Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Aerial view of the Gold Coast skyline
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View-from-Q1-looking-north.jpg
Author: E-CBD


The Gold Coast is the second biggest city in Queensland. This coastal city of 400,000 people is also the 6th biggest city in Australia and the biggest non-capital city. Surface Paradise, a suburb of Gold Coast with a skyline dominated by residential skyscrapers has become the very picture and icon of the city. It is often compared to Miami, Florida, as a destination for beach recreation and nightlife. Its economy relies heavily on tourism and film production.

Chevron Renaissance is a shopping mall and apartment complex on the Gold Coast Highway
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chevron_Renaissance_Shopping_Mall_%26_Apartment_Complex_in_GC_HWY.jpg
Author: Donaldytong


The Gold Coast enjoys a subtropical climate. Temperature is fairly consistent year round. The hottest month is January, when the average high temperature reaches 28.5°C (83°F). The coolest month is July, when the termometer drops to an average low of 12°C (54°F). The amount of precipitation seems to follow the temperature. January is the wettest month, with precipitation of 169.1 mm (6.66 inches), while July the driest, with only 44.6 mm (1.76 inches).

Surfers Paradise began to see tourist development from the 1960's, as the first highrise apartment blocks were constructed. By the mid 1980's, the character of Surfers Paradise has become one of wall-to-wall skyscrapers.

View of the Pacific Ocean from Burleigh Head in Gold Coast
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_Burleigh_Head.JPG
Author: Peterdownunder

Travel to Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Airport (OOL), also called Coolangatta Airport, sits right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Many airlines in the Asia Pacific region flies here. Budget travelers can fly here by AirAsia - booking far ahead of departure date often result in very attractive low prices.

You can get out of the airport by taking the bus. Surfside Bus 765 goes to the Robina Train Station. From there, you can catch a train to Brisbane. Bus 702 goes to Southport every half an hour, while Bus 768 goes to Tweeds Head.

If you already have your hotel booked and know which hotel you are staying, you can arrange the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle to transport you to your hotel in Gold Coast.

Travel within Gold Coast

The main bus operator in the Gold Coast is Surfside Buslines. If you plan to travel a lot by the bus, get the Translink GoCard. This stored-value card can take up to A$200 in value. To use it, simply tap it gently on the sensor when boarding the bus and do that again as you alight. If you forgot to do it when you get off the bus, you will be charged a fixed amount of A$5.00.

You should also consider renting a car. Although more expensive than public transport, your own wheels will allow you to explore long distances faster.

The beach at Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Surfers_Paradise_%2869%29.JPG
Author: GrieSeb

Places of Interest in Gold Coast

Beaches

Theme Parks

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.