1 Cairns and District, North Queensland
2 The Gold Coast, Queensland
3 The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
4 Great Ocean Road, Victoria
5 Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory
6 The Kimberley, Western Australia
7 Blue Mountains, New South Wales
8 Sydney Harbour & Sydney Opera House
9 Tasmania's World Heritage Site
10 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory
Although not to everyone's liking, the brash and sometimes crass Gold Coast reveals a very different side of Australia from its natural wonders.
It would be difficult not to have a good time on this lively, highly developed 70-km strip of coastline to the south of Brisbane. Stretching down to Coolangatta on the New South Wales border, the Gold Coast offers consistently warm temperatures and an average of 300 days of sunshine each year. The sandy beaches are lapped by clear blue waters that are perfect for swimming, surfing and all kinds of water sports, and there is a smorgasbord of man-made attractions and entertainment.
The heart of the action is the appropriately named Surfers Paradise, the main town, which offers excellent shopping and dining and a host of nightlife options, including the glossy Jupiters Casino at nearby Broadbeach. Many of the Gold Coast's attractions are particularly appealing to children, and theme parks like Dreamworld, Warner Bros Movie World, Wet `n' Wild Water World and the excellent Sea World are extremely popular. There are many fine golf courses in the area, you can take a cruise to tranquil South Stradbroke Island, go water-skiing, or even sample the daredevil sport of bungee jumping. The Coast's list of things to do is almost endless. If you prefer to stay somewhere quieter, however, the southern area around Coolangatta offers a less frenetic pace - and fewer high-rise buildings. This is also the location for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can meet some of Australia's unique wildlife. When you've had enough of the coast, a short trip to the hinterland, particularly to the delightful mountain town of Mount Tamborine, is a rewarding experience. Excellent scenery and a cooler environment, with rainforest walking tracks and a diversity of art and craft shops, make this town a great day trip.Bus: Coach transfers (from Brisbane)
Train: Gold Coast (from Brisbane)
Air: To Coolangatta
Other: Brisbane Byron Bay,
Info: Gold Coast Information Centre, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise (Phone: (07) 5538 4419 Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30, Sat 9-5:30, Sun 9-3:30)
| COUNTRY |
| Australia
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
 |