The Gold Coast is a large urban area with a population of 550,000 administered by the Gold Coast City Council (headquartered at Evandale in Surfers Paradise) and the Tweed Shire in NSW. It is a key part of Greater Brisbane, a conurbation of over 3 million people. The Gold Coast shares its infrastructure, facilities, services and labour market with Brisbane to the north. Workers commonly commute between the two by rail and road.
Unfortunately, many tourists believe the highrise buildings and crowds of Surfers Paradise make it an overdeveloped 'tourist trap'. Most of these buildings are however local residential. The city also has many services and industries not directly related to tourism.
The Gold Coast, that visitors are more familiar with, stretches along the coastal suburbs from Paradise Point to Tweed Heads (about 35km). Surfers Paradise, towards the northern end, is the hub of the leisure activity.
Paradise Point, Hollywell, Runaway Bay and Labrador - northern suburbs, largely residential.
* Southport - The commercial centre with shops, hospitals, business, industry and government offices.
* Main Beach - An upmarket suburb with high-rises and resorts.
*[wiki=e1881bde8193b50ae90c7b606ae27aff]Surfers Paradise[/wiki] - The most commercialised tourist suburb, with the highest concentration of accommodation and attractions.
* Broadbeach - The second busiest tourist suburb and quieter than Surfers Paradise. It has a casino, 2 shopping complexes and many restaurants and highrises.
* Mermaid Beach and Miami - Largely low-rise residential suburbs with motels and restaurants along the highway.
* Burleigh Heads - Numerous highrise apartment buildings and a small commercial area. The beaches are popular with surfers and families.
* Palm Beach - Largely residential area.
* Currumbin, Tugun and Bilinga - Largely residential area dotted with apartments, popular with families and locals. Convenient to the airport and motorway.
* Kirra, [wiki=c338edd33de232e71eeb07271fcc4343]Coolangatta and Tweed Heads[/wiki] - The southern end has several high-rise apartments with a small, but popular, shopping and entertainment area.
The [wiki=3fec8f8cf9e3c0f95aab248ceb46e968]Gold Coast Hinterland[/wiki] is the largely rural area away from the coast. It begins west of the Pacific Motorway, and consists of mountain ranges covered with rainforest, much of which is national parks.
The Gold Coast has a mild, sub-tropical climate, with consistent temperatures year-round, with an average high of 29 degrees C in January and 21 degrees in July. The winter months tend to have little rainfall, while the summer has frequent storms originating from the west.
The Gold Coast Airport [url=http://www.goldcoastairport.com.au/],]also known as Coolangatta Airport, is in [[Tweed Heads|Coolangatta[/url]] to the south. It may be unique in the world in that, because it straddles the NSW and Queensland borders, you land in one state and arrive in another.
It is a fairly small terminal but handles around 3.5 million passengers per year with frequent connections from major Australian cities and some international flights from [wiki=c51ed580ea5e20c910d951f692512b4d]New Zealand[/wiki] and [wiki=154a67340e8c14dd5253dc4ff6120197]Asia[/wiki]. It is NOT a 24hr airport and closes at night, so don't plan on spending the night before an early morning flight. It is around 30 minutes drive to [wiki=e1881bde8193b50ae90c7b606ae27aff]Surfers Paradise[/wiki]. The airport is served by two bus routes:
*[wiki=f1c1592588411002af340cbaedd6fc33]777[/wiki]: express service to Broadbeach South along the Gold Coast Highway. This route begins at the airport and is serviced frequently by large double decker buses, and will only stop at major centres in between the airport and Broadbeach. At Broadbeach South there are connections to other bus services and the G:link, a light rail service that goes through Surfers Paradise and Southport.
*[wiki=2ca65f58e35d9ad45bf7f3ae5cfd08f1]760[/wiki]: regular suburban service to Robina Town Centre via Elanora and Tugun (north) or Tweed Heads via Coolangatta (south). Heading north, the bus connects to Varsity Lakes railway station which provides a direct rail link to Brisbane airport and the CBD, as well as other inland Gold Coast suburbs.
[url=http://gcshuttle.com.au/]Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle[/url] provides transportation from Gold Coast Airport to hotels & theme parks throughout the Gold Coast. Customer service desks are in the international & domestic terminals.
* A viable alternative, especially if hiring a car, is to fly into [wiki=759302fb84c5f72078746e7358ba44a0]Brisbane[/wiki] Airport . You can catch a direct train from the airport (105 minutes) to Nerang 8km to the west of Surfers Paradise, and connect with the local buses. Otherwise it is a 70 minute drive down the Pacific and Gold Coast Highways.
