It has been years since I spent any length of time on Queensland’s Gold Coast. A few flying visits of a couple days each time over the past 40 years was the extent of my experience. So, an invitation to a wonderful family wedding was a good excuse for an extended stay and poke around.
Man! Has that place changed?! And I am not sure that that change has been a good thing.
When I was a kid and we were having a good year on the farm, our big indulgence would be three weeks at the Florida Car-O-Tel (yes, we are talking the 1960’s and ‘70’s here) at Miami Beach on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Those holidays, after we recovered from the 12-14 hours of driving, were carefree days full of sun, surf and sand. We kids ran and played, completely unsupervised, from daylight to dusk. How lucky were we to enjoy such unmitigated freedom?
When I was a kid, the beach was wild and rugged, and the rocky headlands were high and dangerous, and completely out-of-bounds. What a shock to see them now after my many, many, many more loops around the sun, to truly see how tame those towering cliffs actually are? Our childhood memories are always more vivid and dramatic.
Our base for the wedding was a comfortable unit almost bang in the middle of Burleigh Heads beach. Burleigh is only about 10km South of the high-rise heart of Gold Coast’s Surfers Paradise. In reality, almost the whole length of the Gold Coast (approximately 57km) has the same access to wide and clean beaches, the only difference being whether the beaches are edged by slightly more residential areas or a commercial district.
While staying in this beachy paradise, I set myself a goal of walking every morning and how could I not when the beach was only just across the road? I failed miserably, of course, and probably managed a walk only every second or third day due to a disastrous pattern of sleeplessness. It wasn’t pretty as I do not operate well on only four-to-five hours sleep.
This was an unexpected downside of the Gold Coast. It is bloody noisy!! Where we stayed was noisy all day – usually starting around 7am – with construction projects building new apartment blocks and fancy hotels. It was also noisy all night – usually starting around 9pm – with roadworks construction and the installation of a new metro rail line. Yes, maybe I am exaggerating, but if I am, it is only slightly!
I thought a good antidote to the constant banging, crashing, jack-hammering and beeping from reversing trucks would be a peaceful walk along the beach at sunrise. What I didn’t consider were the hundreds of people also seeking solace in the sand, sea and sunrise. There were joggers, walkers, swimmers, surfers, paddlers, yoga buffs and limitless number of utterly vain young things taking selfie photographs as they preened and pouted in their G-strings! At 6am! In Winter!
Yes, I am starting to sound like a cranky old woman! Part of my problem, other than being sleep-deprived, was that I was walking with my country/bushie mindset, plus my 1960’s and 70’s memories too firmly entrenched. I should have just relaxed and loosened up like the young things with their trendy gym wear (do I really need to see every ripple and bump in their backsides?) and their environmentally-friendly-100%-recycled-double-insulated-oversized-keep coffee cups.
I thought I was just going for a walk. In reality I was part of an early morning fashion parade and gym session. Yes, I failed miserably yet again.
I know, I know…just chill… Ohm, Ohm, Ohm and all that…
I did my best to ignore the people, focus on the water and wallow in the glorious sunrises. It was very beautiful and it was gorgeous to see the colours of the dawn change, lighting up the skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise.
I did my best to smile, relax and wish everyone a ‘Good Morning”. Fail again! They don’t do that on the Gold Coast. Perhaps with my smile, they thought I was a serial killer!?
I did my best to pat all the happy dogs that bounded up to me to share their joy of being out on the sand. At least they were happy to see me and say ‘Good Morning’.
What I finally realized was that I am a country bumpkin at heart and definitely not cut out for flashy places like the Gold Coast. I am sure it is something you would eventually get used to if you lived there long enough AND invested in a good set of ear plugs. And no doubt, there are worse places to live and even busier places to stroll.
Perhaps I have been spoilt with my many solo bushwalks and mini-escapes to the beaches of sleepy Tuncurry? And maybe I was just unlucky to visit slap bang in the middle of a building boom?
