the gold coast - lonely...
TRANSCRIPT
The Gold CoastWhy Go?Boasting 35 beaches, 300 sunny days and four million visi-tors a year, the Gold Coast serves up a sexy Aussie cocktail of sun, surf and sand. It’s no cliché to say that the beaches here are spectacular, with outstanding waves at Burleigh Heads, Currumbin and Kirra: it’s one of the best places to learn to surf in Australia. Behind the beach is a shimmering strip of high-rise apartments, eateries, bars, clubs and theme parks. The party capital is Surfers Paradise, where the fun sucks you into a dizzying vortex and spits you back out exhausted. The hype diminishes drastically as you head south, with Broadbeach’s sandy chic, Burleigh Heads’ seaside charm and Coolangatta’s laid-back surfer ethos. In the lush, sub-tropical hinterland, Lamington and Springbrook National Parks offer rainforest walks, waterfalls, sweeping views and cosy mountain retreats.
Best Places to Eat¨¨ Providore (p125)
¨¨ Oskars (p129)
¨¨ BSKT Cafe (p126)
¨¨ Manolas Brothers Deli (p126)
¨¨ Borough Barista (p128)
Best Places to Stay¨¨ Komune (p129)
¨¨ Vibe Hotel (p119)
¨¨ O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (p132)
¨¨ Mouses House (p133)
¨¨ Olympus Apartments (p118)
When to Go
Jan Summer means sun, heat, busy beaches and the Big Day Out festival.
Jun–Aug Winter brings tourists from the chilly south chasing the sun.
Nov School-leavers (‘school-ies’) swarm into Surfers Paradise to party (avoid unless you’re 18).
F DNOSAJJMAMJ
Surfers Paradise°C/°F Temp
0/32
10/50
20/68
30/86
40/104
0
4/100
8/200
12/300
16/400
20/500
Rainfall inches/mm
Surfers Paradise......... 117Southport & Main Beach .................122Broadbeach ................126Burleigh Heads & Currumbin ..............126Coolangatta ................129Gold Coast Hinterland .................. 131
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Rock PoolsCurrumbin
The
Broadw
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O C E A NP A C I F I CS O U T H
LakesVarsity
Nerang
Helensvale
Coomera
Ormeau
Robina
W A L E SS O U T H
N E W
Coomera
Main Beach
Oxenford
Coolangatta
MountainsGreen
PointParadise
CoveSanctuary
WellJacobs
TamborineNorth
Kingscliff
Helensvale
Ormeau
Bundall
Robina
BeachMermaid
Miami
Tugun
Currumbin
Palm Beach
HeadsTweed
Broadbeach
Southport
Nerang
Beechmont
Mt Tamborine
Mudgeeraba
Advancetown
BridgeNatural
ValleyNuminbah
BurraBinna
Canungra
Springbrook
Tamborine
(40km)Byron Bay
(35km)Brisbane
National Park
National ParkTamborine
National ParkBay Islands
South Moreton
Tamborine
(1190m)Mt Toolona
(682m)Mountain
Tallebudgera
(552m)MountainTamborine
(694m)Mt Cougal
Brook FallsPurling
LakeAdvancetown
IslandCoomera
IslandWoogoompah
DangerPoint
RiverTweed
Albert
R
RiverNera
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RiverPimpama
Coomer
a Rive
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Gold CoastAirport
SanctuaryWildlife
Wildlife ParkDavid Fleay
Currumbin
All LookoutBest of
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Sprin
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Burra RdBinna
Park RdNatio
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Beec
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Robert DrHenri
Nerang Rd
Beaudesert-
(Former Pacific Hwy)Tweed Valley Way
Hwy
Gold Coast
Hwy
Pacific
IslandStradbrokeSouth
National ParkLamington National Park
Springbrook
Burleigh Heads
Surfers Paradise
WhiteWater World
Movie WorldWarner Bros
Sea World
Dreamworld &
Wet'n'Wild
5 miles010 km0
1 Drinking, dancing and watching the sun come up over the beach at Surfers Paradise (p117).
2 Getting up early to surf the point break at Burleigh Heads (p126).
3 Bushwalking through craggy gorges and rainforests
in Lamington National Park (p132).
4 Beating a retreat from the crowds to a looong stretch of golden sand on South Stradbroke Island (p122).
5 Confirming the validity of the Best Of all lookout’s name in Springbrook National Park (p133).
6 testing your nerve (and how long it’s been since you had lunch) on the rollercoasters at the Gold Coast theme parks (p123).
The Gold Coast Highlights