The Gold Coast, located in south-east Queensland, is one of Australia’s leading holiday parks. With 70 kilometers of sun-drenched beaches, World Heritage-listed rainforests, theme parks, shopping and nightlife, it’s a world-class and elegant vacation destination. In fact, the Gold Coast has been identified as one of the world’s most desirable places to live based on political, social, health, personal safety, economic, and environmental factors.

The Gold Coast is located in the subtropical region of the southern hemisphere and enjoys warmth and sunshine throughout the year. Australian seasons are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere: the average temperature in summer is 25 degrees Celsius and in winter it is around 15 degrees Celsius. You can expect over 300 days of sunshine each year, with the rainy season from December to March when the northwest monsoons move south from Asia bringing heavy rain.

Your flight will most likely land at Brisbane International Airport, which is a 45-minute drive north of the heart of the Gold Coast. Alternatively, if your Australian holiday started in, say, Sydney or Melbourne, you may choose to fly into the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta, which is approximately 35 minutes south of Surfers Paradise, considered by many to be the epicenter of Gold. Coast. Both airports have tourist information points and car rental companies represented in their terminals.

All foreigners except New Zealanders require visas for all visits to Australia. Citizens of some countries can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is a tourist or business visa valid for stays of up to three months. These ETAs are available online and through travel agents when you book your flight to Australia. If you apply for your ETA through your agent, there is generally no fee for applying directly.

Lodging – With everything from exclusive 5-star hotels to farm stays and sunny beachside cottages to sun-dappled bed and breakfast properties, you’ll be spoiled for choice. A visit to http://www.gold-coast.net and a click on ‘accommodation’ will show you a variety of hotel options, including location and cost, which you can explore and compare. Most visitors find themselves in the center of Surfer’s Paradise, however, if you prefer somewhere quieter and less crowded, you might consider a canal-view apartment at Runaway Bay or an inland retreat at Mount Tamborine, where rainbow parrots will greet you every morning.

Driving: Australia drives on the ‘left’. Overseas visitors who are used to driving on the ‘right’ should be careful until they get used to this; roundabouts can be especially tricky. Your travel agent will be able to tell you if your current driver’s license is valid in Australia. Check this several weeks before departure so that you have time to apply for an international driver’s license if necessary. Australia has a well-maintained road and highway system where speeding, drink driving, driving while using a mobile phone and wearing seat belts are not tolerated. If necessary, most car rental companies will provide you with child car seats and these are also required by law.

Sightseeing and activities: Once you’ve settled into your Gold Coast accommodation, you’ll want to plan what to see and do. If you’re traveling with kids, theme parks will be high on your agenda. Gold Coast has four main theme parks; Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet and Wild. Our family’s favorite is Dreamworld because it has something for all ages (including a water park) and is home to the Australian version of the popular reality show Big Brother.

There are also a couple of wildlife parks on the coast that offer great educational talks at regular intervals throughout the day and make a great excursion. At David Fleays Wildlife Park and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, you can get up close to snakes and birds of prey, cuddle with a koala and feed kangaroos. In both parks there are cafeterias, picnic areas and games where families can rest and play in the shade.

When you visit the Gold Coast, you’ll also want to hit the beach, where you can attend a surf lifesaving carnival, join a surf lesson, or just swim and build sand castles. Some of the most popular beaches are Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads and Currumbin. There is also a very family friendly sheltered beach at Paradise Point which includes a beachfront park, BBQ’s, picnic tables, lots of shade, play areas and some great take out outlets within a stones throw.

Unfortunately, one of the most common causes of death for tourists in Australia is found on its glorious beaches. Every year, a good number of tourists (and sometimes locals as well) drown on its shores. Australian beaches, particularly the long stretches common on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, have extremely strong rips and pulls that most people cannot detect or handle. Never swim in beaches that are not supervised by lifeguards. Look out for the yellow and red surf lifesaving flags and swim between them to keep yourself safe and within sight of the local lifeguard.

With nine times as many waterways and canals as Venice, get ready for many kinds of water fun on the coast with sunset cruises, sailing, jet skiing and fishing charters.

For a different experience, head inland and visit beautiful inland areas like Tamborine Mountain, or experience the country lifestyle in country towns like Beaudesert. The Gold Coast has some of Australia’s most diverse wildlife regions, with World Heritage-listed rainforests near the New South Wales border, where you can walk among ancient Antarctic beech trees, see the spectacular springbrook waterfalls or head for freshness. from Lamington National Park.

For golfers, there are more than 40 championship golf courses in the region. Three hundred days of sunshine a year means golf can be on your vacation agenda no matter the season, and you can play on magnificent courses designed by Greg Norman, Arnold Palmer or Jack Nicklaus.

For golf widows and widowers, shopping centers abound on the Gold Coast with some of the largest shopping areas in Australia. Visit Pacific Fair, Marina Mirage, Harbor Town or Runaway Bay Shopping Center on the waterfront or head inland to find artisan shops, farmers markets and art galleries.

Dining: At the end of a hard day of shopping or sightseeing, choose from more than 500 restaurants and enjoy fresh seafood or authentic ethnic cuisine, from Italian to Japanese and Thai to Chinese.

Within an easy day trip from the coastal areas, you can enjoy locally made wines on the Gold Coast Wine Trail, which begins in the suburb of Oxenford and meanders west towards Mount Tamborine. Many wineries offer gourmet food, cheeses, host live jazz bands and other types of live entertainment such as poetry readings and classical quartets.

When it comes to entertainment, the Gold Coast is exciting. There are events like the annual Indy car race in October, horse races, carnivals, marathon events, and tackle. Alternatively, you can go to the movies, see a live musical or theme show, go to a nightclub, or visit the Jupiter Casino. Families can head to Surfers Paradise, where free movies are regularly shown on a giant screen located on the beach. People bring their own chairs and towels and when the sun goes down, the family-friendly movie doubleheader begins.

Excessive sun exposure in the Australian latitudes is responsible for many cases of sunburn, heat stroke and heat exhaustion each year. In the long term, premature aging and skin cancer are also at risk. Even in the coldest areas of the south, the proximity to the hole in the ozone layer means that the risk of sunburn is much higher than in the northern hemisphere. Light-skinned people are at particular risk and it is recommended to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30+. Sunny Australia has a simple message for the traveler “Slip, slip, slap!” Put on a shirt, put on some sunscreen, and put on a hat!

Australia as a whole enchants its visitors. From the friendly attitude of its people to the breathtaking blue of its skies, it is a place like no other, with animals and landscapes that you will not find anywhere else in the world and an unparalleled diversity of people, flavors, aromas and sights.

This vast island-continent has a relatively small urbanized population of just 20 million people. By contrast, the UK is home to around 60 million people and is 30 times smaller than Australia. Australians are also a culturally diverse nation where multiculturalism is not just tolerated, but embraced. Approximately 5.6 million people have emigrated to Australia since World War II, representing a large percentage of the population; in fact, more than a quarter of the current population was born abroad.

People from all walks of life come to the Gold Coast to work, live, play and study – the lifestyle is laid back, the people are friendly and if you are like us you will return from your Gold Coast holiday and apply to migrate. australian. ! We have lived in it for the past six years and now call it home…