Gold Coast - A Modern Surfing and Leisure Paradise

Gold Coast is a tourist city at Australia's south-east coast, which is almost 70 kilometres away from Brisbane. With about 600,000 inhabitants and an area of 1,402 km², it is the second biggest city in Queensland and the sixth biggest in the country. Its metropolitan area ranges from the suburbs of Brisbane to Coolangatta and includes about 45 kilometres of coastal landscape. Another part of the region's geography are the many artificial canals and islands. The hinterland is dominated by several nature reserves such as the Lamington National Park, subtropical rainforests, waterfalls and the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Due to the warm temperate climate, the Gold Coast usually has hot, rainy summers and mild, dry, sunny winters.

Although the urban image of Gold Coast looks rather futuristic, the territory of Australia's sixth biggest metropolis was already settled by the aborigines (Yugambeh) 23,000 years ago. The European settlement only began in the 19th century with the arrival of the researcher John Oxley. The city owes its present-day look to the tourist boom in 1925, the increased construction of skyscrapers in the 1960s and the housing boom at the turn of the millennium. Since then, the numerous skyscrapers and futuristic residential housing complexes have become dominant features of the city's skyline. The highest building, which is located in the district of Surfers Paradise, is the Q1 tower (322.5 m). It has a steel tip, which is 97.7 metres long, and an observation platform (Qdeck Skylight Room) which can hold up to 400 people. In good weather, you can see until Brisbane from this point. Cultural facilities are located in the centre of the metropolis. The Arts Centre Gold Coast, the Wax Museum, the Gold Coast Theatre and the Conrad Jupiter Casino are the most popular locationc.

The many, varied kinds of entertainment in Gold Coast tell travellers one thing: Have fun! Several leisure parks, countless hotels with casinos, live shows, discos, bars and night clubs as well as giant shopping centres were built to make sure that holidaymakers enjoy their stay in the city. Whether you are in the Warner Bros Movieworld, at one of the many surfing and sports events or in the Conrad Jupiter Casino - there is no room for boredom in the commercial centres of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport. Gold Coast's shopping scene offers numerous designer boutiques, souvenir shops and shopping centres like the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. After all, the district of Surfers Paradise is known as the "Shoppers Paradise" for a reason.

Gold Coast is of particular interest for water sports fans. The city's wonderful beaches, for example in Main Beach or in Burleigh Heads, offer excellent conditions for going surfing, parasailing, deep-sea fishing, diving and swimming and the many canals invite travellers to leisure activities on the water. The region's parks are equipped with a great number of picnic locations, playgrounds and sports fields, while the surrounding nature reserves are wonderful destinations for going hiking, horseback riding and cycling.

The best way of reaching Australia's Gold Coast is via the international airports of Brisbane Airport and Gold Coast Airport. You can take the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle into the city centre, use the city's local transport or take a taxi. Thanks to the warm temperate climate and the 230 sunny days per year, Gold Coast is an attractive holiday destination at any time of the year.