Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com

Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations:

Valentine's Day Romantic Regions:

10.The Gold Coast - Australia:

The Gold Coast is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, the state capital. Gold Coast City is renowned for its sunny subtropical climate, popular surfing beaches, expansive waterway and canal systems, a skyline dominated by high-rise apartment buildings, active nightlife and wide variety of tourist attractions. The diversity of the landscape makes it a popular choice with a wide range visitors by having something for everyone from fun in the sun to rainforest escapes. Whether you're looking for health retreats, day spas, action packed theme parks and attractions, nature escapes, nightlife or relaxing days on the beach the Gold Coast has it all.

Things To Do / See:

A.Beach Sightseeing:
The city consists of 57 kilometres of coastline with some of the most popular surf breaks in Australia including, South Stradbroke Island, The Spit, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami, Burleigh Beach, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Beach, Palm Beach, Curruminbin Beach, Tugun, Bilinga, Kirra, Coolangatta, Greenmount, Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and Froggies Beach. Duranbah beach is one of the world's best known surfing beaches and is often thought of as being part of Gold Coast City, but is actually just across the New South Wales state border in Tweed Shire.
There are also beaches along many of the Gold Coast's 860km of navigable tidal waterways. Popular inland beaches include Southport, Budds Beach, Marine Stadium, Currumbin Alley, Tallebudgera Estuary, Jacobs Well, Jabiru Island, Paradise Point, Harley Park Labrador, Santa Barbara, Boykambil and Evandale Lake.

B.Water Sports:
Surfing is a popular Sport. Surfers Paradise is a suburb on Australia's Gold Coast in Queensland. Colloquially known as 'Surfers', the suburb is famous for its many high-rise apartment buildings and wide surf beach. The central feature of the Surfers Paradise central business district is Cavill Mall, which runs through the centre of the main shopping precinct.
Popular boating sports include local fishing and crabbing, charter boat hire to the open sea fishing grounds and cruises in and around the Broadwater to South Stradbroke Island and around the Nerang River and the canals.
Tall Ship cruises are also available as well as parasailing, water skiing, barrel riding, sailing club activities, speedboat racing, sailboarding, and jet skiing.
Dive operators provide Scuba Diving for the novice or experienced divers and the large trawler fleet brings home beautiful fresh seafood for the tourists daily. The Southport Yacht Club, Sanctuary Cove and Runaway Bay Marinas provide all kinds of boat servicing and storage facilities.

C.Outdoor Activities:
There are many recreational activities situated on the Gold Coast ranging from (famously) surfing to fishing and boating to golf. Come feel the thrill and excitement of hot air ballooning. Enjoy a one hour scenic flight over the Gold Coast Hinterland celebrated with a fabulous hot and cold buffet breakfast at the Radisson Resort Gold Coast.

D.Gold Coast City Sightseeing:
Gold Coast is the third largest film production centre in Australia behind Sydney and Melbourne. Warner Brothers have large studios located just outside of the city, at Oxenford which have been the filming locations for films such as the Scooby Doo films and The House of Wax (2005).
See the Gold & Tweed Coast from one of the world’s highest residential towers Q1 Observation Deck.
Gold Coast City Art Gallery- There are several noteworthy art galleries on the Gold Coast with the Gold Coast City Art Gallery in Surfers Paradise being the best and most visited by tourists.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum-The Gold Coast has several really good museums. The Gold Coast Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is much like any other Ripley’s venue around the world and is lots of fun with its 12 themed galleries and their unreal exhibits.

E.Nearby Cities:
Coolangatta, is the southernmost suburb of the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Tweed River supports a thriving fishing fleet, and the seafood is a local specialty offered in the restaurants and clubs of the holiday and retirement region on both sides of the state border.

F.Gold Coast Theme Parks / Other Parks:
There are plenty of Theme Parks including, Dreamworld, Sea World, Wet'n'Wild Water World, Warner Bros. Movie World, WhiteWater World, Currumbin Sanctuary, Fleays Wildlife Park, Australian Outback Spectacular and Paradise Country.
The Gold Coast offers a wealth of public parklands for pleasure and recreation. These have been grouped into 7 groups of Suburbs. Eg. Group 1 : Arundel, Ashmore, Benowa, Biggera Waters, Coombabah, Hollywell, Labrador, Molendiar, Paradise Point, Parkwood, Runaway Bay & Southport. For more information, please contact Parks on (07) 5581 6984 or (07) 5581 6847
Australia Zoo located along the Sunshine Coast, is a two-hour drive from the Gold Coast. Originally opened by legendary zoologist Steve Irwin’s parents in the 1970s, Australia Zoo is a big hit in Australia.
David Fleay Wildlife Park-As part of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Dr David Fleay’s Wildlife Park takes an educational look at Australian fauna.

