Gold Coast - The Sporting Planet Travel Guide to sports teams, stadiums, events and facilities around the world

GOLD COAST
CITY OVERVIEW Stay in Gold Coast Save Up To 70% On Your Hotel Stay with Travelocity	The Gold Coast is Australia's sporting and entertainment playground - similar in feel and climate to coastal Florida. It is located approximately 100km south east of Brisbane and extends from the Queensland/New South Wales border to Surfers Paradise - the main holiday and business centre of the Gold Coast. The area consists of approximately 70km of uninterrupted coastline and 35 patrolled beaches. In Surfers Paradise, the key attractions are the Beach itself, as well as one of the first of the modern casinos in the country - Jupiters Casino. Further inland is the Gold Coast hinterland, which is home to magnificent waterfalls, waterways, tropical forest and gardens. This is where many of the region's golf courses, hotel resorts and million dollar mansions have developed. One of the first big American style theme parks was also built on the Gold Coast - Dreamworld in Coomera. It is still a popular place to visit for kids, as is the nearby Seaworld, with its dolphins and whales. The third major theme park that has opened in the last decade is Warner Bros Movie World, which provides visitors with the chance to experience the movie related theme parks that has become popular in the USA. All these parks are directly accessible by special shuttles from the major Surfers Paradise hotels, as well as public transport services from Brisbane (rail and bus) and the Gold Coast's Surfside buses. The other major attractions on the Gold Coast are Wet 'N' Wild - a park full of swimming pools, artificial waves and water slides and the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, which has all types of tropical birds, many of which can be hand fed.
GETTING THERE Fly to Gold Coast From USA Within Australia and NZ From UK and Europe	Gold Coast(Coolangatta) Airport is located some 25km south of Surfers Paradise on the New South Wales border. Surfside Bus Lines provides access from Surfers Paradise to near the Airport, where you alight and catch a shuttle bus to the Airport. Public transport access between Brisbane and the Gold Coast is also achieved by the Queensland Rail from Central (Brisbane) Station and Nerang Station, where you switch to Bus Route 22 that goes to Surfers Paradise. There are also several bus and coach options that service Brisbane to and from the Gold Coast.
TENNIS WTA UNCLE TOBYS HARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIPS, ROYAL PINES RESORT Ticket and Event information through www.wtatour.com	The WTA Uncle Tobys Hardcourt Championships are held at The Royal Pines Resort in early January and is located off Ross Street in Ashmore, which is some 5km inland from Surfers Paradise. Surfside Bus Lines Route 18 leaves Pacific Fair in Surfers Paradise and goes to Australia Fair via Ashmore. Get off at the Ashmore Road and Ross Street intersection and walk south down Ross Street to the entrance to the Royal Pines Resort.
GOLF THE AUSTRALIAN WOMENS MASTERS, ROYAL PINES RESORT Ticket and event information to come	The Australian Womens Masters is also held at The Royal Pines Resort in late February. Follow the same directions as above for the Australian Womens Hardcourt Championships.
HORSE RACING GOLD COAST RACECOURSE Tickets available at course	Gold Coast Racecourse is home to the Magic Millions Race in January and is located off Racecourse Drive Bundall, which is some 3km south west of Surfers Paradise. A courtesy Racecourse shuttle operates from different locations on the Gold Coast to the Racecourse, including on Thornton Street, Surfers Paradise and from Tiki Village in Surfers Paradise.
MOTOR RACING CART HONDA INDY 300, SURFERS PARADISE STREET CIRCUIT Ticket information through CART	The CART Honda Indy 300 is held in late October and is located at Surfers Paradise Temporary Street Circuit, which is centred right behind Surfers Paradise beach, with the main straight using The Esplanade. The main entrance is on The Esplanade, at its intersection with Cavill Mall. This location is within walking distance of most Surfers Paradise locations.
MOTOR RACING V8 SHELL SUPERCAR SERIES, SURFERS PARADISE STREET CIRCUIT	A V8 Supercar Series race is held as a lead-up to the CART Indy 300 on the Surfers Paradise Street Course.