Commonwealth Games legacy, Gold Coast Airport).
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Gold Coast - Australia Playground and Surfers Paradise
The Gold Coast (population approximately 700,000 metropolitan area): the primary beach resort city of Australia, located on the southeast Queensland coast 75 km south of Brisbane. The Gold Coast is the sixth-largest city in Australia by population and the largest city in Australia that is not a state or territory capital. The Gold Coast character: the high-rise apartment towers of Surfers Paradise, the 57 km of sandy beaches, the theme parks (the second-largest concentration of theme parks in the world after Orlando), the surf culture of Snapper Rocks, the hinterland national parks with rainforest and waterfalls, and the canal estates of the Gold Coast Broadwater create a city of unusual diversity for a beach resort. Surfers Paradise (the primary tourist district of the Gold Coast): the dense cluster of high-rise towers on the beach strip, with the Surfers Paradise beach (the most visited beach in Australia, by total annual visitors), the Cavill Avenue mall (the primary shopping and dining strip), and the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings, on the Esplanade). The Gold Coast economy: tourism is the primary industry (13 million visitor nights per year), with the theme parks, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the luxury property market as the primary drivers.
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Gold Coast Surf Culture - Snapper Rocks and the Superbank
The Gold Coast surfing heritage: the Gold Coast beaches (particularly the stretch from Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta to Kirra Point) are the most consistent high-performance surfing waves in the world outside of Hawaii and a handful of other prime locations. Snapper Rocks (the point break at the southern end of the Gold Coast, at Coolangatta): the starting point of the Superbank, the world longest sand-bottom point break (approximately 2 km of continuous wave from Snapper Rocks to Kirra Point when the conditions align). The Superbank was created when the sand from the Tweed River entrance was redirected by the Tweed River Sand Bypass (a system of pumps moving sand from the river mouth to Coolangatta beach to prevent the entrance silting up); the redirected sand gradually built up the point break at Snapper Rocks from the late 1990s, creating the Superbank by approximately 2000. The World Surf League (WSL) Gold Coast event: the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast (annual at Snapper Rocks in February-March): the opening event of the WSL World Tour, when the worlds best surfers compete in the waves of the Superbank. Kirra Beach: the small town of Kirra at the south end of the Superbank, with the fast, hollow Kirra tube wave (one of the most powerful point breaks in Australia when the sand banks align correctly). The Gold Coast surf culture: the Gold Coast is the home base of many of the world finest professional surfers.
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Gold Coast Theme Parks - Dreamworld, Warner Bros World, Sea World
The Gold Coast theme park precinct (in the Coomera and Oxenford areas, approximately 20-30 km north of Surfers Paradise): the largest concentration of theme parks in Australia. Dreamworld (the largest theme park in Australia by total area, at Coomera): the primary Australian-owned theme park, with the Dreamworld Tower of Terror (one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the southern hemisphere), the DreamWorks Experience (Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and Shrek rides), the Big Red Car (the Wiggles theme zone), and the Tiger Island (the white tiger and Bengal tiger habitat). Warner Bros. Movie World (at Oxenford): the Hollywood-themed park with the DC Comics Super Heroes section (Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman rides), the Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster, and the Police Academy Stunt Show. Sea World (on the Broadwater spit at Main Beach): the marine theme park with the SeaWorld Rescue (the wildlife rescue and veterinary centre for injured marine animals), the dolphin and sea lion performances, and the Jet Rescue (the jet boat roller coaster). Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast (at Oxenford): the water park with the waterslides and the wave pool. Village Roadshow Studios (adjacent to Warner Bros. Movie World): the primary film and television production studio in Queensland (the home of Thor: Ragnarok and Aquaman production).
