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Splash Out on Golden Beaches:The Gold Coast is famous for its stunning beaches and rich beach culture. For decades Australians have flocked to this fabulous region to enjoy a fun and relaxing holiday by the sea. With 70 kilometres (44 miles) of uninterrupted coastline, there are beaches with appeal for body surfers, surfboard and sailboard riders, protected calm waters for families with young children as well as deserted stretches for sun worshippers wanting to top up their golden tan.

A staggering 35 beaches are patrolled year-round by professional lifeguards creating a safe swimming environment for beginners and experienced swimmers. Surf clubs are dotted along the coastlinewhere visitors can watch lifeguards in training for major surf life saving contests and beach patrols. Host venue for the Australian Surf Life Saving titles every March is the Kurrawa club at Broadbeach.

Visitors are invited to visit the surf clubs to soak up the sunshine, take in spectacular views, enjoy a hearty breakfast, wonderful seafood or a cold beer with some locals. There are also parklands adjacent to most clubs offering family-friendly facilities such as barbecues, picnic areas and playground equipment. Beachfront art and craft markets operate most weekends and each Friday evening at Surfers Paradise.

FAST FACTS: 300 days of sunshine/Safe year-round swimming/35 patrolled beaches/70km coastline

See the Green behind the Gold

Within an easy 30-minute drive of the Gold Coast’s beaches awaits the magnificent wilderness area known as the Gold Coast Hinterland. Well signposted roads cut steep paths to the lush subtropical rainforests reaching 1000 metres above sea level. The air is cool and crisp and options for day and evening tours abound.

The hinterland is the perfect place to enjoy active pursuits like bush walking, abseiling, hang gliding, horse riding, hot-air ballooning and 4WD safaris. More leisurely activities include bird watching and wandering through award-winning gardens and tropical fruit plantations. During winter, toast marshmallows in front of an open fire.

Steeped in history, the hinterland is home to various museums and art galleries as well as fabulous restaurants, tea houses and craft shops. New to the region are several boutique wineries which can be explored as part of an exciting wine trail. The wineries feature cellar door tastings, historic homesteads for a leisurely lunch, lively jazz bands on weekends and the chance to learn about fully organic wine production techniques.

Much of the hinterland is World Heritage-listed national park including the country’s largest preserved stand of subtropical rainforest, Lamington National Park. A vast mountainous area, Lamington has the highest bio-diversity of flora and fauna found anywhere in Australia. Queensland’s first national park, Witches Falls is on Tamborine Mountain while Springbrook National Park protects rare 4000-year-old Antarctic beech trees. Springbrook also is home to the region’s highest single drop waterfall, Purlingbrook Falls. More than 300 kilometres (186 miles) of graded walking tracks enable visitors to explore these pristine wilderness areas.

Photography enthusiasts will enjoy the chance to capture on film Australia’s magnificent wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, rock pools and wildflowers. Experienced tour guides offer insight to this fascinating region as part of day tours, evening visits to glow-worm colonies and star gazing expeditions.

Traditional Aussie farm experiences can also be found at popular attractions. There are demonstrations of boomerang throwing, whip cracking, sheep shearing, cow milking and brewing up an Aussie favourite of billy tea and damper.

FAST FACTS:Australia’s largest subtropical rainforest/300km of walking tracks/29 national parks and nature reserves/4000-year-old beech trees.

A Wealth of Water Activities:With the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline and more canals and waterways than Venice, the Gold Coast is renowned as Australia’s aquatic playground. Visitors are offered a range of water activities including calm and deep water fishing, water skiing, parasailing, jet skiing and sailboarding.Hiring your own watercraft is a great way to make the most of the Southport Broadwater, Australia’s largest expanse of calm water. Try a wave runner, jet ski, a two-seater mini speedboat or houseboat. Guided tours on water include kayaking, parasailing, catamaran sailing, leisurely cruises, fishing charters and learn to surf lessons.Scuba diving is a great way to explore the underwater world of the Gold Coast. Discover the secrets of the historic wreck Scottish Prince which sank off Southport 113 years ago. Explore Palm Beach reef, Nine Mile reef off Kirra Point or Cook Island off Tweed Heads – all alive with turtles and fish!

The Excitement Never Stops:Widely known as Australia’s theme park capital, the Gold Coast offers all the thrills and spills you can pack into a day, a week or a lifetime. Visit Dreamworld, Sea World, Warner Bros Movie World and Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World for a host of thrill rides that will leave you breathless.Close encounters with Australian birds and animals can be enjoyed at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the David Fleay Wildlife Park while visits to farm resorts in the hinterland offer traditional Aussie experiences including cow milking, whip cracking and sheep shearing.Working fruit plantatins like Tropical Fruit World give you the chance to taste some of nature’s exotic delights. Be sure to visit the ‘bush tucker’ garden.There’s action and amusement at fun places like Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum and the Infinity fun-house plus Australia’s hottest extreme rides like the Banzai Bungey, Flycoaster and Bungee Rocket.A scenic flight over the coastline can be enjoyed in a fun Tiger Moth, helicopter, seaplane, Twin Pioneer airplane or a hot-air balloon. Visitors can also take a day tour by seaplane to the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and enjoy diving, snorkelling and other reef activities.

