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Date: Jul 30, 2010 11:07am AEDT

Weather today: Fine

Gold Coast N/A°C - 24°C Afternoon shower

Gold Coast Overview

It's so hard living here on the Gold Coast let me tell you. The sky is always blue, the sand is always waiting to softly swish between your toes. Don't set your alarm clock throw it away our birds and the ones with wings not two legged will wake you to another golden day. Nature's opera also includes the crashing sea and the smells of salt and deli delights and latte that tease your nose, you walk out your front door and see many happy people walking along the foreshores and the parks they smile and say 'good-morning'. Where wild about our pets too and not the penthouse kind the little four legged ones but there are also lots of penthouse pets living on the Gold Coast and why not it's a spectacular place that attracts the serious, the not s0 serious, the beautiful and everyone in between looking for a working life that does not leave out the 'life'. So pack your bags and start living.

If you can't wait to feel your feet in the sand and want to BOOK your accommodation right now or you just might like to view the many and varied options available to you click here.

History

Most of the world's recognised cities evolved over centuries of time, but the Gold Coast's evolution to a world class place to live, work and play was achieved in one single lifetime.

A string of shanty-like sleepy beachside fishing villages spread along a 40-kilometre continuous beachfront merged into a single vibrant world-class tourism-based mecca in that period.

No other world city can boast the combination or magnitude of its natural and man-made features such as wide canals to dwarf Venice as a water-based city, and dense centuries-old public accessed rainforests a mere hour's drive inland.

It is an entrepreneurial-based city, unmatched in Australia in this distinction and its cultural history can be traced back to the mid 1850s when the first white person was born here.

Originally named the Town of the South Coast in 1949 when Coolangatta introduced the city's first motel, the Tarzana, it was the tourist hub of Surfers Paradise to ultimately launch the city into national, then international prominence.

Surfers' Paradise-based designer Paula Stafford in 1952 introduced the first famous Australian version of the French bikini two-piece swimwear. The city now has much famous original fashion wear labels such as Billabong.

In 1955 who was to know that unknown brothers, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibbs singing around the outdoor pool of the original Beachcomber resort in Surfers Paradise would later become the internationally famous Bee Gees.

In 1959 when it was officially proclaimed Gold Coast city, its first high-rise tower (Kinkabool 10 storeys) was built as forerunner to hundreds more 'sky homes' as high as Q1 (85 storeys). Others of similar size are planned and the city is approaching 600,000 residents, many around resort-themed enclaves and suburbs blessed with world class shopping centres.

Famous entertainers, sports stars, national business identities and other celebrities either live here or have investments here. Tom Cruise, James Bond (George Lazemby) and Barry Manilow are among some that bought luxury boats built on the Gold Coast.

Without doubt, this entrepreneurial-based city is a place to be noticed. Here is a good link for more detail about Gold Coast development history: www.passionpowerandprejudice.com

Hinterland

The Green and the Blue

Most visitors know about the Gold Coast beaches and the nightlife but perhaps they should also look at the Hinterland for another aspect of the fabulous Gold Coast lifestyle. Just over 35 minutes drive from Surfers Paradise is Canungra, a picturesque country town in the south-western shadow of Mt Tamborine. Once known as "The Valley of the Owls" Canungra is surrounded by rich rolling valleys, horse and cattle properties, boutique vineyards (we would recommend a visit to O'Reillys Vineyard and Sarabah Estate) and nature lookouts.

The central, charming village green is a staging point for bushwalking and horse-riding safaris into the majestic Lamington National Park and its two rainforest lodges, O'Reilly's and Binna Burra.

The skies above Canungra are often dotted with hang-gliders and para-gliders who launch themselves off the western slopes of Mt Tamborine.

There is a traditional country pub and a number of small motels, B&B's and accommodation houses.

Biddadabba is a close by neighbour of Canungra and has become a Polo haven in the State. Elysian Fields has also recently been the venue for Elton John's regional concert tour and shows the growing attraction the region is enjoying.

Come on out and see a greener side to the Gold Coast!

If you have a question about where to go, just ask!

Kevin@blanccreation.com

Climate

The Gold Coast boasts beautiful sunshine all year round- how many times have you heard that in one of the many marketed tourist brochures and many Gold Coast sites.

Well we hate to burst their bubble and disappoint but we are sworn to tell you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

No folks we don't get sunshine all year round but we have to tell you this important fact otherwise we aren't doing our job and our job is to make your life a whole lot easier. Imagine arriving on the Gold Coast to find it raining day after day and your new little bikini number never getting to see the light of day now that would be a shame.

Depending on where you're coming from visitors generally find our temperature a whole lot warmer if there coming from some of the cooler states.