Queensland Rail runs an electric CityTrain service [url=http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/]]from [[Brisbane[/url]] to Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang and Robina. Trains run half hourly from 6 am to midnight, 7 days per week taking approximately 70 minutes from Brisbane Central to Nerang and Robina. The trains can get crowded at peak times. Buses connect from Helensvale, Nerang and Robina to [wiki=e1881bde8193b50ae90c7b606ae27aff]Surfers Paradise[/wiki], Coolangatta, and into northern [wiki=51927f298859f68ad4b6dc0a99947f6c]New South Wales[/wiki].
As the train runs parallel to the coast you should check which station is actually closest to your final destination in the Gold Coast.
Countrylink in NSW [url=http://www.countrylink.info]]runs trains from [[Sydney[/url]] with bus connections at [wiki=07032f64d3cdf373c87a760abb6e098a]Casino[/wiki] for services direct to [wiki=e1881bde8193b50ae90c7b606ae27aff]Surfers Paradise[/wiki] or [wiki=c338edd33de232e71eeb07271fcc4343]Tweed Heads[/wiki]. However this is a very slow, 11.5 hrs, and expensive service. Set aside a whole day for the trip.
The Gold Coast Light Rail, or "G:Link" is the fastest, simplest and most convenient way of travelling around the Gold Coast and links the most built up and densely populated districts of the city. The service traverses a 13km route from the Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach South via Surfers Paradise, Southport, Main Beach and Griffith University. The stop "Cavill Avenue" is a short five minute walk to the famous Surfers Paradise Beach and you can carry your surfboard on the trams as they have been specially fitted out with racks for this purpose! The trams pass at least every 7.5 minutes during the day on weekdays, every 10 minutes on weekends and every 15 minutes during the evening and before 7:00am. Trams run from 5:00am until midnight except on Friday and Saturday nights when services continue ever half hour into the next morning until 7:00am. Tickets known as Go Cards can be purchased from vending machines at every stop and are also valid on local buses as well as Intercity trains to Brisbane as part of the Translink integrated ticketing system. Remember to swipe your Go Card on the reader at the stop before and after your journey! [http://translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/gold-coast-g-link]
All attractions around the Gold Coast are accessible by car, and there are large parking lots at the theme parks and other attractions. Parking meters are found in the busiest streets of Surfers Paradise, Southport and Burleigh Heads, but free parking can be found a few street blocks away. There are paid parking areas in Surfers Paradise and Southport operated by shopping centres and the city council that charge about $1 per hour, the largest is the Bruce Bishop Car Park adjacent to the transit centre.
The Gold Coast doesn't suffer from the same congestion as Brisbane, largely because it has several business centres. The morning peak hour is 7 am to 8.30 am, while the afternoon peak is 3.30 pm to 5 pm. Roads to avoid at these times include Bundall Road, Southport-Nerang Road, The Gold Coast Hwy at Surfers Paradise and the Pacific Motorway between Nerang and Palm Beach.
Most car rental dealers are located in the main business district of the suburb, between the Gold Coast Highway and Surfers Paradise Boulevard. The following major car rental companies are available on the Gold Coast: [url=http://www.redspot.com.au]Redspot[/url], [url=http://www.hertz.com.au]Hertz[/url], [url=http://www.budget.com.au]Budget[/url], [url=http://www.avis.com.au]Avis[/url], [url=http://www.thrifty.com.au]Thrifty[/url], [url=http://www.europcar.com.au]Europcar[/url]. There are also local car rental companies such as [url=http://alllimo.com.au/gold-coast/]Alllimo[/url] Cut Price Car Rentals, Costless Car Rental, Brian's Auto Centre & [url=http://www.eastcoastcarrentals.com.au]East Coast Car Rentals[/url] which may also offer competitive pricing yet it would be better to go with the brands providing car hire service worldwide.
While most car rental companies hire to people 25 years of age and over, some all age car rental companies do hire to younger drivers over 18 years of age with an additional surcharge. To avoid delays, check with your car rental provider beforehand if you are under 25.
Surfside Buslines, [http://www.surfside.com.au] provide the main form of public transport around the Gold Coast and stops are located on most main roads. Buses run 24 hours a day, but are more frequent in the daytime. All the main tourist attractions are serviced by bus. The frequency of services up and down the coast along the beach between Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise is very good at least every half hour. For other routes, and theme parks, it is best to check the timetable in advance.
Surfside Buslines uses the Translink GoCard Ticketless system which allows you to deposit funds into the card and use them up as you travel.
Airport Transfers (shuttles) operate 'door to door' between Coolangatta Airport and accommodation along the coast and are a popular alternative to taxis. They cost approximately $21 per person
Expect to wait up to an hour or more for a taxi on busy nights:[url=https://www.expresstransfers.net.au]Taxi services[/url]. A taxi fare between the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise costs around $55 and a sedan limousine is about the same. Stretch limousines are another option for groups of more than four with a cost of around $100-$110.
