View source for Gold Coast, Queensland

{{Short description|Australian coastal city}}
{{About|the coastal city in Australia|the local government area|City of Gold Coast}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                   = city
| name                   = Gold Coast
| state                  = qld
| image                  = {{multiple image
 |border      = infobox
 |perrow      = 1/2/2/2
 |total_width = 280
| caption_align = center
 |image1      = Gold Coast skyline (Unsplash).jpg
|caption1 = [[Q1 (building)|Q1]] and the [[List of tallest buildings on the Gold Coast|Gold Coast skyline]]
 |image2      = The Wave building Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland 02.jpg
| caption2 = [[Broadbeach, Queensland|Broadbeach]]
 |image3      = Jewel towers at midday seen from Isle of Capri, Gold Coast, Queensland, July 2021, 02.jpg
|caption3 = [[Isle of Capri, Queensland|Isle of Capri]]
 |image4      = FC 2 test, surfers paradise boulevard, March 2014.JPG
| caption4 = [[G:link|Gold Coast light rail]]
 |image5      = Chevron Renaissance Shopping Mall & Apartment Complex in GC HWY.jpg
| caption5 = [[Chevron Renaissance]]
 |image6      = Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, 2023, 04.jpg
| caption6 = [[Home of the Arts, Gold Coast|Home of the Arts]]
|image7      = Warner Bros. Movie World - Journey to the Center of the Earth 4-D Adventure.jpg
| caption7 = [[Roxy Theatre (Warner Bros. Movie World)|Roxy Theatre]] at [[Warner Bros. Movie World]]
}}
| pop                    = 640,778
| pop_year               = 2021
| pop_footnotes          =<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold Coast |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/309 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=29 June 2022 |archive-date=29 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629063802/https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/309 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ABSSUA>{{cite web|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2008 to 2018|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|website=Australian Bureau of Statistics|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=27 March 2019|access-date=25 October 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327110730/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|url-status=live}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.</ref>
| poprank                = 6th
| density                = 972
| density_footnotes      = 
| est                    = {{start date|1865|df=yes}}
| force_national_map     = 
| coordinates            = {{Coord|-27.9983|153.3344|display=inline, title|name=Gold Coast}}
| relief                 = yes
| pushpin_label_position = left
| elevation              = 
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| area                   = 414.3
| area_footnotes         = 
| timezone               = [[Time in Australia|AEST]]
| utc                    = +10:00
| dist1                  = 71.4 <!-- road distances as per template instructions -->
| dir1                   = SSE
| location1              = [[Brisbane CBD]]
| region                 = 
| county                 = 
| lga                    = [[City of Gold Coast]]
| stategov               = {{plainlist|
* [[Electoral district of Bonney|Bonney]]
* [[Electoral district of Broadwater|Broadwater]]
* [[Electoral district of Burleigh|Burleigh]]
* [[Electoral district of Coomera|Coomera]]
* [[Electoral district of Currumbin|Currumbin]]
* [[Electoral district of Gaven|Gaven]]
* [[Electoral district of Mermaid Beach|Mermaid Beach]]
* [[Electoral district of Mudgeeraba|Mudgeeraba]]
* [[Electoral district of Southport|Southport]]
* [[Electoral district of Surfers Paradise|Surfers Paradise]]
* [[Electoral district of Theodore|Theodore]]
 }}
| fedgov                 = {{plainlist|
* [[Division of Fadden|Fadden]]
* [[Division of Forde|Forde]]
* [[Division of McPherson|McPherson]]
* [[Division of Moncrieff|Moncrieff]]
* [[Division of Wright|Wright]]
 }}
| logo                   = 
| url                    = 
| maxtemp                = 25.4
| mintemp                = 17.3
| rainfall               = 1252.9
}}

The '''Gold Coast''', also known by its initials, '''GC''', is a coastal city and region in the state of [[Queensland]], Australia,<ref>{{Cite QPN|42078|Gold Coast|population centre in Gold Coast City|access-date=26 October 2025}}</ref> located approximately {{convert|66|km}} south-southeast of the centre of the [[list of Australian capital cities|state capital]], [[Brisbane]]. It is Queensland's [[List of cities in Queensland by population|second-largest city]] after Brisbane, as well as Australia's [[List of cities in Australia by population|sixth-largest city]] and the most populous non-capital city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Gold Coast, Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA33430 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103060932/https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA33430 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=abs.gov.au}}</ref> The city's [[Gold Coast central business district|central business district]] is located roughly in the centre of the Gold Coast in the suburb of [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southport priority development area |url=https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Planning-building/Development-applications/Development-application-types/Southport-priority-development-area |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au |language=en-AU |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320114406/https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Planning-building/Development-applications/Development-application-types/Southport-priority-development-area |url-status=live }}</ref> The urban area of the Gold Coast is concentrated along the coast, sprawling almost 60 kilometres, joining up with the Greater Brisbane metropolitan region to the north and to the state border with [[New South Wales]] to the south.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ormeau to Coolangatta |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ormeau,+Queensland+4208/coolangatta/@-27.9822567,153.2544638,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b9114cd575b915f:0x502a35af3de9430!2m2!1d153.2591207!2d-27.7861892!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b9101d31f438cef:0x502a35af3dea1e0!2m2!1d153.5304729!2d-28.1703145 |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Ormeau to Coolangatta |language=en |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103060938/https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ormeau,+Queensland+4208/coolangatta/@-27.9822567,153.2544638,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b9114cd575b915f:0x502a35af3de9430!2m2!1d153.2591207!2d-27.7861892!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b9101d31f438cef:0x502a35af3dea1e0!2m2!1d153.5304729!2d-28.1703145 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nicknames of the city include the ‘Glitter Strip’ and the ‘Goldy’. The [[demonym]] of a Gold Coast resident is Gold Coaster.

The area that became the Gold Coast was originally inhabited by the indigenous [[Yugambeh people]]. The city grew from a collection of small townships, the earliest being [[Nerang, Queensland|Nerang]] in 1865. From the 1920s onwards, tourism led to significant economic growth in the region, and by 1959 the Gold Coast was declared a city, with its [[Kinkabool|first high-rise]] being built in 1960. The Gold Coast boomed from the 1980s onwards with [[List of tallest buildings on the Gold Coast|skyscraper construction]]. This era was defined by the city's ‘white-shoe brigade’ developers, [[neon lighting|neon lights]], and [[Organised crime in Australia|organised crime]], particularly the [[yakuza]] and the [[Russian mafia]].<ref>{{cite book |last= Schloenhardt |first= Andreas |author-link=  |date= 2009 |title= PALERMO IN THE PACIFIC: ORGANISED CRIME OFFENCES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC |url= https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/senate/committee/acc_ctte/laoscg/submissions/sub01b.pdf |publisher= The University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law The University of British Columbia Centre of International Relations |page= REGION 6 Australia 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Organised crime in Australia: A snapshot Page 82 |isbn=  |access-date= 13 December 2023 |archive-date= 13 December 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082354/https://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/senate/committee/acc_ctte/laoscg/submissions/sub01b.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> The late 20th century saw the city's tourism diversify with theme park openings, and in the early 21st century became an international destination for film production.

The Gold Coast has a diverse economy with strengths in health, tourism, arts and culture, and construction, with a GDP of [[Australian dollar|AU$]]49.3&nbsp;billion as of 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title = Gold Coast City {{!}} Gold Coast {{!}} economy.id|url = https://economy.id.com.au/gold-coast|access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = .idcommunity|archive-date = 13 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082355/https://economy.id.com.au/gold-coast|url-status = live}}</ref> The city ranks highly as one of the country's cultural and creative hotspots,<ref>{{cite web|title = Gold Coast shines as creative hotspot for national QUT study|date = 13 June 2019|url = https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gold-coast-shines-as-creative-hotspot-for-national-qut-study|access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = Scimex|archive-date = 13 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082355/https://www.scimex.org/newsfeed/gold-coast-shines-as-creative-hotspot-for-national-qut-study|url-status = live}}</ref> alongside [[Creator economy|content creators]],<ref>{{cite web|title = More than a mini Hollywood: Indie Gold Coast film productions on the rise|url = https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/more-than-a-mini-hollywood--indie-gold-coast-film-productions-on-the-rise.html|access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = Business News Australia|archive-date = 13 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082358/https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/more-than-a-mini-hollywood--indie-gold-coast-film-productions-on-the-rise.html|url-status = live}}</ref> a growing [[Video games in Australia|video games industry]],<ref>{{cite web|title = Games biz moving to Coast, dozens of jobs to be created|url=https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=GCWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldcoastbulletin.com.au%2Fentertainment%2Fplayside-video-games-company-moving-to-gold-coast-between-5070-jobs-to-be-created%2Fnews-story%2F67d76c8313ca7644033fe687d525e521&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium |access-date = 14 December 2023|publisher = Gold Coast Bulletin}}</ref> and leads Australia in [[Startup company|startups]] per capita.<ref>{{cite web|title = Gold Coast leads Australia in founders per capita|url = https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/gold-coast-leads-australia-in-founders-per-capita.html|access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = Business News Australia|archive-date = 13 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082357/https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/gold-coast-leads-australia-in-founders-per-capita.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
The Gold Coast is central to the nation's entertainment industry with a [[List of films shot on the Gold Coast|major film and television]] production industry, leading to the city's metonym of [[Cinema of Australia|Goldywood]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Up in Lights: Why the Gold Coast remains Australia's Blockbuster Capital|url = https://www.bbc.com/storyworks/sg-gold-coast-a-city-coming-of-age/creative|access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = BBC|archive-date = 13 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213082354/https://www.bbc.com/storyworks/sg-gold-coast-a-city-coming-of-age/creative|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Forget Hollywood, hello Goldywood: City's film explosion |url= https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=GCWEB_WRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldcoastbulletin.com.au%2Fnews%2Fgold-coast%2Fdirector-baz-luhrmann-has-coined-the-gold-coast-goldywood-as-the-city-leads-the-way-forward-for-the-australian-film-industry%2Fnews-story%2F0590e7d98f4f38131f1bd89669e3b08b&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium |access-date = 13 December 2023|publisher = Gold Coast Bulletin}}</ref> The Gold Coast is also host of the [[AACTA Awards]] and the [[Gold Coast Film Festival]].

The Gold Coast is a major [[tourist destination]] with a sunny, [[subtropical climate]] and has become widely known for its [[surfing]] [[beaches]] (such as [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]]), high-rise buildings, [[theme parks]], [[nightlife]], and [[rainforest]] [[Gold Coast hinterland|hinterland]].

