The Unforgettable Australian 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 area blends the extremes of urban, modern life on the one hand and pristine ecological settings on the other hand like no other place on the planet. The most developed portion of Gold Coast City, sitting right on the waterfront on a sand bar, is brimming with high-rises and all of the luxuries and comforts of modern life; then, the areas farther inland as well as the beaches farther from downtown, including the rainforest area in the Gold Coast hinterland, provide the ideal sanctuary for nature lovers, picnickers, and just about anybody looking to get away from the bustle of life in the center.

A truly remarkable quality of this area is its winding grid of man-made canals and waterways, which were built as a way to ease development in what was historically a low-lying marshy area. In their totality, these canals stretch out over a distance that is over nine times longer than the world-famous canals of Venice, which is a fair amount of waterways when you think about it. One of the benefits of this feature has been that lots of properties are located on the waterfront even if they are not right on the beach, and this has helped boost the Gold Coast’s allure.

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.

Given the excellent beach conditions and the temptation to take a dip experienced by everybody, there is a professional and extremely competent Shark Control Program carried out by the state government, and it is credited with sparing beach goers from shark attacks since the late 1950s…an eternity! Under the watchful gaze of these professionals, tourists and locals alike can take a dip without cause for concern.

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

In sum, this is a place with a little something for everybody, and a whole lot more, too! Apparently the 10 million annual tourists that visit the Gold Coast think that way as well, with many of them being Australians themselves…real evidence that this destination is one you can’t afford to miss out on.

Check Gold Coast Surfboards and Gold Coast Surfboard Hire for surfboard rentals and related travel services.