IntroductionPrestigious Main Beach is the sophisticated, elite end of the Gold Coast, with million-dollar homes on tree-lined streets, luxury high-rise apartments and condos, designer boutiques and speciality stores. Trendy Tedder Avenue is lined with dozens of restaurants, wine bars and cafés, and is the place to be seen.
Queensland's Gold Coast stretches 40km (24 miles) southwards from Main Beach (just south of Brisbane) to Coolangatta, on the Queensland/New South Wales border. The sunny, subtropical climate, superb beaches, hinterland rainforests and mountain peaks draw tourists year-round to this tropical playground.
Main Beach is just a short walk or bike ride to neighbouring Surfers Paradise.
Queensland's Gold Coast stretches 40km (24 miles) southwards from Main Beach (just south of Brisbane) to Coolangatta, on the Queensland/New South Wales border. The sunny, subtropical climate, superb beaches, hinterland rainforests and mountain peaks draw tourists year-round to this tropical playground.
Main Beach is just a short walk or bike ride to neighbouring Surfers Paradise.
Who goes there?
A year-round playground for the wealthy, Main Beach is both sophisticated and casual, drawing tourists and sun lovers of all ages from around the world.
Where in the world?
Basking under a subtropical sun 76km (46 miles) south of Brisbane, Queensland's capital, Main Beach marks the beginning of the sparkling Gold Coast.
Positioned between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Nerang River estuary known as the Broadwater, Main Beach is bounded to the north by a long sandbar called the Spit, home to the Gold Coast's two most exclusive resort hotels. A narrow isthmus extends south to Surfers Paradise and the 70km (43 mile) stretch of surf beaches that make up the Gold Coast.
Positioned between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Nerang River estuary known as the Broadwater, Main Beach is bounded to the north by a long sandbar called the Spit, home to the Gold Coast's two most exclusive resort hotels. A narrow isthmus extends south to Surfers Paradise and the 70km (43 mile) stretch of surf beaches that make up the Gold Coast.
When to go?
In the heart of Queensland's Gold Coast, Main Beach is popular year-round, basking in 300 days of sunshine a year. Winters are mild and warm, and temperatures in the sub-tropical summers average 19-29ºC (66-83°F).
Beach
Wide, golden sand beaches are popular for body- and board-surfing, with warm temperatures for swimming year-round. Surf fishing can haul in that fresh catch for dinner. Lifeguards patrol the beach from the surf lifesaving club. Take a break from the beach for an afternoon barbecue or game of Frisbee on the beachfront park.
Beyond the beach
Only a block away from the beach is the best people-watching spot in town in the alfresco restaurants and cafés lining the street. Luxury cars cruise past umbrellas shading the mix of tourists and sophisticated diners.
The wreck of The Scottish Prince is a great dive spot, or take a scenic flight along the surf-fringed coastline. Go for a 350hp adrenaline rush one-on-one with a professional rally driver instructor on the WRX Off Road Rally Circuit at Pimpana, five minutes from Dreamworld. Speed thrills are not just for kids!
The northern Gold Coast is a theme park mecca, with something for every taste. Dreamworld (Pacific Highway, Coomera) is a theme park ride extravaganza, with enough rollercoasters, waterslides and gravity-defying rides to suit any adrenaline-seekers. WhiteWater World (Pacific Highway, Coomera, 17km/10 miles north of Surfers Paradise) is a new theme park, boasting extreme waterslides and attractions for the whole family. Step back into the 1800s at Beenleigh Historical Village (Main Street, Beenleigh), where life is re-enacted in the 22 historical buildings complete with antiques, working blacksmiths, artists, residents and farm animals. At famous Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin) nurse a koala or feed brilliantly coloured rosellas and lorikeets.
The wreck of The Scottish Prince is a great dive spot, or take a scenic flight along the surf-fringed coastline. Go for a 350hp adrenaline rush one-on-one with a professional rally driver instructor on the WRX Off Road Rally Circuit at Pimpana, five minutes from Dreamworld. Speed thrills are not just for kids!