==History==
{{Main|History of the Gold Coast, Queensland}}
{{For timeline}}The Gold Coast is the ancestral home of a number of Indigenous clans of the Yugambeh people,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|date=26 July 2019|title=E17: Yugambeh|url=https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e17|access-date=2021-06-01|website=collection.aiatsis.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215204/https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e17|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[Kombumerri clan|Kombumerri]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies|date=26 July 2019|title=E77: Nerang Creek|url=https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e77|access-date=2021-06-01|website=collection.aiatsis.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214711/https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e77|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mununjali clan|Mununjali]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies |date=26 July 2019 |title=E76: Mananjahli |url=https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e76 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215132/https://collection.aiatsis.gov.au/austlang/language/e76 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |access-date=2021-06-01 |website=collection.aiatsis.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> and Wangerriburra clans. Europeans arrived in 1823 when explorer [[John Oxley]] explored the Tweed River.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oxley's Mermaid |url=https://museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au/explore/people-places/sea-stories/oxleys-mermaid |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Tweed Regional Museum |language=en-AU}}</ref> The hinterland's timber supply attracted people to the area in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-02-23 |title=Bullock Teams |url=https://www.goldcoaststories.com.au/bullock-teams/ |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Gold Coast City Libraries |language=en-AU}}</ref>
[[File:Map of the Gold Coast from Coomera Island to Nobby Beach, 1887.jpg|thumb|223x223px|Map of the Gold Coast, 1887|left]]
A number of small townships developed along the coast and in the hinterland. The western suburb of [[Nerang]] was surveyed and established as a base for the industry and by 1870 a town reserve had been set aside.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27261085 |title=Government Notifications|newspaper=The Queenslander |volume=V |issue=225 |date=28 May 1870 |access-date=9 May 2016 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> By 1873, the town reserve of [[Burleigh Heads]] had also been surveyed and successful land sales had taken place.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27277719 |title=Country News, by Mail |newspaper=The Queenslander |volume=VIII |issue=398 |date=20 September 1873 |access-date=9 May 2016 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924030128/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27277719 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1875, the small settlement opposite the boat passage at the head of the [[Nerang River]], known as Nerang Heads or Nerang Creek Heads, was surveyed and renamed [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]], with the first land sales scheduled to take place in Beenleigh.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27507681 |title=Sixty Years Ago|newspaper=The Queenslander |date=2 May 1935 |access-date=9 May 2016 |page=51 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]] quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for wealthy [[Brisbane]] residents.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Coast History |url=https://www.goldcoastaustralia.com/gold-coast-history.html |access-date=2024-11-30 |website=Gold Coast Australia |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:StateLibQld 1 193667 Southport Esplanade looking from the pier, ca.1928.jpg|thumb|Southport Esplanade in 1928]]
Post-World War One Era saw the rise of the "seaside shack". The seaside shack provided the opportunity for the coastal "getaway" with modest investment.  From 1914 to 1946, they popped up all along the South Coast. Seaside shacks were exceedingly cheap and were an early use of the concept of recycling. Many were built of disused or second grade timber, all kinds of materials were used for the holiday seaside shack – including fibro cement, metal containers, and left-over farm sheds; even disused trams were sold off as seaside shacks.<ref>{{SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/shacks-sheds-and-cottages-queensland-weekenders-early-20th-century|title=Shacks, sheds and cottages: Queensland "Weekenders" in the early 20th century|date=7 October 2022|authors=Christina Ealing-Godbold|access-date=24 January 2023}}</ref>
[[File:StateLibQld 1 113720 Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, ca. 1951.jpg|thumb|Surfers Paradise, 1951]]
After the establishment of the [[Surfers Paradise]] Hotel in the late 1920s, the Gold Coast region grew significantly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219060186|title=Real Estate|date=18 November 1924|newspaper=Daily Mail|access-date=28 January 2018|issue=7091|location=Brisbane|page=16|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526061952/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219060186|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225641694|title=Another Pioneer Passes|date=12 March 1952|newspaper=South Coast Bulletin|access-date=28 January 2018|issue=1248|location=Queensland, Australia|page=8|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=26 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526061952/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225641694|url-status=live}}</ref> The Gold Coast was originally known as the South Coast (because it was south of Brisbane). However, over-inflated prices for real estate and other goods and services led to the nickname of "Gold Coast" from 1950.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98327622 |title=Beaches Now Not so Golden – Boom for Land Is Ebbing|newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Brisbane |date=29 October 1950 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98329309 |title=Talk of the Town |newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Brisbane |date=24 December 1950 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50239519 |title=DAY by DAY |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=28 August 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50221998 |title=DAY by DAY |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=22 November 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50235290 |title=Can get it-at a price |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=26 December 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> South Coast locals initially considered the name "Gold Coast" derogatory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guidesify.com/blog/2019/10/16/the-best-of-gold-coast-australia-8-things-to-do-top-attractions/|title=The Best of Gold Coast Australia: 8 Things To Do (Top Attractions)|last=Guidesify|date=16 October 2019|website=Guidesify|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-16|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016132817/https://guidesify.com/blog/2019/10/16/the-best-of-gold-coast-australia-8-things-to-do-top-attractions/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98349702 |title=Don'ts for South Coast 1951–52 |newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Brisbane |date=18 November 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> However, soon the "Gold Coast" simply became a convenient way to refer to the holiday strip from Southport to [[Coolangatta]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50243950 |title=DAY by DAY |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=14 November 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50243197 |title="Gold Coast" jinks |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=29 December 1951 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98350621 |title=NSW will have own Riviera |newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Brisbane |date=17 February 1952 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50314104 |title=Day by Day |newspaper=The Courier-Mail |location=Brisbane |date=18 February 1952 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98353933 |title=Talk of the Town|newspaper=Sunday Mail |location=Brisbane |date=24 February 1952 |access-date=21 January 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Town of South Coast was formed through the amalgamation of [[Town of Coolangatta]] and [[Town of Southport]] along with the coastal areas (such as Burleigh Heads) from the [[Shire of Nerang]] on 17 June 1949,<ref>{{cite QSA Agency|2476|South Coast Town Council|21 January 2015
}}</ref> with the effect of having the present-day Gold Coast coastal strip as a single local government area. As the tourism industry grew into the 1950s, local businesses began to adopt the term ''Gold Coast'' in their names, and on 23 October 1958 the [[Town of South Coast]] was renamed [[Town of Gold Coast]].<ref>{{cite QSA Agency|10379|Gold Coast Town Council|21 January 2015
}}</ref> The area was proclaimed a city, less than one year later on 16 May 1959.<ref>{{Cite QSA Agency|715|Gold Coast City Council|7 April 2025
}}</ref>[[File:Cars on Gold Coast Highway, Surfers Paradise.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Cars on the [[Gold Coast Highway]], in 1961]]

The area boomed in the 1980s as a leading tourist destination. In 1994, the [[City of Gold Coast]] [[Local government in Australia|local government area]] was expanded to include the [[Shire of Albert]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/council/council-history-408.html|title=Council history|website=[[Gold Coast City Council]]|language=en-au|access-date=2020-02-01|archive-date=21 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221034538/https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/council/council-history-408.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2007, the Gold Coast overtook the population of [[Newcastle, New South Wales]], to become the sixth largest city in Australia and the largest non-capital city.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gold-coast-no-6-city/story-e6freoof-1111114852692|title= Gold Coast sixth largest city|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612032706/http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gold-coast-no-6-city/story-e6freoof-1111114852692|archive-date=12 June 2012 |first1=John|last1=McCarthy|first2=Greg|last2=Stolz|work=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=11 November 2007}}</ref>

The Gold Coast hosted the [[2018 Commonwealth Games]].<ref name="CWHost">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/15697043|title=Gold Coast chosen to host 2018 Commonwealth Games|date=11 November 2011|access-date=4 April 2018|work=BBC Sport|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804193815/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/15697043|archive-date=4 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Demographics==

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the urban area of the Gold Coast had a population of 540,559 people.<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL302001|name=Gold Coast (UCL)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref> According to the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the population of the Gold Coast including rural areas was 569,997. The median age was 39 years old, 1 year older than the nationwide median. The male-to-female ratio was 48.6-to-51.4.<ref name="abs2016pop">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=309|name=Gold Coast (Statistical Area Level 4)|accessdate=29 February 2016|quick=on}}</ref> The most commonly nominated ancestries were English (29.3%), Australian (22.5%), Irish (8.2%), Scottish (7.5%), and German (3.6%). 64% of people were born in Australia, while the other most common countries of birth were New Zealand (7.9%), England (5.2%), China and South Africa (1.2% each), and Japan (0.7%). Indigenous Australians accounted for 1.7% of the population.<ref name="abs2016pop" /> The most commonly spoken languages other than English were Mandarin (1.6%), Japanese (1.0%), Korean and Spanish (0.6% each), and Cantonese (0.5%).{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

According to the Australian Official Census in 2021, the most common religious affiliations in Gold Coast reported were none (43.4%), Catholic (18.2%), Anglican (11.9%), Uniting Church (2.9%), Non-denominational Christian (3.1%), Presbyterian and Reformed (1.9%), Buddhism (1.4%), Pentecostal (1.3%), Baptist (1.1%), Hinduism (1.1%) and Islam (1.0%).<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Future |url=http://futuregoldcoast.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/future-gold-coast-factsheet.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311002247/http://futuregoldcoast.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/future-gold-coast-factsheet.pdf |archive-date=11 March 2018 |access-date=27 January 2018 |website=Future Gold Coast }}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Purling Brook Falls lookout Gold Coast.jpg|thumb|View from the lookout at [[Purling Brook Falls]] in the [[Gold Coast hinterland]]]]
[[File:Goldcoast Queensland Australia aerial view.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Gold Coast suburbs: [[Mermaid Waters]] (left) and [[Broadbeach Waters, Queensland|Broadbeach Waters]] (right). The image depicts the man-made [[canals]] of the city, built to accommodate housing development.]]
The Gold Coast is approximately half covered by forests of various types. This includes small patches of near-pristine ancient rainforest, mangrove-covered islands, and patches of coastal heathlands and farmland with areas of uncleared eucalyptus forest. Of the plantation pine forests that were planted in the 1950s and 1960s, when commercial forest planting for tax minimisation was encouraged by the Commonwealth government, tiny remnants remain.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Gold Coast Transformed |url=http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/7365.htm |editor1=Hundloe, Tor |editor2=McDougall, Bridgette |editor3=Page, Craig |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=9781486303298 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904063650/http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/7365.htm |archive-date=4 September 2015  |access-date=24 March 2015 }}</ref> Most of the Gold Coast area was covered by forest prior to European human settlement and extensive land clearing in the 19th century.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Gold Coast City lies in the southeast corner of [[Queensland]], to the south of [[Brisbane]], the state capital. The [[Albert River, Queensland|Albert River]] separates the Gold Coast from [[Logan City, Queensland|Logan City]], a local government area south of the [[City of Brisbane]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Gold Coast City stretches from the Albert River, [[Logan River]], and [[Southern Moreton Bay Islands (Redland City)|Southern Moreton Bay]] to the border with [[New South Wales]] (NSW) approximately {{convert|56|km|mi|abbr=on}} south, and extends from the coast west to the foothills of the [[Great Dividing Range]] in [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] listed [[Lamington National Park]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}[[File: Goldcoast skyline seen from Coolangatta.jpg|thumb|Gold Coast skyline seen from Coolangatta]]The southernmost town of Gold Coast City, [[Coolangatta, Queensland|Coolangatta]], includes [[Point Danger (Tweed Heads)|Point Danger]] and its [[lighthouse]]. Coolangatta is a twin city with [[Tweed Heads]] located directly across the NSW border. At {{Coord|28.1667|S|153.55|E|region:AU-QLD}}, this is the most easterly point on the Queensland mainland (Point Lookout on the offshore island of [[North Stradbroke Island|North Stradbroke]] is slightly further east). From Coolangatta, approximately forty kilometres of holiday resorts and surfing beaches stretch north to the suburb of Main Beach, and then further on Stradbroke Island. The suburbs of [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]] and [[Surfers Paradise]] form the Gold Coast's commercial centre. The major river in the area is the [[Nerang River]]. Much of the land between the coastal strip and the hinterland were once [[wetlands]] drained by this river, but the swamps have been converted into man-made waterways (over {{convert|260|km|mi}} in length<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/boating-969.html |title=Boating |publisher=Gold Coast City Council |date=17 June 2010 |access-date=27 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310212342/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/boating-969.html |archive-date=10 March 2013  }}</ref> or over 9 times the length of the canals of [[Venice]], Italy) and artificial islands covered in upmarket homes. The heavily developed coastal strip sits on a narrow barrier [[sandbar]] between these waterways and the sea.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

