Non stop entertainment, beachfront Esplanades, shopping, natural beauty of the hinterland and theme parks are just some of the features of the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast consists of some 35 patrolled beaches along a 70 kilometre coast. Some of these beaches are among the best in the world. The main centres are Surfers Paradise, Palm Beach, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta.

Along most these beaches you have parklands for your enjoyment which feature barbecues, toilet facilities, shaded areas, picnic spots and seating.

The Gold Coast is not just beaches - it boasts a beautiful hinterland, wildlife sanctuary, many theme parks, farm stay resorts, golf courses, shopping and nightlife.

The Queensland State Government proclaimed the name City of Gold Coast on May 16, 1959. However, the Queensland Place Names Board did not officially gazette the name until April 1980. 

Gold Coast City spans across 1,402 square kilometres (approx. 541 square miles) featuring 70 kilometres of coastline from South Stradbroke Island to Rainbow Bay.

With a population of approximately 450,000 it is the sixth largest city in Australia. This is expected to increase to more than 500,000 within the next decade.

Climate
Gold Coast City's climate is sub-tropical with 287 days of sunshine annually.

Average Summer Temperatures: 19 to 29 degrees Celsius (66 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit).

Average Winter Temperatures: 9 to 21 degrees Celsius (48 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit).

Transport
The region is served by Gold Coast International Airport, with frequent domestic services from Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart, and International services from New Zealand, Japan and Asia.   Brisbane's International Airport also provides links with the USA and Europe.   

Gold Coast Airport has undergone refurbishment, which has positioned it as the South Pacific's leading leisure destination.  A rail link  and Pacific Motorway contects Brisbane to the Gold Coast. For how to get around Gold Coast City visit our transport page.

Floral emblem

The floral emblem for Gold Coast City is Banksia Aemula Proteaceae or “Wallum Banksia”, which flowers late summer and autumn and grows into a small twisted tree.

The flower prefers sandy soil with good drainage in full sun. The red, well-marked timber has been used for cabinet making. It is a dominant tree in some areas of sandy coastal heathland and dune ridges, and is the species which has given its name to the natural habitat of sandy soils and vegetation that occurs in various places along the coastal margin.

Wallum is the Aboriginal name referring to the natural habitat in which it grows. The Aboriginal people have been reported as gatherers of honey from the flower heads.

The genus was named after Sir Joseph Banks the botanist with Captain James Cook on his voyage in the Endeavour.

Gold Coast City is a dynamic city with a wide variety of built and natural attractions including:

 - 70 kilometres of beaches with an average water temperature of 22 degrees
 - A large broadwater and five major river systems
 - Major shopping centres as well as numerous boutiques, specialty shops and markets
 - More than 500 restaurants and cafes offering cuisine from around the world
 - Nightlife entertainment from nightclubs, restaurants, clubs, hotels and Conrad Jupiters Casino to Broadway musicals, ballet and theatre
 - Theme parks including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld and Wet ‘n’ Wild as well as several wildlife parks such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
 - Rural hinterland stretching to the west and north of the City encompassing many natural wetlands
 - Tropical rainforest with abundant wildlife and numerous bush walks

Large sugar cane farms and a wealth of industry in the northern districts of the City

World-class sporting and recreational facilities

A huge range of accommodation from five-star international resorts to camping grounds

The Gold Coast Seaway providing safe ocean access and over 270 kilometres of navigable waterways

Other places of interest-
 

| Island Resorts | Great Barrier Reef | Whale Watching | Brisbane | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast | Fraser Coast |
| Bundaberg | Gladstone | Rockhampton | Mackay | Whitsundays | Townsville | Cairns | Port Douglas |

| Queensland | New South Wales | Victoria | South Australia | Tasmania |  Western Australia | Northern Territory |