G.Excursions and Tours:
The Gold Coast also serves as a gateway to further tourist destinations within Queensland and Northern New South Wales, including direct flight access to the Great Barrier Reef, with flights departing daily to Lady Elliot Island. You can also go for Helicopter and Sea Plane Tours for a very scenic ride.
You can also opt for the following Gold Coast Guided Tours and enjoy the unique experiences of the region.
-> Food and Wine tours through the magical Hinterland
-> Four-wheel-drive and ecotours get you back to nature
-> Sightseeing tours through the city, canals, Hinterland and Broadwater
-> Shopping tours to get you around to the best bargains
-> Night tours to uncover shy Australian native animals
-> Cruises by catamaran, replica tall ship or luxury cruiser.
Bushwalking Trails in the three areas, the world Heritage-listed park Lamington National Park, Springbrook National Park and Mount Tamborine, offer a variety of tracks, some through rainforests, that are all within an hour's drive from the Coast.
North Stradbroke Island-This beautiful little sand island has fine beaches and some of the best scuba diving in the region. Whale watching is very popular here, as is four-wheel driving and, of course, surfing. North Stradbroke Island is easily accessed from the Gold Coast via the Stradbroke Flyer, Sea Spirit ferry, or private charter yacht.

H.Hinterland Sightseeing:
About 1 hours drive west Surfers Paradise is situated the Gold Coast's Hinterland mountains which includes world heritage listed national parks and reserves where visitors can enjoy wonderful views, local restaurants and picnic spots, shopping, bush walking, bird watching, swim in natural rock pools, take 4WD day tours.
Lamington National Park, Australia's largest preserved stand of subtropical rainforest, offers more than 160 kilometres of graded walking tracks. About 23 million years ago an ancient volcano formed Lamington, Springbrook, Border Ranges, Nightcap and Mount Warning National Parks which are spread across an area of some 7,000 square kilometres throughout the hinterland.
Have a picnic at Binna Burra. Picnic tables, toilets, electric barbecues and tap water are provided. See colourful crimson rosellas, king parrots, pademelons and brush-turkeys around the picnic areas. Go bush walking, birdwatching during the day.
Natural Arch: A spectacular waterfall which cascades through the roof of a cave into an icy pool. The cave is home to Australia's largest glow worm colony that is best viewed at night.
Mount Tamborine: The area includes no less than seven national parks and is a favourite weekend trip for locals who take time out to browse through the craft workshops brimming with Australian crafts, wineries and galleries. Mount Tamborine is also an ideal location for spectacular views back towards the Pacific Ocean & Mt Warning.
Springbrook: Has plentiful waterfalls, bush walks and range of interesting flora and fauna and is renowned for its teahouses and wide choice of self-contained cottages and welcoming bed & breakfast lodges.
Mount Warning: World Heritage-listed Mount Warning (Wollumbin) is the remnant central plug of an ancient volcano.

I.Cruises:
If cruising the magnificent Gold Coast waterways aboard your own private luxury gondola with sheepskin covered seats, plush cushions and soft background music sounds appealing, then look no further than Gold Coast Gondolas for the ultimate gondola cruise.
Experience the thrill of seeing Humpback whales on the beautiful Gold Coast aboard one of the popular whale watch cruises. Join this cruise of discovery where you will experience the spectacular beauty of Moreton Island and its Marine Park. Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to a variety of marine animals such as playful dolphins, huge turtles, shy dugongs and the majestic humpback whale who pass through these waters from June to November.

J.Romantic Dining:
The multicultural nature of the Gold Coast has brought about a deliciously successful food and wine industry. Cultivating everything from soft-shell crabs and goat cheese to locally bred Wagyu beef and award-winning boutique wines.
The most romantic dining experience is aboard The Gold Coast Gondolas where the dining table is beautifully appointed and includes table flowers, candle lantern, ice bucket and glasses.
Mermaids restaurant and bar is literally on the edge of burleigh heads beach. the casual coffee and dining area spills onto the beach sand, while the outer front terrace looks out over the waves of what is known as burleigh point.
Yellowfin Seafood Restaurant in situated in the hub of the popular Broadbeach dining precinct. Providing a wonderful open-air venue to enjoy lunch and dinner all year round, we offer both indoor and alfresco dining for up to 80 people.

K.Wine Tours:
The Gold Coast Hinterland is one of Queensland's in and around Mt Nathan, Tamborine Mountain, and Canungra, is the fastest growing wine regions. All wineries and vineyards are open for wine tasting, group tours, and a variety of dining choices, with many hosting live entertainment on weekends.

