After nearly 2 weeks of staying with my friend, it was time to continue onto the adventures I had set out for.

I made my way the furthest south in Australia I have been yet, to the Gold Coast. Right along the beaches of Surfers Paradise there is a little hostel called Surf n Sun. A minute walk to the beach, and staffed with a fun and lively crowd, this hostel is a must for a beach vacation. They are located on the north end of the beach, and a 15 minute walk to the heart of surfers paradise, going to the clubs and bars is done nightly as group. 

The area is lush and the cities sky scrapers remind me of Miami Beach, Florida…. Except with a smaller city feel and without the crime. When I arrived, I prepaired for crowded beaches, and the long hunt for beach space to lay out and soak up some nice tropical rays. I brace myself as I approach the beach, expecting the crowds of Miami, or Waikiki, being a world renowned beach. Instead, the quiet beach offered enough space to be secluded from neighboring beach goers, and the sand is so fine it squeaks when you shuffle along the white powder.

There is something for everyone; museums, mini golf, clubs, pubs, adventure companies, and easy transportation access to surrounding attractions.

If planning your trip to the area, be sure to check out the night markets (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, 7-10 PM.)

Whale watching, which runs daily, is another wonderful use of your time on the gold coast. A variety of  outfits exist at different prices, but remember, you get what you pay for, and paying a budget price may mean getting the small boat. (Hope you don’t get sea sick.) The nicer, larger boats are usually upwards of $75 and have options to extend to a full day doing alternate activities. You would want to try going in late winter, early spring (July – October) when the whales are migrating and calfing. When I went out, a young calf was learning how to breech (throw its body out of the water).

After my stay at Surf n Sun, I found a job at Aquarius Backpackers, just north of Surfers paradise.  Right across from one of the major shopping centers in the area,  the distance from the beach doesn’t stop Aquarius from offering just as much.

Throughout Surfers Paradise, many backpacking hostels get together on Wednesday and Saturday nights for a Big Night Out. At $30, free entry into multiple clubs and a free drink at each, the BNO hosts, nearly a thousand backpackers each month. 

Work in surfers paradise is plentiful if you’re not picky in what you do. The area thrives on tourists and backpackers, and the staff often transition as much as the clientele. If looking for something specific, you should look into specific jobs before you arrive.

Taking a nice day off, I made my way to the strip of beach known as the Pacific Parade in Currumbin, a small seaside town about a hour bus ride south of the gold coast. The town hosts an art walk every year, displaying sculptures from around the world. It doesn’t cost anything to view the art, but you can donate in various ways at the small information booths setup along the walk.

Another thing to do in the town is climb the rock beside the lifesaving and surf club and look out over the ocean and to surfers paradise skyline on the horizon.  From here, the most amazing views are accompanied by amazing surfers (on a good day) and while sitting on the beach, took notice of a man with his surf board tearing up the waves. Sadly, I didn’t get his name, and the skill he had would not be done justice by my words. Thankfully, I had my camera. (Check out the photos at Flickr.com/photos/kikilathrop)