Introduction to Gold Coast, Australia

A lively, sun-drenched and welcoming city on Australia’s south-east coast, the Gold Coast is a tourist hotspot that offers bucketloads of sun, sea and sand while also standing in close proximity to many of the Queensland’s major sites of natural beauty.


The Gold Coast City's climate is sub-tropical with 287 days of sunshine annually and enjoys near perfect year round sunshine, housed along over 70 kilometres of pristine beaches and a thriving resort scene. With over 260km of navigable waterways (nine times more than Venice); a Regional Botanic Gardens and numerous parks; scores of major shopping centres and small boutiques as well as plenty of sightseeing opportunities, the Gold Coast offers a host options for every kind of holidaymaker.


There is also a fine collection of restaurants and cafes scattered around the Gold Coast, offering cuisine from around the world at a range of establishments to suit every taste and budget. Evening entertainment can be found at the city’s array of bars, clubs and theatres, as well as Conrad Jupiters Casino and several nearby theme parks. A large selection of wildlife, tropical rainforest's and awe-inspiring hinterland surround the Gold Coast City, with abundant wildlife and numerous bushwalks. Boasting a thriving and diverse city centre surrounded by miles of picturesque hinterland and glorious coastline, the Gold Coast provides a host of activities for every interest and all types of holidaymaker. 




Main Facts 


Geographical Location of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast City is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, the state capital. It is separated from Logan City, a suburban area of Brisbane by the Albert River. There the Gold Coast City stretches from Yatala and Russell Island to the border with New South Wales approximately 56km south, and extends west to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in World Heritage listed Lamington National Park. To the west, the city is bordered by a part of the Great Dividing Range commonly referred to as the Gold Coast hinterland. A 206 km² section of the mountain range is protected by Lamington National Park and has been listed as a World Heritage area in recognition of its outstanding geological features and the high number of rare and threatened rainforest species.


Land/Sea Boundaries of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast is situated in the southern part of Queensland, along a coastline framing the Pacific Ocean. It stretches form the southern end of Logan City to the southern part of Coolangatta, in New South Wales for about 60 km. The most important river in this region is the Nerang River, which is a very important source of trade as well as relaxation for the people of Gold Coast. The diversity of the geography of Gold Coast is exhibited by the Great Dividing Range, which is also known as the Gold Coast hinterland. The Lamington National Park, one of the World Heritage sites, envelopes roughly 206 square km² of the mountain.


Languages of the Gold Coast 


The spoken language is predominantly English and around 90% of Australians speak English. However, the Gold Coast is a multicultural area, so many other languages are also present to some degree; primarily Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese. 


Currency of the Gold Coast 


The currency in Gold Coast is the Australian Dollar. It is the only accepted currency in the city. 




History of Gold Coast, Australia



Captain James Cook became the first European to note the region when he sailed along the coast on May 16, 1770 in the HM Bark Endeavour. Many escaped convicts from the nearby Moreton Bay penal settlement hid in the surrounding area, the region remaining largely uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was named after his boat, a cutter named Mermaid. The populace of the area was boosted as the hinterland's red cedar supply attracted large numbers of people to the area in the mid 1800s.


The western suburb of Nerang was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for the upper class Brisbane residents. In 1925, tourism to the area grew rapidly when Jim Cavill established the Surfers Paradise Hotel, which transformed to Circle on Cavill neighbouring with Towers of Chevron Renaissance shopping mall and resort apartment complex. The population grew steadily to support the tourism industry and by the 1940s, real estate speculators and journalists were referring to the area as the "Gold Coast." The true origin of the name is still debatable. The name "Gold Coast" was officially proclaimed in 1958 when the South Coast Town Council was renamed "Gold Coast Town Council".


During the 1970s, real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics, and high-rises began to dominate the area now known as Surfers Paradise and later in 1981 the airport was established. In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council and the Shire of Albert amalgamated to create new city boundaries under the administration of the City of Gold Coast Council. In recent years, the Gold Coast has continued to develop as one of the nation’s best tourist destinations and build upon its reputations as a holiday hotspot surrounded by a host of first-rate attractions, cultural landmarks and area of stunning natural beauty.

Costs in Gold Coast, Australia 


The Gold Coast has the same public holidays as the UK, with several local additions. Most public holidays become long weekends, and should a fixed-date holiday such as New Year’s Day fall on a weekend, the following Monday will usually be a holiday. Annual special events include: