Surfers Paradise

The Surfers Paradise skyline, stretched along 1.8-miles of crystal clear Pacific Ocean, is one of the most iconic skylines in Australia. The same stretch of land is home to the best of entertainment, nightlife, shopping and beach culture in Queensland – it’s hard to go wrong in Surfers Paradise.

Back before 1925, Surfers Paradise was just a long, white stretch of beach along Queensland’s southern Pacific Coast. Then Jim Cavill came along, opening a 16-room hotel at an isolated spot along the vast strip, and thus began Surfers Paradise. Since then the sprawling beachfront oasis has extended to include countless high-rise hotels, bars, clubs, shopping strips, pedestrian malls and entertainment complexes, making it a must-visit Aussie tourist destination.

Splendidly stunning and incredibly iconic, Surfers Paradise Beach is one of Australia’s most-trodden stretches of sand. It’s an integral part of Gold Coast life, home to surfing lessons for people of all ages, as well as being the unofficial home of beach volleyball in Australia – the Australian series is played there each year, as well as casual games on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. The gentle surf is the reason most visit, and with good reason – it’s one of the most idyllic surf beaches on offer on the south coast and regarded as one of the best in Australia. The lifeguard tower is manned 365 days a year, but be sure to pay attention to surf warnings and always swim between the red and yellow flags.

If you’re looking for fun without the sand between your toes, check out the beachfront markets on Wednesday and Friday nights. Over 100 market stalls are packed with locally-made wares, including craft, art, homewares and jewellery, and are often accompanied by live entertainment. If upmarket shopping is more your style, head to Cavill Mall and the surrounding streets. Partygoers will not be left short of options either – from bars to pubs to clubs, every taste is catered for.

Surfers Paradise is an easy one-hour drive down the highway from Brisbane and is serviced by an international airport at Coolangatta. It’s an easy drive to other parts of the beautiful Gold Coast, as well as the majestic hinterlands and exhilarating theme parks. Surfers Paradise is a must-see, must-stay destination.