Gold Coast - The Australian Traveller Guide
Pack your swimmers and a sense of fun.
The GC” is Australia's original holiday mecca. Its worldwide popularity generates huge numbers of travellers, holiday makers, youngsters ready to party and even nature lovers who make for the fantastic Lamington National Park in the hinterland. The GC worlds are a huge part of any family itinerary. As is a day trip to the barefoot hippie executive retreat of Byron Bay.
Gold Coast Accommodation
The accommodation options are more expensive the further north you stay, so places like Main Beach and Broadbeach are the more pricey places while the sedate Burleigh Heads is a good middle of the road option down to less expensive Coolangatta. For the campers, South Stradbroke Island is a chilled oasis not far from the busy Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Accommodation
The accommodation options are more expensive the further north you stay, so places like Main Beach and Broadbeach are the more pricey places while the sedate Burleigh Heads is a good middle of the road option down to less expensive Coolangatta. For the campers, South Stradbroke Island is a chilled oasis not far from the busy Gold Coast.
When to Travel
Most times of the year the Gold Coast is pleasant. Peak season is the Christmas holidays but only in the depths of winter, June to August would it be chilly.
Avoid travelling to the Gold Coast during the schoolies held usually during the second two weeks of November. It's a time when all the school leavers go crazy on the GC and is better left to the 18 year olds learnign how to drink andparty. If you can;t avoid it, head south towards Burleigh Heads. This beautiful eastcoast spot is home to almost half a million people and is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia; it’s also less than an hour from Brisbane by car.
Most times of the year the Gold Coast is pleasant. Peak season is the Christmas holidays but only in the depths of winter, June to August would it be chilly.
Avoid travelling to the Gold Coast during the schoolies held usually during the second two weeks of November. It's a time when all the school leavers go crazy on the GC and is better left to the 18 year olds learnign how to drink andparty. If you can;t avoid it, head south towards Burleigh Heads. This beautiful eastcoast spot is home to almost half a million people and is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia; it’s also less than an hour from Brisbane by car.
Transport:
Gold Coast International Airport at Coolangatta is 25kms south of Surfers Paradise and serviced by AirAsia X, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin.
A free Airport Link shuttle provides transfers to the highway where you can catch a local Surfside Buslines service (13 12 30) or the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle offers hotel drop off ($21 one way, 1300 655 655). Major car rental companies are well represented at the airport and most have offices in Surfers Paradise. Daily bus connections to the Gold Coast are available from the Brisbane Transit Centre (from $20 one way, 1300 473 946) or Citytrain services depart Brisbane for Robina station where Surfside Buslines provide transport to the Coast. Taxi fares can vary enormously due to traffic and the spread out nature of the Gold Coast (13 10 08). Consider hiring a car or your credit card may have to brace itself.
A free Airport Link shuttle provides transfers to the highway where you can catch a local Surfside Buslines service (13 12 30) or the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle offers hotel drop off ($21 one way, 1300 655 655). Major car rental companies are well represented at the airport and most have offices in Surfers Paradise. Daily bus connections to the Gold Coast are available from the Brisbane Transit Centre (from $20 one way, 1300 473 946) or Citytrain services depart Brisbane for Robina station where Surfside Buslines provide transport to the Coast. Taxi fares can vary enormously due to traffic and the spread out nature of the Gold Coast (13 10 08). Consider hiring a car or your credit card may have to brace itself.
Area Highlights
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Great Articles on Gold Coast from
Australian Traveller Magazine
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Coolangatta in the 1950s Coolangatta historic photo > Coolangatta 1950 
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Gold Coast - Theme Parks Theme Parks Surfers Paradise > A survival guide to the four theme parks on the Gold Coast
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Gold Coast Health Retreats The best health retreats to recover in and arounf the Gold Coast
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10 Essential Gold Coast Experiences the Gold Coast offers up so much, here's ten of the best.
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Gold Coast - Fantasy Land Australia's Gold Coast is a travel mecca, its the movieworld, Surfers Paradise and a lot more. A locals guide.
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Lamington Plateau Australian Traveller magazine brings you Tim Fischer's Secret Spot: Lamington Plateau
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Affordable Summer Holidays: Coolangatta AT's guide to the best cheap accommodation for summer and Christmas holidays
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Inside the RM Williams outback spectacular The Australian Outback Spectacular is billed as the quintessential Australian experience. But is the Gold Coast’s horseback extravaganza just for overseas tourists, or will it bring a tear to the eye of a true-blue, dinky-di, sauce-on-his-pie Aussie like Mike Larder?
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