| The Gold Coast, situated in south east Queensland, is | | | | Unfortunately, one of the most common causes of |
| one of Australia's leading holiday playgrounds. With 70 | | | | tourist deaths in Australia is found on its glorious |
| kilometres of sun-drenched beaches, World Heritage | | | | beaches. Each year quite a number of tourists (and |
| listed rainforests, theme parks, shopping and nightlife - it | | | | sometimes locals too) drown on its shores. Australian |
| is a world class, stylish holiday destination. In fact, the | | | | beaches - particularly the long strips common on the |
| Gold Coast has been identified as one of the most | | | | Gold and Sunshine Coasts - have extremely strong |
| desirable places in the world to live based on political, | | | | rips and pulls that most people are unable to detect or |
| social, health, personal safety, economic and | | | | handle. Never swim on beaches that are not patrolled |
| environmental factors. | | | | by life-guards. Look for the yellow and red surf life |
| The Gold Coast is located in the sub-tropical region of | | | | saving flags and swim between them to stay safe |
| the Southern Hemisphere and enjoys warmth and | | | | and in view of the local life-guard. |
| sunshine the whole year round. Australian seasons are | | | | With nine times more waterways and canals than |
| the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere - the | | | | Venice - be prepared to enjoy many types of |
| average summer temperature is 25 degrees Celsius | | | | on-water fun on the Coast with sunset cruises, sailing, |
| and in winter, it is around 15 degrees Celsius. You can | | | | Jet Ski rides and fishing charters. |
| expect over 300 days of sunshine each year, with the | | | | For a contrasting experience head inland and visit |
| wet season being December to March, when the | | | | pretty hinterland areas such as Tamborine Mountain or |
| northwest monsoons move south from Asia bringing | | | | experience the rural lifestyle at country towns such as |
| heavy rain. | | | | Beaudesert. The Gold Coast has some of the most |
| Your flight will most probably land at Brisbane | | | | diverse flora and fauna regions in Australia with World |
| International Airport - which is a 45 minute drive north | | | | Heritage Listed rainforests to be found near the border |
| from the heart of the Gold Coast. Alternatively, if your | | | | with New South Wales where you can walk amongst |
| Australian holiday began in say Sydney or Melbourne, | | | | ancient Antarctic Beech trees, see the spectacular |
| you can opt to fly into the Gold Coast Airport at | | | | Springbrook waterfalls or head to the coolness of the |
| Coolangatta which is approximately 35 minutes south | | | | Lamington National Park. |
| of Surfers Paradise, considered by any as the | | | | For golfers, there are more than 40 championship golf |
| epicentre of the Gold Coast. Both airports have tourist | | | | courses in the region. Three hundred days of sunshine |
| information booths and car rental firms represented in | | | | per year, means golf can be on your holiday schedule |
| their terminals. | | | | regardless of the season and you can play at superb |
| All foreigners - except New Zealanders - require visas | | | | sites designed by Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer or |
| for all visits to Australia. The citizens of some countries | | | | Jack Nicklaus. |
| can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which | | | | For golf widows, and widowers, shopping centres |
| is a tourist or business visa valid for up to three month | | | | abound on the Gold Coast with some of Australia's |
| stays. These ETAs are available online and through | | | | largest shopping precincts. Visit Pacific Fair, Marina |
| travel agents at the time of booking your flight to | | | | Mirage, Harbour Town or Runaway Bay Shopping |
| Australia. If you apply for your ETA through your | | | | Centre on the coast or head to the hinterland to |
| agent, the fee for applying directly is usually waived. | | | | browse craft stores, farmers markets and art galleries. |
| Accommodation: With every kind of accommodation | | | | Dining: At the end of a hard day's shopping or |
| from exclusive 5-star hotels to farm stays and from | | | | sightseeing, choose from more than 500 restaurants |
| sunny beachside cabins to sun dappled bed and | | | | and indulge in fresh seafood or authentic ethnic cuisine |
| breakfast properties, you'll be spoilt for choice. A visit | | | | from Italian to Japanese and from Thai to Chinese. |
| to and a click on 'accommodation' will show you a | | | | Within an easy day's outing from coastal areas, you |
| variety of hotel choices, including location and cost, that | | | | can enjoy locally made wines on the Gold Coast wine |
| you can browse and compare. Most visitors place | | | | trail, which begins in the suburb of Oxenford and |
| themselves in the hub of Surfer's Paradise, however if | | | | meanders its way west towards Mount Tamborine. |
| you prefer a quieter, less bustling location you could | | | | Many wineries offer gourmet food, cheeses, feature |
