Located south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast, Gold Coast is known for its heady cocktail of surf, sun and sand. Being a party city, Gold Coast has its fair share of shimmering high rises, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and theme parks.
But, beyond the long sandy beaches lie an array of sand dunes, behind which lie rivers, creeks and swamps, and then come the plains, foothills and towering mountains. Away from the beach and water activities, river cruises and hiking trails that crisscross mountain ridges and valleys have become an intrinsic part of the Gold Coast appeal.
Places of Interest
- Sea World Gold Coast
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dreamworld
- Broadbeach, Queensland
- Warner Bros. Movie World
- Burleigh Heads, Queensland
- Springbrook National Park
- Laminngton National Park
Attractions
- Tamborine Rainforest Sky Walk
- Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
- Tweed River & Rainforest Cruises
- Crab Catching Cruises
- Tambourine Mountain Glow Worm Caves
TransportGold Coast Airport is in Coolangatta, 25km south of Surfers Paradise and 100km south of Brisbane. All domestic Australian airlines, including budget airlines, operate flights to/from Gold Coast. Air New Zealand flies in from overseas. You could also choose to drive in from Brisbane, which is just an hour away.
One-way shuttles are available at the airport to drop you to your accommodation, but have to be booked in advance. There are shuttle transfers available from Brisbane as well.
The Gold Coast tourist shuttles offer the most affordable package to get around that includes airport transfers, unlimited theme park transfers and unlimited use of the local bus service – all on one ticket.
EnvironmentDespite the urbanisation that has taken over the coast, Gold Coast is a bio-diverse city with native vegetation occupying 49 per cent of the land. It is home to the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests and Ramsar Convention-listed Moreton Bay Coastal Wetlands.
The City of Gold Coast recognises the need to preserve its unique landscapes, wildlife habitats, hinterland ranges and wetlands to shape a sustainable future. It tries to involve the community in the action taken to protect its natural assets.
DemographicsAs per the 2011 census, Gold Coast has a population of 513,954 residents and the growth trend revealed that it would continue to gain people through migration in all age groups – a profile that is uncommon in Australia.
The Gold Coast population is extremely diverse with almost one in three Gold Coast residents recorded as born overseas in the 2011 Census (27.9% or 138,039 people). This is a higher proportion than Greater Brisbane, Queensland and Australia. Close to one per cent of the Gold Coast population was identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin (1.3% or 6,196 people).
