Gold Coast is located in south-east Queensland and one of Australia’s top holiday spots. The Gold Coast is home to 70 kilometers of stunning beaches and World Heritage-listed rainforests. It also has shopping options, nightlife, and theme parks. Based on personal safety and economic factors, Gold Coast is one of the best places to live in the world.
Gold Coast, located in Southern Hemisphere’s subtropical region, enjoys sunshine and warmth all year. Australian seasons are quite different from those in the Northern Hemisphere. The average Australian summer temperature is 25°C, while the winter is at around 15°C. Each year you can enjoy over 300 days sunshine. However, the rainy season occurs from December through March when the northeast monsoons, which move southwards from Asia, bring heavy rainfall.
Most likely, your flight will land at Brisbane International Airport. This airport is approximately 45 minutes north of the Gold Coast. If your Australian vacation started in Sydney, Melbourne or elsewhere, you could fly to the Gold Coast Airport located at Coolangatta, which is about 35 minutes from Surfers Paradise. This airport has been called the epicenter of the Gold Coast. Each airport has a tourist information kiosk and a car rental agency.
Except for New Zealanders, all foreigners require visas to visit Australia. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is a visa that allows for tourist and business travel. It can be obtained by citizens from certain countries. These ETAs may be requested online as well as through travel agencies at the time you make your booking for your trip to Australia. The application fee is waived if your agent applies for you ETA.
You’re spoilt for choices when it comes to accommodation. There are a variety of options available, from 5-star luxury hotels to farm stay accommodations to sunny cottages and sun-dappled bed & breakfast properties to choose from. A visit to http://www.gold-coast.net and a click on ‘accommodation’ will show you a variety of hotel choices, including location and cost, that you can browse and compare. Surfer’s Paradise is the most popular location. However, if you are looking for a more peaceful, tranquil spot, you can choose to live in an apartment with views of Runaway Bay, or in a Mount Tamborine hinterland where you will be greeted by rainbow lorikeets each morning.
Driving: Australia follows the ‘left” road. Visitors from overseas who have been used to driving on their ‘right’ side should be cautious until they get comfortable with this. Roundabouts are a tricky area. The travel agent can advise you if your driving license is still valid. This should be done at least two weeks prior to departure in order for you to have enough time to obtain an International Driving Licence. Australia’s roads are maintained and speeding is not permitted. Many car rental agencies will supply car seats for your children, which is also required by law.
Activity and sight-seeing: After you settle into your Gold Coast hotel, plan the activities and sights you would like to visit. Theme parks will be a top priority for families travelling with young children. Four major theme parks are located on the Gold Coast: Movie World, Sea World, Wet and Wild, and Dreamworld. Dreamworld is our favourite because of its variety (including a waterpark) and it is also home to Big Brother, the Australian reality television show.
You can also find a few coast wildlife parks that offer great educational talks throughout the day. These are an excellent outing. You can interact with snakes, raptors and cuddle a Koala at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and David Fleays Wildlife Park. There are picnic tables, play areas and cafes at both parks where you can take a break and relax in the shade.
You will want to visit the Gold Coast to enjoy a Surf Lifesaving Carnival, surf lessons, or just swim in sandcastles. Surfers Paradise is, Broadbeach Burleigh Heads Currumbin are just a few of the popular beaches. Paradise Point also has a sheltered, family-friendly beach with picnic tables and barbecues. There are great take-out options nearby.
Its beautiful beaches are unfortunately one of the leading causes of death for tourists in Australia. Many tourists drown every year, sometimes with locals as well. The long, sandy beaches of Australia, especially the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts have strong pulls and rips that are difficult for most people to see or manage. Avoid swimming on beaches without lifeguards. To stay safe, look for yellow or red lifesaving flags on the surf and swim in front of the lifeguard.
There are nine times as many waterways and canals here than Venice so you can have fun with Sunset cruises, Jet Ski riding, and Fishing Charters.
You can also visit the beautiful hinterland of Tamborine Mountain, or enjoy rural life in Beaudesert for a different experience. Gold Coast is home to some of Australia’s best flora & fauna. It borders New South Wales and has World Heritage Listed rainforests. You can visit the stunning Springbrook waterfalls, the ancient Antarctic Beech tree, or the Lamington National Park for the refreshing coolness.
There are over 40 championship courses for golfers in the area. You can enjoy golf at stunning sites created by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Arnold Palmer. There are three hundred sunny days per year.
Shopping centres are a great option for widows and golfers. The Gold Coast has some of Australia’s most popular shopping areas. For craft and farmers market finds, head out to the hinterland, where you can find them at Pacific Fair or Marina Mirage.
Dinner: Enjoy fresh seafood, authentic Thai cuisine and Japanese food at one of more than 500 restaurants after a tiring day shopping.
A day’s drive from coast areas will take you to the Gold Coast wine trail. This path begins in Oxenford and winds its way west toward Mount Tamborine. Numerous wineries provide gourmet foods, cheeses, live jazz, poetry readings, and other forms of entertainment, such as classical quartets or classical quartets.
Gold Coast entertainment is exciting. You can enjoy events like the Indy Car Race, Horse Racing, Carnivals, Outrigging, and Marathon Events. You can also go to the theatre to see live music or a themed show. Or, visit Jupiter’s Casino or a nightclub. Surfers Paradise offers free movie screenings on its giant screen. The double bill for family-friendly movies starts when everyone brings their own beach chairs and towels.
Many cases of heat exhaustion, sunstroke, and sunburn are caused by over-exposure at Australian latitudes. Premature aging and skin carcinoma are both potential risks. Sunburn risk is greater in warmer areas than it is in northern hemisphere. People with fair skin are particularly at risk. It is recommended to apply sunscreen that has a minimum of 30+ SPF. Sunny Australia offers one message to the tourist: “Slip, slop, slap!”Wear a shirt and sunscreen. Finally, put on your hat.
Australia is a place that captivates all its guests. It is unique because of the friendliness of the people and the stunning blue skies. There are animals and scenery that you won’t find anywhere else.
Only 20 million people live on the vast island-continent. The UK, however, is home to around 60 million people. This is 30% more than Australia. Australians have a rich cultural diversity that embraces multiculturalism. Around 5.6 million Australians have immigrated since WWII. This is an impressive number considering that more than 25% of Australia’s current population were born abroad.
Gold Coast is home to people of all backgrounds. They come from every walk of life to live, work, play, and learn. It’s a relaxed place to be, with friendly people. We hope you enjoy your Gold Coast vacation and will apply for Australian immigration! For six years, we have called it home.