International tourist center golden city. About the complex

Gold Coast is a city in the southeastern part of the Australian state of Queensland, the center of the eponymous local government area. It is the second most populous city in the state and the sixth most populous city in the country. The Gold Coast is known as one of the largest tourist destinations in Australia (primarily a boating center).

Information

• Country
• State: Queensland
• Founded: 1959 g
• Square: 1402 km²
• Climate type: subtropical
• Population: 591,473 people (2009)
• Timezone: UTC + 10

History of the Gold Coast

According to archaeological data, the territory of the modern city of the Gold Coast was inhabited by Australian aborigines 23 thousand years before the arrival of the first Europeans. By the beginning of the 19th century, eight tribes lived in this territory, whose members were representatives of the Yugambeh people. The main occupation of local residents was hunting and fishing. Not far from the modern suburb of the Gold Coast, Bundall, there was a traditional gathering place for local tribes.After the appearance of the first Europeans who began to engage in farming and deforestation, the Yugambeh tribes were forced to leave their traditional hunting grounds, moving to the inland regions of the mainland , and by 1890 the rest of the tribe had been evicted to a reservation outside the Gold Coast. The first European to visit the territory of the modern Gold Coast is the English traveler James Cook, who sailed past this place on May 16, 1770. In 1802, another traveler, Matthew Flinders, sailed past the territory of what is now the Gold Coast, but the area remained uninhabited by Europeans until 1823, when explorer John Oxley landed on Mermaid Beach. Despite the fact that the Gold Coast area appeared relatively early on colonial maps, it did not generate much interest among European colonialists until 1840, when the region was mapped by topographers of New South Wales. red cedar (Toona ciliata) immediately attracted merchants engaged in the production of wood: in 1865 a small town of Nerang was explored, located in the inner districts of the modern city and later becoming one of the centers of the woodworking industry. In the nearby valleys and plains, Europeans began to raise livestock, cultivate sugar cane and cotton. In 1869, the settlement expanded to the mouth of the Nerang River, located in the southern part of Moreton Bay. In 1885, Queensland Governor Anthony Musgrave built a holiday home on a hill north of the modern Gold Coast suburb of Southport. Since then, the nearby coastline has become a resort destination for the wealthy and influential in Brisbane. In 1889, Southport was brought Railway That gave impetus to the development of the area. Until the first quarter of the XX century, the permanent population of the region grew very slowly. But with the opening in 1925 of the coastal road connecting Brisbane to Southport, and the Surfers Paradise Hotel, 2 km from Southport, a real tourist boom began. In 1935, most of the coastline between Southport and the New South Wales border was built up with mansions and hotels. In 1933, the area was renamed Surfers Paradise. In 1936, the hotel of the same name burned down, but soon an even more grandiose complex was rebuilt in its place, which even had its own zoo. After World War II, the region remained a very popular tourist destination, and by the end of the 1940s, journalists even called his "Gold Coast" (translated from of English language"Golden coast"). On October 23, 1958, the South Coast Town Council was officially renamed Gold Coast. Less than a year later, the settlement was declared a city. By the 1960s, the infrastructure of the Gold Coast was significantly expanded, with the first high-rise residential buildings and hotels. In 1981, the Gold Coast airport terminal opened, and the 1980s were generally successful in terms of foreign investment: Japanese businessmen invested heavily in the construction of skyscrapers and theme parks. In 1994, the city boundaries were revised and a new one was formed. local government - City of Gold Coast Council. Currently, the city remains a major tourist destination in Australia. High-rise construction is actively developing, including, in 2005, the Q1 Tower skyscraper with a height of 322.5 m was completed in the Gold Coast, in 2007 the Circle on Cavill complex with a height of 220 m.

Geography

The Gold Coast city stretches for 60 km along the east coast of Australia, washed by the Coral Sea, from Beanley to Coolangatta in Queensland near the border with New South Wales. The Settlements of Tweed Heads and Bodesert are also usually

are regarded as constituent parts of the Gold Coast region, although they do not fall within the statistical boundaries of the Gold Coast city. The commercial center of the city is the suburbs of Southport and Surfers Paradise. As a result of the active settlement of the region, the cities of the Gold Coast, Binley, Logan City, Brisbane are currently forming a conurbation. The main river the city is Nerang. In the past, the area between the coast and the hinterland of the Gold Coast was occupied by wetlands, much of which was subsequently drained. However, part of the swamps was turned into artificial waterways (total length - about 260 km) and small islands. In the western part of the Gold Coast, it is bordered by the Great Dividing Range. In the immediate vicinity is Lamington National Park, which is part of the East Coast's World Heritage Sites rainforest.

