As one of Australia’s foremost tourist regions, the Gold Coast is famous for its 45-50 km of surf beaches, sheltered waterways, scenic mountain ranges and a number of national parks some with world heritage listing, abundant night life, modern accommodation and a temperate sunny climate.
The Gold Coast is situated in the South East of Queensland Australia extends along almost 60 kms of coastline and at the center of tourist activity is the suburb of Surfers Paradise which is 78 kms by road south of Brisbane and 25-30 kms north of the New South Wales border.
Surfers Paradise is well known for from the hosting of events such as the Gold Coast Indy, Magic Millions Horse Racing Carnival and several local events such as the Schoolies festival. The suburb is also well known for it’s main streets of Cavill and Orchid Avenues providing shopping, eateries and attractions by day and an unrivaled diversity of nightlife after sundown.
There are also many other popular suburbs within the City of the Gold Coast including Sanctuary Cove, Southport, Main Beach, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Burleigh Heads, Currumbin and Coolangatta. With each suburb providing it’s own attraction be it from the style of accommodation to the surrounding geography.
Major attractions on the Gold Coast include the casino and convention centre at Broadbeach, Sea World marine park at Main Beach, the wildlife sanctuary at Currumbin, and 15-20 kilometres north you can find major a theme parks including Movie World, Wet n Wild and Dreamworld. Marina Mirage and the Broadwater also provide access to a broad range of water based activities ranging from fishing charters and boat hire through to jet ski hire, jet boat rides and much more.
Burleigh Heads National Park is significant landmark on the regions coastline and provides scenic views of the coastline to the north and south, while Springbrook National Park in the hinterland is also a popular eco-tourist attraction. Not to be forgotten is the wonderful wineries and niche arts and crafts shopping throughout the hinterland region particularly at Mount Tamborine.
Tourist accommodation is abundant and ranges from camping and caravan parks to luxury hotels and fully serviced penthouse apartments. Apartments are a popular form of accommodation throughout the region and many offer kitchenette and laundry facilities which for the budget conscious traveler can provide some savings.
The price for accommodation can depend on seasonal variations of which peak times include school holiday periods and from December through to early February. Major events, such as the Gold Coast Indy, can also place accommodation in high demand. Also influential on price is level of building and room facilities along with proximity to beach. Tourist parks are also popular with many located on or very near to the beach. Overall holiday accommodation in the region is of a high standard.
The region is well serviced by public transport services and there is a plentiful range of tourist transport services available ranging from charter buses to stretch limousines all of which in a competitive environment are quite affordable ways to journey across and explore a diverse and scenic destination.
For more detailed information on the region visit Gold Coast Info which provides a website packed with guides, accommodation comparisons, maps, photo galleries and much more.