Golden Getaway

Article courtesy of Tourism Queensland, Photo courtesy of Gold Coast Australia

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 Jupiter’s 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, parasailing 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

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