The northern Gold Coast is a theme park mecca, with something for every taste. Dreamworld (Pacific Highway, Coomera) is a theme park ride extravaganza, with enough rollercoasters, waterslides and gravity-defying rides to suit any adrenaline-seekers. WhiteWater World (Pacific Highway, Coomera, 17km/10 miles north of Surfers Paradise) is a new theme park, boasting extreme waterslides and attractions for the whole family. Step back into the 1800s at Beenleigh Historical Village (Main Street, Beenleigh), where life is re-enacted in the 22 historical buildings complete with antiques, working blacksmiths, artists, residents and farm animals. At famous Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin) nurse a koala or feed brilliantly coloured rosellas and lorikeets.
Family fun
Try your skill at kite-surfing, or paddle an outrigger canoe through the surf. Breathe in the fresh sea air on a coastal walk or enjoy the calmer waters of Broadwater for various boating activities.
Learn more about life in the ocean at Sea World (Sea World Drive, The Spit), a 25-hectare (62-acre) marine park with exciting rides, and fascinating and interactive exhibits for the whole family. Gasp at the unbelievable at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum (Raptis Plaza, Cavis Mall), just down the beach in Surfers Paradise. Take a wild and fast spin on a Paradise Jet Boat (Mariner's Cove Marina, Sea World Drive, The Spit) up the Broadwater, past millionaires' yachts and cruisers, helicopters and float planes, and the opulent Palazzo Versace Hotel.
Learn more about life in the ocean at Sea World (Sea World Drive, The Spit), a 25-hectare (62-acre) marine park with exciting rides, and fascinating and interactive exhibits for the whole family. Gasp at the unbelievable at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum (Raptis Plaza, Cavis Mall), just down the beach in Surfers Paradise. Take a wild and fast spin on a Paradise Jet Boat (Mariner's Cove Marina, Sea World Drive, The Spit) up the Broadwater, past millionaires' yachts and cruisers, helicopters and float planes, and the opulent Palazzo Versace Hotel.
Retail therapy
Renowned for its cafe-lined boulevards and exclusive shops, the Main Beach shopping area abounds in designer boutiques, high-end fashion, jewellery, furniture and speciality stores. North of town, at the Spit, the Marina Mirage shopping complex showcases all the top fashion labels in its elegant designer boutiques. Visit the Sheraton Mirage (Sea World Drive) and Palazzo Versace (Sea World Drive) resorts for those exclusive gifts. Find the best bargains at Marina Mirage's Farmers Market the first and third and fifth Saturday of the month, or slip down the beach to Surfers Paradise on a Friday night for their famous outdoor evening market. More bargains abound at Harbourtown Factory Outlets at nearby Biggera Waters.
A night on the town
The Gold Coast is known for its wild and crazy nightlife, Surfers Paradise being the biggest hotspot. It is the place to go to party all night long, with an abundance of bars, clubs and adult entertainment. Join one of the many organised nightclub crawls to experience a sampling of tropical nightlife and entertainment.
Eating out
The chic and relaxed atmosphere of Tedder Avenue is adorned with the best strip of restaurants on the Gold Coast. Trendy wine bars, casual lunch spots and elegant alfresco restaurants provide menus with mouth-watering fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and a combination of Mediterranean, Australian and Asian fare. Shuck Restaurant (20 Tedder Avenue), famous for its Sand Crab Lasagne and Peking Duck Salad, reputedly serves the best seafood in southeastern Queensland. Thanks to a large Japanese population, excellent sushi abounds. North of Main Beach, on the Spit, the exclusive Marina Mirage boasts an uptown shopping complex with good waterfront dining.
Surf clubs in every Gold Coast oceanside suburb provide quality food at reasonable prices in their bistros. The most popular inexpensive meal in Australia is paper-wrapped fish and chips.
Surf clubs in every Gold Coast oceanside suburb provide quality food at reasonable prices in their bistros. The most popular inexpensive meal in Australia is paper-wrapped fish and chips.
Getting around
Regular bus services link all Gold Coast towns with most area attractions and Brisbane to the north. Many tour companies offer hotel pickups. Except for a car to explore further afield, most dining and beach activities are within walking distance. Parking is cheap and plentiful for those with a car.
Exploring further afield
You can sample award-winning wines in the Gold Coast Hinterland Wine Country. Extending from the beautiful rainforests of Mount Tamborine to Canungra Valley's emerald countryside, this rapidly growing boutique wine region produces Queensland's best wines. Cellar doors and restaurants are often housed in historic homesteads, adding to the wine tasting experience. While in the region, visit Mount Tamborine's Gallery Walk for antiques, paintings and pottery.
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