Recreation and entertainment

The Gold Coast is one of the favorite vacation spots for Australians. And many of them, having visited here as tourists, simply stay to live, which explains the incredibly rapid population growth of this largest non-capital city in Australia. At the same time, the Gold Coast has firmly established itself as one of the most popular resorts in world tourism: up to 10 million tourists come here a year. Do you want to join them? Before answering this question, let's find out what is attractive about this relatively young (a little over half a century) resort city? Yes! It's summer here all year round! Here the average water temperature in the ocean is 22 degrees and the air is 25 degrees. The cleanest air, no problems associated with the purchase of winter clothes, fresh fruits and vegetables - from plantation to table - 365 days a year ... looks like a fairy tale, right? Winter here (June-July-August) is like a European summer, so if you don't like the heat with an all-scorching sun - come to our winter! Well, in the summer (all other months of the year) stock up on sunscreen! Nature? Of course! Always and everywhere flowering plants, ancient eucalyptus trees and immense fig trees, rainbow parrots, cute koalas and kangaroos quite accustomed to the urban landscape, humid rainforests and unique waterfalls, sugar cane plantations sinking in the horizon and neatly trimmed backyard lawns - all this pleases. and excites and pacifies. Beaches? Yes! Coastline The 60 km long Gold Costa makes it possible to arrange a large number of beaches, famous for their purest white sand and ... red and yellow flags of vigilant rescuers. Australian beaches may seem strange to sun lovers who are accustomed to Mediterranean resorts: there are no sunbeds for sunbathing and there is no crowding of bathers. This is due to the fact that sunbathing in the open sun is highly discouraged in Australia, and significant movements of ocean water in the form of ebbs and flows do not make it possible to install stationary awnings. And in general, as in all their attitude to the creatures of nature, Australians prefer to leave the beaches as they are, and therefore they seem to be virgin, and therefore they are so clean (smoking on the beach is prohibited!) And beautiful. If you like to run in the morning, try doing it on the beach - on the sand, along the ocean ... or on the special jogging tracks along the promenade.

Entertainment? As much as you like! The Gold Coast is famous for its world famous theme parks: Movie World, Dream World, Sea World, Wet'en'Wild, Currumbin Natural Zoo, etc. parks you can spend the whole day and neither you nor your children will be bored for a minute! In addition, as a resort city, the Gold Coast does everything possible to diversify the rest of its guests. There are many attractions here that you can visit "by the way", that is, just passing by. Sports grounds, swimming pools, cinemas, all kinds of street shows and, of course, a wide variety of excursions! In short, if you seriously think about your holidays in the Gold Coast, then you will not be bored and you will be able to learn / see / visit a lot. As for restaurants and nightclubs, more than 500 restaurants and nightclubs are open for you every day. Drinking (alcohol) is always allowed, getting drunk is not. Well, if you are quiet and you are not going to get behind the wheel of a car, then of course, as long as you want. Smoking in public places is prohibited, but there are specially designated smoking areas. In short, all of the above plus your own (future) impressions - this is the answer to the question of why tens of thousands of adventure seekers come here every day ...

Virtual tour of the Gold Coast (video)

A source. wikipedia.org, australia-travel.ru

The Gold Coast (or Gold Coast) is a resort area in Australia located near Brisbane. Conventionally, it can be divided into three resorts: the exquisite Main Beach with fashionable restaurants, shops and hotels, the "groovy" Surfers Paradise, which is considered the center of the Gold Coast, and the somewhat quieter Broad Beach, offering relaxation and entertainment at affordable prices. Everywhere there are excellent golden beaches and wonderful weather most of the year (however, the wave can be strong and treacherous, so swim there with caution and do not swim too far).

How to get to the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast can be reached through two airports. The first, the international airport in Brisbane, is about an hour and a half from the Gold Coast (about 80 km). The second local airport in Coolangatta is located in the southern part of the Gold Coast, approximately 25 minutes' drive from Surfers Paradise beaches (21 km). Of course, it is more convenient to fly to the Gold Coast via the local airport, but it only accepts planes from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Cairns.