To the west, the city borders a part of the [[Great Dividing Range]] commonly referred to as the [[Gold Coast hinterland]]. A {{convert|206|km2|abbr=on}} section of the mountain range is protected by [[Lamington National Park]] and has been listed as a [[World Heritage]] area in recognition of its "outstanding geological features displayed around shield volcanic craters and the high number of rare and threatened rainforest species".<ref name="UNESCO">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/368|title=UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510114048/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/368/ |archive-date=10 May 2015 }}</ref> The area attracts [[bushwalking|bushwalkers]] and day-trippers. Important rainforest pollinating and seed-dispersing Black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto) are found in the area and may be heard foraging at night.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=Atlas of Living |title=Species: Pteropus alecto (Black Flying-Fox) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/436a63cc-d6db-4447-ae25-94ac104a9732 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=bie.ala.org.au |language=en-AU}}</ref>
[[File:Skylines of Surfers Paradise seen from Home of the Arts, Queensland, 2023, 06.jpg|thumb|The skyline of [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]] and its surrounds, as viewed from the [[Home of the Arts, Gold Coast|Home of the Arts]]]]

=== Urban structure ===
{{Main|List of Gold Coast suburbs}}

The City of Gold Coast includes suburbs, localities, towns and [[rural district]]s.

The declaration of Southport as a Priority Development Area (PDA) and new investment into the CBD is driving transformative change and creating new business and investment opportunities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Surfers from 76 Stories-11+ (150849045).jpg|thumb|Suburban canals, as viewed from the [[Q1 (building)|Q1]]]]

===Waterways===
Waterfront canal living is a feature of the Gold Coast. Most canal frontage homes have pontoons. The [[Gold Coast Seaway]], between [[Southport Spit, Queensland|The Spit]] and [[South Stradbroke Island]], allows vessels direct access to the Pacific Ocean from [[Gold Coast Broadwater|The Broadwater]] and many of the city's canal estates. Breakwaters on either side of the Seaway prevent [[longshore drift]] and the bar from silting up. A sand pumping operation on the Spit pipes sand under the Seaway to continue this natural process.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Residential canals were first built in the Gold Coast in the 1950s and construction continues. Most canals are extensions to the Nerang River, but there are more to the south along [[Tallebudgera Creek]] and [[Currumbin Creek]] and to the north along the [[Gold Coast Broadwater]], [[South Stradbroke Island]], [[Coomera River]] and southern Moreton Bay. Early canals included Florida Gardens and [[Isle of Capri, Queensland|Isle of Capri]] which were under construction at the time of a 1954 flood.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/emergency/2014-02-18/unnamed-great-gold-coast-cyclone-february-1954/5266720|title=The Great Gold Coast Cyclone – February 1954|author=Damien Larkins|date=20 February 2014|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=25 February 2019|archive-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224045341/https://www.abc.net.au/news/emergency/2014-02-18/unnamed-great-gold-coast-cyclone-february-1954/5266720|url-status=live}}</ref> Recently constructed canals include Harbour Quays and Riverlinks completed in 2007. There are over {{convert|890|km|mi}} of constructed residential waterfront land within the city that is home to over 80,000 residents.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Beaches===
[[File:Sand Nourishment barge at work in June 2025.jpg|thumb|Sand Nourishment barge at work in June 2025]]
[[File:Gold Coast beech panorama.jpg|thumb|Gold Coast beach sunset panorama]]
[[File:Beach entrance at Surfers Paradise, Queensland.jpg|thumb|The entrance to [[Surfers Paradise]] beach]]
The city consists of {{convert|70|km|mi}} of coastline, with some of the most popular [[Surfing|surf]] breaks in Australia and the world, including [[South Stradbroke Island]], [[Southport Spit, Queensland|The Spit]], [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]], [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]], [[Broadbeach, Queensland|Broadbeach]], Mermaid Beach, Nobby's Beach, [[Miami, Queensland|Miami]], North Burleigh Beach, Burleigh Beach, [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|Burleigh Heads]], Tallebudgera Beach, [[Palm Beach, Queensland|Palm Beach]], South Palm Beach, Currumbin Beach, Tugun, [[Bilinga, Queensland|Bilinga]], North Kirra Beach [[Kirra, Queensland|Kirra]], [[Coolangatta, Queensland|Coolangatta]], [[Greenmount Beach|Greenmount]], Rainbow Bay, [[Snapper Rocks]] and Froggies Beach. There is almost 42&nbsp;km of unbroken beachfront. [[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 the [[Tweed Shire]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

There are also beaches along many of the Gold Coast's {{convert|860|km|mi|abbr=on}} of navigable tidal waterways. Popular inland beaches include [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]], Budds Beach, Marine Stadium, [[Currumbin Alley]], Tallebudgera Estuary, Jacobs Well, Jabiru Island, Paradise Point, Harley Park Labrador, Santa Barbara, Boykambil and Evandale Lake.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://doi.org/10.1071/9781486303304 |title=Gold Coast Transformed |date=2015 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |doi=10.1071/9781486303304 |isbn=978-1-4863-0330-4 |editor-last=Hundloe |editor-first=Tor |editor-last2=McDougall |editor-first2=Bridgette |editor-last3=Page |editor-first3=Craig}}</ref>[[File:Gold Coast summer, Burleigh Heads Beach.jpg|thumb|right|[[Burleigh Heads]] beach with Surfers Paradise skyline visible on the horizon]]'''Beach safety and management'''

The Gold Coast has Australia's largest<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?PID=50 |title=Gold Coast Lifeguard Services |publisher=Gold Coast City Council |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712192548/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=50 |archive-date=12 July 2010  }}</ref> professional [[surf lifesaving]] service to protect people on the beaches and to promote surf safety throughout the community. The [[Queensland Department of Primary Industries]] carries out the Queensland Shark Control Program (SCP) to protect swimmers from sharks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_15736.htm|title=Queensland Shark Control Program|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504160624/http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/28_15736.htm |archive-date=4 May 2012 }}</ref> Sharks are caught by using nets and baited drumlines off the major swimming beaches. Even with the SCP, sharks do range within sight of the [[beach patrol|patrolled beaches]]. [[Lifeguard]]s will clear swimmers from the water if it is considered that there is a safety risk.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Gold Coast beaches have experienced periods of severe [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]]. In 1967, a series of 11 cyclones removed most of the sand from Gold Coast beaches. The [[Government of Queensland]] engaged engineers from [[Delft University]] in the Netherlands to advise what to do about the beach erosion. The Delft Report<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/1972cabdocs/beach.asp |title=Delft Report |publisher=Queensland Government |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110227110052/http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/1972cabdocs/beach.asp |archive-date=27 February 2011 }}</ref> was published in 1971 and outlined a series of works for Gold Coast Beaches including [[Gold Coast Seaway]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gu.edu.au/centre/gccm/InfoSheet/Seaway.pdf|title=Gold Coast Seaway|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830212521/http://www.gu.edu.au/centre/gccm/InfoSheet/Seaway.pdf |archive-date=30 August 2006 }}</ref> works at [[Narrow Neck, Queensland|Narrow Neck]] that resulted in the Northern Gold Coast Beach Protection Strategy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coastalmanagement.com.au/projects/NGCBPS/ |title=Northern Gold Coast Beach Protection Strategy |publisher=International Coastal Management |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131021435/http://www.coastalmanagement.com.au/projects/NGCBPS |archive-date=31 January 2010 }}</ref> and works at the [[Tweed River (New South Wales)|Tweed River]] that became the [[Tweed River (New South Wales)|Tweed River]] Entrance Sand Bypassing Project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tweedsandbypass.nsw.gov.au/ |title=Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project |publisher=New South Wales Government |work=Tweed Sand Bypassing |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308123747/http://www.tweedsandbypass.nsw.gov.au/ |archive-date=8 March 2010  }}</ref>

