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Gold Coast Activities

Golf

There are more than 40 golf courses on the Gold Coast, with many of them being available to the public. Many international visitors bring their golf clubs, as these world class facilities are relatively inexpensive. Some of the most famous golf courses are locate here, including Parkwood International Golf Course, Coolangatta - Tweed Heads, Hope Island Resort, Pacific Springs, Palm Meadows, Paradise Springs, Robina Woods, Royal Pines (two courses), Sanctuary Cove (two 18 hole golf courses, one designed by Fred Bolton (The Palms), which is open to the public, and Arnold Palmer’s The Pines is guests/members only), Surfers Paradise, The Glades (designed by Greg Norman) and Terranora Lakes Country Club. Green fees can be as cheap as $5 for 9 holes, up to $60 for 18 holes at the international courses.

If you are coming during the holiday periods or the weekends, bookings are essential.

Ripleys

The TV show “Ripley’s believe it or not” is an oddity museum right on the main strip of Cavill Mall. For a small fee of around AUD13, prepare to be freaked out, amazed, inspired and repulsed. This draws on the “oddities” gathered by the famous Mr Robert Ripley, who was an American anthropologist, cartoonist and entrepreneur. He visited 201 countries before his death in 1949 at age 58.

Inside, there are all sorts of weird and wonderful freakish events, people and things. There is a life size model of the worlds tallest man (at 1912), the worlds fattest woman, various torture devices from around the world, optical illusions, two movies and many amazing stories.

This is a self guided tour, where there are numerous things on the wall for you to read, probably too many to absorb in such a small basement. It’s a good way to get out of the sun and stimulate the mind for a few hours.

Beaches

It doesn’t matter if you like the beach or not. You have to go. You probably want to go anyway, since you’re going to the Gold Coast, but you have to see it. And when you see it, and you don’t like it, only then can you say, “I don’t like the beach”, because Gold Coast beaches are sexy. They’re sexy because of the people. They’re sexy because of the sand. They’re sexy because the sun beams on them, reflecting golden honey. I had my reservations about the Gold Coast. I thought it would be okay, not great, not crap, with nice-ish sand, and okay waves. As much as I know where my loyalties lie, I have to admit that it’s a beach I’d buy (when I become a billionaire), so I could have it all to myself. I’d have to buy the good weather too, or it would be like buying sneakers without shoelaces. I think that’s what a lot of rich people have tried to do, but believe it or not, there are SOME building restrictions on the Gold Coast.
As you probably know, you aren’t recommended to swim outside of the flags. These aren’t very wide, so there are usually hundreds of people crammed between them, trying to get some salty water in their eyes. This is on a busy holiday-day. It’s probably not usually like this, but during the holiday times – expect it. Away from the flags, there are fewer people on the sand and almost no people in the water.

And for the ladies entering the water, make sure your bikini is tied on securely if you are going into the water. The waves are strong and macho, and will attempt to tear it all off.

Things that you might want to bring to the beach:

• Esky for cold drinks
• Sunglasses
• Big Towels
• Sunscreen
• Sunscreen for your lips
• Drinks
• A tennis ball
• Something to read
• Umbrella or shade tent

If you are the sporty type, Surfers Paradise beach was voted best activity beach in the world, by National Geographic channel. Some of the things you can do there are volleyball, cricket, soccer, Frisbee and obviously surfing (and everything related to this).

Surfers Paradise beach left me with a sweet golden aftertaste, which I will definitely revisit.