Or maybe I should just get with programme and take on the whole Gold Coast vibe? Although I think that I am bit too old, and general public is not ready, for my body and butt in top-to-toe lycra! 😊
Happy morning walks to you all!
Where is your favourite spot for a morning walk?
The Basics
What: The Gold Coast is much more than one long sandy beach. The place is full of theme parks, wild rides, casinos, shopping malls, golf courses and whale watching activities. You can be as busy and active as you want to be, or just fly and flop!
Where: The Gold Coast is found on the southern end of Queensland’s coast. It stretches from Beenleigh in the North to Coolangatta in the South.
When: You would have an enjoyable visit in any season, although you may want to avoid the mania of school holidays and the annual ‘schoolies’ celebrations. Not for the faint-hearted!
Why: For a beach break with a side of shopping, clubbing and eating your way around the World.
How: Your closest airport is located at Coolangatta. Most major airlines fly in/out.
Who: It was a walking United Nations each morning on the beach, so it is definitely a popular tourist destination for both young and old. (Note: I tried to cut the crowds of people out of my photos!)
Related Posts: For a much quieter beach break, head to Killcare beach.
Related Blogs: Jo knows a good water view when she sees one – both beach scenes and rugged cliffs.
Read About it: For an intriguing true-story about Queensland politics, Gold Coast connections and its murky underworld full of graft and corruption, grab a copy of Matthew Condon’s trilogy starting with Three Crooked Kings. A real eye-opener.
#destinationqueensland #miamibeach #travelinspo #surfersparadise #vitaminsea #burleighheads #surfspots #beachcomber #beachviews #coastalviews #beachwalks #morningwalks #sunrisewalks #greettheday #coffeeculture #sandytoes #walkingthedog
Life...one big adventure 
Oh dear, I know the feeling. Lovely photos, anyway.
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🙂 Times are a’changin’….
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I had to laugh, sorry! I feel the same about all this relentless self-promotion on instagram, but then here we are blogging so I guess we’re just as bad. Their cleavage and abs is our sunrise and fungi 😀 Sorry about the noise though, Iack of sleep is no joke.
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I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you are right. Now I will post even less photos of myself on this blog! 🙂
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Not possible 😀 Maybe if you have the cleavage and the abs 😉
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:-)…neither!
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Thanks for the laugh you two 🙂
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Firstly, let me say what a fabulous set of photos you’ve got here Mel, but I also enjoyed your comparison of the Gold Coast from yester-year to today just as much. Those of us of a certain age will always look back to the nostalgic good old days – but your images and text shows and tells us exactly why. Our memory may possibly play tricks on us sometimes, but here’s proof, if ever I needed it, that even with all the advances made over the years, I’m glad I’ve had the best part of my life in the days that went before, when they were simpler, safer and less crowded.
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Truth – the olden days were far less complicated and we enjoyed a simplicity of life that would be hard to replicate today. Maybe it was a matter of ‘knowing no different’ – a bit like the generations in modern times. We all adapt to what we are given. I guess as long as they are happy, I shouldn’t be judging their g-strings! 🙂 Have a good day, Mel
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Beautiful sunrises, holy smokes! Is it called the Gold Coast because of the color in the mornings?
That’s frustrating that it’s so commercialized and noisy. It doesn’t sound like the most relaxing place to visit. But it sure is pretty!
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I am not sure why it was originally called the Gold Coast – maybe to do with the golden sands? And the sunrises sure add a dose of golden colour…
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Well if I only looked at the pictures and didn’t read about the construction, traffic and music noise I may think this is still a beautifully relaxing place. Your pictures are gorgeous. I was there in the 80s and it was already starting to get busy with high-rises, I can only imagine how busy it is now. Maggie
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It is one over-the-top destination and that is perfectly fine for those people who enjoy that sort of thing! Not this black duck, though! 🙂
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Haha, I really enjoyed your post! Of course, your photos are beautiful, but your narrative had me in stitches 😀! Luckily, I couldn’t hear the noise of construction or see the young ladies (and gents maybe?) in their tiny beachwear – so I’m happy to report that I enjoyed your amazing sunrises and empty beaches very much!