By 2005 most of the recommendations of the 1971 Delft Report had been implemented. [[City of Gold Coast]] commenced implementation of the [[Palm Beach, Queensland|Palm Beach]] Protection Strategy<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=651|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212161927/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=651|url-status=dead|title=Palm Beach Protection Strategy|archivedate=12 December 2007}}</ref> but ran into considerable opposition from the community participating in a NO REEF protest campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sargesdailysurf.com/archives/news/2004/0104/240104b.html |title=No Reef Campaign |work=SargesDailySurf.com |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013224829/http://sargesdailysurf.com/archives/news/2004/0104/240104b.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> The [[City of Gold Coast Council]] then committed to completing a review of beach management practices to update the Delft Report. The [[Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070218074629/http://www.griffith.edu.au/centre/gccm/gcsmp/ Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan] Griffith University</ref> will be delivered by organisations including the [[Environmental Protection Agency (Queensland)|Environmental Protection Agency]], [[City of Gold Coast]] and the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management. Gold Coast City is also investing into the quality and capacity of the [[Gold Coast Oceanway]] that provides [[sustainable transport]] along Gold Coast beaches.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Take the sustainable transport challenge|url=https://www.wearegoldcoast.com.au/articles/sustainable-transport|access-date=2021-08-28|website=WeAreGC|language=en-US|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828191643/https://www.wearegoldcoast.com.au/articles/sustainable-transport|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Climate===
The Gold Coast experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa/Cwa]]''), with mild to warm winters and hot, humid summers. The city experiences substantial summer precipitation mostly concentrated in thunderstorms and heavy showers with rain events occasionally lasting up to a few weeks at a time,<ref>[https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/destinations/gold-coast/things-to-do-when-it-rains-gold-coast How to spend a rainy day on the Gold Coast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803055044/https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/destinations/gold-coast/things-to-do-when-it-rains-gold-coast |date=3 August 2023 }} Tourism & Events Queensland. Retrieved 3 August 2023.</ref> while winter is pleasantly mild to warm with little rain. In fact, it is for this pleasant winter weather that both the city and the [[Sunshine Coast, Queensland|Sunshine Coast]]—the coastal region north of Brisbane—are internationally renowned.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}} Extreme temperatures recorded at [[Gold Coast Seaway]] have ranged from {{convert|2.5|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} on 19 July 2007 to {{convert|40.5|°C|°F|sigfig=3}} on 22 February 2005, although the city rarely experiences temperatures above {{convert|35|°C|°F|sigfig=2}} in summer or below {{convert|5|°C|°F}} in winter.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=23 January 2014|title=Climate statistics for Australian locations: Gold Coast Seaway|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040764_All.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201233107/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040764_All.shtml|archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref> The average temperature of the sea at [[Surfers Paradise]] ranges from {{convert|21.5|C|1}} in July and August to {{convert|27.1|C|1}} in February.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/gold-coast.htm|title=Gold Coast Sea Temperature|website=World Sea Temperatures|access-date=22 July 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727215854/http://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/gold-coast.htm|archive-date=27 July 2016}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Gold Coast, Seaway (1992–2020)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 38.5
|Feb record high C = 40.5
|Mar record high C = 36.3
|Apr record high C = 33.3
|May record high C = 29.4
|Jun record high C = 27.1
|Jul record high C = 28.9
|Aug record high C = 32.4
|Sep record high C = 33.0
|Oct record high C = 38.0
|Nov record high C = 35.5
|Dec record high C = 39.4
|year record high C =
|Jan avg record high C  = 33.2
|Feb avg record high C  = 32.7
|Mar avg record high C  = 32.5
|Apr avg record high C  = 29.7
|May avg record high C  = 26.9
|Jun avg record high C  = 24.9
|Jul avg record high C  = 25.1
|Aug avg record high C  = 26.5
|Sep avg record high C  = 29.1
|Oct avg record high C  = 31.3
|Nov avg record high C  = 31.8
|Dec avg record high C  = 33.3
|year avg record high C = 35.6
|Jan high C = 28.9
|Feb high C = 28.7
|Mar high C = 28.0
|Apr high C = 26.1
|May high C = 23.6
|Jun high C = 21.4
|Jul high C = 21.3
|Aug high C = 22.1
|Sep high C = 24.0
|Oct high C = 25.4
|Nov high C = 26.9
|Dec high C = 28.0
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 25.4
|Feb mean C = 25.2
|Mar mean C = 24.5
|Apr mean C = 22.2
|May mean C = 19.5
|Jun mean C = 17.3
|Jul mean C = 16.7
|Aug mean C = 17.3
|Sep mean C = 19.4
|Oct mean C = 21.1
|Nov mean C = 23.0
|Dec mean C = 24.2
|Jan low C = 21.9
|Feb low C = 21.8
|Mar low C = 20.9
|Apr low C = 18.3
|May low C = 15.4
|Jun low C = 13.3
|Jul low C = 12.0
|Aug low C = 12.5
|Sep low C = 14.8
|Oct low C = 16.9
|Nov low C = 19.0
|Dec low C = 20.5
|year low C =
|Jan avg record low C= 18.8
|Feb avg record low C= 19.3
|Mar avg record low C= 17.6
|Apr avg record low C= 14.4
|May avg record low C= 10.5
|Jun avg record low C= 7.9
|Jul avg record low C= 7.1
|Aug avg record low C= 7.7
|Sep avg record low C= 10.5
|Oct avg record low C= 12.5
|Nov avg record low C= 15.1
|Dec avg record low C= 17.0
|year avg record low C= 6.3
|Jan record low C = 16.7
|Feb record low C = 17.2
|Mar record low C = 13.4
|Apr record low C = 8.9
|May record low C = 6.6
|Jun record low C = 3.8
|Jul record low C = 2.5
|Aug record low C = 4.2
|Sep record low C = 7.9
|Oct record low C = 9.4
|Nov record low C = 8.2
|Dec record low C = 14.7
|year record low C =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 136.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 183.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 134.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 118.7
|May precipitation mm = 97.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 113.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 49.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 54.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 41.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 87.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 106.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 129.0
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8.8
|Feb precipitation days = 10.3
|Mar precipitation days = 11.0
|Apr precipitation days = 8.6
|May precipitation days = 8.1
|Jun precipitation days = 7.2
|Jul precipitation days = 5.0
|Aug precipitation days = 4.3
|Sep precipitation days = 5.1
|Oct precipitation days = 6.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.0
|Dec precipitation days = 9.3
|year precipitation days =
|Jan afthumidity = 70
|Feb afthumidity = 70
|Mar afthumidity = 68
|Apr afthumidity = 65
|May afthumidity = 62
|Jun afthumidity = 58
|Jul afthumidity = 55
|Aug afthumidity = 56
|Sep afthumidity = 62
|Oct afthumidity = 66
|Nov afthumidity = 68
|Dec afthumidity = 69
|year humidity =
|source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Climate statistics for Australian locations |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=040764&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817195729/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=040764&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monthly highest temperature |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=40&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040764 |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206150724/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=40&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040764 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monthly lowest temperature |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=43&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040764 |publisher=[[Bureau of Meteorology]] |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206145614/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=43&p_display_type=dataFile&p_startYear=&p_c=&p_stn_num=040764 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Government==
{{Main|City of Gold Coast|Government of Queensland}}

Administratively, the Gold Coast is a local government area called the [[City of Gold Coast]]. The City of Gold Coast Council has 14 elected councillors, each representing a division of the city. Businessman Tom Tate is the current [[Mayor of the Gold Coast]], first elected in 2012. Former mayors include [[Ron Clarke|Ron Clake]], Gary Baildon, [[Lex Bell]], [[Ray Stevens (politician)|Ray Stevens]], Ern Harley and [[Bruce Small|Sir Bruce Small]], who was responsible for the development of many of the canal estates that are now home to thousands of Gold Coast residents.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

At the state level, the Gold Coast area is represented by eleven members in the [[Legislative Assembly of Queensland]]. The seats they hold are: [[Electoral district of Bonney|Bonney]], [[Electoral district of Broadwater|Broadwater]], [[Electoral district of Burleigh|Burleigh]], [[Electoral district of Coomera|Coomera]], [[Electoral district of Currumbin|Currumbin]], [[Electoral district of Gaven|Gaven]], [[Electoral district of Mermaid Beach|Mermaid Beach]], [[Electoral district of Mudgeeraba|Mudgeeraba]], [[Electoral district of Southport|Southport]], [[Electoral district of Surfers Paradise|Surfers Paradise]] and [[Electoral district of Theodore|Theodore]]. Federally, the Gold Coast area is split between five divisions in the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]: [[Division of Fadden|Fadden]] (northern), [[Division of Moncrieff|Moncrieff]] (central) and [[Division of McPherson|McPherson]] (southern) are located entirely within the Gold Coast, while [[Division of Forde|Forde]] (north-west) and [[Division of Wright|Wright]] (south-west) encompass parts of the Gold Coast and other areas of Southeast Queensland.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Southport Courthouse.jpg|thumb|[[Southport Courthouse]]]]
Politically, the Gold Coast has often tilted conservative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/02/02/4172349.htm|title=Queensland election 2015: LNP retains hold on Gold Coast|work=ABC News|access-date=2 February 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205190923/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/02/02/4172349.htm|archive-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> It was a [[National Party of Australia|Country Party]] bastion for most of the first three decades after World War II, but increasing urbanisation has made it a [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] stronghold. [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] has historically only done well around Labrador and Coolangatta. Only one Labor MP has ever represented a significant portion of the Gold Coast at the federal level since 1949; the three Gold Coast divisions have only returned Liberals since 1984. At the state level, Labor was fairly competitive in the Gold Coast for most of the early part of the 21st century. However, as part of its massive landslide in the [[2012 Queensland state election|2012 state election]], the [[Liberal National Party of Queensland|Liberal National Party]] won every seat there. The LNP repeated its sweep of the Gold Coast seats at the [[2015 Queensland state election|2015 election]], and retained all but one Gold Coast seat at the [[2017 Queensland state election|2017 state election]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Southport Courthouse]] is the city's major courthouse and has jurisdiction to hear petty criminal offences and civil matters up to A$250,000. Indictable offences, criminal sentencing and civil matters above A$250,000 are heard in the higher [[Supreme Court of Queensland]] which is located in Brisbane. There is also a subsidiary Magistrates Court, located at the southern suburb of [[Coolangatta, Queensland|Coolangatta]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In 2013 a brawl between members of [[Outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia|Outlaw motorcycle gangs]] also called "bikies" who fought each other outside a [[Broadbeach]] restaurant caused mass fear to restaurant patrons and police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-05/broadbeach-bikie-brawl-restaurant-patrons-started-screaming/6444926|title=Restaurant patrons started screaming, running away when brawl started, court told|last=Stevenson|first=Ashleigh|date=5 May 2015|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-08-04|archive-date=18 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818061703/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-05/broadbeach-bikie-brawl-restaurant-patrons-started-screaming/6444926|url-status=live}}</ref> This led to the toughest anti-bikie laws introduced in Australia known as [[Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Gold-Coast-Skyline-at-Night.jpg|thumb|Gold Coast CBD, 2011]]
In fifty years, Gold Coast City has grown from a small beachside holiday destination to Australia's sixth largest city (and the country's most populous non-capital city). Situated within South East Queensland's growth corridor, the Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing large cities, with a 5-year annual average population growth rate to 2015 of 1.8%, compared to 1.5% nationally.<ref name="ABSSUA15">{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02014-15|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2014–15: Population Estimates by Significant Urban Area, 2005 to 2015|date=30 March 2016|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=12 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908050610/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02014-15|archive-date=8 September 2016}} Estimated resident population, 30 June 2015.</ref> Gross Regional Product has risen from A$9.7&nbsp;billion in 2001, to A$15.6&nbsp;billion in 2008, a rise of 61 percent.<ref>[[National Institute of Economic and Industry Research]] (NIEIR) November 2007</ref> Tourism remains fundamental to Gold Coast City's economy, with almost 10 million visitors a year to the area.<ref>Tourism Research Australia Domestic and International Visitor Surveys</ref> In the past the economy was driven by the population derived industries of construction, tourism and retail. Some diversification has taken place, with the city now having an industrial base formed of marine, education, information communication and technology, food, tourism, creative, environment and sports industries. These nine industries have been identified as the key industries by the [[City of Gold Coast Council]] to deliver the city's economic prosperity. Gold Coast City's unemployment rate (5.6 per cent) is below the national level (5.9 per cent).<ref>ABS Regional Labour Force Survey February 2009</ref> The declaration of Southport as the [[Gold Coast central business district]] (CBD) and a Priority Development Area (PDA), as well as new investment into the CBD, is driving transformative change and creating new business and investment opportunities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Gold Coast Economic Development Strategy 2013–2023<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/econmic-dev-strategy.pdf |title=Economic Development Strategy 2013–2023 |access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910065314/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/econmic-dev-strategy.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> outlines the framework for the city's long-term growth and prosperity. The strategy outlines actions in the following areas, Innovation, Culture, Infrastructure, Competitive business, Workforce, International.