| consider an apartment overlooking the waterways at | | | | live jazz bands, and other types of live entertainment |
| Runaway Bay or a hinterland retreat in Mount | | | | such as poetry readings and classical quartets. |
| Tamborine where rainbow lorikeets will greet you each | | | | Entertainment wise the Gold Coast is thrilling. There are |
| morning. | | | | events such as the annual Indy Car Race in October, |
| Driving : Australia drives on the 'left'. Overseas visitors | | | | horse racing, carnivals, out rigging and marathon |
| who are used to driving on the 'right' should exercise | | | | events. Alternatively, you can go to the cinema, see a |
| caution until they become accustomed to this - | | | | live musical or themed show, head to a nightclub or |
| roundabouts can be especially tricky. Your travel agent | | | | visit Jupiter's Casino. Families can head for Surfers |
| will be able to advise whether your current driving | | | | Paradise where free movies are screened regularly |
| licence is valid in Australia. Please check this several | | | | on a giant screen placed on the beach. People bring |
| weeks before departure so you have time to apply | | | | their own chairs and towels and when the sun goes |
| for an International Driving Licence if required. Australia | | | | down, the double bill of family friendly movies begins. |
| has a well-maintained system of roads and highways | | | | Over-exposure to the sun at Australian latitudes is |
| where speeding, driving under the influence, driving | | | | responsible for many cases of sunburn, sunstroke and |
| while operating a mobile phone and not wearing a | | | | heat exhaustion every year. In the long term, |
| seatbelt are not tolerated. If needed, most car hire | | | | premature aging and skin cancer are also a risk. Even |
| companies will provide you with children's car seats | | | | in cooler southern areas, proximity to the hole in the |
| and these too are required by law. | | | | ozone layer means that the risk of sunburn is much |
| Sightseeing and activities: When you have settled into | | | | higher than in the northern hemisphere. Fair-skinned |
| your Gold Coast accommodation, you will want to plan | | | | people are especially at risk and it is advisable to use a |
| what to see and do. If you are travelling with children, | | | | sunscreen with a SPF of 30+. Sunny Australia has one |
| theme parks are going to be high on your agenda. The | | | | simple message for the traveller "Slip, slop, slap!" Slip on |
| Gold Coast boats four major theme parks; | | | | a shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat! |
| Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet and | | | | Australia as a whole enchants its visitors. From the |
| Wild. Our family's favourite is Dreamworld because it | | | | friendly attitude of its people, to the breathtaking blue |
| has something for all ages (including a water park) and | | | | of its skies, it is a place unlike any other, with animals |
| is home to the Australian version of the popular reality | | | | and scenery you will find nowhere else on earth and |
| TV show Big Brother. | | | | an unmatched diversity of people, flavours, aromas |
| There are also a couple of wildlife parks on the Coast | | | | and sights. |
| that run excellent educational talks at regular intervals | | | | This vast island-continent has a relatively small, |
| throughout the day and are a great outing. At David | | | | urbanised population of just 20 million people. By |
| Fleays Wildlife Park and the Currumbin Wildlife | | | | contrast, the UK is home to some 60 million people and |
| Sanctuary, you can get close to snakes and raptors, | | | | is 30 times smaller than Australia. The Australians are |
| cuddle a koala and feed kangaroos. At both parks | | | | also a culturally diverse nation where multiculturalism is |
| there are cafes, picnic and play areas where families | | | | not merely tolerated, but embraced. Approximately 5.6 |
| can rest and play in the shade. | | | | million people have immigrated to Australia since WWII |
| When visiting the Gold Coast you will also want to | | | | - which is a huge percentage of the population - in fact, |
| head to the beach, where you can catch a surf | | | | over one quarter of today's population was born |
| lifesaving carnival, join a surfing class or simply swim | | | | overseas. |
| and build sandcastles. Some of the more popular | | | | People from all walks of life come to he Gold Coast to |
| beaches are Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh | | | | work, live, play and study - the lifestyle is relaxed, the |
| Heads and Currumbin. There is also a very family | | | | people are friendly and if you are anything like us, you |
| friendly, sheltered beach at Paradise Point which | | | | will return from your Gold Coast holiday and apply for |
| includes a beachfront park, BBQs, picnic tables, plenty | | | | Australian migration! We have lived her for the past six |
| of shade, play areas and some great take-away | | | | years and now call it home... |
| outlets just a stone's throw away. | | | | |