Travel » Australia

AUSTRALIA

Talk of Australia, and pictures of the Blue mountains, koalas and kangaroos loom large in the mind. But, our recent weeklong visit to the Gold Coast in Queensland changed the whole mental imagery. The alluring Gold Coast is a festival of sunshine, golden beaches and foaming surf.

Voyager – located at Broadbeach a 15 storeyed apartments are architecturally well-designed, ensuring that the first rays of the rising sun are directed into the drawing room, amid the sound of the Pacific waves crashing on the sand. The living room is westerly facing, and opens into a spacious balcony bathed by the cold, refreshing winds.

The 70 km of beaches along the Gold Coast are awesome. The broad expanse of the beach and the white sands are the stuff that beach lovers would die for. Health and fitness buffs throng the shores as early as sunrise, which, at the time we were there, was about 5.15 am. Surfers, with their surfing boards in tow, drive up in their pick-up trucks for an exhilarating and adventurous ride on the friendly waves. Swimmers, too, revel in the cold, blue-green waters, daring to go as deep into the sea as their adventurous spirit would permit. For the fitness-conscious paved tracks alongside the beach offer copious breath of fresh air.

The Gold Coast is a riot of fun in all aspects-land, air and sea. For adrenaline junkies, the theme parks are THE places to be in. At Movie World (a simulation of Hollywood), you can ride with your favourite heroes in Batman Adventure, that comprises two rides, one being a heart-stopping 60m freefall; the thrillingly creative Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster, and last, but hardly the least, Superman Escape, which will make any other roncrcoaster you have ever been on seem like a bumpy train ride at best. The Shrek Adventure is not to be missed; and Lethal Weapon, another ride, will have your feet dangling in mid-air as it swirls you upside down a couple of times.

Sea World, the next theme park we went to, offers you a whale, with shows such as the Sea Lion Show and the D-,Ipbin Show. The Polar Bear Shores bring one face-to-face with bear cubs gambolling underwater. Shark Bay offers a breathtaking sight of sharks majestically cruising in the world's largest manmade lagoon with simulated tropical conditions. Discovery is an oceanarium that is home to dugongs, turtles, starfish, coral reefs and other marine life. Also Sea World are water rides that are designed for adventure like the Bermuda Triangle, the world's greatest mystery, as well those that send your adrenaline rushing like the Corkscrew rollercoaster.

The many beaches on the Gold Coast have their distinctive but are all sunbathed for 300 days of the year. No wonder the annual footfalls to the Gold Coast have touched the four million mark! There are guided tours that you to the beaches as you drive through sugarcane fields, pineapple plantations and pine forests. For those wanting a zentle ride on the waters for a panoramic view of the coastline and skyline, there are waterway cruises. The Wyndham Cruise along the River Nehang, a two-and-a-half-hour ride, takes through the waterways while visiting the entire coast. The sundeck is what most tourists opt for, as you can get an uninterrupted, close up view of the ever changing skyline, with sky-spiking buildings juxtaposed with the imposing villas has of the rich and famous, including Versace's.

As the sun sets, you can experience the changing temperatures, which dip as low as 8°C at night - in stark contrast to the day temperatures which can be a sizzling 28-30°C. With the swing in temperature comes a mood swing, too. From the waters, people, mainly tourists, make their way to the cafes. There are ll cuisines for apalettes: Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Indian and take-away kebab counters. Casinos, reminiscent of Monte Carlo, come alive and throb with vivacity. One cannot talk of Australia without a mention of Sydney. This is the commercial and business hub of the country. Life here is characteristically sombre and matter-of-fact. The weekends are what the city looks forward to, when, after a gruelling and demanding week of work, people look for some respite. The weather is mercurial. It could swing from long spells of cloudy and rainy weather to bright and genial sunlight. And if the weekends are blessed with fair weather, it's off to the Blue Mountains or the Bondi and Marubra beaches! A sunny day just cannot be wasted at home.

All in all, Down Under is a great holiday getaway. The weather is the reverse of that in the northern hemisphere. Winter is from June to August. By December, summer is at its peak, and the heat can be oppressive. So plan well, if you are thinking of a trip to the land of the aborigines and great cricket stars.