Travel Eye on Surfers Paradise (Queensland, Australia)

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Overview:

Queensland is where Australians themselves go on holiday, not surprising when you consider what the state has to offer: miles and miles of glorious beaches, the lively resorts of the Gold Coast and, further north the rainforests and islands of the Tropical North. But it is the Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world, for which Queensland is most renowned.

The Gold Coast's lively central region is filled with magnificent holiday apartments, luxury hotels, resorts, holiday accommodation , shopping centres and restaurants. But the area's greatest attractions are golden beaches that stretch forever and are washed by the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The whole place looks rather tatty: a lot of the buildings are showing their age and the esplanade which runs the length of the splendid beach is mostly separated from it by an area of untended greenery, bushes or coarse grass. The outer parts of the resort are mainly high-rise apartments and hotels.

The area's subtropical climate has winter temperatures in the low 70s, making it a major holiday area for Australians from cooler southern cities; it also attracts beach bums, surfers, backpackers and bikers. International tourism is dominated by SE Asian tour groups, especially Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong Chinese. Although undoubtedly offering superb climate, beach and surfing, British tourists can find similar offerings closer to home. Unless relatives or friends live in the country, this is a long way to travel for a beach holiday.

Locality:

Surfers Paradise is situated almost halfway up the E coast of Australia, in the SE corner of Queensland, 50 mls S of Brisbane; 60 mls S of Brisbane international airport, 14 mls N of Coolangatta airport. On a narrow spit of low-lying sand between the South Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the Nerang River, where it forms an intracoastal waterway. The spit runs N to S, with the ocean on the E side and the river to the W. There are many small islands, peninsulas and waterways between the main spit and the mainland, which then stretches W across a flat plain to the Tamborine Mountains in the distance.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

One of the Gold Coast's many theme parks, Sea World, is located on The Spit at Main Beach and has dolphin, shark and sea lion shows, thrill-a minute ski shows, the exhilarating Bermuda Triangle ride and more.

From nearby Fisherman's Wharf you can cruise across the Broadwater and out to sea for a day of game fishing or enjoy a host of watersports including jetskiing and parasailing. For a real adrenalin rush, dive off a platform suspended high above the water at Bungee Downunder. Marina Mirage, also on The Spit, is the home of stylish boutiques and waterfront restaurants and cafes. Surfers Paradise is renowned for resort shopping, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Sit back and watch buskers, calypso bands and magicians get up to tricks in Cavill Mall.

Conrad Jupiters at Broadbeach offers an oasis of restaurants, bars, nightclub and authentic English pub, plus a live stage show and 24-hour action and excitement at Jupiters Casino. Linking the casino-resort complex and the casual shopping and dining precincts of Broadbeach is a modern monorail operating daily from 7am to midnight.

Every shopper's fantasy comes alive at Pacific Fair, Queensland's largest shopping complex. Spend a day wandering through cobbled streets, dazzling arcades and department stores.

The beaches are long and wide with texture and colour of fine demerara sugar, extending for miles in both directions. Surfing needs high seas and breakers, so swimming can be dangerous and lots of people get into trouble here. Follow the safety code indicated by flags and ensure a lifeguard is on duty. Water sports other than surfing are best practised in the calmer waters of the intracoastal waterway to the W of the resort.