Imagine Hawaii, only with wider, whiter beaches, and cheaper to stay and eat, and not so commercialized, and weather just a little more temperate, and Australian beer. Now you are starting to get the picture of '''Surfers Paradise''', Queensland, Australia. With 70 km of beaches and several hundred km of tidal rivers and basins, water sports rule Surfers Paradise.

Many Australians believe that Surfers Paradise has been spoilt, and the whole of the Gold Coast area now has a somewhat dubious reputation for being a place where foreign tourists go to get ripped off or locals go for a night out in seedy strip clubs (which are plentiful). Although there can be no doubt the area has been overdeveloped, this reputation is probably a little bit harsh and in recent years many of the seedier aspects of the Gold Coast have been redeveloped into more lucrative upmarket ventures. The beaches are undeniably great but be aware that high rise developments just off the main beach mean that every afternoon huge amounts of the beach sit in the shadows!

Understand

When to go

Assuming that you want to experience the sea, the best time to hit the Gold Coast in between October and March when temperatures climb.

Be aware that Schoolies Week is on in November, when the entire area is invaded by tens of thousands of 17-18 year-olds who have just finished high school and head to the beaches to let off steam and celebrate. It's a huge party - but if drunken teenagers aren't your scene then this is a time to avoid.

Get in

''Surfers Paradise'' is located on the Gold Coast of Australia, about an hour by car south of Brisbane. A train service also connects to Brisbane Airport and arrives at Robina just a 10 minute bus ride from Surfers.

Coolangatta Airport is on the southern side of the Gold Coast and is about a 30 minute bus ride to Surfers. Frequent domestic flights are available.

Get around

Surfside bus lines provides public bus services for the Gold Coast area, for time table information and prices check out http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au

Taxi cabs are another way to go, but can be quite expensive.

  • ''' Alpha Car Hire''', [http://www.alphacarhire.com.au/goldcoast-car-hire.asp].
  • ''' Cut Price Car Rentals, [http://www.cutpricecarrentals.com].
  • See

    There are 21 theme parks and attractions on the Gold Coast, including Sea World, Warner Brothers Movieworld, Dreamworld and Wet 'n Wild Water Park. At Currumbin Sanctuary you can see hundreds of mountain parrots. If you want to pet kangaroos and emus, then Fleays Wildlife Park is where you should head.

  • '''Q1''', situated right at the waterfront and rising 323m, it is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere and is also the tallest all-residential tower in the world.
  • Do

    As the name of the city implies, surfing is the order of the day. You can check live surf cams and surf conditions [http://www.coastalwatch.com/cam.asp?cam=1300 here]. Other water sports like boating and fishing are also plentiful.

    If you are going to swim make sure you swim in patrolled areas (between the red and yellow flags). Each year hundreds of swimmers get into trouble in the strong currents and it's always the tourists swimming outside the flags who end up swept out to sea and drowning. If you do get in trouble just put your hand up above your head to get the lifesaver's attention.

    Buy

    Eat

    Budget

  • '''The Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club''' offers a great lunch deal $6.50 for a large piece of crumbed chicken, chips and salad plus free basic drink. And it is right across for the beach just down from Cavil ave.
  • '''Surfers Paradise RSL Club''' the staff at the sign-in desk are quite rude and the whole place feels a little seedy as you walk right in to the pokie machine lounge, however once you get upstairs it's ok. This club offers a great value roast dinner from 5:30pm till about 8:30pm for about $6.50, all the other meals are well priced. Beer is cheap and it's just a short walk to Melba_fs and Cavil ave.
  • '''Jacks Kebabs''', this is a great little Kebab joint across from the beach opp. McDonalds, makes a very tasty Kebab and it's popular in the early hours of the morning as all the drunks stumble out of the clubs looking for a meal.
  • '''King of Noodle''' is a great little Chinese restaurant located in the Centre Arcade across from Circle on Cavill (next to where the Hilton is being constructed). They offer cheap Asian dishes however unlike some other cheap Asian restaurants, the dish sizes are quite very good for the price (Dishes start from $8). Offer a good range of vegetarian alternatives
  • Mid-Range

  • Medexotic. hevron Renaissance. 592 0004. Middle eastern/med style restaurant. Friendly service with funky decore and great food. Belly Dancing every friday and saturday night from 8PM.

    Splurge

    Plenty of the hotels around Surfers Paradise offer buffet all you can eat seafood, which is normally quite nice and around $50 - $60 per person plus drinks. Some offer lunch specials or early bird deals.