===Tourism===
[[File:Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Australia.jpg|thumb|The [[hospitality]] industry contributes significantly to the Gold Coast's economy. The [[Palazzo Versace Australia|Palazzo Versace]] is a notable hotel on [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]].]]
The Gold Coast is the most popular tourist destination in Queensland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17935 |title=Key Gold Coast Industries Report |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013210849/http://sdi.qld.gov.au/dsdweb/v3/guis/templates/content/gui_cue_cntnhtml.cfm?id=17935 |archive-date=13 October 2007  }}</ref> It is Australia's 5th most visited destination by international tourists.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080307161815/http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 March 2008 |title=International Market Tourism Facts |publisher=Tourism Australia  }}</ref> Around 10 million tourists visit the Gold Coast area every year consisting of 849,114 international visitors, 3,468,000 domestic overnight visitors and 5,366,000 daytrip visitors. Tourism is the region's biggest industry,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/ |title=Gold Coast, Famous for Fun – Official Gold Coast Holidays Guide in Queensland, Australia|work=VisitGoldCoast.com|date=18 November 2012|access-date=16 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214075551/http://www.visitgoldcoast.com/|archive-date=14 December 2012 }}</ref> directly contributing more than $4.4&nbsp;billion into the city economy every year and directly accounting for one in four jobs in the city<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210814160742/http://www.saltwaterestate.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4&Itemid=9 Salt Water Estate]</ref> There are approximately 65,000 beds, {{convert|60|km|mi}} of beach, {{convert|600|km|mi}} of canal, 100,000 hectares of nature reserve, 500 restaurants, 40 golf courses and five major theme parks in the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Gold Coast Airport]] provides connection across Australia and internationally with airlines including [[Jetstar]], [[Qantas]], [[Air New Zealand]], [[Scoot]], [[Virgin Australia]] and [[Airasia X]]. [[Brisbane Airport]] is less than one hour from the centre of Gold Coast, and [[Airport railway line, Brisbane|direct trains]] operate.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}[[File:Sea World Entrance-1and (4505997395).jpg|thumb|[[Sea World (Australia)|Sea World]], one of many theme parks on the Gold Coast]]
Gold Coast City has over 13,000 available guest rooms contributing over $335&nbsp;million to the local economy each year. Accommodation options available range from [[hostel]]s to five star resorts and hotels. Tourist attractions include surf beaches. The big atractions are the nyumorous theme parks in the area. Theme parks include [[Dreamworld (Australian theme park)|Dreamworld]], [[Sea World (Australia)|Sea World]], [[Wet'n'Wild Water World]], [[Warner Bros. Movie World]], [[WhiteWater World]], [[Topgolf]], [[Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[David Fleay Wildlife Park]], Australian Outback Spectacular, and Paradise Country.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Q1 seen from the Isle of Capri, Queensland, 2023, 02 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Q1 (building)|Q1]], the [[List of tallest buildings in Australia|tallest building]] in Australia and the [[List of tallest residential buildings in the world|world's tallest residential building]] upon completion in 2005 (currently the [[List of tallest residential buildings|seventeenth tallest]])]]
Since the opening of what was then the world's highest residential tower in 2005 (it is now the 17th highest), the [[Q1 (building)|Q1 building]] has been a destination for tourists and locals alike. It is the second highest public vantage point in the [[Southern Hemisphere]] after the [[Eureka Tower]] in [[Melbourne]]. The observation deck at level 77 is the highest of its kind in [[Queensland]] and offers views in all directions, from [[Brisbane]] to [[Byron Bay]]. It towers over the [[Surfers Paradise]] skyline, with the observation deck {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=off}} high, and the spire extending nearly another hundred metres up. In total, the Q1 is {{convert|322.5|m|ft|abbr=off}} high, making it the [[list of tallest buildings in Australia|tallest building in Australia]]. Another famous tourist attraction are the [[Surfers Paradise Meter Maids]], instituted in 1965 to put a positive spin on new parking regulations. To avoid tickets being issued for expired parking, the Meter Maids dispense coins into the meter and leave a calling card under the windscreen wiper of the vehicle. The Maids are still a part of the Surfers Paradise culture but the scheme is now run by private enterprise.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Chinatown, Gold Coast]], is an integral part of the revitalisation of Southport as an international CBD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/mobile/business/gold-coast-chinatown-17077.html|title=Gold Coast Chinatown|publisher=Gold Coast City Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105180312/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/mobile/business/gold-coast-chinatown-17077.html|archive-date=5 January 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>{{clarify|date=January 2018}}

===Film production===
{{see also|List of films shot on the Gold Coast}}
The Gold Coast is the major film production hub in Queensland and has accounted for 75%<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Industry on the Gold Coast|url=http://www.shreevella.com/blog/film-industry-on-the-gold-coast|access-date=30 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204221801/http://www.shreevella.com/blog/film-industry-on-the-gold-coast|archive-date=4 December 2014}}</ref> of all film production in Queensland since the 1990s, with an expenditure of around $150&nbsp;million per year. The Gold Coast is the third largest film production centre in Australia, behind Sydney and Melbourne.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}[[File:Grand Entrance - Warner Bros. Movie World.jpg|left|thumb|[[Warner Bros. Movie World]]]]It is the filming site for major motion pictures including ''[[Muriel's Wedding]]'' (1994), ''[[Ghost Ship (2002 film)|Ghost Ship]]'' (2002), ''[[Scooby-Doo (film)|Scooby-Doo]]'' (2002), ''[[House of Wax (2005 film)|House of Wax]]'' (2005), ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006), ''[[Unbroken (film)|Unbroken]]'' (2014), ''[[The Inbetweeners 2]]'' (2014), ''[[San Andreas (film)|San Andreas]]'' (2015), ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales]]'' (2017), ''[[Kong: Skull Island]]'' (2017), ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' (2017), ''[[Pacific Rim: Uprising]]'' (2018), ''[[Aquaman (film)|Aquaman]]'' (2018), ''[[Dora the Explorer (film)|Dora the Explorer]]'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/movies/we-did-it-dora-the-explorer-puts-queensland-on-her-map-20180318-p4z4x5.html|title=We did it! Dora the explorer puts Queensland on her map|last=Condren|first=Bernadette|date=18 March 2018|work=[[Brisbane Times]]|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319013909/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/movies/we-did-it-dora-the-explorer-puts-queensland-on-her-map-20180318-p4z4x5.html|archive-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> and ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]'' (2021).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/gold-coast-lures-hollywood-productions/news-story/b2c93108dfdd5855f4ff36a283b639f4|title=Gold Coast lures Godzilla and King Kong|work=NewsComAu|access-date=2018-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008005131/https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/gold-coast-lures-hollywood-productions/news-story/b2c93108dfdd5855f4ff36a283b639f4|archive-date=8 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Village Roadshow Studios]] are adjacent to the Warner Bros Movie World Theme Park at [[Oxenford, Queensland|Oxenford]]. The Studios consists of eight sound stages, production offices, editing rooms, wardrobe, construction workshops, water tanks and commissary. These sound stages vary in size and have an overall floor area of 10,844 sq metres, making Warner Roadshow Studio one of the largest studio lots in the Southern Hemisphere. The Queensland Government actively supports the film and television production industry in Queensland and provides both non-financial and financial assistance through the Pacific Film and Television Commission.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pacific Film and Television Commission |url=http://www.pftc.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626093105/http://www.pftc.com.au/ |archive-date=26 June 2010 |access-date=2 July 2010 |publisher=Pacific Film and Television Commission}}</ref> The Park used to be another film studio.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Culture==
[[File:Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, 2023, 04.jpg|thumb|[[Home of the Arts, Gold Coast|Home of the Arts]]]]
The Gold Coast's culture has been affected by rapid development and traditional marketing programs orbiting around 'sun, sand, surf and sex.'<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carson|first1=Susan Jane|title=Inside the pleasure dome : cultural tourism on Australia's Gold Coast|url=http://eprints.qut.edu.au/57580/|publisher=Queensland University of Technology|access-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144508/http://eprints.qut.edu.au/57580/|archive-date=30 October 2016}}</ref>

Despite rapid socio-economic changes and a tourist-centred image, there is evidence of local resident-driven culture (such as [[Surf culture#Surf gangs|surf gangs]]) in geographical pockets and a broader 'Gold Coaster' identity drawn from [[Globalization#Cultural globalization|globalised]] resort and real estate marketing material.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Baker|first1=S.|last2=Bennett|first2=A.|last3=Wise|first3=P.|title='Living 'the Strip': negotiating neighbourhood, community and identities on Australia's Gold Coast'|journal=Habitus of the Hood.|date=2012|page=96}}</ref> The Gold Coast hosts cultural activities that attract tourists and residents alike.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Music===
Music groups in this region include the [[Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra]] and [[Operator Please]]. Musicians [[Cody Simpson]] and [[Ricki-Lee Coulter]] are from the Gold Coast. Music events include [[Big Day Out]], [[Good Vibrations Festival]], Summafieldayze, the Blues on Broadbeach Festival and [[V Festival (Australia)|V Festival]] (2007–2009).{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

===Arts===
[[Home of the Arts, Gold Coast|Home of the Arts]] (HOTA) is the Gold Coast's premier cultural facility for visual and performing arts with a performance theatre, two cinemas and an underground venue. The theatre has hosted performance by the [[Imperial Russian Ballet]], [[The Australian Ballet]] and the [[Queensland Ballet]]. Musicals, plays and a variety of performances are regularly scheduled. The city is also home to the [[Gold Coast City Art Gallery]]. Film festivals and the Comedy Club host international artists.{{clarify|date=February 2019|reason=This sentence doesn't make sense.}} A redeveloped Gold Coast cultural precinct opened before the city hosted the [[2018 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>[http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/gold-coast-cultural-precinct-13122.html City of Gold Coast | Gold Coast Cultural Precinct<!-- Bot generated title -->] Gold Coast City Council {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221014/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/gold-coast-cultural-precinct-13122.html |date=4 October 2013 }}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Main|Sports on the Gold Coast, Queensland}}

