| Australia's Gold Coast stretch of coastal towns starts | | | | wineries. The Hinterland is best seen by car or on a |
| north of Surfers Paradise and stretches south to the | | | | bus tour. Parks in the area include: Mt Tamborine, |
| state border with New South Wales in the south. | | | | Springbrook, Numinbah Valley and Currumbin Valley. |
| The northern end (especially Surfers Paradise to | | | | The Gold Coast region is big on theme parks. |
| Broadbeach) is more commercialized, with plenty of | | | | Investigate ticket discounts before you go, as |
| action for backpackers. The southern end caters | | | | multi-park passes, combined travel and entry, and |
| mainly to vacationing families. Away from the coast, | | | | multi-day passes can usually be obtained at a |
| the western side, called the "hinterland", consists of | | | | discount. They include: |
| mountain ranges covered with rainforest, much of it | | | | - Sea World is the oldest and also one of the most |
| part of national parks. | | | | established theme parks in Australia. It's the closest |
| The Gold Coast has a sub-tropical climate with plenty | | | | to heart of the Gold Coast and will be interesting for |
| of sunshine year round, an average of 300 days a | | | | those who have a liking for marine animals. Lots of |
| year! Summer temperatures range from 66 to 83 | | | | shows and live acts, and you could easily spend a |
| degrees Fahrenheit, and winter temperatures range | | | | day here without going on any rides. It still does have |
| from 48 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit, making this a | | | | some thrill rides, with the corkscrew roller coaster, |
| great vacation destination! | | | | and speed water slides. |
| The most popular things to do in this area include: | | | | - Dreamworld is a traditional theme park with a |
| - Beaches. There are 40km and well over 30 beaches | | | | popular tiger zoo and the home of the Australian Big |
| to see and swim or surf in. Almost all are patrolled by | | | | Brother House. Bountiful in rides; thrilling and |
| volunteer and professional lifesavers. Some of the | | | | otherwise. Features a great little kids' area with |
| best beaches include: | | | | Wiggleworld. If you are in it for the rides, and not the |
| - Surfers Paradise has a long stretch of beach, with | | | | theme, then this is the place to be. |
| flags and patrols every few hundred meters along | | | | - Warner Bros. Movie World is a movie themed park |
| the beach. Sure to find a place for a swim, but the | | | | with Warner Bros. themed rides and Looney Toons |
| beach right outside of Cavill Ave is generally very | | | | walking around all over the place. It is the most |
| busy and packed with tourists, just walk north or | | | | themed of the Gold Coast parks. Pretty crazy rides |
| south along the beach to find a (slightly) less | | | | but not as extreme as some other parks. Depending |
| crowded alternative. | | | | on your blood pressure this may be a good thing. |
| - Broadbeach is about 3km south (40 minutes walk, 5 | | | | - Wet'n'Wild is a water theme park with a wide range |
| minute drive) of Surfers Paradise and will generally | | | | of slides, a wave pool, 'dive-in movies' at night in the |
| have the same surf conditions as Surfers Paradise. | | | | wave pool and even a river where you can just lie in |
| The upside, however, is that it's not that far away | | | | a tube and float around and around! A definite must |
| and nowhere near as busy as Surfers. | | | | during the summer, though best left to a day that |
| - North Burleigh is 4km down from Broadbeach (and | | | | isn't stupidly hot or the queues are just ridiculous. |
| over a small hill). It's generally less popular than its | | | | - Australian Outback Spectacular has a new Epic |
| bigger brother, Burleigh Heads, but a good place to | | | | Outback Show, complete with stampeding cattle, wild |
| go if there are winds blowing from the north as the | | | | horses and an Australian Dinner. |
| hill provides a bit of protection. Although if there are | | | | - WhiteWater World is a newer water park next to |
| northerly winds, swimming in the afternoon isn't such | | | | Dreamworld, said to be just as good as Wet'n'Wild, if |
| a good idea as they'll bring in the stingers. | | | | not better |
| - Burleigh Heads is only 2km south of North Burleigh | | | | - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, originally famous for |
| and a nice beach with a large park and a hill that is | | | | its bird feeding of rainbow lorikeets, this park has |
| good for picnics. There are cafes surrounding the | | | | expanded to have a number of animal exhibits. |
| beach and the hill cover means that this beach is | | | | Although the lorikeet feeding still takes place just |
| usually pretty nice when there are winds coming | | | | inside the entrance, there are hundreds of native |
| from the south (whereas others like Surfers will be | | | | Australian animals on display in natural bushland and |
| blown out and horrible). | | | | rainforest settings around the park. There are open |
| Hinterland. Referred to as "the green behind the gold" | | | | enclosures where you can get close to the usual |
| (a reference to Australia's national colors - green and | | | | assortment of kangaroos, emus, wallabies, etc. There |
| gold), the Gold Coast Hinterland is home to three | | | | is also an abundance of dining and shopping options in |
| national parks, numerous mountains, creeks, | | | | this area. |
| waterfalls valleys, and natural rock formations. The | | | | Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book |
| area is mostly covered in sub-tropical rainforest, but | | | | your dream vacation to Australia! |
| sections have been cleared for dairy farm land and | | | | |