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Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, and the Gold Coast Restaurant Strip
Broadbeach (approximately 4 km south of Surfers Paradise): the most sophisticated dining and entertainment precinct of the Gold Coast, with the Star Gold Coast casino and hotel complex, the Oracle precinct (the dining and retail arcade behind the beach), and the Broadbeach shopping mall. The Star Gold Coast (the primary integrated resort casino of the Gold Coast): the casino, the five-star hotel (the Darling at the Star), the multiple restaurants, and the entertainment venues. Burleigh Heads (approximately 10 km south of Surfers Paradise): the most beloved beach community of the Gold Coast, known for the Burleigh Heads National Park (the small coastal rainforest park on the volcanic headland), the consistent surf break (Burleigh Heads point break: one of the most photographed point breaks in Australia), and the James Street restaurant and cafe strip. The Burleigh Heads beachfront: the beachfront market (Saturday morning) and the weekend cafe culture of James Street have made Burleigh the most visited local precinct of the Gold Coast for residents and visitors seeking an authentic community atmosphere. Palm Beach (approximately 18 km south of Surfers Paradise): the quietest beach precinct between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta, with the Palm Beach cafe strip (the Miami Marketta street food market, Friday and Saturday evenings) and the Currumbin Alehouse craft brewery. Coolangatta (the southern end of the Gold Coast, at the New South Wales border): the twin town of Tweed Heads (NSW) and the primary surfing community of the Superbank area.
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Gold Coast Hinterland - Lamington, Springbrook, and Tamborine Mountain
The Gold Coast Hinterland (the mountain ranges immediately west of the Gold Coast, rising to over 1,000 m above the coastal plain within 30-40 km of the beach): one of the most unusual and dramatic geographical contrasts in Australia — from the high-rise beach resort to the subtropical and temperate rainforest in under an hour. Springbrook National Park (30 km west of the Gold Coast, elevation 900-1,100 m): the plateau national park with the ancient Antarctic beech forest, the Purlingbrook Falls (the 109 m waterfall, the most spectacular waterfall accessible from the Gold Coast), and the Natural Arch (the rock arch over a basalt cave with a waterfall through its opening and a glowworm colony in the cave). Tamborine Mountain (the plateau mountain 45 km northwest of the Gold Coast, elevation 525 m): the most accessible hinterland destination, with the Gallery Walk (the 2 km retail and restaurant strip), the rainforest walks, the Witches Falls National Park, and the numerous winery and distillery cellar doors. Lamington National Park (50 km northwest of the Gold Coast): the Gondwana Rainforests UNESCO World Heritage park, with the ancient Antarctic beech trees, the O'Reillys tree-top walk, and the lyrebird and regent bowerbird sightings. The Gold Coast Hinterland as day trip: the combination of the beach (morning surf or swim) and the hinterland (afternoon rainforest walk) is the quintessential Gold Coast day for experienced visitors.
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Gold Coast Practical Guide - 2018 Commonwealth Games, Tram, and Getting Around
The 2018 Commonwealth Games (held on the Gold Coast, April 2018): the first Commonwealth Games held in Australia since Melbourne 1956, with 71 nations and territories competing. The Games brought a significant infrastructure investment to the Gold Coast: Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, and major road and transport upgrades. The Gold Coast light rail (G:link): the tram network connecting Broadbeach South to Helensvale (Stage 1 and 2, 23 km, operational since 2014 and 2017). The light rail is the primary transport spine of the Gold Coast tourist strip, connecting Surfers Paradise with Broadbeach, Southport, and the train connection to Brisbane at Helensvale. Getting to the Gold Coast: the Gold Coast Airport (OOL, at Coolangatta): direct flights from Sydney (1.5 hours), Melbourne (2.5 hours), Auckland (3 hours), Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Brisbane Airport is also used (1 hour by road from Surfers Paradise). The Gold Coast accommodation: the beachfront high-rise apartment towers (Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, and Main Beach) offer self-catering apartment accommodation ideal for families; the Star Gold Coast and the Palazzo Versace (Main Beach) are the five-star flagship hotels. Best season: September to November (Spring: warm, low humidity, good surf) and March to May (Autumn: after the summer crowds, still warm, excellent weather). Summer (December-February) is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms; winter (June-August) is mild and pleasant.