Gold Coast: why visit the Australian Miami

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Gold Coast why visit the Australian Miami

Gold Coast: why visit the Australian Miami

Less than 100km south of Brisbane, Australia's third largest city (after Sydney and Melbourne), Gold Coast has been and is a destination for tourists from the island , and from neighboring New Zealanders, Japanese, Koreans and Chinese for years. The sixties and seventies were his strongest decades, and the result of that still remains. boom in the construction of those tall towers, in many cases almost on the beach, which defy the beauty of the coast. After a few decades affected by the crisis, this surfers destination it goes back again betting on luxury resorts like Pepper's Broadbeach; gastronomy, theme parks and, always, by its nature.

Gold Coast Pier

Gold Coast Pier

PARADISE BEACHES

Or that they were heavenly. And that they still are. In their own way. 57 kilometers of coastline has the Gold Coast. Divided into different and enormous beaches of white and golden sand, with a more or less large row of semi-wild nature in some sections, which separates the paradise of surfers and bathers from the large glass towers that turn this place into the Australian Miami (which even has an area called Miami).

Surfers Paradise is the most famous because tourism in the area began here; but also because of that and the proximity of all kinds of services (bars, restaurants, shops, and even a market on Fridays) is the most saturated. Of all, the only one that still retains its true paradisiacal spirit is Burleigh Heads , protected by the small national park, where you can also go on excursions.

Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Heads

CHANNELS WITH EUROPEAN NAMES AND MANSIONS

Right behind the semi-skyscraper barrier, the constructions do not exceed two floors. In the 1950s they began to build the artificial channels of the Nerang River, forming islands and streets that, in some cases, can be accessed more quickly by boat. They gave that whole area with aspirations European names: the Isle of Capri, Monaco street… And it is full of mansions with jetties, swimming pools and nearby golf clubs.

The 'European' canals behind the skyscrapers

The 'European' canals behind the skyscrapers

KANGAROO AT AN HOUR AND FOR DINNER

To avoid disappointment: no, kangaroos do not go hopping around the Gold Coast. They need something more of nature to jump calmly. Going into the center of the island, a little over an hour, you could start seeing them, or so the locals say. But if you don't have time for the excursion and wait for one to surprise you, the other option is to go to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the "Australian safari".

Or well, ahem: try them. In Sage, in addition to some delicious pizzas, you can try the kangaroo loin. Always underdone, yes. jump on the plate . (Easy joke, sorry). The only animal that will walk by your side, as if it were a pet, only that it is dedicated to eating bugs and garbage is the white ibis. So nice.

sage

tasting kangaroos

SURFING, SURFING AND SURFING

what of Surfers Paradise comes from something . Buildings or no buildings, the Gold Coast is still surf territory. The good waves, the temperature of the water, always warm, the temperature outside the water all year round (an average of 20 degrees) and the fact that people can only swim in the areas indicated between flags, leaves them with a lot of freedom to the water riders.

Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise

THEME PARKS OR LIVING NATURE?

Away from the sea, there are other attractions on the Gold Coast. For one thing, its theme park offering almost leaves Miami and the rest of Florida in the lurch. Dreamworld, the Dreamworks park, Movie World, the Warner Bros park . (near his movie studios, Village Roadshow) ; the Sea World, with marine animals… On the other, there is the offer of living and free nature. From June to November, there are excursions to see the passing of the whales. And throughout the year it is worth going a little further to the Springbrook National Park, a national park full of waterfalls and natural pools.

Springbrook National Park

Springbrook National Park

THE ANTIPODES FROM THE SKY

To finish or start the visit of the Gold Coast: the observatory on the penultimate floor (77th) of Q1, the ** Skypoint , the tallest residential building in Australia.** In addition, to have a 360 degree view of the Gold Coast and the ocean, it has a restaurant and offers the possibility of climbing its antenna and exterior roof inspired by the Sydney Opera House . Only for those without fear of heights, of course.

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Gold Coast why visit the Australian Miami

Gold Coast: why visit the Australian Miami

Gold Coast

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