Australia's Gold Coast: Tips

Avoid “Schoolies Week” If you don’t like loud music and large crowds of partying teenagers, avoid the Gold Coast during “Schoolies Week.” Similar to Fort Lauderdale’s Spring Break, the coast is transformed into party central as thousands of students converge in mid-November to celebrate the end of their studies.

Ticket to ride Double your theme park fun by purchasing a combined ticket. There are many ticket variations, but the Mega Pass is the best value, giving you entry to three parks and allowing you to go a second time to your favorite of the three, over a 14-day period.

Duty free shopping Some of Australia’s largest duty free outlets and shopping centers are located on the Gold Coast, making it the perfect destination for shoppers.

Bundle up While the Gold Coast is renowned for its warm weather and plentiful sunshine, the hinterland areas are cooler and wetter, and nights can be very chilly, so be sure to pack a sweater or a jacket.

Other things to pack Don’t forget to pack your cozzies (swimwear), towel, and, last but not least, a good pair of walking shoes ­— because even a short itinerary will take you beyond the golden beaches and into the heart of the region’s mountain hinterland.

Great heights The Gold Coast is home to the world’s tallest all-residential tower: the Q1. Rising around 1,058 feet above street level, there’s an observation deck on the 78th floor.

Swim between the flags Queensland’s beaches are beautiful, but never underestimate the power of the ocean. Always swim between the red and yellow flags on a patrolled beach.

Slip, Slop, Slap The sun in Queensland is unrelenting causing the region to have one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. So do as the local “sun smart” campaign advises: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat.

What's in a name? The coast gained its name in the late 1940s from a Brisbane journalist who, noting it was the best place to buy and sell land amid the post-war real estate boom, dubbed it the “Gold Coast.”

First inhabitants Before European settlement, the Gold Coast and its hinterland was the home of the Yugambeh people. Some of today’s place names, including Nerang, Coombahbah, and Eagleby, reflect the region’s Yugambeh heritage.

Formula 1 Each year in October, the Gold Coast revs up for the Indy 300 Formula 1 motor race. The best place to get a birds-eye view of the action as the cars whiz around the streets of Surfers Paradise is from one of the many high-rise beach apartments that many locals rent out.