Back on the ground, try adventure the old fashioned way and explore the beautiful Numinbah, Tweed and Kooralbyn Valleys on horseback with experienced guides. The thrill of an offroad 4WD safari to visit national parks also is available or take the ultimate escape tour on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorbike.

For a more leisurely pace, opt for cruise boats that ply the Gold Coast’s many waterways and visit South Stradbroke Island and Sanctuary Cove. During the cooler months from May to September, whale watching tours depart from the southern Gold Coast.

Accommodation for Everyone

Few destinations offer the incredible choice of accommodation available along the Gold Coast’s sweeping coastline and throughout the hinterland. All represent great value for money. International hotels and resorts provide luxury standards of accommodation as well as a range of facilities from giant swimming lagoons and golf courses to shopping boutiques and night clubs.

Fully serviced luxury and family-style apartments have the added bonus of modern kitchens, laundries and a choice of one, two or three bedrooms. Sophisticated recreational facilities including swimming pools and gymnasiums make apartments an ideal choice for visitors wanting to relax and revive. Stunning views of mountains, gardens and beaches abound.

The Gold Coast also offers a wide choice of modern, comfortable motels, youth and backpacker hostels, houseboats plus tourist parks and picturesque camping grounds.

Nestled in the Gold Coast Hinterland are charming bed and breakfast lodges, farm resorts, health and spa resorts, country pubs and guest houses. All offer traditional Australian hospitality and many include in the tariff activities like birdfeeding and guided bush walks.

For an island experience with a difference ,South Stradbroke Island is home to award – winning resorts that combine adventure sports and water activities with peaceful surroundings and environmental walks.

FAST FACTS:More than 40,000 rooms/Luxury fully-serviced apartments and exclusive resorts/Backpacker hostels, camp sites and budget hotels./Great Cuisine and Nightlife

Eating well on Australia’s Gold Coast comes without an expensive price tag. Throughout the region there are wonderful al fresco restaurants, bistros, cafes and tea houses where carefully prepared fresh produce can be enjoyed at moderate prices.

Fresh seafood and contemporary Australian cuisine are the Gold Coast’s specialties. Creative chefs combine prawns, crabs, lobster and fish with locally grown herbs, fruits and vegetables to produce a variety of taste sensations. Other fabulous cuisine available includes tastes from around the globe including Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Indian, Mexican, Indonesian, Thai and Middle Eastern delicacies. With more than 500 restaurants, the Gold Coast is able to showcase regional produce, offer all the world’s great food styles and cater for special dietary needs.

When the sun goes down, combine great dining with fun and entertainment at a wide range of venues. Whether it’s a canal cruise, stage show, night club or dinner theatre, the talent and performances are among the best in Australia. There are evening 4WD tours, the chance to spotlight native animals, see magical glow-worms and dine under the stars amid beautiful rainforests. There’s 24-hour casino action at Conrad Jupiters and along the coastal strip you’ll find relaxing cocktail and wine bars plus live music in pubs and clubs – the excitement never stops.

FAST FACTS:More than 500 restaurants/Creative contemporary Australian cuisine/24-hour casino and nightlife/Evening rainforest tours.

The Shopping is Sensational:For dedicated shoppers, the Gold Coast is the place to indulge. Designer labels abound at a variety of chic boutiques found at Main Beach, Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.Hot designer bargains and the latest surf wear can be picked up at factory outlets while authentic Australian arts and crafts are on display throughout the region. Unusual gifts and souvenirs can be found at colourful markets staged along the beachfront and in the hinterland.Visit resort shopping villages and combine spending sprees with a relaxing coffee or juice at cafes overlooking calm waterways, beaches or cool rainforests. In the Gold Coast Hinterland, follow the craft and antiques trail and discover works by famous Australian artists.Three of Australia’s largest shopping complexes are found on the Gold Coast and take days to explore. Shop for opals, jewellery, resort fashions, beach wear, leather goods and pamper yourself with locally produced cosmetic and herbal treatments.

Exciting Events and Festivals:The Gold Coast has always been Australia’s premier fun spot with world-class festivals and sporting events happening year round.

Major surfing, surf life saving, marathon, triathlon, motor sports, horse racing, sailing regattas and tennis events are played out against a stunning backdrop of sweeping beaches and green mountains.

The region’s 40 championship golf courses are also used for major tournaments attracting the world’s best players