L.Shopping:
Surfers Paradise has glittering malls and unique boutiques featuring designer gear and produce of the Gold Coast region. Alternatively, take in a beachfront or country market and shop for fine handcrafted and homemade goods inland.

M.See Tweed Region On Horseback:
Numbinbah Valley Adventure Trails have quality horses that will take you through the beautiful Tweed area, in the unspoilt Numbinbah Valley between Nerang and Natural Bridge, while several other horse centres in the Gold Coast region offer similar adventures elsewhere.

How To Get To The Gold Coast – Australia:

By Air:
Gold Coast International Airport offers frequent domestic flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle and Hobart (with connections to Perth and Canberra), and international services to and from New Zealand, Japan and Asia. Gold Coast Airport is located at Coolangatta at the southern tip of the Gold Coast. For more information, phone the Gold Coast Airport on (07) 5589 1100 or visit www.goldcoastairport.com.au/
Only a 60 minute drive from the Gold Coast, Brisbane’s International Airport also provides links with the United States and Europe. Visit: www.bne.com.au/.

By Marinas:
Thousands of people arrive at the Gold Coast by boat every year. The Gold Coast provides some of the best marinas in Australia with great facilities.
Southport Yacht Club: Southport Yacht Club is an award winning floating marina that is regarded as one of Queensland’s most modern, with hundreds of vessels either permanently or temporarily moored. Because of the popularity, berth leases are in high demand so it is recommended you contact the marina with at lease two month’s notice. www.southportyachtclub.com.au/ The marina office monitors VHF Channel 74. Call VH4GFK. Phone: (07) 5591 8577
Sanctuary Cove Marina: Sanctuary Cove Marina is of world class with 297 berths designed to accommodate vessels to 150ft. Very protected with easy access to the Pacific Ocean without height restrictions via the Coomera River. Radio coverage on VHF Channel 73 and 27 meg 68. For more information, 07 5577 6069 Visit http://www.sanctuarycove.com/
Runaway Bay Marina: Located just 2.5 nautical miles to the open ocean at the Gold Coast Seaway with 300 on water berths for boats between 8 and 20 metres, 240 dry storage berths to 8 metres with a 7 day forklift launch and retrieve service. For more information please contact: Phone (07) 5577 1440 http://www.runawaybaymarina.com.au/ .

The Gold Coast, Australia Hotels:

A.Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove: Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove truly captures the spirit of Queensland. Styled as a traditional 1940s grand Queensland homestead, and set amidst lush tropical gardens, the colonial design is an elegant reminder of former times, offering a unique blend of Australian hospitality and sophistication, that is perfectly suited to both the leisure and business visitor.
B.Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Gold Coast: Crowne Plaza Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast is one of the largest resorts in Queensland and offers an unmatched option of accommodation, golfing, convention, dining and leisure facilities. Accommodation at the resort comprises of 330 rooms and suites, which are furnished with luxury appointments and offers panoramic golf course, garden, hinterland or Gold Coast views. The resort offers a great choice of dining venues, where you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious Japanese and Asian cuisine.
C.Marriott Resort Surfers Paradise: An epitome of five star elegance, the Marriott Resort Surfers Paradise combines casual Queensland charm with superior international style to offer you a unique, unrivalled Gold Coast holiday experience. Situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, the resort is just a short stroll from the famous beaches, shopping and nightlife of Surfers Paradise. The Coolangatta Airport is about 20 kilometres from the resort.. Leisure facilities include spa, sauna, scuba diving, snorkelling, tennis and others.
D.Palazzo Versace Hotel Gold Coast: Palazzo Versace is your luxurious getaway in one of Australias top leisure destinations. Its opulent, avant-garde design is just as captivating as its location overlooking stunning Broadwater in Gold Coast. The property is right next to Marina Mirage shopping centre, with breathtaking views of Broadwater. It is 3 kilometres north of Surfers Paradise and a 3-minute drive from Sea World. For recreation, the hotel also has Salus Per Aquum Spa, a Versace boutique and its own exclusive Marina.
E.Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa Gold Coast: Surrounded by 15 hectares of lush palm gardens and a sparkling one hectare blue lagoon, the Sheraton Mirage is the Gold Coasts only five-star luxury resort located right on the beach. Nestled between the blue Pacific Ocean and the calm Southport Broadwater, Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast is an oasis of rare luxury. This property is only minutes away from Sea World and 30 kilometres from the Gold Coast International Airport. Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast offers a wide range of elegant accommodation units that offer beautiful views of the lush tropical gardens, surrounding lagoons and the rolling surf.

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