Visiting Australia’s magical Gold Coast

Australia is a dream destination for many travellers across the globe, and especially in the UK. It is the sixth largest country in the world, so it is impossible to do more than scratch the surface on a two-week visit. People tend to gravitate to the big cities like Melbourne and Sydney, but to experience the true Australian vibe, the Gold Coast is hard to beat. Here’s why.

Sun-kissed beaches

The clue is in the name: the Gold Coast has miles of beautiful white-sanded beaches with evocative names like Surfer’s Paradise. To get involved in Aussie surfing culture, Rainbow Bay and Greenmount Beach are popular choices. Visitors should just be aware that the swells can be sizeable, so younger or inexperienced swimmers should stick to the more northern beaches such as Gold Coast Beach, where there are smaller waves and fewer stray surfboards!

Jupiter’s

Here’s a secret about Australians: it’s not all surfing and water-skiing, even on the Gold Coast. The cliché about Australians loving a game is absolutely based in fact. These days, they are as likely to play online as anywhere, despite the government’s constant attempts to curb the habit. There are numerous places to do so, as long as one does some homework. But Jupiter’s on the Gold Coast is where it all began, at least for Queenslanders.

Jupiter’s was the area’s first gaming venue, and is still referred to as such locally, even after being rebranded the Star Gold five years ago. It has been the focal point for local nightlife for the past 35 years. There are more than 1,000 of the pokies that Australians love so much, as well as all the usual table games. Jupiter’s also has an immense choice of entertainment activities and eateries that the whole family can enjoy together.

The Hinterland

Visit any Australian city and a fairly short drive inland will soon end up in the middle of nowhere. In the areas outside of Perth or Melbourne all drivers will see is mile after mile of dust roads through the outback. The Gold Coast is a little different.

Lamington, Springbrook and Tamborine are just three of the National Parks ready to be discovered and close enough to the Gold Coast for a day trip. Tourists can forget preconceptions of the dusty outback and experience beautiful mountain streams, magical forest glades and lots more. As well as hiking, biking and riding, there are experiences like ziplining at Mount Tamborine that are not to be missed.

Meet the wildlife

If none of Australia’s famous wild animals are spotted while visiting the Hinterland, travellers can make up for it with a visit to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Hospital, where it’s possible to meet kangaroos, koalas and a lot more.

There are shows scheduled throughout the day that are entertaining and informative for all ages, so it’s worth arriving a few minutes early to get a good seat, as they are hugely popular, especially during the school holidays.

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