Gold Coast Hotels

Two the best hotels The coast, Sheraton Mirage and Palazzo Versace, are located on Main Beach, the most popular and fashionable area of ​​the Gold Coast. But most of the hotels and apartments are located on Surfers Paradise. It even got to the point that their tall buildings shade the beach from the afternoon, because they are very close.

Beaches

Main Beach is an exquisite resort area with top-class hotels, expensive shops and restaurants. It is here that two of the best hotels on the coast are located: Sheraton Mirage and Palazzo Versace. The hotel development in the resort is not too dense, and it is guaranteed to appeal to connoisseurs of a chic secluded holiday. The World of the Sea theme park is nearby.

Broad Beach is a quieter stretch of coastline offering relaxation and entertainment at affordable prices. There are also more than enough hotels there. Diversify your leisure time with the Jupiter's Casino and the imposing Pacific Fair Shopping Center.

Entertainment and attractions of the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a unique place where you can not only lie on the beach and practice windsurfing, but also visit the most famous park-plantation of tropical fruits in the country "Big Pineapple" or the indescribable beauty of Fraser Island, included in the list World heritage UNESCO. Nearby, there is a real Australian "jungle" - tropical rainforests. national park Lamington, which is also under the tutelage of UNESCO.

Popular excursions

From here you can also go on an excursion to the "Water Park", "zoo without cages" - Carrumbin reserve (~ 49 USD), amusement parks "World of Kino", "World of Dreams", "World of the Sea" and "World of Tropical Fruits" (~ 79 USD). Also of interest are the Ripley Museum "Believe it or not," and the "Unusual Amusement Park".

• Gold Coast
• Hotel area of ​​the resort

Leisure

Surfing, windsurfing, bangi jumping, paragliding, water skiing and jet skiing - in general, there is more than enough entertainment on the water. And the golf courses here are some of the best in the world. For not very athletic, but especially "party" citizens - many restaurants and bars, several large amusement parks, more than 30 nightclubs and discos, as well as the Jupiter casino.

Surfing

You can catch the longest waves in the world at Snapper Rocks near Coolangatta. Among the famous surf resorts of the northern part of the coast are Currumbin, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, Nobby Beach, Mermaid Beach. The best place to learn to surf is in the waters of the North and South Stradbroke Islands and in Noosa.

The Gold Coast is a coastal city with a sunny subtropical climate in the Australian state of Queensland, which is world famous for its white sand beaches for swimming and surfing, which occupy 57 kilometers of coastline.

Besides its beaches, the Gold Coast is also known for its world-class theme parks. Water lovers will be delighted with visiting local water parks with extreme slides. Warner Bros. Movie World is perfect for families with children, thanks to the abundance of attractions and the opportunity to meet characters from their favorite cartoons. Dreamworld Park is suitable for adventure seekers.

it popular place recreation, inextricably linked with fun, sun, surf, sand with an abundance of subtropical green mountain areas.

You can get to the city from Gold Coast Airport, located in the southern part of the Gold Coast in Coolangatta, about 40 minutes' drive from Surfers Paradise Beaches. Brisbane Airport is large international airport which connects Queensland and Australia with many other parts of the world. From Brisbane Airport, you can reach the Gold Coast in about an hour by car or in 90 minutes by train.

History of the Gold Coast

The Aboriginal people called the area of ​​the Gold Coast Kurrungul due to the abundance of hardwoods suitable for making boomerangs.

James Cook became the first European to spot the region while sailing along the coast in 1770. Captain Matthew Flinders, who studied the continent north of the New South Wales colony, sailed by in 1802. The region remained uninhabited by Europeans until 1823, when explorer John Oxley landed on its shores. The red cedar growing in the interior attracted Europeans to these areas in the middle of the 19th century. The wood was tied to rafts and floated down the rivers to sea sailing ships. These ships docked at the Neranga and Oxenford rivers. The West Bank of Neranga became an industrial region, and by 1875 Southport was explored and quickly gained a reputation as a secluded getaway for wealthy Brisbane residents. Over time, the areas of the Gold Coast were overgrown with farms and filled with sugarcane fields. Rum became a by-product of the sugar industry. Oyster farming and fishing developed in the Broadwater area.

