Gold Coast Attractions

It is claimed that nowhere else in Australia are there so many luxury hotels, resort complexes, motels, apartments, guesthouses and youth hostels, such a range of entertainments and sports facilities, such opportunities for enjoying yourself or for shopping, as on the Gold Coast. Particularly during the holiday season the resorts on the Gold Coast, with over 3 million visitors a year, are a constant bustle of life and activity: booking in advance, therefore, is essential. The Gold Coast has a mild climate, with average maximum temperatures of 22°C in winter and 28°C in summer, and over 300 days in the year with sunshine.

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's best-known holiday regions. During the last few decades it has been involved in a massive tourist development and building boom, extending along the beaches from Southport in the north to Coolangatta in the south and reaching into the green hinterland. After some years of recession the economy was given a fresh boost by the Bicentennial celebrations and Expo 88 in Brisbane, only 70km away, and development is again proceeding apace. One problem has been the washing away of sand from the beaches, which has made extensive protective measures necessary.

The green grazing country immediately inland from the coast reaches into the hilly landscape of the Great Dividing Range, with hills rising to above 1000m. There is an excellent network of roads running up the valleys and leading to viewpoints in the hinterland, and the rain forests in the national park are within easy reach. Possible excursions, for example, are to the Numinbah Valley immediately north of the border with New South Wales, to the Natural Arch Bridge National Park (Nerang), Lamington National Park (Beaudesert) or Mount Tamborine.

To the south can be seen Mount Warning, the lava plug of a former giant volcano which impressed Captain Cook.

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Read More Beaudesert, Australia

Beaudesert (pop. 5030) near the border with New South Wales, is an agricultural center (beef cattle, dairy farming, arable farming).

Features of the town include; St Mary's Church (timber-built), Royal Hotel, old post office (19th C), and an interesting Pioneer Museum.

Address: Gold Coast Tourism, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217, Australia

Lamington National Park

(Near Beaudesert)

20,000ha.

Lamington National Park (established 1915), with excellent visitor facilities, is one of the state's most popular national parks. It was named after Lord Lamington, governor of Queensland.

The park lies in hilly country (the Border Ranges) in the extreme southeast of Queensland, with a plateau (900-1200m) extending along the McPherson Range, which falls steeply down on the south side in cliffs and gorges. The hills are remnants of the ancient Mount Warning shield volcano.

The park contains over 500 waterfalls, tropical and subtropical rain forest and beech forests in the higher regions, with a very varied fauna (more than 190 species of birds).

There is an excellent network of walking trails in the park, with a total length of over 150km. The best views are to be had from trails in the south of the park.

Address: Lamington National Park, Box 155, Brisbane, QLD 4002, Australia

Tips: Best time to visit is throughout the year. The waterfalls are at their most impressive after the summer rain (March and April); in spring (September and October) there are wild flowers; in winter the weather is at its best (dry and sunny). Access from Brisbane on Pacific Highway or Mount Lindesay Highway.

Transit: There are excursion buses from Brisbane.

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Natural Bridge (Arch) National Park

200ha.

The central feature of this national park is a waterfall which plunges down into a basalt cave from which the water flows under a natural basalt arch. There are attractive trails from the picnic area to the river through largely unspoiled rain forest and to a viewpoint from which Mount Warning, a lava plug which is a remnant of a large shield volcano, can be seen, affording fascinating views of the scenic beauties of this small national park.

Address: Springbrook National Park, Mudgeeraba, QLD 4215, Australia

Tips: Best time to visit: spring and autumn. Access is easy from Brisbane on the Pacific Highway and from Southport, Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads via Mudgereeba. Warning: Mount Cougal and Mount Wunburra should be tackled only by experienced rock climbers.

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