    Drink

    Most of the night clubs are down Orchid Ave just off the main strip Cavil Ave, ones to check out are:

  • '''The Drink'''
  • '''Elsewhere'''
  • '''Cocktails & Dreams (Multi-level Club)'''
  • '''Shooters'''
  • '''Melbas'''
  • Sleep

  • '''Backpacker hostels''', a lower cost alternative, are mostly located in Surfers Paradise, Southport, Main Beach and Coolangatta. Some backpacker operators in Surfers Paradise require an international passport. If you hold an Australian passport, you may be asked to sign up and pay for membership to a group the backpacker operator is affiliated with (eg. YHA, Nomads or VIP)
  • '''Motels''' are located all along the Gold Coast Hwy. Most can be found in Labrador, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Palm Beach and Tweed Heads. Single rooms are $60 to $80, while doubles rooms are $70 to $90 but prices increase during peak summer. Prices are lower and availability is better, the further they are away from Surfers Paradise.
  • '''Camping and Caravan''' grounds are dotted about the Gold Coast, although many have closed to make way for other development. The largest operater is Gold Coast Tourist Parks [http://www.gctp.com.au/] a business arm of the Gold Coast City Council. It has 7 parks: Main Beach, Tallebudgera Creek, Burleigh Heads, Kirra Beach, Broadwater, Jacobs Well, Ocean Beach (Miami). Other caravan parks can be found in Miami, Carrara, Labrador, Nerang and Mudgeeraba. Accommodation options include caravan and camping sites, luxury cabins and group lodgings. Facilities may include swimming pools, play equipment and barbecue areas.
  • '''Apartment''' accommodation in high- and low-rise buildings is an altenative to hotels. A two-bedroom apartment in Surfers Paradise will cost around $150 per night in the off-season, and upwards of $300 a night in peak summer. Many have a minimum stay of 3 or 5 nights and may allow only one Saturday night per seven days. Reception hours are limited and a bond may be required in some cases. Inside amenities typically include kitchen, washer and dryer, and separate bedrooms. Outside amenities may include swimming pool, gym and other resort facilities.
  • '''Hotels''', include chains such as the Mariott, Crowne Plaza and Novotel. Hotels are concentrated in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.
  • Budget

  • Trekkers Backpackers. 2 White St. Southport QLD 4215. 1-1800-100-004. ttp://www.trekkersbackpackers.com.au/. A backpacker accommodation

  • Surfers Paradise Backpackers Resort. 837 Gold Coast Highway Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217 . 1-1800-282-800. ttp://www.surfersparadisebackpackers.com.au/. A top-end backpacker's accommodation

  • '''Surfers Paradise YHA at Main Beach''' [http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=248] close to beach and surrounding pubs, the perfect base to explore the area.
  • '''Islander Backpackers Resort''' [http://nomadshostels.com/hostels/australia/surfers-paradise-islander-backpackers], 6 Beach Road (cnr Surfers Paradise Bvld), is a cheap Hotel/Backpackers resort with Backpacker rooms starting from $18 for cheap rooms, $28-30 for dorms and $95 for private backpacker rooms. There is also a hotel part to the resort with studio rooms and full-fitted apartments.
  • '''Aquarius Backpackers''' [http://nomadshostels.com/hostels/australia/surfers-paradise-aquarius-backpackers], 44 Queens Street, is a budget backpackers resort with dorm rooms starting from $27 in peak season and doubles from $70.
  • Mid-Range

    Splurge

  • '''Luxury resorts'''
  • * '''Circle On Cavill''', Gold Coast [http://www.circleoncavillapartments.com.au/]
  • * '''Palazzo Versace Hotel''', Main Beach [http://www.palazzoversace.com]
  • * '''Sanctuary Cove Resort''', Sanctuary Cove[http://sanctuarycove.regency.hyatt.com]
  • * '''Conrad Jupiters''', Broadbeach [http://www.jupiterscasino.com.au]
  • * '''Sea World Resort''', Main Beach [http://seaworldresort.myfun.com.au/]
  • * '''Q1 Gold Coast Apartments''', Surfers Paradise [http://www.queenslandq1.com/]
  • * '''Circle On Cavill''', Surfers Paradise [http://www.circleoncavil.com/]
  • * '''Sierra Grand''', Broadbeach [http://www.circleoncavil.com/]
  • * '''Kirra Surf Apartments''', Kirra [http://www.kirrasurfgoldcoast.com/]
  • * '''Reflection Tower Two''', Coolangatta [http://www.reflectionscoolangatta.com/]
  • * '''Chevron Renaissance''', Kirra [http://www.kirrasurfgoldcoast.com/]
  • Get out

    Go anywhere else on the Gold Coast, even if it's just a walk down the beach to Broadbeach. If you confine yourself to Surfers for the duration of your stay you haven't actually seen the Gold Coast.

    Stay Safe

    As with all beaches in Queensland you need to swim between the Red & Yellow flags at all times. These flags mark the safest area of water in which to swim & also the area in which the lifeguards are supervising. Many lives have been lost due to people not swimming in the marked area.

    Surfers Paradise, as with all other clubbing areas, can have its fair share of alcohol related problems as drunks stumble out of clubs (or are not let in to them due to the 3am lockout law). Best to be mindful.