City guide · Gold Coast
Gold Coast
The surf of Surfers Paradise and the lights of the theme-park capital on Queensland's golden coastline
The Gold Coast lies in the southeast corner of Queensland, about 80 kilometres south of Brisbane, and tens of kilometres of golden sand are both its name and its lifeline. The tower cluster of Surfers Paradise stands behind the beach — one of Australia's most recognisable skylines; an hour inland, the rainforest, glow-worm caves and wineries of Mount Tamborine and Springbrook National Park form its other face. Sea World, Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World and the other theme parks make it the byword for the Australian family holiday.
History
How the city came to be
This coast was for countless generations the land of the Yugambeh Aboriginal peoples. In 1770 Captain Cook sailed past and named the reef-strewn headland "Point Danger." In the 19th century timber cutting and sugar planting brought European settlers, and Southport became the seaside resort of Brisbane people. In 1925 the merchant Jim Cavill built the Surfers Paradise Hotel at Elston and campaigned hard to promote holidays under the name "Surfers Paradise." In 1958 the Gold Coast was formally made a town and raised to a city the next year, and beachfront high-rise apartments rose from then on. Sea World opened in 1971, Dreamworld in 1981 and Warner Bros. Movie World in 1991, and the "theme park capital" took shape. In 2018 the Commonwealth Games were held here. Today's Gold Coast is Australia's sixth-largest city, with tourism, construction and education as its twin pillars.
- 1770Captain Cook sails past and names "Point Danger"
- 1925Jim Cavill founds the Surfers Paradise Hotel
- 1958The Gold Coast made a town; raised to a city the next year
- 1971Sea World opens
- 1981Dreamworld opens
- 1991Warner Bros. Movie World opens
- 2018The Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast
Before you go
Rules to know in Gold Coast
Australia: tipping is not required
Do
- When service is especially good, round up or leave a small tip
Don’t
- Feeling bad about not leaving a tip
There is no penalty; Australian wages do not depend on tips.
Not yet verifiedSource: Mozo: tipping in Australia
Entering Australia: food, plant and animal products must be declared
Do
- Truthfully declare all food (even small, packaged snacks), plants and animal products on your arrival card
- If in doubt, declare it
Don’t
- Bringing fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seeds or wooden souvenirs without declaring them
You can be issued an infringement notice; your visa may be cancelled, you may be refused entry and barred from returning for up to 3 years.
Not yet verifiedSource: Australian Department of Agriculture: travelling to Australia