Gold Coast Holidays

The Gold Coast is Australia's best known holiday region and the jewel in the Gold Coast crown is undoubtedly the 42 km string of pristine beaches that are the major attraction for Gold Coast holidays.

The coastline offers great surfing spots as well as secluded estuaries and inlets that are perfect for small children.

The beaches stretch from Southport at the northern end of the Gold Coast, sweeping south through Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun, Bilinga, Kirra and finally Coolangatta at the New South Wales border.

The Gold Coast has an established, and well managed tourism infrastructure with tons of family entertainment and attractions such as the major theme parks. Adult entertainment takes the form of clubs, nightclubs with gaming at Jupiters Casino. There is boutique shopping in the many malls and shopping centres, an extensive choice of world class Gold Coast golf courses,  canal and ocean cruises, hinterland tours, wildlife parks, fine dining... every wish is catered for.

An extremely diverse collection of Gold Coast accommodation is available to meet the needs  of holiday makers, with features, facilities and budgets to suit every taste and budget. Short stay visitors, or those who prefer the convenience of a hotel, will find an excellent choice of Gold Coast hotels to meet their every need.

Gold Coast Holidays - The Places

Southport is situated at the northern end of the Gold Coast and is the location of the the Marina Mirage complex, the Sheraton Mirage Hotel and Seaworld. The Broadwater is a magnet for recreational water sports and the surrounding areas are rapidly developing into a popular tourist destination.

Surfers Paradise is the major focal point of the Gold Coast. This is the place for clubs, nightlife and more restaurants per square kilometre than anywhere else in Australia. There are several major shopping centres and the area has a high density of resort and apartment complexes, motels and holiday accommodation of all types. 

Broadbeach is located just a few kilometres to the south of Surfers Paradise and is now one of the major destinations for Gold Coast holiday makers. Broadbeach Mall is the centre of one of the main restaurant precincts on the Gold Coast. New Broadbeach holiday resorts, apartment complexes and shopping centres dot the skyline.

Burleigh Heads is a small, rocky headland that holds a small National Park and koala park. The 3 km walking track affords excellent views along the coastline. This is a popular spot with surfers and one of the more popular family holiday locations. Fleays Fauna Centre is located a few klms to the west of Burleigh.

Currumbin is best known for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the feeding of the rainbow lorrikeets that come swooping in from the surrounding bush at feeding times. The centre has grown from a simple bird sanctuary to a wildlife reserve with a variety of tourist attractions.

Coolangatta lies at the southern end of the Gold Coast on the border separating Queensland and New South Wales. Coolangatta and neighbouring Tweed Heads have merged into one single urban area. The Coolangatta area has some of the most popular beaches on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Hinterland is often referred to as the "green behind the gold", a reference to the grren rainforests behind the golden beaches. It is a popular day trip destination with  National Parks, rainforests, scenic lookouts and guest lodges. The countryside is steep and  rugged with narrow, winding roads that demand careful driving.

Gold Coast Entertainment Parks are located at the northern end of the Gold Coast with excellent access from both the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Dreamworld is an Australian version of Disneyland with rides and attractions and Warner Bros Movie World is a working movie studio with tourist attractions, stunt shows and movie and cartoon characters to entertain the kids. Wet 'n Wild is a mixture of slides, toboggans, wave pools and twisters together with facilities for the younger children. These two attractions are next to each other adjacent the Pacific Highway 3 km south of Oxenford.

Seaworld, the largest aquatic park in Australia, is located on The Spit at Southport and is home to performing dolphins, whales and seals together with waterskiing and aquaballet displays. The park also has a series of roller-coaster rides.

Author's Note: The Gold Coast covers a large area. If you plan on seeing the best this region has to offer, we strongly recommend checking out the best prices available for Gold Coast car rentals

 
Gold Coast Holiday Apartments
Gold Coast Holiday Resorts
Northern Gold Coast Holiday Guide
Gold Coast Theme Park Tickets