Gold Coast, Queensland - one of Australia's pride



Gold Coast, Queensland
Australia's Pride

GOLD COAST, Australia - We came to Gold Coast when I first visited my brother in Runcorn (near Brisbane). I know that Gold Coast is a world-class surfing paradise and is famous for white sand beaches.

True enough, the beach was very nice and nearby are hotels, restaurants and a lot of buildings. Most beaches that I have been are more quiet with simple buildings around. Howeve, Gold Coast is a business district at the beach. If I am working at one of the companies in Gold Coast, I am sure I would have a very good work-life balance. I can sit on the shore after office hours, watch the sun set and breathe the fresh air from the sea.

Wikipedia describes Gold Coast as a coastal city located in the South East of Queensland, Australia. The city is 94 km south of the state capital Brisbane. It is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and the most populous non-capital city in Australia. The Gold Coast holds the title of the largest cross-state population of any metropolitan area in Australia, due to the inclusion of Tweed Heads, New South Wales in its metropolitan area. The Gold Coast's metropolitan area converges with that of Greater Brisbane, forming part of an urban conurbation of over 3 million people.

Gold Coast, Australia

While the origin of the city's name is debatable, the name "Gold Coast" was bestowed upon the city by real estate investors. The first settlement in what is now South East Queensland was as a penal colony at Redcliffe. The Gold Coast region remained largely uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach. The hinterland's red cedar supply attracted people to the area in the mid-19th century. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for upper class Brisbane residents.

The Gold Coast region grew significantly after the establishment of the Surfers Paradise hotel in the late 1920s. The area boomed in the 1980s as a leading tourist destination and in 1994, the Gold Coast City local government area was expanded to encompass the majority of the Gold Coast's metropolitan area, becoming the second most populous local government area in Australia after the City of Brisbane. The Gold Coast is today a major tourist destination with its sunny subtropical climate, surfing beaches, canal and waterway systems, its high-rise dominated skyline, theme parks, nightlife, and rainforest hinterland, making tourism one of its most significant industries. Gold Coast will host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

^{Truly, Gold Coast is Australia's pride.}

Keep on following my travel blogs. Also, for all your travel needs (airfare, hotel, cruise package, holiday packages, car rental and more), please visit wow amazing holiday website.

Ballarat and Phillip Island - tourist destinations in Victoria

 

Penguins at Phillip Islands, Victoria, Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia - My first trip to Australia was one of the memorable trips I had. I was so excited to come to the country as there were a lot of positive feedbacks I heard about the country.

But let me tell my experience first when I applied for the visa. I started my job on July 6, 2009 and I needed to travel to India on July 12 to 31. My next business trip to Australia was August 9. There will be no sufficient time if I apply for the Australian visa when I come back from India so I applied before I went to India.

The visa officer questioned me how come I just join the company and needed to travel to Australia. She called her Supervisor and said "this young guy just join his company and need to apply for visa". I explained to the supervisor that it is part of my job to travel to Asia Pacific to do audit of my company. The Australian supervisor accepted my explaination and my application documents. I went back to the embassy after my business trip in India to have my passport stamped for the visa. They gave me one year multiple entry visa.



Museum inside Ballarat

It was in Australia where I drove on the right hand. It was very confusing to me because I am used to left hand traffic and left  hand driving. Thank God, the car was automatic.

My 2 colleagues and I decided to go to Ballarat on the first weekend. It was about 3 to 4-hour drive from Melbourne. My colleague drove the car on the way going to Ballarat and I drove on the way bawck. I found it difficult because aside from me not used to driving on the right side, I am also not used to the directions in Australia. Thank God again that I survived. Ballarat is city that used to have gold mining. We even went down the old mining site to see the place. I was so scared that I am thinking risks when we go down. We then went out and watch some parades and shows.

We also went to nearby zoo where I saw and touched the Kangaroos in real life. I also was able to see Koala Bear, Tasmanian devil and other animals I haven't seen before.

The second weekend was also fun. My colleague and I went to Phillip Island, the island famous for penguins. The penguins are really superstar in their own because people need to wait for them to come to shore after spending the whole day in the sea. It was so cold and windy at the sea when we were there, but still we waited for penguins to come. They were cute walking from the water to the shore in groups.

After my audit assignment, I went to my brother in Brisbane for few days before going back to Singapore. I will be writing a post regarding my Brisbane and Gold Coast experience as well.

Keep on following my travel blogs. Also, for all your travel needs (airfare, hotel, cruise package, holiday packages, car rental and more), please visit wow amazing holiday website.