The Gold Coast Oceanway [http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/Oceanway]is a 36km pathway for pedestrians and cyclists linking Point Danger to the Gold Coast Seaway, stretching along most of the city coastline. It can be a little crowded with pedestrians in parts.
There are well over 30 beaches stretching a total of 40km. Almost all are patrolled by volunteer and professional lifesavers. The patrolled areas are marked by red and yellow flags. Signs on the beaches will show you the closest patrolled beaches at any particular time of year.
Always swim between the flags. The flags have been lined up with the safest parts of the beach and are patrolled by lifesavers. If you do get into trouble or feel yourself being pulled out of your depth by a "rip", don't try to swim against the water. Swim parallel to the beach and raise your hand to attract the attention of a lifesaver.
Surfers stay outside the flags.
105.7 Radio Metro [url=http://www.radiometro.com.au]]has detailed surf reports at 7am, midday and 3pm daily.
* Surfers Paradise has a long stretch of beach, with flags and patrols ever few hundred metres along the beach. You can be sure to find a place to swim, but the beach right opposite Cavill Ave is generally very busy and packed with tourists. Just walk north or south along the beach to find a (slightly) less crowded alternative.
* Broadbeach is about 3km (40 minutes walk, 5 minute drive) south of Surfers Paradise and usually has the same surf conditions as Surfers Paradise. The upside, however, is that it's not that far away and nowhere near as busy as Surfers. Just in from the beach is Kurrawa Park, a shopping centre full of cafes, restaurants, and Jupiters Casino. Be well warned that Broadbeach has the most dangerous rips to be found along the coast on any given day, so don't swim outside the flags, don't swim drunk and don't swim at night!
* North Burleigh is a further 4km down from Broadbeach (over a small hill). It's generally less popular than its bigger brother, Burleigh Heads, but a good place to go if there are winds blowing from the north, as the hill provides a bit of protection. Northerly winds in the afternoon can bring in "stingers", an unpleasant jellyfish, so swimming is not advised.
* Burleigh Heads is only 2km south of North Burleigh and a nice beach with a large park and a hill that is good for picnics. There are cafes surrounding the beach and the hill cover means that this beach is usually pretty nice when the winds are blowing from the south (when Surfers and other beaches will be exposed and horrible).
That's as far down as you can walk from Surfers. Any further and it's wise to catch a bus or drive.
* Tallebudgeera Creek is a popular swimming lagoon with families, fantastic for people who don't feel comfortable in the surf but still want to take a dip.
* Currumbin is a fantastic lagoon-cross-beach, if you can get there it's well worth a trip. Mostly inhabited by locals learning to surf, easiest waves on the coast.
* Kirra is another famous surfing spot.
* Greenmount Beach in Coolangatta offers the most spectacular scenery and views up the coast, and is also a fantastic place for a picnic.
* Rainbow Bay is just on the other side of Greenmount
* The world renown Snapper Rocks is right next to Rainbow Bay and is the home of the Quiksilver Pro [http://www.quiksilverpro.com.au/[/url].
Referred to as "the green behind the gold" (a reference to Australia's national colours - green and gold), the Gold Coast Hinterland is home to three national parks, numerous mountains, creeks, waterfalls valleys, and natural rock formations. The area is mostly covered in sub-tropical rainforest, but sections have been cleared for dairy farm land and wineries. The Hinterland is best seen by car or on a bus tour as the roads wind through the mountains with various lookout points along the way and towering trees lining the roads - it is truly a beautiful drive.
* [wiki=4d317b44de9d71ca38a1e3cd7a695c97]Tamborine Mountain[/wiki] - a great cottage industry town with fantastic restaurants, fudge shops, and wineries - many of which offer free samples!
* Springbrook
* Numinbah Valley (including Natural Bridge/Arch)
* Currumbin Valley
There are many tours that operate in the Hinterland Area. Some are more of a bus tour as opposed to an all inclusive day. Watch the small print and enjoy.
4wd tours company generally offer all inclusive tours to the hinterland area
Be wary of street vendors promising free tickets to theme parks. Generally found along Cavill Mall in Surfers Paradise, they promise free theme park tickets in return for 3-4 hours of your time watching a timeshare presentation followed by high pressure salesmanship to sign up.
Many legitimate vendors sell discounted theme park tickets. Check out the tourist information booths run by Gold Coast Tourism Corporation [http://www.visitgoldcoast.com].
Many accommodation operators offer free WiFi access to their guests.
Other Wifi hotspots include McDonalds restaurants and coffee shops such as Starbucks and Gloria Jeans.
Always swim between the flags, see [wiki=1c1a38ce398139549cbc081755992cdf#Beaches]Gold Coast Beaches[/wiki].
Violence often erupts late at night and in the early hours of the morning, particularly from Thursday to Saturday. Areas to be careful to avoid include Cavill Ave and Orchid Ave in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach Mall in Broadbeach and Griffith St in Coolangatta.