Gold Coast General Tips by iandsmith

Favorite Thing: It's a fair bet that one of the things you'll do is go to the beach while you're on the Gold Coast. That is, after all, the reason the whole place started.

Fondest Memory: When I first came up here from Newcastle it was basically Coolangatta and Surfers Paradise. My first trip also co-incided with the commencement of the never-ceasing boom and the sprawl of development that seeks to swallow up every last bit of land in the area, sometimes with little thought of the environment.
I can recall a time when there was a warning sign about koalas crossing near Currumbin. Of course, they never had a chance. They only ones you'll see here now are in a zoo. Once you rip the habitat out it's bye, bye animals.
The lasting thing is the beaches, but even that has changed. What used to be three breaks at Snapper Rocks, Coolongatta and Kirra is now just one when the big swells roll in as tonnes of sand and some flawed development have seen the beach change shape forever.......................until man decides to change it again.
This particular photo is of North Burleigh or Miami, take your pick, they're so close they overlap. It just happens to be my grandaughter in the snap on a day when I had my first surf of the year and had my first day at the beach with her.

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: I'm not sure it's my favourite thing but it is certainly an unavoidable thing. I can remember back in the 60's and 70's when this was the crane capital of Australia. Today you can see the results.

Fondest Memory: Heck, we even have the world's highest residential block right on the Gold Coast. It's the tall one in the background.
The area shown here encompasses the hub of Surfers Paradise. This is where most of the nightlife is but it is certainly not the only place for entertainment on the Gold Coast.

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: It's rare to see any old buildings in Surfers Paradise. The post WWII boom, particularly in the 70's and 80's saw prices and buildings rocket, both in an upward direction. I liked this shot because of the photographic opportunity it offered but noticed it had the contrast of the original rowing club building superimposed on the background of a bank building. Reflected in the middle is the highest high rise apartment block in the world.

Fondest Memory: The amount of glass used in Gold Coast architecture must leave the glass manufacturers wringing their hands in glee. What it does do, for those who have the time to notice, is throw up some wonderful distortions and reflections. I like to think this is one.

Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: There's a road in Broadbeach. It bisects two of the major attractions in Surfers Paradise. One is the casino, the other is Pacific Fair, the largest shopping centre on the Gold Coast.
With over 300 shops it's a must-see for the women and there's even stuff for people like me. I mean, if you want to buy shoes there's 15 specialty shops in addition to the department stores and, when they wear out, there's 3 shoe repair booths.
19 jewellers stores, 11 comminications shops, 31 fast food outlets and, when you've run out of money, at least 17 places you can draw some more out!
Suffice it to say that the place is popular but, one thing amazes me. I come from a town where we have 24 hour supermarkets. Here, there are none. Unless it's milk or something minor you'll be in trouble after 5.30 except on Thursday nights.


Leave a Comment

Favorite Thing: This iconic spot on the Gold Coast is often pictured with crisp waves and subtle offshore breezes and a top surfer cranking down the line. Of course, fans of mine will know that you don't always get the obvious in my pages.

Fondest Memory: Thus it was that I went down to get a snap of Burleigh on my way back to Newcastle and found exactly what you see here - onshore winds, no swell and some sort of renovation playing havoc with the beach. As always with life, expect the unexpected, that way you'll never be disappointed.
Burleigh does have many good days but, on summer afternoons, you can count them on one hand. This is what you're more likely to get.
Having said all that, it's still a nice beach and is backed by plenty of cafes and shops with accommodation as far as the eye can see along the coast.

Leave a Comment