Summer Holiday Tips

Queensland’s Gold Coast is internationally famous for its beaches. We have about a 50km stretch of sun drenched beaches, where the water is warm enough to swim every day of the year. The water at its coldest, in the dead of winter, is around 19° C. So its pretty easy to see why we love our beaches here, and why so many people visit us just to spend a few weeks relaxing on the beach.

Here are some more reasons why our beaches are so popular

For the Surfers

From Duranbah in New South Wales through to The Other Side (TOS) at South Stradbroke Island, we have beach after beach of world class waves to surf. We have some of the most famous reef breaks in the world, with Snapper Rocks and Burleigh Heads constantly producing amazingly long right handers. And it is at these point breaks that we host the first ASP World Championship Tour event, during February - March every year.

If you are a little like me though, and are happy to trade off a small amount of wave quality, for a large amount of the crowds, our beach breaks are just the thing. We have mile after mile after mile of sandy beach breaks. The more famous of these beaches include Kirra and of course Surfers Paradise. Some lessor known beach names include Main Beach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby’s Beach, Tugan and Miami. There is rarely a day where there is an unridden break or two along the magnificent Gold Coast Stretch

Its little wonder this stretch has produced such a host of Aussie surfing champions, including the current aspiring World Champions, Mick Fanning, Parko and Dean Morrison.

For the Swimmers and Tanners

The Gold Coast Weather combined with the temperate water temperature makes our beaches ideal for swimming and tanning all year round. Sure, sometimes it gets a bit “nippy” here in winter, but it is a rarer July and August (June - August are winter in the Southern Hemisphere) not to see people tanning on the beach, than to see them there. The beautiful 20 - 24° C days of sitting in the sun in the middle of winter are the rule, not the exception.

And then there is our our ocean water temperature. As an example, I have been very warm swimming, one chilly night when the outside temperature was only 6° C, in just a pair of shorts. The water was still a beautiful 20° C. I have to admit though, it was a bit of a mad dash to the car once I was finished…

With 10 - 20 metres of sand from the water to the street, on most Gold Coast beaches, tanning, running, surfing, swimming, kitesurfing and all manner of beach activity become such a pleasure. Further, many local counsels have installed picnic areas, and beach volleyball competitions are a frequent sight. It is little wonder our beaches in themselves have become one of Australia’s premier tourist attractions.



By: Damian Papworth

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Malta is a tiny country located along the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Europe.

Malta is a prime spot for holiday travellers because of its rich heritage and many enticing attractions that draw people from all over the world. Malta experienced a great increase in the number of holiday visitors it received in 2007, reaching about 1,300,000 visitors. These guests were mainly from the countries of Scandinavia, Ireland and Britain.

This is great news for a country that depends heavily on tourist expenditures as a source of income. With a whopping 6 per cent increase in sales in 2007 over the past year, things are looking just as promising for the 2008 projection of sales. So, what is it about Malta that attracts so many visitors? Let’s take a look at some of the countries highlights.

For the Nightlife Traveller

Partying in the Mediterranean is an experience not many people want to miss. The country hosts popular stars who perform concerts for eager listeners, with attractions such as Elton John, Sting and others. The night clubs and restaurants are some of the top-rated places to visit in the world. If dancing is not your scene, perhaps you would enjoy the bustling casinos or vivacious theater shows. There is definitely no shortage of adventure with the Malta nightlife.

For the Sports Nut

Malta’s climate makes it easy to enjoy the outdoor life immensely. Sea sports are huge in Malta, including scuba diving in crystal clear waters, sailing, water skiing and wind surfing, among others. The Marsa Sports Club, the largest sports center in Malta, has opportunities for tennis enthusiasts, as well as squash, cricket and golf participants. Another favorite sport in Malta is horseback riding.

For the History Buff

For a small country, Malta is teeming with history and culture. There are many attractions to see, including the Museum of Archaeology where you can catch a glimpse of prehistoric artifacts. Ggantija is a popular attraction, as it is the oldest freestanding temple left in the world. You can see historical re-enactments, as well as multimedia presentations that give you the scoop on Malta’s history in less than an hour. With so much history in Malta, you can find yourself viewing relentless dungeons from the medieval era and walking through romantic and fragrant gardens.

It is no wonder that Malta makes such a great holiday destination. It is alive and welcoming. It presents so much to do and can fit the interests of any visitor easily. Malta jumps at the chance to show off its stuff and should see a continuing rise in the number of tourists that come to visit. So, when will you be arriving?



By: Roger Munns

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