Another settler organized a ferry service to attract guests to the area. He also built a beach hotel in 1888 on south side the Narang River to accommodate the people brought by his ferry. In 1923, James Cavill built the Surfers Paradise Hotel in the area known as Alston. The land was purchased for only $ 80, and shortly before his death, the site was already worth 377 thousand. In 1933 the area was named after the hotel. But only in the middle of the 20th century, Surfers Paradise became a popular recreation center for military personnel and their families returning from the fronts of World War II. Since then, the Gold Coast has maintained its position as an excellent tourist place... Now the Gold Coast region is considered the fastest growing region in the country.

Attractions Gold Coast

Despite the fact that the Gold Coast is famous for its beaches, there are many other places in the region where you can enjoy the local unique nature. In the mountains, you can find excellent walking paths with waterfalls and freshwater bodies in the Currambin Valley. Springbrook National Park - will surprise travelers with an abundance of birds and animals. It is also interesting to visit the islands of the northern Gold Coast, which can be reached by ferry. Local wild nature gives you the opportunity to meet amazing wallaby and unique lizards.

A large number of festivals, cultural events, shows and sports tournaments are held annually on the Gold Coast, including the film festival, the Quiksilver Pro surfing competition.

Gold Coast Hinterland Heritage Museum

It is a unique place, full of rare historical materials reflecting the growth and development of the Gold Coast hinterland. Museum cultural heritage Gold Coast, located in the suburb of Majiraba.

The museum sought to recreate the life of the first European settlers in Australia. Several historically significant buildings are collected here, including Franklin's house, Train Station Neranga, cream barn and police station. All these buildings have been carefully recreated.

Gold Coast Arts Center

Arts Center - Main Cultural Center Gold Coast, which represents visual and performing arts in Southeast Queensland. The complex includes the Arts Theater, the Gold Coast Gallery, two cinemas and a café. The Arts Center was officially opened in December 1986. Its gallery houses the city's famous collection of modern and historical works.

The first skyscraper Q1

This is the first skyscraper built on the Gold Coast. In 1998, the Anderson family acquired a property in the center of Surfers Paradise and in 2002 construction began on this unique 322.5 meter building, now known as "Queensland Number One". It is with viewing platforms this giant has stunning panoramic views of the entire Gold Coast. The project cost is approximately USD 255 million. Its spire is made of glass and steel and reaches a height of 97.7 meters. The illuminated spire is visible 200 kilometers away.

Gold Coast is one of largest cities Australia, located in the state of Queensland, tourist centre of world importance and the most popular beach resort in the country. The main value of the resort is picturesque beaches and first-class hotel complexes, which are chosen by thousands of travelers every year. At the end of the 19th century, only 8 Aboriginal tribes lived on the territory of the modern metropolis, in less than a hundred years this undeveloped area has turned into an ultra-modern city with shining skyscrapers and fashionable entertainment centers.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the active development of the area began by Europeans, who were attracted by fertile lands. The first European to set foot on protected lands was worldwide famous traveler James Cook, a significant event took place in May 1770. It is noteworthy that in those days, almost the entire territory of the modern city was occupied by thickets of rare red cedar. Subsequently, almost all protected forests were cut down, and the most valuable material was transported to wood processing plants in Europe.

The young town began to attract its first travelers in 1925, after the construction of the surrounding roads was completed. Every year its infrastructure became more and more perfect, already in the 30s the first high-class hotels appeared here and resort complexes... Its modern name The Gold Coast received in 1940 thanks to local journalists, literally it can be translated as "Gold Coast", which fully reflects the specifics of the resort. Copyright www.site

Today the Gold Coast is not only popular beach resort but also a permanent venue for world-class sporting events. Interesting competitions and demonstration performances of world famous athletes are held here literally every month. Despite the fact that a hundred years ago the ecology of the region suffered significant damage, unique nature still continues to be one of the main features of the city. Travelers will have the opportunity to walk through the picturesque tropical forests and appreciate the diversity of the local fauna.There are several national parks in the city and in its immediate vicinity.

It is also worth noting that in addition to the classic beach holiday Gold Coast is ready to offer tourists a lot interesting entertainment, a modern resort perfect for families. There are several original theme parks and entertainment complexes, and a large selection of beautiful shopping centers will surely delight shopping lovers. A modern metropolis with shining skyscrapers and unique national hospitality - the Gold Coast will surely appeal to active tourists and those who love a beach holiday.

