About the area: If any area of Australia could lay claim to the title of the premier holiday destination in the country, it would have to be the Gold Coast in South-East Queensland. For all its over commercialisation, the golden surf beaches along its 52 km length are among Australia's best, the choice of beachfront accommodation, shopping and dining options is almost limitless, and it is home to Australia's best theme parks all of which are within a short driving distance of each other. The subtropical climate is ideal for taking advantage of the myriad leisure activities all year round. The Gold Coast boasts great shopping and many leisure activities such as the observation deck of its tallest building, Q1, in Surfers Paradise, which offers sweeping views up and down the coast. The Gold Coast is a well known haven for surfers, welcoming the Quiksilver Pro every summer. For visitors who want a break from the commercialisation, there's always the beautiful backdrop of the hinterland - which is only a short drive away. Here there are some of Queensland's most picturesque mountains with arts and crafts boutiques, subtropical rainforest walks, picture-post card waterfalls, wine tasting and sleepy mountain villages.
Surfer's Paradise is Australia's best known playground. It's the glittering, dynamic, sometimes brash capital of the nation's holidaymaking. During the day, the main attractions are the Australian summer trinity - sun, surf and sand. At night it's the throb of entertainment and the glitter of the lights.
Southport is the commercial centre for the Gold Coast but still has much to offer visitors who like being in the action but perhaps not right in the middle of it. Southport has some great shopping, and is home to the Seaworld theme park.
Burleigh Heads is located midway between Coolangatta and Southport. The heads is an unspoilt headland surrounded by the tourist development of the Gold Coast where the visitor can experience what this coastline was like before the tourist invasion.
Coolangatta is the most sloutherly Queensland resort town on the Gold Coast. It has a good beach with plenty of shopping and dining alternatives but in a more relaxed atmosphere than the centres at the northen end of the coast. The Gold Coast's airport is located at Coolangatta.
Theme Parks: The Gold Coast is home to the biggest collection of theme parks in Australia. They are:
How to Get There: the Gold Coast is lass than an hour's drive south of Brisbane via Pacific Motorway.
Best Time To Go: the Gold Coast is an all-year-round destination, but if you prefer to avoid the sub-tropical heat, you may wish to visit during the winter when temperatures are pleasantly cool and rainfall is low.
The southern part of Queensland enjoys slightly drier summers in comparison to the north. Temperatures on the Sunshine Coast average around 20°C during winter and, although warmer, are still comfortable during summer.
Southport: Nerang River; The Spit; North Stradbroke Island; Runaway Bay; Ephraim Island; Sovereign Islands; Coomera River and Coomera Island Conservation Park; Hope Island; Coombabah Lake; Jabiru Island
Burleigh Heads: Burleigh Head National Park; Nobby Beach; South Nobby; North Burleigh Beach; Burleigh Beach; Pacific Beach; Palm Beach; Currumbin Creek; The Knoll (Burleigh) Environmental Park; Tallebudgera Creek Environmental Park
Beenleigh: Beenleigh Rum Distillery (built in 1864, it has the oldest-surviving still in Australia); Rocky Point Sugar Mill (1879); former St George's Anglican Church (1876)
Heritage features: Pioneer Cottage (built by Patrick Milbanks on his selection in 1875); St Marys Roman Catholic Church; Racecourse grandstand (1890s)
Coolangatta: Point Danger lighthouse (the first lighthouse in the world to experiment with laser technology. The experiment was unsuccessful and it returned to conventional mechanicals); Currumbin Bird Sanctuary; Olson's Bird Gardens; Tandem Skydive
