Australia's Gold Coast in the state of Queensland is holiday central; a popular vacation destination for both Australian and international holidaymakers.
Gold Coast: Theme Parks
For tourists with energy to burn, the Gold Coast has plenty of adrenalin-pumping activities starting with its open surf and moving inland to renown theme parks: Sea World, Wet and Wild, Dream World, Australian Outback Spectacular and Movie World.
- Savings can be made by booking online. Consider multiple day passes at linked attractions. Maximise a theme park visit by paying an optional premium to avoid waiting in line for rides.
Gold Coast: Things to Do at or Near the Beaches
For family holidays involving young children - or those wanting to discover the 'real' Gold Coast - consider the following budget-minded things to do:
- Surfers Paradise is synonymous with the Gold Coast. It's a locality at the top end of the 70km beach strip, lined by sky-scraping holiday accommodation towers. As its name suggests, Surfers Paradise is good for surfing and swimming.
- It's hard to miss the world's tallest resident tower, Q1. The spire stands 97.7m above street level on Surfers Paradise Boulevard (corner Hamilton Avenue). Visitors can pay for a ride up to Level 77, Australia's only observation deck by the beach. As a contrast, walk a few blocks south to 34 Hanlan Street (near Centro Surfers) and view the 'high rise' that started it all on the Gold Coast. Heritage-listed Kinkabool , built in 1959, was the first high-rise residential block at just 10 storeys. It is privately owned.
- Enjoy any of the open surf beaches from Main Beach to Coolangatta. All are freely available to the public. Lifesavers patrol almost all beaches. Always swim between the red and yellow flags: that's where swimming conditions are safest.
- Enjoy a meal at a Surf Club. They are well-priced, family-friendly and usually have great views.
- Wander around the open air arts and crafts market, held along The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise from 5.30pm every Friday.
- David Fleay Conservation Park is at West Burleigh. Admission is a fraction of the cost of the better-known Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Children under four are free. David Fleay Conservation Park includes saltwater crocodile feeding, a nocturnal house in which the elusive platypus lives, and a koala contact zone. For a small additional fee, a park ranger will take a visitor up close. The park is open daily.
Gold Coast: Things to Do in Bush Hinterlands
Just minutes from the Gold Coast glitz of the beach strip, holidaymakers can find serenity in rain forests and country charm of hinterland villages.
- Bush walk. It does not have to be a full day hike (although that's an option). Two easy short - yet rewarding - walks are the Natural Arch in Numinbah Valley and Green Mountain's suspended walk in Lamington National Park. The Natural Arch is an easy 1.5km loop with the reward of a waterfall. Suspension bridges 15m up provide visitors with a bird's eye view of forest canopy at Green Mountain. Queensland National Parks provide specific details of Gold Coast hinterland bush walk options.
- Mt Tamborine offers a gourmet trail - locally-made cheese, fudge, wines and fruit - as well as arts, crafts, antiques and bush walks.
- Kids love fossicking for mystical thunder eggs, created by volcanic activity millions of years ago; another fun and unusual family holiday activity, also available at Mt Tamborine.
Getting to the Gold Coast, Australia
- By road - Queensland's Gold Coast is just 80km south of Brisbane. Car hire is an easy way to get to the Gold Coast, straight down the Pacific Motorway.
- By train - trains run regularly from Brisbane's Central and Roma Street stations to the Gold Coast's Nerang and Robina stations, with shuttle bus connections to the beaches.
- By air - Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta receives domestic flights from Sydney, Melbourne and other Australian cities, and some international flights from Asia and New Zealand. Holiday makers flying from Europe, the Middle East and US or Canada will usually arrive in Brisbane.
Read also Child-Friendly Places to See in Brisbane.
Heather Grant - Heather Grant is a freelance journalist based in Brisbane, Australia. She's spent the best part of the last 20 years juggling writing ...
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