   
  
|
The Beaches of the Gold Coast
An overview of the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast proper stretches some 1,402 square kilometres on the Queensland & New South Wales border, but most people, even the maddest surfers, will probably not be bothered with exploring the whole length of it. Most people will head for a cluster of beaches along a splendid 50 km stretch of coastline, stretching Gold Coast from South Stradbroke Island in the north, to beautiful Rainbow Bay in the south.
Along that stretch of sand, there are towns and resorts along which most attractions are clustered, rather like a row of pearls on a string. Each area has its own individual character and appeal, and a visitor can keep on going from one centre to the next without ever feeling bored.
During summer, there are 35 flagged beaches open along the entire stretch of coastline, each with their own dedicated team of lifeguards, and these are the stretches of sand which draw the biggest crowds. There are, of course, isolated, unpopulated beaches further from the towns, but most of these aren’t patrolled by lifeguards, and given the unpredictable nature of Australia’s coastal waters, swimming in these waters is strongly discouraged.
As a general rule, the northern centres are more known for the heady nightlife, while the southern areas are popular for their more family-oriented attractions. For visitors who want to experience everything however, the ease of travel along the Gold Coast and the abundance of attractions all along its length means that there’s no need to segregate yourself along any particular stretch!
With all the towns, resorts and attractions spread along the Gold Coast, a visitor is almost overwhelmed with choices, but here just a few of the more popular locations and attractions along the Coast:
Some popular towns and attractions along the Gold Coast
Of all the centres spread along the beach, the town of Surfers Paradise best epitomizes the lifestyle and mentality of the area. The name says it all, really. Loud, brash and filled with energy, this is ‘the place’ where people go to relax, forget their cares and take in some sun. Understandably the flock of tourists who crowds its sands every day for a short holiday are nowhere near as enthusiastic and laidback as the residents who’ve lived in the town all their lives. And who can blame them? The area boasts spectacular nightlife, bars, nightclubs and more restaurants per square kilometre than anywhere else in Australia. The heart of Surfers Paradise is Cavill Avenue, which is bounded at one end by Surfers Boulevard and by the Esplanade at the other. Most of the eateries are clustered here, along with shops (nightclubs, boutiques and convenience stores) to cater to every need or whim a visitor might want to indulge in. For something a little off the beach theme, Cavill Avenue is also home to Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum!
Further along, there’s Southport, home of the world renowned Sea World theme park, with its dolphin, shark and sea lion shows, rides and other distractions. There are plenty of other theme parks around: Warner Bros World, DreamWorld an Wet n’ Wild Water World are just a few of the most popular ones. Everyday here is fun day, except possibly during ‘Schoolie’s Week’ - a couple of weeks at the end of November when tens of thousands of school leavers descend on the Coast for some cheerful, carefree, riotous fun. Visitors in that particular age group often have fun clowning for the cameras which inevitably follow the schoolies, but more sedate visitors might want to consider postponing their visit until the enthusiastic hordes have returned to their textbooks and desks.
For watersports enthusiasts, Southport’s Broadwater is a great place to go, for it offers jet-skiing, windsurfing, parasailing and other activities more suited to the active beach-goer. Fishermen are also fond of this centre, where from Fisherman's Wharf, a boat can be taken for a long day of game fishing. Nearby, there is Marina Mirage, home to the more stylish boutiques and restaurants of the Gold Coast. The Marina is also home to some of the finest luxury crafts on the water, and in the true egalitarian spirit of Australia, are content to share space with some distinctly humble fishing trawlers and other less exotic crafts of the local residents.
Of all the centres along the Gold Coast, Southport feels the most like a normal city, as many of the area’s administrative functions are situated here, as well as a large part of the Gold Coast’s businesses. Here, visitors who’ve had their daily fill of the sun, sand and sea can venture in the many department stores, cinemas and restaurants crowded in the area.
Family Friendly Beaches along the Gold Coast
In a country where lifeguards are as respected and popular as they are in Australia, its little wonder that the competitions draw as much attention as they do. Even when the competitions aren’t being held, you can see member’s of Australia’s most iconic profession patrolling the sands of the Gold Coast beaches every day, from sun up until sun down. And then there are the thousands of volunteer lifeguards who give their time and effort to keeping their fellow beach-goers safe during the warmer months between September and April. Despite the common fears about Australia’s abundance of creepy-crawlies, stingers, sharks and other dangers, its’ also fact that Australia has some of the safest beaches in the world, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of its lifeguards — no wonder then, that the Gold Coast is such a popular destination for families, even those with very small children.
Apart from the lifeguard competitions, Broadbeach also has plenty of off-beach offerings, for adults and for children. For the little ones, there are plenty of fairground rides, and play equipment in the wide pedestrian shopping precinct just off the beach, while for the adults, the popular Conrad Jupiters offers a plethora of restaurants, bars, live stage show and 24-hour casino action. There’s also Pacific Fair, Queensland's largest shopping complex, and the Broadbeach Central Mall, both of which offer pleasant cobble stoned streets and shady arcades in which to spend a dollar or two.
Another centre popular with families on holiday are the towns of Tweed Heads and Coolangatta, located on the mouth of the Tweed River at the southernmost tip of the Gold Coast stretch. These centres appeal to those who don’t want the hustle and bustle of the more central towns, but do want proximity to the region’s many attractions. Coolangatta has arguably some of the prettiest beaches in the area (though there’s a lot of contenders for the ‘prettiest beach’ title).
For attractions of a more natural bent, there’s the unspoiled headland of Burleigh Heads (pictured above), which offers amazing views of the surrounding coastline. The headland has been gazetted as a National Park, and boasts a popular koala park. There are also beautiful parklands, picnic and barbeque areas available.
Close by, there’s also the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the feeding of the rainbow lorikeets, as well as other attractions, such as the excellent calm waters of Currumbin Creek and Tallebudgera Creek, which are perfect for toddlers. With all these child-friendly attractions, this area is particularly popular with families on holiday, but parents aren’t at a loss either, for nearby are also some of the Gold Coast’s best surf beaches, popular for the iron-man competitions and the challenging tubular waves, which are the reason for the many surfing competitions held here.
These are only a few of the vibrant towns beaches to be found along the Gold Coast. There are many more, each with its own character, charm, and of course, a splendid beach right at its doorsteps.
|
|
|
Article Information
|
||
Most
people consider Australians are beach mad. Even Australians consider
Australians beach mad; and of all the places in this country, there’s
no place where live revolves more completely around the beach than
along the beach paradise of Gold Coast. The beaches of Gold
Coast can only be described in one word: spectacular, and with over
35 to choose from, little wonder then that the Gold Coast is the
No. 1 Tourist Destination in Australia. 