[[File:Sunny Carrara Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Carrara Stadium|Peoples First Stadium]], home of the [[Gold Coast Suns]] in the [[Australian Football League]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=People First Stadium |url=https://stadiums.qld.gov.au/venues/people-first-stadium |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250619180742/https://stadiums.qld.gov.au/venues/people-first-stadium |archive-date=2025-06-19 |access-date=2025-11-05 |website=stadiums.qld.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>]]
The two most popular sports on the Gold Coast are [[Australian rules football]] and [[rugby league]],<ref>[https://goldcoastlifestyle.com.au/afl-or-nrl-which-is-more-popular-on-the-gold-coast/ AFL or NRL Which Is More Popular On The Gold Coast?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250220165620/https://goldcoastlifestyle.com.au/afl-or-nrl-which-is-more-popular-on-the-gold-coast/ |date=20 February 2025 }} Gold Coast Lifestyle. Retrieved 15 November 2024.</ref> of which the city is represented by professional teams in two most popular national competitions:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Team name
! Competition
! Sport
! Years
|-
| [[Gold Coast Titans]]
| [[National Rugby League]]
| [[Rugby league]] football
| 2007–present
|-
| [[Gold Coast Suns]]
| [[Australian Football League]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| 2011–present
|}
[[File:Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre main entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre]]]]
[[Burleigh Bears]] [[rugby league]] football club play in the [[Queensland Cup]] and have won four premierships (in 1999, 2004, 2016 and 2019).{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Recreational activities on the Gold Coast include surfing, fishing, cycling, boating and golf. The Gold Coast area has numerous [[golf links]], including [[Hope Island, Queensland|Hope Island]], [[Sanctuary Cove]] and The Glades.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Sporting facilities include the [[Carrara Stadium]], Carrara Indoor Sport Centre, [[Nerang Velodrome]] and the Sports Super Centre.  Newer facilities such as the [http://Gold%20Coast%20Sports%20and%20Leisure%20Centre Gold coast sports and Leisure center], [https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Venues-facilities/Sports-venues/Runaway-Bay-Indoor-Stadium Runaway Bay Indoor Sports Stadium], [https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Venues-facilities/Sports-venues/Pimpama-Sports-Hub Pimpama Sports Hub], and the [[Gold Coast Sports Precinct]] have been built to accommodate the growing population.

Former [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]] performer [[Nathan Jones (wrestler)|Nathan Jones]] comes from the Gold Coast, as do Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer [[Grant Hackett]], [[2011 US Open (tennis)|2011 US Open]] tennis champion [[Samantha Stosur]] and [[Sally Pearson]] (who received the keys to the city).{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Gold Coast has garnered a reputation as a "sporting graveyard", as many of the professional clubs that have represented the Gold Coast in national leagues since the 1980s experience generally poor on-field performances, consistently struggle to support themselves financially, and have generally folded within a decade of being founded; as of 2019 no Gold Coast-based team has won a premiership in a national professional club competition.<ref>[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/united-joins-gold-coast-sporting-graveyard-20120404-1wckb.html United joins Gold Coast sporting graveyard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105225633/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/united-joins-gold-coast-sporting-graveyard-20120404-1wckb.html |date=5 January 2017 }}. Brisbanetimes.com.au (4 April 2012). Retrieved on 5 May 2015.</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/another-club-gone-in-a-blaze-of--nothing-20120718-22ai5.html Another club gone, in a Blaze of ... nothing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124034418/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/another-club-gone-in-a-blaze-of--nothing-20120718-22ai5.html |date=24 January 2023 }}. Theage.com.au. Retrieved on 5 May 2015.</ref><ref>Barbieri, Paul. (31 December 2107) [http://www.sportal.com.au/afl/news/gold-coast-graveyard-where-sport-teams-go-to-die/1acvrttl9idfi1f2nc6enfrvpf Gold Coast Graveyard: Where sport teams go to die] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132953/http://www.sportal.com.au/afl/news/gold-coast-graveyard-where-sport-teams-go-to-die/1acvrttl9idfi1f2nc6enfrvpf |date=2 April 2015 }}. Sportal.com.au. Retrieved on 5 May 2015.</ref> However,  The Gold Coast Suns entered their first [[AFL finals series|AFL Finals series]] in [[2025]] but lost in the semi finals against cross town rivals [[Brisbane Lions]] at [[The Gabba]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-27 |title=From Ablett to Anderson — the Suns' long road to the AFL finals |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-28/the-suns-long-road-to-afl-finals/105628408 |access-date=2025-11-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-09-13 |title=Lions credit Cats for setting up Suns' semifinal demolition |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-13/afl-finals-brisbane-lions-gold-coast-suns-live-blog/105768034 |access-date=2025-11-05 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Commonwealth Games ===
{{Main|2018 Commonwealth Games}}

[[File:2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.jpeg|thumb|[[2018 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony|Opening ceremony]] of the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the [[Carrara Stadium]]]]
The Gold Coast hosted the [[2018 Commonwealth Games]], an international [[multi-sport event]] for members of the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], held between 4 and 15 April 2018. It was the fifth time Australia had hosted the [[Commonwealth Games]] and the first time a major multi-sport event achieved [[gender equality]] by having an equal number of events for male and female athletes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/commonwealth-games-more-relevant-than-ever/9644954|title=This Commonwealth Games will be remembered as a year of 'firsts', on and off the field|date=13 April 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=2018-04-17|language=en-AU|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226161841/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/commonwealth-games-more-relevant-than-ever/9644954|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 4,400 athletes, including 300 para-athletes, from 71 Commonwealth Games Associations took part in the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/gold-coast-2018-commonwealth-games-come-end|title=Up to 300 Para athletes participated in the 2018 Commonwealth Games|date=16 April 2018|website=International Paralympic Committee (IPC)|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226161845/https://www.paralympic.org/news/gold-coast-2018-commonwealth-games-come-end|url-status=live}}</ref>

The venues such as [[Carrara Stadium]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/carrara-stadium|title=Carrara Stadium {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101100/https://gc2018.com/venue/carrara-stadium|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gc2018.com/venue/carrara-sports-and-leisure-centre|title=Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|access-date=2020-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512084554/https://gc2018.com/venue/carrara-sports-and-leisure-centre|archive-date=12 May 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Carrara Indoor Stadium|Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium]], [[Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/gold-coast-convention-and-exhibition-centre|title=Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127100952/https://gc2018.com/venue/gold-coast-convention-and-exhibition-centre|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Broadbeach Bowls Club]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/broadbeach-bowls-club|title=Broadbeach Bowls Club {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101015/https://gc2018.com/venue/broadbeach-bowls-club|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Nerang National Park|Nerang Mountain Bike Trails]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gc2018.com/venue/nerang-mountain-bike-trails|title=Nerang Mountain Bike Trails {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|access-date=2020-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512081322/https://gc2018.com/venue/nerang-mountain-bike-trails|archive-date=12 May 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Coomera Indoor Sports Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/coomera-indoor-sports-centre|title=Coomera Indoor Sports Centre {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101024/https://gc2018.com/venue/coomera-indoor-sports-centre|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Oxenford Studios]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/oxenford-studios|title=Oxenford Studios {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101004/https://gc2018.com/venue/oxenford-studios|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Gold Coast Hockey Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/gold-coast-hockey-centre|title=Gold Coast Hockey Centre {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101034/https://gc2018.com/venue/gold-coast-hockey-centre|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Southport Broadwater Parklands]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/southport-broadwater-parklands|title=Southport Broadwater Parklands {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101017/https://gc2018.com/venue/southport-broadwater-parklands|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Gold Coast Aquatic Centre]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/optus-aquatic-centre|title=Optus Aquatic Centre {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127100958/https://gc2018.com/venue/optus-aquatic-centre|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Robina Stadium]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/robina-stadium|title=Robina Stadium {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101040/https://gc2018.com/venue/robina-stadium|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Currumbin, Queensland|Currumbin]] Beachfront,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gc2018.com/venue/cycling-road|title=Currumbin Beachfront {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|access-date=2020-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512080446/https://gc2018.com/venue/cycling-road|archive-date=12 May 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Coolangatta]] Beachfront<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gc2018.com/venue/coolangatta-beachfront|title=Coolangatta Beachfront {{!}} Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games|website=Gold Coast 2018|language=en|access-date=2018-04-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127101043/https://gc2018.com/venue/coolangatta-beachfront|archive-date=27 January 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> were used for the Games.

=== Olympic and Paralympic Games ===
Gold Coast will be one of the three zones for the [[2032 Summer Olympics]] and [[2032 Summer Paralympics]] in Brisbane to use the venues as the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Gold Coast Zone will have seven venues, and will host nine Olympic and six Paralympic sports. The [[Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre]] will be used for the preliminary Volleyball along with Powerlifting and Sitting Volleyball during the Paralympics. [[Broadbeach, Queensland|Broadbeach Park Stadium]] will host Beach Volleyball for Olympics as well in the Football 5-a-side in the Paralympics. The [[Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre]] will be used for Judo and Wrestling in the Olympics and Boccia in the Paralympics. [[Southport Broadwater Parklands]] to be used for Triathlon and Marathon Swimming in the Olympics and will be used for Paratriathlon in the Paralympics. [[Coomera Indoor Sports Centre]] will host the Volleyball for the Olympics and will be used for Wheelchair Rugby in the Paralympics. The [[Robina Stadium]] will host the preliminary football matches. The [[Carrara Stadium]] could potentially host the Cricket matches if the IOC approves cricket in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Purohit |first1=Abhishek |date=10 August 2021 |title=Will cricket bat again at the Olympics? Know process for inclusion at LA28 |url=https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/cricket-olympics-los-angeles-2028-games-icc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018234152/https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/cricket-olympics-los-angeles-2028-games-icc |archive-date=18 October 2022 |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=[[International Olympic Committee]]}}</ref>

===Other events===
[[File:Lexmark indy champ car2 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Gold Coast Indy 300]]]]

