Gold Coast travel guide

Gold Coast - Overview

Gold Coast has a population of more than 400,000 people and it is the 6th largest Australian city. It is situated in the southeastern section of Queensland, Australia. The city is vastly enclosed with valleys, hills, lowlands and uplands. Some parts of Gold Coast are also covered by coastal regions. The highest elevation in this city stands over 1,000 meters above sea level. The summer months here are from December to February while the winter months last from June until August.

Climate

The climate in the area is subtropical and enjoys around 287 days of sunshine per year.

History

The first European to take note of the area was Captain James Cook when he sailed down the length of the coast on 1770 onboard the HM Bark Endeavor. However, the land continued to be uninhabited by the Europeans until 1823 when John Oxley, an explorer, alighted at the Mermaid Beach, which was aptly christened after his boat called Mermaid.

Economy

Australia’s Gold Coast is a fairly stable city in terms of economy. There are plenty of increasingly growing industries in Gold Coast such as the fishing industry, rum business, tourism, education, and oyster farming, among others. The service industry is also on the rise and unemployment is not considered as a problem in this area. Because of Gold Coast’s natural beauty, it has slowly gained fame as a favored tourist spot. The tourism industry largely helps in gaining revenue for the city.

Transportation

Going to Gold Coast

The International Terminal is the recently launched airport near the area. It is closely situated in Brisbane, just roughly 80 kilometers away from Gold Coast. Everyday international flights could be availed from the airport. Helicopters and other aircrafts could also be found here.

Traveling within Gold Coast

There are numerous domestic flights between different places that could be availed from Gold Coast’s Coolangatta Airport. Aside from air transportation, the Surfer's Paradise Bus Transit Center provides travelers with coaches to various places. Among these buses are those that ply the Gold Coast to Brisbane routes, some day trip buses or tour coaches, several long distance coaches, and others. One could also get around Gold Coast with their train services. Other modes of transportation here are the Monorail, taxis, and rental cars.

Society and Culture

The ethnic groups found in the city are very diverse. Because of this, Gold Coast enjoys a varied cultural atmosphere. Two important parts of Gold Coast’s culture are dance and music. The most renowned sports in the area are football, rugby, and car racing.