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Bars, Cafes and Pubs
While there are some tacky, overpriced tourist cafes and bars, the half a
million locals still need somewhere to go out for a coffee or beer, so if
you head past the obvious tourist traps, you'll find some great places to
hang out: Bars,
cafes and pub
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Bushwalking
The Gold Coast Hinterland is a magical, breath-taking place of great
natural beauty. It's full of wildlife (mostly not deadly) and bushwalking is
hugely popular all year around: Bushwalking
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Registered Clubs
There's a surf club on every beachside corner, and a bowling club not far
behind. Twin Towns and Seagulls are two of the biggest clubs in Australia,
and every major suburb has it's own RSL. All of them have cheap meals and
cheap booze: Clubs
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Boat Cruises
With more canals than Venice, a gorgeous river and a broadwater that will
take you all the way to Brisbane, getting around the Gold Coast on a boat is
one of the nicest way to see things. Choose from a party cruise, intimate
gondola or anything in between: Cruises
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Scenic Drives
Winding through the hinterland are some of the most scenic drives in the
country, and if you follow the beachside routes and coastal roads south to
Byron Bay you'll discover the alure of the Northenr NSW coastline: Drives |
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Major Events
For what is a relatively small city, the Gold Coast has a huge
major events calendar,
including: The ASP
Surfing Titles;
Lexmark Indy 300;
Magic Millions horse racing carnival;
Gold Coast Airport
Marathon; numerous Surf
Lifesaving Carnivals;
Schoolies week
celebrations and much more.
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Golf Courses
The Gold Coast has more golf courses per head of population than anywhere
else in the world. No matter what your handicap, or budget, you'll find
somewhere to have a round: Golf
Courses
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Fishing
The continental shelf isn't far of shore and there are hundreds of
creeks, estuaries, lakes and rivers to throw a line in, so if you can't
catch something on the Gold Coast, you've probably lost your hook: Fishing
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The Live Music Scene
It's not Melbourne, or Brisbane, but the Coast is home to some fantastic
local talent and there are more live music venues out there than most people
realise, check out The Chophouse, Soundlounge and Shark Bar and hear the new
breed: Live Music
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Nightclubs
From world-class dance venues with guest superstar DJs, to the downright
seedy joints with suspicious-looking patrons, the Gold Coast has more square
metres of dance floor per capita than anywhere in the world: Nightclubs
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Pamper Yourself
Paris Hilton loves the place, Arabian royalty regularly visits, and there
are enough rich citizens to support some of the best day spa and pampering
facilities in the world: Pamper
yourself at a day spa
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Restaurants
The Japanese and Korean influences are strongly represented in Gold Coast
food culture, but there is award-winning cuisine in just about every flavour
on the planet. Try Tedder Avenue or the beach at Burleigh Heads for the best
eats: Restaurants
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Scenic Flights
You don't need wings to get a birds-eye view of the Coast - a helicopter
will do just fine. All sorts of flying craft will take you up, up and away
at almost any time of day and prices are pretty competitive: Scenic
flights and helicopter rides
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Scooter Hire
Locals hate them, but scooters are one of the best ways to get around
downtown. You only need a car licence, and if you're lucky, Audrey Hepburn
will jump on the back with you: Scooter
Hire
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Scuba Diving
Moreton Bay is a world-renowned scuba diving area with an abundance of
coral reefs and wildlife, including the rare dugong, dolphins galore,
wrecks and enough colourful fish to stock albums of underwater photography: Scuba
Diving
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Surfing
Strange then that the worst surfing beach on the Gold Coast is called
'Surfers Paradise' - head north or south and you'll immediately run into
some of the best, most consistent waves in the country, but if you're just
learning, Surfers Paradise is ideal: Surfing
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