October- a pretty big month with the Indy Grand Prix and right after the groups of thousands pack up and go home the fun doesn't stop as our storm season begins. Depends on whether lightning scares the bejeebees out of you but Oct, Nov, Dec is pretty much storm season with rain, thunder, lightning and hail so if you happen to arrive in those months park your car in one of our many undercover parking areas just to be safe. Our storms aren't as bad as Sydney and our close relative Lismore had a tornado this season calling a state of emergency so we fair pretty well in comparison. One good thing is most storms happen at night so the days can still on average be pretty lovely.

Dec, Jan, Feb, March- our hottest months but for 2008 December and January was rain, rain and high humidity.

April, May, June- breathtakingly beautiful days, July, August, September- can be rainy and cold but if your from the cooler states don't expect to blend in we will know your tourist because you'll be wearing a t-shirt and shorts and you might utter words like 'is this your winter', well yes.

www.bom.com.au

Bureau of meteorology

Beaches

'Bushy' (pictured above) as he is affectionately known by many of the locals on the Gold Coast and familiar to many other locals around the world including Tahiti, Hawaii and the rest of the surfing hot spots around the globe where Bushy travels. Who wouldn't love to spend their days going around globe for Billabong? We grabbed a moment to ask Bushy to share with you his local knowledge and hear is what he said.

Best beaches for surfing starting at the southern end is definitely Duranbah, Snapper and Greenmount. Working up the coast then you have the Alley, Laceys, Flat-Rock behind Currumbin and all the beach breaks at Palm Beach and Miami. They work in the south east, to south west, to westerly winds.

The northerly winds are the bane of the Gold Coast because there's no where to surf except up the spit and the other side. The northerly winds limit the locations available.

When it's blowing north to north west, the northern end of the coast, up around Miami, down to Surfers and the spit at Main Beach offer the best value. Then of course the piece de resiance is of course the other side of what they call the southern tip of Stradbroke Island. They call it the other side because its across the sea way at the spit. Its much safer not to paddle across you can get a boat to get across. We don't encourage paddling 1) the boat traffic ? its difficult to sea the surfers 2) we'd rather you get across then have an altercation with a 60 foot pleasure craft.

For the family a lot of people use Tallebudgera creek, inside Burleigh of course you have to remember Greenmount and Kirra but because of the sand pumping going on there right now you have to be careful of the currents and the gutters causing some pretty rapid rips. If you go swimming it's the old adage always swim where there are the good old red and yellow flags.

Young children learning to surf would find the best spots at and along Currumbin Beach or near Elephant Rock and inside Burleigh is another great spot.

If you want to be seen on the beaches of course hit wonderful Surfers, wander from your unit, wander up have a coffee, wander back and do it all the next day.

For the Gold Coast's most sensation views go up to the eagle monument at Kirra there is memorial stones to well know surfers Joe Green and Mick Fanning's brother. You can look all the way up to Surfers and across to snapper, you get an overview of what the winds do, what wave refraction does, you see where the swells are going. The lookout at Point Danger you can look out at Duranbah and get a wonderful view south.

What beaches are good for hot chicks, Snapper during the Quicksilver Pro draws them like bees to a honey pot and of course any contest seems to draw hot chicks from many ages. Check out the surf any morning and you will see some girls jogging, walking water at any beach on the Gold Coast.

Most pro surfers hang around the southern end simply because that is where the quicksilver pro and the roxy is in March. And if you want info on that telephone surfing Australia 0266749888 or surfing queensland for all the Gold Coast events 0755201165

Fashion

Jay Pask one of the Gold Coast's top local designers and when I say local I mean a true blue local, shares his tips with us from his retail store in Tedder Avenue Main Beach. So Jay what do you have to tell us?

Well there's more to the Gold Coast than white linen and silver sandals. It's not just your old resort fashion. Actually on the Coast we have the most bubbling of youth fashion industries and this is a result of our history with the surf industry. We might not have the parisienne history of high fashion but we've certainly got the most amazing pattern makers and seamstresses because we've had a 30 year history of swimwear production on the Gold Coast beginning with our swimwear icon Ms Paula Stafford. (read more in history)

Fashion retail on the Gold Coast you tend to get a spread across all demographics whether you are size 8 or size 18 compared to Sydney which is youth dominated. The ideas coming out of the Gold Coast tend to not be as predictable as other places because they have to be climate conscious. Because were climate conscious were working with different fabrics and different textures.

So Jay what do I bring to the Gold Coast?

Well ladies leave your fake tan at home. A nice pair of clean thongs, no close toed shoes, a fabulous silk georgette kaftan, walk shorts, one fabulous bikini, for dining out depending on the season you can't go wrong with a peasant skirt, your flats and a fabulous top.

Jay what about Business?

Because were so climate conscious here on the Gold Coast we cant function here in a full corporate attire, so a collar and a sleeve will suffice and of course make it 100% cotton. Members of parliament aren't required to where a tie.

Jay what are some great places to shop?

Get off the beaten track because what you will find on the gold coast its really about secret little hidden street shops and the generics tend to stay in the mall (not being rood). Lesinneue@Paradise Point, Zacai @Paradise Point, Eve@Sanctuary Cove, Dot where's a dress@Nobby's Beach, Melanie Tan of the high end labels at Joy Electric is the pick of the bunch, Jay Pask-13 Tedder Avenue.

Jay what are some comments you hear?

Visitors are constantly surprised when they come into my store and say 'oh are you the designer'? They can't believe a designer is working in a shop. You would never see that in Sydney. I love being in the store so I can give the personal touch to my designs and make sure they sit on a women properly.

Also most people are quite stunned at how cosmopolitan and relevant the fashion industry is on the Gold Coast. I'm a Born and Bred Gold Coaster, I could have a store in Sydney and London but it's about lifestyle. Turning up at a great time to work in the morning, sitting having a great cup of coffee, enjoying the morning before heading into work is what its all about.

www.jaypask.com.au Designer Jay Pask

Business

The Gold Coast is Australia's fastest growing City. It is the nation's most popular holiday destination and is internationally known as the face of Australia.

These are the opening lines from the executive summary on the Gold Coast Innovation City' a report by KPMG and University of Queensland.

To the average southerner the Gold Coast is Australia's playground, the party place, a relaxed recreational centre lacking the cut and thrust of serious business. They hang on national news coverage of the exploits of colourful members of the community. They see the can do attitude of the average Gold Coast business person as conflicting with the traditional conservative ways of southern business.

Two Pillar Asset

As the opening quotation states the Gold Coast is Australia's most popular destination and the face of Australia Tourism is a great pillar of economic strength and city recognition and we should not try to dampen or change that image. We have a second pillar: "The Gold Coast, Innovation City, a great place to do business". The pillar is small but growing and we have the correct resources and assets to nurture its growth so it becomes a dominant second economic pillar.

Recreational Business

The marine precinct at Coomera did not exist 5 years ago and now employs some 3000 workers and is forecasting exceptional growth, from there the Riviera Group ship their luxury crafts all over the world. Billabong, an outstanding international success story ranks 5 in the BRW top 100 companies while Jupiter's is ranked 41st and there are many other highly successful recreational businesses from golf to surf related industries that call the Gold Coast home.

There is one major recreational export business not highly recognised that of 'lockup properties'. The owners from interstate or overseas who live here for short periods of time and then lock up the properties until their next visit. This business, if quantified, may be our biggest industry - if not the biggest export industry.

Technology and I.T.

The development of the Pacific Innovation Corridor, the special zoning of Varsity Lakes and the establishment of the InQabtor and like industries within the precinct has created a hotspot of technology. "Gold Coast's City's technology sector has grown by over 57% annually over the past two years. The city now boasts over 760 technology related companies".

Regional Economic Development Advisory Committee

READC is where council interacts with all members of the Gold Coast Community. Through this highly successful interaction the council has recognised and services the development of industry clusters i.e Education, Marine, Creative, Health and Medical, Information Technology, Environmental and Sports. These industries are expanding rapidly and are gaining a strong reputation.

The nurturing of these clusters provides a direction for the diversity of industry growth, The Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards provides recognition of the business quality and in turn this support will provide a strong economic pillar for the City in the future.

How

It's no use starting a fruit cannery unless you have access to the orchards. Its no use planning industry growth unless you can fill the jobs. Many industries are working closely with the Education Sector. The other advantage is Migration. These two things combined provide the most important ingredient, the human capital needed too resource the growth.

Let the "Mexicans", scoff, it makes it easier for us to take a greater market share whilst they are off guard.

Real Estate

Real estate has always been a thriving industry on the Gold Coast and today, as the nation's fastest growing region, it's not just retirees or the very wealthy who are buying here. Lucy Cole, Managing Director of the Coast's leading boutique real estate agency, Lucy Cole Prestige Properties, says that young families looking for a new start, baby boomers seeking a 'sea change', overseas investors and celebrities are all looking to own a piece of our beautiful city.

"People who have invested in Gold Coast property in the past have experienced impressive capital gain," Lucy said, "And we expect this trend to continue, especially for homes near the beach or on waterways, as these provide an unparalleled lifestyle because of our wonderful weather. Amazing business opportunities also exist due to our new international airport and major sporting facilities including surfing beaches."

Lucy said that investing in holiday units is still a wise move as more and more Australians choose to spend their vacations here. "And for those who aspire to the best, the Gold Coast has Australia's most expensive real estate at Mermaid Beach; you can take a drive along Hedges Avenue at Mermaid Beach, where a record price for a property on the beachfront sold for $18m.

www.lucycole.com.au

Real Estate Guru Ms.Lucy Cole

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