The Gold Coast, a 70km stretch of coastline that starts at Coomera and stretches south to the NSW border town of Tweed Heads is well known for its large amount of high rise developments that line the coastal strip (including the recently constructed Q1 building that has become the tallest residential tower in the southern hemisphere). It has become one of the quickest growing regions in Australia due to its popularity and all-round good climate. The region was once known as the south coast (to Brisbane), however due to high prices of accommodation and services, Brisbane newspapers in the 1950's dubbed the region the "Gold Coast". The name started being used by local businesses and in the 1960's, the Gold Coast name was official. Apart from Sydney, the Gold Coast is perhaps Australia's prominent holiday destination as the beaches are absolutely superb and the range of activities are almost endless. The Gold Coast is home to internationally acclaimed theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World and Movie World, has an intense nightlife, a seemingly endless amount of shopping and dining precincts, Jupiters Casino and a lush, tropical hinterland full of quaint villages, waterfalls, national parks and bushwalks. Certainly a recommended holiday destination.

Population: 550,000
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Named in the 1950's due to high prices for services, accommodation & land and for its golden sandy beaches.
Postcode: 4215-4217 (varies)
Local Government: Gold Coast City Council
Location: 80km south of Brisbane
Pronunciation: Gold Coast
Main Roads: Pacific Highway/Motorway  , Gold Coast Highway 
Main Watercourses: Nerang River, Coomera River, Coral Sea (South Pacific Ocean)
Radio Stations (Music): Sea FM (90.9), Gold FM (92.5), River 949 (94.9), Family FM (96.5), 97.3FM (97.3), Hot Tomato (102.9), Triple M (104.5), B105 FM (105.3), Nova 106.9 (106.9), Triple J (107.7)

Photos from Gold Coast (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):
 

	Looking south over Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast (2003).
	Looking south-west over Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast hinterland in the background (2003).
	The Esplanade, looking north, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	The Esplanade, looking south approaching Hanlan Street, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	The Surfers Paradise beach and foreshore parkland (2003).
	Cavill Avenue (mall), heading west, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	Gold Coast Hwy, looking south, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	Elkhorn Avenue, looking west from the Esplanade, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	Remembrance Drive (Gold Coast Hwy), looking south-east from Beach Road, Surfers Paradise (2003).
	Ferny Avenue (Gold Coast Hwy), looking south from Higmann Street, Surfers Paradise (2005).
	Looking south-east along the Gold Coast Hwy approaching Ferny Ave, Main Beach (2005).
	The Gold Coast Hwy, heading south approaching Ada Bell Way, Southport (2005).
	Nerang Street, looking north-east at the Davenport Street roundabout, Southport (2005).
	Scarborough Street, looking north between Lawson and Young Streets, Southport (2005).
	Tooloona Street, looking east in Tugun (2004).
	Looking east across Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta (2004).
	Boundary Street, looking south-west from Petrie Street, Coolangatta (2004).
	Griffith Street, heading east between Dutton and Warner Streets, Coolangatta (2004).
	Griffith Street again, this time looking east between Warner and McDonald Streets, Coolangatta (2004).
	Looking south-west across Rainbow Bay foreshore parkland and Marine Parade, Coolangatta (2004).
	Marine Parade, looking east from Garrick Street, Coolangatta (2004).
	The Captain Cook Memorial which stands on the QLD/NSW border at Point Danger, Coolangatta (2004).