Gold Coast Lastminute Hotels & Travel Guide
The Gold Coast, Queensland is the most developed resort area in Australia. A coastline that extends 30 km from the New South Wales border to a long sandy spit that protects the mouth of the Nerang River. From south to north we have the towns of Coolangatta, Currumbin, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Southport.
For those wanting a quiet sleepy resort the Gold Coast is not the place. High rise Gold Coast apartments dominate the skyline. Gold Coast theme parks provide a backdrop and active nightlife make for bustle and excitement. The Gold Coast hinterland provides relaxation with Tamborine Mountain a world away from the surf and sun of the Gold Coast beaches, “the green behind the gold”.
Shopping
With some of the largest shopping centres in Australia, Gold Coast is the retail therapy capital of Australia. You will find the major centres full of retail chains and boutiques, you will also find plenty of cool alternate stores on the edges of the main shopping districts.
Robina Towb Centre – Robina Town Centre is the Gold Coast's premier retail and leisure destination. Discover a wealth of shopping choices with the Gold Coast’s only David Jones department store as well as Big W, Target, Kmart, Coles, two Woolworths Supermarkets and over 300 specialty stores. The centre is also home to a new world-class fashion mall featuring some of Australia's most iconic brands such as SABA, Carla Zampatti, CUE, Country Road, David Lawrence, Sportscraft and more.
Pacific Fair – Pacific Fair has over 300 retail stores and services, including Myer, Kmart, Target, Coles, Nick Scali F urniture, Rebel Sport, Toys R Us, Best & Less and a 12 screen Birch Carroll & Coyle senstadium cinema complex. There are well over 5000 car parking spaces and during the Christmas rush every single one of them is full. Locals and tourists both love it and there's even a bar and lagoon in the middle of it.
Hinterland Haven
Lamington National Park – Rugged mountain scenery, tumbling waterfalls, rainforest, wildflower heaths, tall open forests, picturesque creeks, varied wildlife and some of the best bushwalking in Queensland. The park's beautiful rainforests include the largest subtropical rainforest remnant in the world and one of the most extensive Antarctic beech cool temperate rainforests in Australia. Lamington National Park is home to an incredible variety of wildlife including rare and threatened plants and animals such as the Coxen’s fig-parrot. An hour from the Gold Coast via either Canungra or Nerang.
Tamborine National Park – Tamborine National Park contains precious remnants of subtropical rainforest and open forest on and around the slopes of the scenic Tamborine Mountain Plateau. Much of the subtropical rainforest is dominated by the distinctive piccabeen palm. The unusual cycads Lepidozamia peroffskyana growing on the mountain are relics of plants which flourished 150 million years ago. Tamborine 30 minutes North West of the Gold Coast via the Pacific Highway and Tamborine-Oxenford Road.
Dining & Entertainment
The Gold Coast has a restaurant on every corner and most are really quite good. Although not as diverse as Sydney and Melbourne, you wont be dissapointed if you after a modern Australian cuisine or Asian food for your tastebuds.
There are large Japanese population in the Gold Coast, this means there are plenty of fantastic, cheap sushi places with the excellent quality. If you’re after a cheap meal by the ocean, pretty much all of the surf clubs have a bistro where no matter what you choose you’ll find a huge pile of great food sitting on your plate for less than $15. Menu options are generally limited to chicken parmigiana, fish and chips, spaghetti bolognaise or the seafood platter, but you can’t beat the value or the view.
Places To Go
Surfers Paradise – energy of the Gold Coast. This is the active area full of people, resorts, shops restaurants and nightlife. Surfers Paradise operates 24 hours a day with beach fun in the day and busy clubs and restaurants in the evening.
Burleigh Heads – Burleigh Heads is in the middle of the Gold Coast and the whole Gold Coast is visible from Burleigh Headland. Beaches, national park, wild life park and beachfront markets are all at Burleigh Heads.
Southport – Southport was originally established as the southern port for Queensland. Now an area of restaurants, cafes, shopping malls and the home to Southport Yacht Club and the Marina Mirage with its boutiques and nightlife. Southport is very close to Seaworld and the beaches at the northern end of the Gold Coast. Southport includes the Broadwater a huge area of calm water, walkways and parkland. Boating and fishing is easy and safe on the Broadwater. Southport has a popular swimming enclosure ideal for visiting families. To the north of Southport is Sanctuary Cove with its marina and shopping complex.
Theme Parks
Dreamworld – Dreamworld is one of the four main Gold Coast Theme Parks. Full of adrenaline charged rides and Australian wildlife experience. The big five attractions are some of the tallest, fastest thrill rides in the world: the Thunderbolt rollercoaster; Tower of Terror, Giant drop, Cyclone and Wipeout. There are 13 "worlds" including World of wildlife: World of Wiggly Fun; World of Nick Fun; World of Leisure and World of Waves.
Sea World – Sea World is one of the major Gold Coast theme parks. A combination of rides, marine animals and extravagant shows makes for a fun day out for all the family.
Sea World – Sea World is one of the major Gold Coast theme parks. A combination of rides, marine animals and extravagant shows makes for a fun day out for all the family.
Movie World – Movie World is one of the main Gold Coast theme parks. Movie World has rides and exhibits all based around famous films.
Movie World – Wet ‘n’ Wild has attractions all based around water. They range from white-water adventures to hot springs. The surf is always present at the Giant Wave Pool that contains 3 million litres of water.
Book your Theme Park Tours in Gold Coast online.
