Exploring Gold Coast

Though classed as a city, the Gold Cost is a collection of towns and residential areas that have grown to become one long urban centre in southern Queensland. Butting up against New South Wales, this merging of urban centres is fronted by beach, with Surfers Paradise the flamboyant leader of the pack when it comes to surfing, star rated accommodation, eating, shopping, and having fun.

The area is served by a regional airport, although Brisbane’s international airport is close and has regular bus and rail transport to the towns and resorts. Many youngsters come here for the surf, the sun, and the booze, yet the Gold Coast is also favoured by families due to its many theme parks and excellent family-friendly hotels. A decent complement of romantic restaurants and five-star honeymoon suites and spas also makes it appealing to couples, with the Watermark Hotel & Spa in Surfers Paradise a top choice among visitors seeking romance.

Sights nearby

The best hotels are close to the beaches. Surfers Paradise has the pick of the sights, including the massive Q1 building. From here, you can see across to South Stradbroke Island and the Gold Coast Botanic Gardens, two other quality sights in the area.

- Q1 Resort & Spa

The lofty Q1 building is just along the road from Cavill Avenue in bustling Surfers Paradise and is the tallest structure in the region at 323m high. You can stay here at the high-end Q1 Resort & Spa or take it in as a visitor by shooting up to floor 78 to the QDeck observation deck, from where the views take in the Gold Coast all the way to Brisbane. There are several other five-star hotels in this area, which is the busiest part of the coast and has the most choice in shopping, eating, and nightlife.

- Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

Situated back from Surfers Paradise, behind the posh residential area of Lake Capabella, is the Gold Coast’s most beautiful gardens. The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens are spread across 31 hectares and feature a vast quantity of plants and flowers of the region. The Sensory Garden is especially nice, as are the Rose Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the boardwalk around the lake, and the kid’s playground. Nearby is the RACV Royal Pines Resort.

- South Stradbroke Island

A destination for the discerning visitor is nearby South Stradbroke Island, to the north of Surfers and Main Beach. The island is a veritable paradise away from the madness of the Gold Coast proper, sporting quiet (and surfable) beaches and pleasant walking. Opportunities for snorkelling and kayaking are good and there’s a great deal of wildlife, especially wallabies.

- Broadbeach

This quiet beach is a good alternative to Surfers Paradise as the sand is less crowded but the surf no less powerful and it’s still close to the area’s five-star hotels. A pretty park backs the beach and there’s plenty of shopping and even a casino.

Eating and drinking and shopping nearby

There is great eating all the way along the coast and in all the big, five-star hotels, such as the QT Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise. Heading back into Ashmore is the high-end Royal Pines Resort, which boasts fine eating, while Jupiters Casino at Broadbeach is good for fine dining as well as gambling. For high-end shopping, look to Orchard, Elkhorn, and Cavill avenues where the likes of Cartier and Louis Vuitton have branches.

Public transport

All parts of the Gold Coast are walkable (within their respective areas), but you’ll need to use the new light rail service or catch a bus to get between towns. Surfside Buslines goes between them all, running from Main Beach and Coomera in the north, past Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, and on to Tweed Heads in the south. Buses run all day and you can buy a pass. Taxis are pricey and tough to pick up from ranks at night, with car hire a more practical option for those who plan to move around a lot.