[Photo] The beach at Surfers Paradise

It’s hard not to love the Gold Coast, but many don’t like the over touristy elements particularly at Surfers Paradise. But it’s really like any other place in that how you see it is up to you. Once you start to take in all the natural elements of the area and get your head out of tourist books and thinking that these attractions must be really important and must see things, then you’ll see the Gold Coast. Surfers Paradise is a convenient place for accommodation, it’s literally packed with hotels and resorts, the nightlife is all there, an endless range of eateries and numerous things to do.

But the star attraction is the beautiful beach, as in the photo above. Don’t miss it!

Coolangatta on Australias Gold Coast

Coolangatta is a small suburb at the southern end of the Gold Coast. Spectacular beaches, clean streets, relaxed, feel, freindly people and pretty easy to get around. It’s where many of the surfing comps are held it’s also where the Gold Coast airport is located. But the best feature is definately the beaches.

More articles and guides about the Gold Coast:
Gold Coast Holiday – Fun in the Sun
The Gold Coast Australia – It’s More Than Beautiful Sandy Beaches

Duranbah Beach

The photo looks down from Point Danger on to Duranbah Beach where there is a great park and the beautiful beach. Duranbah is hugely popular with surfers and you’ll often see 50+ people on their boards going for it. For info on the surf conditions check out coastalwatch.

Surfers at Rainbow Bay

Rainbow Bay is just beside Greenmount which is just beside Coolangatta which is just beside the Queensland Border which just makes it part of the Gold Coast! Popular spot, great clean sandy beach with beautiful surrounds.

Coolangatta Beach – Just Perfect

While everyone shuffles to find a spot on the beach at Surfers Paradise there are some people probably laying back, having a little chuckle, and they’re the people at lazing back on the beaches at Coolangatta!

Perhaps some people just don’t know that there is a place of perfect beaches, relaxed atmosphere, little traffic, famous surf and scenic foreshore just a couple minutes south of Gold Coast Airport. They also miss out on local pricing, that’s right, there’s no tourist tax!

There are some downsides though, one being a little more traveling time if theme parks make up a large part of your holiday and some may find the range of nightlife a little lacking compared to Surfers, but for some that’s just the way they like it!

Larger version of Coolangatta Beach photo

Photo: Beautiful Burleigh

What is it about Burleigh Heads that makes it so beautiful? Is it the scenic views? The The lack of over development and well managed green spaces/parks? The simple and natural combination of colors that please the eye? The relaxed atmosphere and fresh air? The climate? No idea, but I like it!

Gold Coast: The Holiday Accommodation Capital

This photo shows the coastline running from the southern end of Surfers Paradise and at the start of Broadbeach through to Coolangatta. The coastal strip is packed with mainly tourist accommodation apartments which came about from the real estate speculation of the 80′s and 90′s, with the crash of the property market many of these hi-rise developments were purchased for holiday apartments now offering visitors great amenities and some of the best beachfront locations.

There is quite a lot of apartment accommodation on the coast and if your looking for a great deal the best time visit is in off peak seasons especially outside school holiday periods. Here’s a list of Budget Gold Coast Accommodation and here you can find School Holiday and term dates for all Australian states.

What’s easy to see from the photo is why it such a popular destination for a holiday – prime location for holiday apartments, clean and almost endless beach with plenty of space for everyone and it’s not over congested..yet!

Gold Coast Accommodation Hi Rises

This shot was taken looking across the river that circles Macintosh Island and looks towards the hi rises of Main Beach which provide spectacular views either out towards the beach and ocean and/or across the city and inland towards the mountainous backdrop of the Hinterland. Some of those towers provide permanent residential and some holiday accommodation, or a mix of both. For holiday accommodation check out the Gold Coast Accommodation page at the Gold Coast Info site. The four prominent hi rise apartment towers in the photo are also in the perfect position come Indy time being located right on the track.

Burleigh Heads National Park-photo

Burleigh Heads National Park provides a beautiful walking track around the perimeter of the headland and to some fantastic lookouts on the track that leads across it’s heights. This is one of those views that looks out across the ocean and the landform that you can just make out in the distance is Coolangatta.

Photo: Broadbeach – Gold Coast Australia

Shot was taken early one morning strolling along the beach at Broadbeach with the sun just rising out of shot over the ocean on the right. Tyre tracks are from the surf patrol 4wd on it’s way to set up for the day.

On the left is the accommodation hi-rises at the northern end of Broadbeach leading down towards the Q1 and the hi-rises of Surfers Paradise in the distance. And yes, there is no one on the beach! Broadbeach is great place to live, visit or holiday. Far more relaxed than Surfers Paradise and more down to earth than Main Beach and with the recent redevelopments offering just as much if not more with the casino and Pacific Fair nearby. As far as Gold Coast accommodation goes, Broadbeach is sometimes a little more affordable although just as high in standards excluding probably the Marriot, Sheraton or Palazzo.