THE GOLD COAST

Queensland's No. 1 tourist destination with Surfers Paradise at its heart. It ends at the New South Wales/Queensland border. It offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment, Jupiter's Casino, shops, activities. 70km coastline with 35 patrolled beaches.

CLIMATE

CLOTHING
Casual lightweight clothing, a jacket may be required in some of the nightclubs and restaurants.
Comfortable shoes or boots should be worn in the National Parks.
Hats and sunscreen is essential all year round.

CREDIT CARDS
All major credit cards are widely accepted.

SPEED LIMIT
60kmh in residential and commercial areas unless otherwise indicated.
100kmh on highways or as otherwise indicated.

TIME
The Gold Coast operates on Eastern Standard Time (EST). Queensland does not observe daylight saving.

TRADING HOURS
Banks:

  Mon-Thurs 9.30am to 4pm. 
  Fri       9.30am to 5pm.
  Closed Saturday and Sunday.

  Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.

AIR: Airports at Coolangatta and Brisbane.
Coach, taxi and hire car services available.
Approximately one hour drive from Brisbane to Surfers Paradise.

RAIL: Trains from Sydney terminate at Murwillumbah, with coach services provided for travel to Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise.

COACH: Interstate coach services go into the Brisbane City Transit Centre.

BEACHES
Mainbeach, Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera, Palm Beach, Currumbin, Tugun, Kirra and Coolangatta.
One hour's drive south of Brisbane.

BEACH SAFETY
Always swim in patrolled areas between the red and yellow flags.
Hat and sunscreen are essential all year round.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation for all budgets, from international five-star hotels, apartments, guesthouses, caravan parks, backpackers hostels and camping grounds. Sporting facilities, nightlife and entertainment.

SHOPPING
The shopping hours for larger centres are:

  Mon - Wed 9am to 5.30pm
  Thurs     9am to 5.30pm
  Fri       9am to 5.30pm
  Sat    8.30am to 5.30pm
  Sun   10.30am to 4pm