Australia’s Unique Gold Coast
The eastern coast of Australia is home to some of the most pristine and gorgeous tracts of land on the planet, graced with spectacular beaches and looming ridges that dazzle visitors to these shores. The most popular-and for good reason-of all the wonderful destinations along Australia’s Pacific coast would have to be Gold Coast City and the broader Gold Coast area.
Located on the southeastern coastal strip of the state of Queensland, the Gold Coast is a short drive south of the capital city of Brisbane. Gold Coast City itself is the largest non-capital city in Australia, and the tourism industry is booming at an extraordinary rate in this swanky and hip town.
The Gold Coast melds together a perfect blend of ecologically sound attributes with a modern, developed central area. The high-rise littered strip sitting right on the water’s edge boasts many higher-end amenities and facilities, bringing all the joys of modern, 21st century life to locals and visitors; the beach strips farther removed from the center of town, as well as the tropical rainforest hinterland, are the havens of eco-tourists and day-trippers seeking a quiet and peaceful reprieve from the bustling downtown.
One of the truly unique features of the Gold Coast would have to be the intricate web of artifical waterways that were brilliantly carved out of the natural marshland that originally covered the area. All told, these canals are more than nine times longer than the famed Venetian canals…quite a lot. As a result, there are a ton of properties that sit right on the water’s edge, even though they may not be oceanfront properties, only reinforcing the allure of staying here.
The Gold Coast is ultimately known as one of the best surf destinations in the country, and in the world for that matter. The surf breaks of greatest renown along the Gold Coast’s roughly 35 miles of beaches would have to include Kirra, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, and Palm Beach, among others. Here, the perfect wave is always just about to roll in.
In keeping with the strong beach culture of the Gold Coast, there is a wonderfully efficient and excellently equipped Shark Control Program in place that has helped keep coastal swimmers free of shark attacks for a very long time indeed, at over fifty years by now. These vigilant eyes help keep locals and tourists happy and relaxed, just the way anybody should feel on a nice vacation.
The local landmarks in the Gold Coast include the Q1 tower, which provides the second-tallest observation spot in the southern hemisphere (approximately 230 meters, or 754 feet high), and Lamington National Park, listed by the UN as a World Heritage Site. It goes without saying that every inch of beach along the Gold Coast is a landmark unto itself
To put it shortly, this place has got something to satisfy all tastes and desires and is sure to leave nobody unsatisfied as a vacation destination. Clearly the 10 million tourists that frequent the area every year are solid proof of the allure and the pleasantness of the Gold Coast, and knowing that a lot of them are Australians only reaffirms this place’s status as an ideal vacation spot.
My girlfriend and I were recently in Australia and it was a very enjoyable trip. The flight is quite expensive, but it is a great country to visit. People are very friendly and the scenery is beautiful.
I lived in Surfers Paradise for a while and one of the great joys for me was waterskiing along the artificial waterways. But even knowing about the rarity of shark attacks I was always aware of sharks. No need to say I survived