In recent years, the Gold Coast has won the status of an elite-level resort, annually visited by about 3 million tourists from all over the world. Many luxury hotels have opened here, and gorgeous beaches have been equipped for tourists. The resort's most famous beach is called Surfers Paradise and is considered one of the most attractive surfing spots in the world. On this beach there are always big waves, there are several excellent surfing schools on its territory. In the evening, this beach turns into a huge disco, shining with neon signs, there are numerous nightclubs and bars along the coast.

In addition to beach activities, guests of the resort have access to exciting hiking in picturesque areas, in resort area is a unique national park Lamington. It is a vast forest with an area of ​​about 200 sq. km. While walking through the reserve, you can see a lot of rare plants, and also climb the tops of mountains and hills, where natural observation platforms are located.

Several years ago, the resort opened the Dream World amusement park, which has become a favorite vacation spot for family tourists and fans. active entertainment... Its area is 85 hectares; on the territory of the park there are dozens of thematic attractions and play areas for children of different ages.

Not far from Tula, there is a unique complex called the "Golden City". It is a real Kitay-gorod, which is located right in the Tula region. The complex includes a hotel, restaurant and spa-center, and is made entirely in traditional Chinese style. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail: building decor, interior details, building layout. And in the aggregate, it allows you to touch the culture and history of the Celestial Empire of the Ming era, and plunge into the atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility.

Some of the hotel's buildings are true architectural masterpieces. For example, one of the buildings of the complex is built in the style of a Chinese palace. It is adorned with an exquisite carved turret that houses tea ceremony rooms. Tourists to Kitay-gorod near Tula are primarily attracted by the combination of ancient traditions of antiquity (even the staff is dressed in) with modern comfort. In the hotel you can relax not only with your soul, but also with your body. While enjoying the tranquil views and national decor elements, you can get a full range of high-class spa treatments.

The hotel area is also conducive to long, relaxing walks. Traditional Chinese gazebos, fountains, small stone bridges, details landscape design: all this will help you to feel ancient China right in the Tula region.

Food and entertainment

The restaurant of the hotel "Golden City" invites its guests to enjoy not only real Chinese cuisine (they eat only real food in it), but also taste Indian, Ayurvedic and European dishes prepared by the best chefs.

Among the active entertainment in Tula Kitay-gorod are paintball, fishing and sports games. For those who like to meditate with a fishing rod, the hotel staff will provide all the necessary equipment for fishing. A small quiet pond nearby will give you the opportunity to catch carp, crucian carp and perch. Those who prefer more movement can spend their free time playing paintball, basketball, volleyball, football, badminton or table tennis. Or go exploring the area by bike.

Services

Kitay-gorod Tula is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy pleasant and wellness treatments or participate in a real tea ceremony.

Complex "Golden City" provides its guests with the opportunity to practice traditional yoga with experienced teachers. Masters are ready to create customized meditation programs to help balance the inner sense of self.

At the hotel, you can also relax your body with a relaxing massage based on Indian techniques or Ayurvedic treatments that have a beneficial effect on the entire body. During the rest in the "Golden City" for guests, Ayurvedic doctors can draw up an individual course of procedures and spa therapy sessions that meet all the needs of the client.

Traditional tea ceremonies will not only help you relax, but also discover many new things. Experts will be happy to tell you about the history of tea, about the methods of its preparation, about the different varieties and the differences between them. Visitors to the complex will be able to prepare the famous drink themselves and feel the atmosphere of China right under Tula, while enjoying freshly brewed Chinese tea.

In addition, the "Golden City" provides an opportunity to ride around the areas adjacent to the complex on horseback. Guests can choose to go on horseback riding or cross-country hikes with an instructor. For those who are not yet familiar with the art of equestrian riding, training lessons are provided.

How to get there?

Unusual Kitay-gorod is located at the address: Tula region, Venevsky district, with. Petropavlovskoe, st. Stepnaya, 19. Let's consider how to get to Kitay-gorod Tula by car. The complex is located on the 198 kilometer of the Moscow-Don highway (M4). It is necessary to leave the road at the sign “p. Sergievo 1 ".