The [[Gold Coast 500]] (formerly known as the Gold Coast 600 & [[Gold Coast Indy 300]]) is a car racing event held annually, usually in October. The [[Surfers Paradise Street Circuit]] through the streets of [[Surfers Paradise]] and [[Main Beach, Queensland|Main Beach]]. The Gold Coast 500 typically is accompanied by a range of on and off track events such as the Indy Undie Ball, Miss Indy Competition and the King of Burleigh Hill [[Billy cart]] Race which take place in the week prior to and/or during the race weekend. Formerly an [[IndyCar]] event, [[Supercars Championship|V8 Supercars]] are now the headline attraction, using a shorter track route, as the circuit was limited following the construction of the [[G:link|Gold Coast Light Rail]] as the Light Rail line replaced the northbound traffic lanes on Surfers Paradise Boulevard which was previously used as the southern section of the street circuit.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Each June, Coolangatta hosts [[Cooly Rocks On]], a two-week 1950s and 1960s nostalgia festival with free entertainment and attractions, including [[hot rod]]s, restored cars and revival bands playing music of the era. Every July, more than 25,000 congregate on the Gold Coast from around the world to participate in the [[Gold Coast Marathon]]. It is also the largest annual community sporting event held on the Gold Coast. In 2015, it will be held on 4–5 July and the 37th Gold Coast Airport Marathon is set to motivate and challenge more than 25,000 people of all ages and abilities. The [[Gold Coast Airport Marathon]] will feature an event for all ages and abilities, including the full Gold Coast Airport Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, [[Southern Cross University]] {{convert|10|km|mi}} Run, Suncorp Bank {{convert|5.7|km|mi}} Challenge, and Junior Dash over {{convert|4|and|2|km|mi}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In August [[Currumbin]] hosts the annual half distance Challenge Gold Coast triathlon, with the 1.9&nbsp;km swim taking place in the Currumbin River, the 90&nbsp;km bike going through the Currumbin and [[Tallebudgera Valley]]s in the Hinterland, and the 21.1&nbsp;km run going along the beach to Elephant Rock and [[Tugun, Queensland|Tugun]].<ref>[http://www.challenge-goldcoast.com.au/ The Event Crew – Home<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105040348/http://www.challenge-goldcoast.com.au/ |date=5 November 2014 }}</ref>

Late November to early December sees thousands of school leavers across the country descend on the Gold Coast for [[Schoolies week]], a two-week period of celebration and parties throughout Surfers Paradise, hosted by the [[City of Gold Coast]]. The event is often criticised nationally and locally for its portrayal of drinking and acts of violence, however every effort by the [[Queensland Police Service]] and State Government to ensure all school leavers have a good time are put into place, including locals volunteering by walking the streets and keeping an eye out for those in need of assistance.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Early each year the Gold Coast hosts one leg of the [[ASP World Tour]] of surfing, where some of the world's best surfers compete in the [[Quiksilver Pro]] at Coolangatta.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Home of the Arts, Gold Coast]] located in Evandale, features a fine art gallery featuring local and international works from painting to sculpture and new media. In addition, there is a theatre for live productions including musicals as well two arts cinemas showing foreign and independent films from Australia and abroad.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Chinatown, Gold Coast]], located in Southport, hosts the annual citywide Lunar New Year festival as well as regular monthly events.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Media==
===Print===
The daily local newspaper is the ''[[Gold Coast Bulletin]]'' which is published by [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]. National surfing magazine ''[[Australia's Surfing Life]]'' is published in the Gold Coast suburb of [[Burleigh Heads]] by Morrison Media.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Major daily newspapers such as [[The Courier-Mail]] and its sibling [[The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)|The Sunday Mail]] from Brisbane, [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]], The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] and [[The Sun-Herald]] from Sydney and [[The Age]], [[The Sunday Age]], [[Herald Sun|The Herald Sun]] and the Sunday Herald-Sun from Melbourne as well as national publications [[The Australian]] and [[The Australian Financial Review]] are all available for purchase on the Gold Coast. Other major interstate newspapers and newspapers from neighbouring regions owned by [[News Corporation]] or [[Australian Community Media]] are also available for purchase via retail outlets on the Gold Coast.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Television===
The Gold Coast straddles the boundary between the television licence areas of both Brisbane (metropolitan) and Northern NSW (regional): the Brisbane primary channels are [[Seven Network|Seven]]'s [[BTQ]], [[Nine Network|Nine]]'s [[QTQ]] and [[Network 10|10]]'s [[TVQ]], while the regional affiliates are [[Seven Network|Seven]]'s [[NEN (TV station)|NEN]], [[Nine Network|Nine]]'s [[NBN (TV station)|NBN]] and [[Network 10|10]]'s [[NRN]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Both sets of commercial stations are available throughout the Gold Coast, as well as the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] and [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] television services. Other channels include [[10 Drama]], [[10 Comedy]], [[Nickelodeon (Australian TV channel)|Nickelodeon]], [[Sky News Australia|Sky News Regional]] (regional only), [[ABC Family (Australian TV channel)|ABC Family]]/[[ABC Kids (Australia)|ABC Kids]], [[ABC Entertains]], [[ABC News (Australian TV channel)|ABC News]], [[SBS World Movies]], [[SBS Viceland]], [[SBS Food]], [[National Indigenous Television|NITV]], [[SBS WorldWatch]], [[7two]], [[7mate]], [[7Bravo]], [[7flix]], [[9Gem]], [[9Go!]], [[9Rush]] & [[9Life]]. Subscription television service [[Foxtel]] is also available.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Of the main metropolitan and regional commercial networks:
*[[Nine Gold Coast News|Nine News]] produces a half-hour local bulletin at 5:30pm on weeknights, broadcasting from studios in [[Surfers Paradise]]. The bulletin airs as an opt-out{{clarify|date=November 2025}} on the metropolitan station ([[QTQ]]9) ahead of the main 6&nbsp;pm news from Brisbane.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
*[[Seven News#Gold Coast|Seven News]] produced a local half-hour bulletin at 5:30pm on weeknights from studios in Surfers Paradise until 21 November 2024. The network retains a newsroom to cover the Gold Coast for its state and national bulletins.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Laidlaw |first1=Kyle |title=Seven Axes 5.30pm Local Gold Coast News in Major Shake-Up of News Operations |url=https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2024/11/19/seven-axes-5-30pm-local-gold-coast-news-in-major-shake-up-of-news-operations/ |access-date=23 November 2024 |work=TV Blackbox |date=19 November 2024 |language=en-AU |archive-date=25 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241125012526/https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2024/11/19/seven-axes-5-30pm-local-gold-coast-news-in-major-shake-up-of-news-operations/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[NBN (TV station)|NBN]] airs ''NBN News'', an hour-long regional program combining regional, national and international news – including local opt-outs for the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers – every night at 6pm. It broadcasts from studios in [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] with reporters based in Lismore and Surfers Paradise.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
*[[Network 10]] airs short local news updates for the Gold Coast/Lismore district throughout the day from the [[WIN Television]] studios in Wollongong.

===Radio===
There are numerous commercial, ABC, narrowcast and community stations broadcasting along the Gold Coast.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Gold Coast's [[FM broadcasting|FM]] commercial stations are [[Triple M|Triple M Network]]'s [[Triple M Gold Coast|92.5 Triple M]], [[Hit Network]]'s [[90.9 Sea FM]], [[Hot Tomato]], [[Rebel FM|Rebel 99.4 FM]], [[The Breeze (Australia)|The Breeze 100.6]] and [[Radio 97]]. Community/volunteer stations are [[Jazz Radio 94.1FM|94.1FM]], [[Juice107.3]], [[Radio Metro]] and 4CRB.

[[ABC Gold Coast]] is the local ABC station on the Gold Coast, which is complemented by the ABC's national radio services including [[Triple J]], [[ABC Radio National]], [[ABC NewsRadio]] and [[ABC Classic FM]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

A number of narrowcast services are also available on the Gold Coast including [[Big Country Radio]], [[SEN Track|SEN Track 1620]], [[Raw FM (Australian radio network)|Raw FM]] and [[Vision Radio Network|Vision Radio]].

The Gold Coast can also receive some Brisbane and Northern NSW FM and AM stations.

==Education==
[[File:GBC-ARI-DJI 0662.jpg|thumb|[[Bond University]] in [[Varsity Lakes, Queensland|Varsity Lakes]]]]

=== Colleges and universities ===
The Gold Coast is home to two major university campuses: [[Bond University]] at [[Robina, Queensland|Robina]] and [[Griffith University]] at [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]]. [[Southern Cross University]] also operates a smaller campus in [[Bilinga, Queensland|Bilinga]] near the Gold Coast Airport. [[TAFE Queensland]] also has five campuses at Southport, Robina, Benowa, Coomera and Coolangatta.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=== Schools and libraries ===
There are over 100 primary and secondary schools, both public and private and of a variety of denominations, including the selective state high school [[Queensland Academy for Health Sciences]] and [[Single-sex education|single-sex]] private schools [[The Southport School]] and [[St Hilda's School]]. The longest established public school on the Gold Coast is [[Southport State High School]], having originally opened in 1916. There are a number of libraries located on the Gold Coast. For a full list see [[Gold Coast libraries]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Health ==
[[File:Gold Coast University Hospital main entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Gold Coast University Hospital]]]]
In 2018, 61.6% of the city's population was [[overweight]] or [[obese]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mackay tops list of state's heaviest adults with over 80 per cent overweight or obese – ABC News |work=ABC News |date=29 January 2018 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-29/mackay-tops-list-of-queenslands-heaviest-adults/9370172 |access-date=2 June 2023 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605223110/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/9370172 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

===Utilities===
'''Electricity'''

Electricity for the Gold Coast is sourced from Powerlink Queensland at bulk supply substations which is provided via the [[National Electricity Market]] from an interconnected multi-State power system. The Government-owned electricity corporation [[Energex]] distributes and retails electricity, natural gas, [[liquefied petroleum gas]] (LPG) and value-added products and services to residential, industrial and commercial customers in South-East Queensland.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Hinze Dam 2019.11.08.jpg|thumb|[[Hinze Dam]]]]
'''Water supply'''

The [[Hinze Dam]] {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Nerang is the population's main water supply. The [[Little Nerang Dam]] which feeds into [[Hinze Dam]] can supplement part of the city area's water needs, and both are managed by the city council directorate [[Gold Coast Water]]. Reforms of the way in which the [[water industry]] is structured have been announced by the State Government, with transfer of ownership and management of water services from local government to the state occurring in 2008–09. [[City of Gold Coast]] also sources water from [[Wivenhoe Dam]], west of Brisbane for northern suburbs when the Hinze Dam, at one-tenth of Wivenhoe's capacity, becomes low.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Water shortage and water restrictions have been current local issues, and a few new Gold Coast residential areas have recently included dual reticulation in their planning and development to supply water from a new water recycling plant being built concurrently. This will make available highly treated recycled water for use around the home in addition to potable water. The Gold Coast has received world recognition for this scheme in its Pimpama-Coomera suburbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_gcw.asp?PID=5909 |title=Gold Coast City Council – Pimpama Coomera Master Plan Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Gold Coast City Council |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102084652/http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_gcw.asp?PID=5909 |archive-date=2 January 2009 }}</ref>

