Gold Coast / Surfers Paradise
I was amazed by the Gold Coast. It is a bit over the top but in a good way. The huge sky scrapers forming a row along the coast and the tourist orientated center of town give it a real buzz. The trip we made visits the Gold Coast after Great Keppel. Schoolies week had just finished so the town was still buzzing. Unlike Great Keppel, the Gold Coast is not a place you can walk around and take your safety for granted. Crime tends to skyrocket around schoolies week so enjoy yourself, but be alert.
The gateway to the beach on Surfers Paradise
The bus stop drop off point for the coach. The main mall is just past here to the left.
The Hard Rock Cafe and main tourist mall.
Tourist information shop at the main mall in Surfer's Paradise. The who center of town is very tourist orientated. Information booths with pamphlets in several languages are available. Souvenirs are easily brought here too, at relatively cheap prices.
Despite the name of this place it caters for adults too. Kids of Oz offered the best value souvenirs that I could find in central Surfers Paradise. T-shirts, pens, postcards and toy animals were the best souvenirs The shop is just a few shops down from the information booth above, to the right as you face the beach.
The Paradise Center. A big shopping mall and entertainment center in the center of Surfer's Paradise.
Mosaics in the mall.
Surf boards at the beach end of the mall. There is a police station here at this end of the mall.
Sail boat clock. It gives time, day, date and month of the year.
Sky scrapers, sand and Surfers Paradise.
The beach stretches out to the shore.
Boulevards of sky scrapers crowd the beach side strip.
Busy traffic on the beach side road.
Pleasant palm trees add to the atmosphere of the main mall.
