From Casinos to volcanic calderas, Australia's Gold Coast has everything under the sun for the fun-seeker. Including 42 kilometres of sunkissed beaches, of course!

Welcome to Oz. The land of sun, sea and surf. Where bronzed bodies grace the beaches sending the temperatures soaring all around and the only thing to bring them down is a can of chilled beer or a romp in the inviting, blue sea. Think of Australia nd the first thing that comes to mind is its seemingly unending coastline. Miles of golden sands, with aquamarine waters lapping at the shores. It's a cliché which has perpetuted itself to the extent that even most Aussies flock to the beach when they feel the need to unwind, often forsaking the pleasures of the hinterland for a day in the sun. And the world, happily follows suit.

Australia's Gold Coast, is a 42 kilometre long stretch of beachfront dedicated to the rest and relaxation. Here, nature's bounty has been harnesssd, preserved and in some cases, even enhanced to offer a visitor a chance to experience a variety of ecosystems in just one corner of this giant continent. The Aussies believe that life is for living to the fullest. Work through the week and party through the weekend, seems to be the credo. But on the Gold Coast, as long as there's bright sunshine, the party never stops…

If you arrive on the Coast by air, you'll be greeted by the specatacular sight of miles of shimmering white beaches, lapped by an azure blue sea, as your plane descends at Coolangatta airport. Touchdown, and you're in Australia's favourite playground. One of the main factors that makes the Gold Coast so popular, apart from the beaches, is the climate. The Coast enjoys over 300 days of bright sunshine a year, with temperatures a pleasant 15 to 28 degrees Celcius, making it a real treat to be outdoors. Which is what the locals love most.

Surfer's Paradise is a stretch of beach that's just half an hour's drive from Coolangatta airport. This is the most inhabited stretch of beach, with hotels within a sone's thro from the beach. It's a rather strange sight to see towering hotels, built right on the beach, but you'll love it, when the gentle sea breeze caresses you to sleep every night. And the crashinhg of the wave is your morning wake up call. The resorts at the Coast are deigned to let you do your own thing…at your own pace. So you can laze around in a private lagoon, swim up to the bar for a drink , get a tan on a reserved beach, tempt Lady Luck at a casino or just generall chill out. The options are unending.

The Gold Coast offers the thrill-seeker a veritable smorgasbord of activities to choose from. Most Aussies come here for the surf. The waters near Surfer's Paradise and along most of the Coast are just right to give the old board a spin. In fact the Coast has around 35 beaches that are patrolled round the clock with professional lifeguards who could teach those guys on Baywatch a thing or two! The Coast also has many beautiful dive spots and even absolute novices can discover the secrets of the deep, with a little help from a trained diving instructor. Dive a couple of metres and suddenly you're in a different world altogether. A riot of colour assails the senses as marine life of every imaginable shape, size and hue glides past. There's nothing like the experiece of having fish swim right past your nose, almost daring you to reach out and touch them. But make one sudden movement, and they'll be gone. So, just laze around underwayter as Mother Nature puts on her Sunday Best for you. It'll be an experience you'll cherish for a lfetime!

If you're in the mood for a spot of action at the beach, get some horsepower under your tail kid! There are powerboats and jetskis with enough zip in them to keep your adrenaline surging. Feel like slowing down a bit? Enjoy the water at a more leaisurely pace on a yacht. Let the lapping of the waves serenade you as you soak in the laid back ambience of the Coast. If you're still in the mood for a thrill, do battle with the waves on a indsurfer. Most beaches have instructors who'll give you a crash course in the basic and before you know it, you're out there on your own. Now it's between you and the sea. You'll win some, and probably lose quiet a few rounds to the Pacific Ocean, but you'll have the time of your life doing it. There are few experiences that come close to the feeling of weightlesness, as you bob about on your surfboard, teasing the wind challenging it to do its worst. This stretch of the beach isn't called surfer's paradise for nothing!

More >>