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🙂 I really am turning into a grumpy old woman! 🙂
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Your photos are stunning and the beaches look absolutely dreamy. Your write up made me laugh – especially this sentence – do I really need to see every ripple and bump in their backsides?….It is a question I ask myself regularly, WHY do young people wear these clothes?!
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🙂 – unfortunately in Aus, gym wear seems to be our national dress and people of ALL ages, wear it everywhere…whether they have a body for it or not! Ugh! I can’t un-see some of this stuff! 🙂
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There’s a place in Australia called Miami Beach? I’ve never been to America’s Miami Beach, but the Husband has, and he described it pretty much exactly like you described yours. I’m not a country bumpkin but that sounds off-putting even to me! At least you got some great photos and a few positive dog greetings. Sometimes the biggest takeaway from travel is that life is pretty good at home.
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Agreed – I was only thinking that this morning as I was slogging my way up the hill and saying hello to all the roos (and thinking of you). Home is definitely where the heart is.
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You did a really great job on that!
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My photos are more by good luck than good management. 🙂 but thanks anyway.
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I’m gathering that I shouldn’t go to the Gold Coast for a relaxing holiday. No, to be honest it is the last place I would go. I do love the beach shots. What we do for family 😉
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I can be 100% guaranteed that the Gold Coast is NOT for you! 🙂 Too many other fabulous beach spots in both our countries to enjoy. The wedding was lovely though – a very happy, family time. xx
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Grumble, grumble! Moan, moan! And then you bombard us with the most delicious beach shots ever. I have an aversion to high rise so I doubt it would be my happy place, but you know Pauline from Living in Paradise? She is perfectly happy living on top of the world in one of those high rise apartments and the sunsets are superb. I guess the building projects are not near her. She’s in her 80s so no lycra.
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Thank goodness we don’t all love and live in the same spots! Each to their own. 🙂
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And she did live in Burleigh Heads, so quite a contrast.
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No doubt the locals have a far different view of their neighborhood than us jaded tourists.
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Your post made me smile and I love your photos 🙂 They’re stunning. I have really fond memories of the Gold Coast. Many years ago my friend and I went backpacking around Japan and Australia, and by the time we hit the Gold Coast we were utterly exhausted. So we spent a few days at Surfers Paradise just sitting on the beach and sleeping a lot. It was the perfect place to recharge our batteries, as we didn’t feel the need to go off sightseeing or do any of the many activities that weren’t really to our taste.
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Yep, it would be the perfect place to fly and flop!
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I had a giggle too, picturing all those gym bunnies on the beach. I was up that way in 1998 and can’t say I was struck by Surfer’s Paradise, but the beach(es) were fascinating – soooo long. Your photos tell a very different story to the narrative. I wonder if the amount of building works going on is in any way related to the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032? I imagine some sporting arenas (not to mention hotels) will need to be built.
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I did my best to cut out all the people in my photos! Terribly antisocial of me, I know. 😊 No, I think all the building is just business as usual on the Gold Coast. It is a growing part of Aus, regardless of the Olympics. And I think Queensland maybe regretting this rush of blood to the head now that they are getting a more accurate idea of the cost!
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Stunning Gold Coast, the pictures are fabulous. Most travelers who book their trip to Australia would usually have Gold Coast in their itinerary. This place is worth visiting, Mel. I assume in your childhood days there would be very few buildings as seen in few of your pictures.
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Yes, it was very different when I was a nipper and the high rises were low rises! 🙂
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Do you have pictures to share from those days?
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I am sure there are plenty of retro Gold Coast photos on the internet just waiting for you to discover them, Arv. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks. sure. I will. You too have a great weekend
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