Gold Coast Water has the capacity to supply up to 133 megalitres of desalinated water per day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watersecure.com.au/GoldCoastDesalinationPlant.htm |title=WaterSecure – a new source of pure water |access-date=26 July 2009 |publisher=WaterSecure |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629100102/http://www.watersecure.com.au/GoldCoastDesalinationPlant.htm |archive-date=29 June 2009 }}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport on the Gold Coast, Queensland}}
The car is the dominant mode of transport in the Gold Coast, with over 70% of people using it as their sole mode of travelling to work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=LGA33460&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=LGA33460&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=LPTD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Method%20of%20Travel%20to%20Work%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=Transport%20Access%20&%20Use&|title=Method of Travel to Work by Sex&nbsp;– Gold Coast (Local Government Area)|date=27 June 2007|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|format=Excel Spreadsheet|access-date=12 April 2008|quote=Consists of people who solely either drove or travelled as a passenger in a car to work.}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Gold Coast has an extensive network of arterial roads that link coastal suburbs with inland suburbs. In recent years, local and state governments have invested money in transport infrastructure on the Gold Coast to combat the increasing congestion on many of the city's roads. The Gold Coast has an extensive public transport network that includes buses, heavy rail and light rail for commuting to work, visiting attractions, and travelling to other destinations.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} 
[[File:Skylines of Main Beach and Surfers Paradise, Queensland in January 2017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Gold Coast Highway]] and [[G:link]] crossing the [[Nerang River]]]]

==== Road ====
A number of major roads connect the Gold Coast with Brisbane, New South Wales, and the surrounding areas. The [[Pacific Motorway (Brisbane–Brunswick Heads)|Pacific Motorway]] (M1) is the main motorway in the area. Beginning at the [[Logan Motorway]] (M6) in Brisbane, it travels through the inland Gold Coast region and links with the [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] at the New South Wales/Queensland border near [[Tweed Heads, New South Wales|Tweed Heads]]. The Pacific Motorway is part of the [[Brisbane]] to [[Sydney]] corridor. Before the [[Tugun Bypass]] was completed in 2008, the motorway ended at [[Tugun, Queensland|Tugun]]. The [[Gold Coast Highway]] services the coastal suburbs of the Gold Coast, including Surfers Paradise, Southport, and Burleigh Heads. Starting at the Pacific Motorway at Tweed Heads, it runs parallel to the coast until it reaches Labrador, where it turns inland to meet the Pacific Motorway again at [[Helensvale]]. Other arterial roads include the [[Smith Street Motorway]] which connects Southport, Gold Coast's CBD with the [[Pacific Motorway (Brisbane–Brunswick Heads)|M1]] in [[Parkwood, Queensland|Parkwood]]. Other major roads include Reedy Creek Road, [[Nerang–Broadbeach Road]], [[Robina Parkway]] and [[Southport – Burleigh Road|Southport–Burleigh Road]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==== Light rail ====
[[File:GCLR Set 9 at Cypress Avenue 2014-09-28.jpg|thumb|[[G:link]] trams on Cypress Avenue]]
The Gold Coast's light rail service is called [[G:link]], a {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} line between [[Helensvale, Queensland|Helensvale]] and [[Broadbeach, Queensland|Broadbeach]] that also connects the key activity centres of [[Southport, Queensland|Southport]] and [[Surfers Paradise, Queensland|Surfers Paradise]]. The G:link was opened in 2014 between Broadbeach and Southport, with an extension to Helensvale completed in 2017 in preparation for the [[2018 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/australia-nz/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-2-opens-early.html|title=Gold Coast light rail Stage 2 opens early|last1=Carter|first1=Mark|date=25 December 2017|website=International Railway Journal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218190732/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/australia-nz/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-2-opens-early.html|archive-date=18 December 2017|url-status=live|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref>

==== Heavy rail ====
[[Queensland Rail]] operates an inter-city rail service from Brisbane to the Gold Coast along the [[Gold Coast railway line]]. The line follows the same route as Brisbane's [[Beenleigh railway line]], continuing on after reaching [[Beenleigh railway station|Beenleigh]]. It then follows a route similar to that of the Pacific Motorway, passing stations at [[Ormeau railway station|Ormeau]], [[Coomera railway station|Coomera]], [[Helensvale railway station|Helensvale]], [[Nerang railway station|Nerang]] and [[Robina railway station|Robina]] before terminating at [[Varsity Lakes railway station|Varsity Lakes]]. An extension of the Gold Coast line to the Gold Coast Airport is proposed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robina to Tugun Rail Impact Assessment Study|url=https://sc-tmrwcmgr-cd.azurewebsites.net/projects/robina-to-tugun-rail-impact-assessment-study|access-date=2020-07-30|website=sc-tmrwcmgr-cd.azurewebsites.net|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==== Bus ====
[[File:Gold Coast buses (28259988216).jpg|thumb|[[Kinetic Gold Coast]] buses operating in [[Broadbeach]]]]
[[Kinetic Gold Coast]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surfside Buslines |url=https://www.wearekinetic.com/surfside-buslines |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=[[Kinetic Gold Coast]]|language=en-AU |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102213429/https://www.wearekinetic.com/surfside-buslines |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Surfside Buslines |url=https://www.surfside.com.au/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Surfside |language=en-AU |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102213431/https://www.surfside.com.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> operates all public passenger services in the city under contract by [[Translink (Queensland)|Translink]] which coordinates the public transport network in [[South East Queensland]]. Services are frequent during the day, with intervals being as little as 5 minutes. Kinetic operates over a fleet of over 400 buses operating on over 70 lines covering the entire city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==== Airports ====
The main International Airport, [[Gold Coast Airport]] is located in Coolangatta, approximately {{convert|22|km|mi}} south of Surfers Paradise. Services are provided to interstate capitals and major cities as well as to major New Zealand cities, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} In 2019, it was the [[List of the busiest airports in Australia|sixth busiest airport]] in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/90442|title=Palaszczuk Government backs new way to fly for Gold Coast Airport|author=Mark Bailey|publisher=[[Queensland Government]]|date=18 August 2020|access-date=12 January 2024|archive-date=12 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112022252/https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/90442|url-status=live}}</ref>

Smaller private airfields are located in the northern suburbs of [[Coombabah]] ([[Southport Airport]]) and [[Norwell, Queensland|Norwell]] ([[Heck Field]]), catering to flight training, recreational and [[general aviation]] users.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Projects===
* Stage 3 of the [[G:link|G:link Light Rail]] system to [[Burleigh Heads, Queensland|Burleigh Heads]] is under construction with it set to be open in 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold Coast Light Rail (Stage 3) Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, construct light rail (Department of Transport and Main Roads) |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-light-rail |website=Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) |access-date=13 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613163454/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-light-rail |url-status=live }}</ref> and planning for Stage 4 is underway with that stage to open before the [[2032 Summer Olympics|Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 (Department of Transport and Main Roads) |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-4 |website=Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) |access-date=13 June 2023 |language=en |archive-date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613163455/https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The existing heavy rail [[Gold Coast railway line|Gold Coast line]] will be extended to Coolangatta<ref>{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Chamberlin |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/14/169295_gold-coast-news.html |title=Long wait for Gold Coast airport train |newspaper=Gold Coast Bulletin |date=14 December 2009 |access-date=24 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707232644/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/12/14/169295_gold-coast-news.html |archive-date=7 July 2012  }}</ref>
* [[Pacific Motorway (Brisbane–Brunswick Heads)|Pacific Motorway M1]] upgrades program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pacific Motorway M1 upgrade program (Department of Transport and Main Roads) |url=https://sc-tmrwcmgr-cd.azurewebsites.net/projects/programs/pacific-motorway-m1-upgrade-program |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=sc-tmrwcmgr-cd.azurewebsites.net |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Real estate ==
The Gold Coast's real estate market is one of the most dynamic in Australia, characterised by a combination of coastal luxury properties, residential developments, and investment opportunities. According to data from SQM Research,<ref>{{Cite web |title=SQM Research - Property - Weekly Asking Property Prices - Gold Coast |url=https://sqmresearch.com.au/asking-property-prices.php?region=qld-Gold%20Coast&type=r&t=1 |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=sqmresearch.com.au}}</ref> the region has experienced significant property value growth in recent years, with both the median house and unit prices showing strong upward trends. The market's appeal is driven by its lifestyle offerings, proximity to major cities like Brisbane, and ongoing infrastructure improvements.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Notable people ==<!-- It would be desirable if notable people could be placed into more specific article e.g. "Surfers Paradise" where we know of their affiliation with a more specific place, but if the only available source says "Gold Coast", then this is the place. --><!-- List sorted alphabetically by surname, then given name -->
{{further|Category:People from the Gold Coast, Queensland}}
* [[Megan Anderson (fighter)|Megan Anderson]], MMA fighter
* [[Mackenzie Arnold]], football goalkeeper for the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia national team]]
* [[Jack Beeton]], racing driver
* [[Anna Bligh]], politician
* [[Harley Cameron]], professional wrestler
* [[Aisha Dee]], actress and singer
* [[Jack Doohan (racing driver)|Jack Doohan]], racing driver and son of Mick Doohan
* [[Mick Doohan]], five-time 500 cc [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing]] [[List of 500cc/MotoGP Motorcycle World Champions|world champion]]
* [[Mick Fanning]], surfer
* [[Broc Feeney]], racing driver
* [[Peter Foster]], conman
* [[Zane Goddard]], racing driver
* [[Lochie Hughes]], racing driver
* [[Luke Mitchell]], actor and model
* [[Lyndon Dykes]], soccer player
* [[Lucy Markovic]], (1998–2025), fashion model
* [[Sophie Monk]], television personality and singer
* [[Nash Morris]], racing driver
* [[Joel Parkinson]], surfer
* [[Margot Robbie]], actress
* [[Aiysha Saagar]], pop singer
* [[Amy Shark]], singer-songwriter and producer
* [[Cody Simpson]], swimmer and singer
* [[Jack Smith (Australian racing driver)|Jack Smith]], racing driver
* [[Toni Storm]], professional wrestler
* [[Anna Torv]], actress
* [[Jessica Watson]], sailor<!-- List sorted alphabetically by surname, then given name -->

== See also ==
* [[Gold Coast hinterland]]
* [[List of tallest buildings on the Gold Coast]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/ Council of the City of Gold Coast website]
* [https://www.experiencegoldcoast.com/ Visitor website]
* [https://www.australia.com/en/places/gold-coast-and-surrounds.html Gold Coast] [[Tourism Australia]]
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[[Category:Gold Coast, Queensland| ]]
[[Category:1823 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Australia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1823]]
[[Category:Seaside resorts in Australia]]