The Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. They are 2 popular Australian tourist destinations, in Australia’s favourite sub-tropical east coast which stretches from Yamba to Fraser Island. When it comes down to it they offer very similar things, but the time old question between the locals in the area, which one is better?
This is a hard question to answer, since the 2 places can be so similar. So we bring you the facts and balance it up.
The reasons people like these coasts are
1 Surf and Sand- long, white sand beaches, great surf, and the perfect water temperature
2 they are beautiful- both coasts have their charm
3 climate- if you come from further south, or Europe the winters are nice are summers not too warm
4 theme parks- and other man-made tourist attractions
English: The Big Pineapple, between Port Alfred and Bathurst on the R67 in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
5 nature- the hinterlands both have great places to visit
There are also 2 sides to look at this. If you like nature or cityscape. The large high rises of the Gold Coast can look pretty ugly for some people who prefer nature. But if you ask some of the residents of these buildings they love the views they provide.
If you like nature the Sunshine Coast has the perfect balance of tourist facilities with the right amount of natural attractions.
Surf and Sand
As far as the beaches go. From Coolangatta to Noosa Sound, if you have poor eyesight they can all look extremely similar. Don’t get me wrong, any foreigner will consider the beaches stunning, but there is no difference between the 2. The jewels in the crowns are Noosa Heads and Coolangatta. Noosa wins on charm while Coolangatta wins for surf consistency. The water is clear and blue and warm at both. But Noosa has the drawcard of a national park, that has koalas that sit in the trees right in the middle of the carpark.
The surf on the Sunshine is good when it happens, but is not as consistent as the Gold Coast
Gold Coast wins on surf consistency and power while Sunshine Coast on nature
2 beautiful places
They both have their beauty about them. As I suggested Coolangatta-Tweed Heads is very nice as is the Noosa area, the waterways of the Gold Coast.
On the Gold Coast there is Coolangatta/Tweed Heads, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, and the islands behind Surfers Paradise, while the Sunshine Coast has Noosa Heads, Eumundi, Coolum, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba and Caloundra.
No clear winner here.
3 climate
Noosa Heads is only the slightest bit warmer, both in the surf and on land, being only some 120km further north, but no real clear winner here.
Tallebudgera Creek has views to the Border Ranges and at this point to Surfers Paradise
4 Theme parks.
My favourite from the 2 cities is Australia zoo on the Sunshine Coast. The Irwin family have created a great park where you can walk amongst the kangaroos and wallabies, pet koalas, and see crocodile shows which is the zoo speciality.After you’ve been here other zoos need to lift their game to be interesting to you.
If you like theme parks like kids do, then the Gold Coast is your city. Wet and Wild, Dreamworld, Movie World etc etc, you’ll go back home needing a holiday from your holiday
5 Nature
Compare the 2 and Sunshine Coast wins hands down. If you can’t see that I’m take the side of nature then ???? The hinterland between the 2 well Mt. Tamborine nice but a whole long drive from Mapleton to Maleny, with more quaint towns than just Mt. Tamborine, what can you say. There are waterfalls at both and great views. Also towns like Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast are worth the visit. Bribie island vs South Stradbroke much of a muchness, and just beyond, it is hard to have a clear winner between 4 wheel driving on Cooloola Beach, Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooloola and the the Noosa Everglades, the iconic Glass House Mountains, and the Tweed/ Byron area with it’s stunning beaches, Mt. Warning and the beautiful rainforest in the area.
English: Glass House Mountains viewed from Mary Cairncross Reserve. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Sunshine Coast is a clear winner with nature.
What the debate boils down to is whether you’re a city person to the core, Gold Coast is your place. If Gold Coast is famous for fun, then that fun is going to wear you out.You’ll need to relax when you come back from your holiday.
If you want a relaxing holiday than Sunshine Coast is your place, there are no clear winners here just what you prefer.
