About the Gold Coast

Getting Around

Airports

The Gold Coast is serviced by two airports, the Gold Coast Airport and Brisbane International Airport. Brisbane Airport is accessible by Airtrain, bus, taxi and car. The Gold Coast Airport is accessible by bus, taxi and car.

Trains

Robina Train Station is a five minute taxi ride or 10 minute bus ride from Bond’s campus. View timetables at Queensland Rail.

Buses

The Gold Coast enjoys many quality bus services including a high frequency bus service along the Gold Coast Highway to theme parks, shopping centres and rail links.

• Visit TransLink for bus service information.
• Surfside Bus Lines operates a public bus service.
• Regent Taxis services the region.
• General public transport information with maps: www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au

Beaches

The Gold Coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The most popular of the Coast’s 21 beaches include:

• Main Beach – a haven for surfers and fishermen alike. You can be as active or as passive as you like – surf, wakeboard, bodyboard, or just lay on the sand (with plenty of sunscreen of course).
• Surfers Paradise – a perfect swimming beach where you can join in a game of volleyball on the sand or hit the waves on your board. The action doesn’t stop when the sun goes down either, with movies playing on the beach throughout summer.
• Broadbeach – features beautiful parks along the foreshore, equipped with sheltered picnic areas, ample barbeques and great playgrounds for the kids. You can enjoy the beach markets in Kurrawa Park or nearby trendy shops.
• Mermaid Beach – is somewhat quieter than Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, with small swell, sheltered picnic areas, bike tracks and childrens playgrounds.
• Nobby Beach – a quiet beach, perfect for relaxing with the family.
• Currumbin, Tugun and Bilinga Beaches - are situated at the southern end of the Gold Coast and are popular with families.
• Kirra Point - the Gold Coast's most famous board riding beach. Experienced surfers will find challenging waves and beginners will enjoy the smaller waves that break in closer to the shore.
• Greenmount Beach and Rainbow Bay - north facing beaches providing sheltered conditions for swimming. You might just spot a whale if you walk around the point to Snapper Rocks.

Sport

The Gold Coast is home to a number of sporting teams and facilities including:

• Gold Coast Titans Rugby League
• V8 Supercars Australia
• Australian Baseball Federation
• Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)
  
• Surfing Queensland
  
• PGA International Golf Institute

Theme Parks and Attractions

The Gold Coast has the fastest, the longest, the highest and the most exciting thrill rides in the country. Visit www.theme-parks.com.au or www.dreamworld.com.au to find out more.

If you’d prefer to steer clear of the crowds at the theme parks, you can still get your thrills bungee jumping in the middle of Surfers Paradise, sky diving, paragliding, abseiling or hot air ballooning.

The Great Barrier Reef is also within easy reach and scenic flights from the Gold Coast offer a full day of snorkelling and diving before returning in time for dinner.

Wildlife

The Gold Coast is home to a diverse range of local inhabitants including one of Australia's largest glow worm colonies and other including Australian favourites koalas, kangaroos, lorikeets, kookaburras, platypus, dolphins, giant panda snails and thousands more natural characters.

Shopping

The Gold Coast is home to two of the largest shopping centres in the Southern Hemisphere, which feature chain stores, department stores and specialty stores. Visit www.pacificfair.com.au or www.robinatowncentre.com.au for more information.

You can also hunt for bargains at one of the 20 markets including Surfers Paradise night markets on Fridays, Broadbeach lantern lit markets from September to May, and more than 500 stalls at Carrara Markets on weekends.

If you prefer your designer labels, visit the new Circle on Cavill complex or take a drive up to Marina Mirage.

Dining

Visitors to the Gold Coast will get the chance to sample every possible combination in the city’s vibrant restaurants. The main dining precincts include:

• Sanctuary Cove - Sanctuary Cove is Australia’s first integrated tourism resort offering a wide selection of cuisine for a casual meal with friends or a romantic dinner for two overlooking the luxurious boats in the marina.
• Main Beach – Best known for its trendy cafés and elegant restaurants, celebrities often dine in Tedder Avenue which is also a favourite with locals.
• Surfers Paradise - This exciting precinct features an assortment of international flavours. Sip cocktails in funky lounge bars, dine along tree-lined avenues, then check out the local bars and clubs where you can dance until the early hours of the morning.
• Chevron Island - Chevron Island is only a short walk from Surfers Paradise and is the ideal venue with a real community village feel.
• Broadbeach - Located in the middle of the Gold Coast, Broadbeach has over 80 restaurants, cafés and bars. Dining in Broadbeach is the perfect start to a night featuring a show at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre or Conrad Jupiters, or dancing at one of the vibrant nightclubs.
• Burleigh Heads – with a relaxed atmosphere, Burleigh has some of the best views on the Coast.
• Coolangatta – On the southern end of the Coast you will find a variety of casual dining experiences that reflect the beach culture lifestyle of this precinct.

For more information about what’s happening on the Gold Coast, visit the Gold Coast City Council events page.

Food

The barbeque is an icon of Australian food. Australian cuisine is recognised internationally as some of the best in the world, due to the multicultural range of food available. Italian, Chinese, Thai, Greek, Arab, Indian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Mexican foods are very popular. Australia is known for its wines, olive oil, seafood, lamb, beef, yabbies and cheeses.

Weather

The Gold Coast has more than 300 days of sunshine per year.

Average Temperatures: