Surfers Paradise (Queensland, Australia)

Surfers Paradise is situated almost halfway up the E coast of Australia, in the SE corner of Queensland, 50 mls S of Brisbane; 60 mls S of Brisbane international airport, 14 mls N of Coolangatta airport. On a narrow spit of low-lying sand between the South Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the Nerang River, where it forms an intracoastal waterway. The Spit runs N to S, with the ocean on the E side and the river to the W. There are many small islands, peninsulas and waterways between the main spit and the mainland, which then stretches W across a flat plain to the Tamborine Mountains in the distance.

Queensland is where Australians themselves go on holiday, not surprising when you consider what the state has to offer: miles and miles of glorious beaches, the lively resorts of the Gold Coast and, further north the rainforests and islands of the Tropical North. But it is the Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders of the world, for which Queensland is most renowned.

The Gold Coast's lively central region is filled with magnificent holiday apartments, luxury hotels, resorts, holiday accommodation , shopping centres and restaurants. But the area's greatest attractions are golden beaches that stretch forever and are washed by the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The whole place looks rather tatty: a lot of the buildings are showing their age and the esplanade which runs the length of the splendid beach is mostly separated from it by an area of untended greenery, bushes or coarse grass. The outer parts of the resort are mainly high-rise apartments and hotels.

The area's subtropical climate has winter temperatures in the low 70s, making it a major holiday area for Australians from cooler southern cities; it also attracts beach bums, surfers, backpackers and bikers. International tourism is dominated by SE Asian tour groups, especially Japanese, Korean and Hong Kong Chinese. Although undoubtedly offering superb climate, beach and surfing, British tourists can find similar offerings closer to home. Unless relatives or friends live in the country, this is a long way to travel for a beach holiday.