Gold Coast

Australia 🇦🇺 Gold Coast, like a city of the future, with travel guide attached Australia 🇦🇺 Gold Coast I’d call it a “future city” without hesitation. The city looks so stunning it doesn’t seem real, like a mirage 🌌. When I was a kid, I always thought the Gold Coast was just the name of a beach 🏖️. Later, I found out it’s actually a city itself. Practical Information: If choosing between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, go for the Gold Coast without hesitation ✨. As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane is worth a quick visit, but there aren’t many exciting attractions. The Queensland Art Gallery is quite small, and landmarks like the City Hall, parks, and bridges are no match for Sydney’s. You can finish exploring it in half a day 🕒. Transportation: Brisbane has significantly more flights than the Gold Coast—whether flying to Sydney, Melbourne, or Cairns, flights to Brisbane are also cheaper 💰. So prioritize flying to Brisbane. Airport transportation: I flew in from Sydney and landed around 10 AM. There were no convenience stores at the airport to buy a Go Card, nor did I see airport buses 🚌. Besides taking a taxi, the only way to get downtown was by train (or is it called light rail? Anyway, that’s the only option). The one-way fare was either 11 or 12 AUD 💸. I asked a staff member if I could buy a card, and they told me it’s cheaper to buy one downtown—theirs cost 30 AUD, so they suggested I just buy a one-way train ticket and get a Go Card in the city. Maybe locals can explain why that is 🤔. Also, for transportation in Brisbane and Gold Coast city centers, a Go Card works. It costs a 10 AUD deposit, and you can top up as needed. Now all transportation in Brisbane and the Gold Coast is just 0.5 AUD per trip 🚆, so no need to top up much (I added 10 and couldn’t use it all 😅). Hotel recommendations: Stay near the city center 📍. Brisbane’s attractions are concentrated here—you can spend half a day sightseeing, then head straight to the Gold Coast for fun 🎉. Theoretically, 3 days and 2 nights are enough for Brisbane plus the Gold Coast, but that’s only for the city areas. If you want to visit Paradise Country, amusement parks, or Sea World, add 1-2 more days 🎡🐠. Paradise Country You can hold a koala here 🐨! It’s the only decently sized and well-known zoo in Australia where you can hold koalas (NSW law prohibits it, Queensland allows it, but only in a few places—most zoos only let you take photos). My two favorite photo spots in the Gold Coast: Search “John Laws Park” on Google (super beautiful! Highly recommended!!! 🌟). Right next to it is Burleigh Head National Park, which is just okay. It takes about 20 minutes to hike up, and there are lots of lizards 🦎—girls might get scared, so maybe skip it… Then there’s Mick Schamburg Park (not as good as the first one)—just stop by for a quick photo 📸. If you’re day-tripping from Brisbane, you’ll need to head back after sunset, as trains stop around 9 PM 🚇. That’s all. #Brisbane #GoldCoast #GoldCoastTravel #BrisbaneLife