Explore Australia’s Gold Coast with Mary B

Mar 25, 2011

By Mary Buckheit
contributor

It’s called the Gold Coast-- Australia’s famous holiday destination spanning some 40 miles from Surfers Paradise to the prolific mountain rainforest-- and while it is certainly gilded with prosperity and flaxen, sun-kissed, golden sands, the Gold Coast is more accurately an entire vibrant color wheel of idyllic explosions.

Located on Queensland’s southeastern seaboard, the Gold Coast boasts instant and unending hues that assault the eye at every hour. From cantaloupe sunrise to regalia sunset, begin the evocative escapade as I did each morning, with a fresh-squeezed and ice blended flame of orange juice, best enjoyed on a veranda overlooking Tiffany turquoise ocean waters whose waves foam snow white spume against a piercing iceberg blue sky.

An hour drive from the modern seaside cityscape of Brisbane, the Gold Coast elicits both high-rise chic and hinterland outback beauty. I spent five days enjoying four different delicious accommodations and hardly exhausted its boundless subtropic adventures, stylish shopping, sensational dining, or scenic repose. Within this diverse cradle of traveler’s paradise is a growing network of gay-welcoming accommodations, attractions, tours, events, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Consider a trip up to the 77th floor of the all-new SkyPoint lounge to enjoy a cocktail with a view from the highest point you can possibly perch in Queensland. Take a rainforest skywalk, hit the wineries of Mount Tamborine, bathe in the crystal clear ocean waters, shop chic at Marina Mirage, and be certain to lunch at Queensland’s Restaurant of the Year, Songbirds.When the sun goes down, venture out to Gold Coast gay bars Escape or M.P.’s [Meeting Place] to have a look at the sexy locals or perhaps meet another handsome globe-trotter like you.

For more information, check out www.gaygoldcoastaustralia.com or friend them on Facebook