Plan now and enjoy a great trip to the city of

Plan now and enjoy a great trip to the city of golden hues!

Put on your shades and slap on some sunscreen when in Gold Coast! This sunny holiday destination in  Aussieland is gifted with abundant and well-preserved natural beauty, standing out in contrast to its sky-kissing high-rises. The Gold Coast cruises is undoubtedly the best way to explore this magnificent city.

With lush subtropical rainforests making up almost half of its lands, Gold Coast is surrounded by many national parks, some even listed as World Heritage Centres. The Gold Coast Hinterland is only a 30-minute drive from the city and features over 100,000 hectares of World Heritage listed Gondwana Rainforest, which is thriving with native flora and fauna. 

The Tamborine Mountain plateau that lies at just a 30km distance from Gold Coast, offers more than untarnished natural beauty, with its numerous local arts and craft outlets, natural and man-made attractions and award-winning wineries. 

Travel through the lush Gondwanan rainforest in a series of day walks and explore the Tweed Volcano rim on the trail. Enjoy the splendid city skyline onboard Gold Coast river cruises. Camp out at private scheduled areas and learn more about the native legends.

The History behind the trending coastal city of Australia

As goes the history of all present-day Australian cities, Gold Coast was also primarily home to native aborigines known as the Kombumerri people. Known to inhabit the land for over 23,000 years, these aboriginal tribes, with the Yugambeh dialect, were mainly hunters and gatherers. 

Change came to this forestland with the descent of the Europeans in the 19th century. As a result, some Kombumerri people drifted towards the hinterland, nonetheless, most of them stayed back and joined hands with the Europeans. The Europeans brought with them the culture of cultivation, fishing, timber-cutting and mill-work. What was once an endless wild coastland was soon curbed with the development of agricultural fields and settlements.

Triggering the influx of population was the ready-availability of coveted red-cedar wood in the area. With many small townships materialising in this region, it soon took the shape of an emerging town. 

As it was located to the south of Brisbane, it was earlier known as the South Coast. With the skyrocketing real estate prices, this land was later renamed as the Town of Gold Coast in 1958. It became a city, the very next year. Now the sixth largest city in Australia, Gold Coast is home to around 560,000 people. 

How to reach?

Brisbane is the nearest airport offering full-fledged international airline connectivity with all major airline groups across the world. Trains, trams and domestic flights can get you to Gold Coast airport from the Brisbane airport.

For local transport, Surfside Buslines, a subsidiary of the main TransLink operation, runs regular buses on all major routes. Unlimited travel passes are also available for a selected number of days. Cabs and trams are also other alternatives available. Rental bicycles, bikes, cars, boats, yachts, minibuses and 4WDs are also available at all major locations in the city. 

With about 16 different parking bays around the city, Gold Coast offers many limited-hour metered parking facilities. It is advised to book your parking space early and to park in well-lit parking areas to prevent any theft-related incidents. 

Tourist Friendly

Gold Coast has a certified visitor information centre in the city, and one near Surfers Paradise, for accurate and accredited information services. The trained staff is sure to provide you with all necessary information, brochures, maps, tour guides, itineraries and package bookings. 

Most markets and shopping centres function from early morning to late noon hours! Night markets and food zones are an exception. It is best to keep a tab on their operational hours for changes during special occasions.