It's the part of Australia's Eastern Seaboard that has endless beaches and surf breaks. Lately, it's also become a desired filming location for blockbuster movies such as Aquaman and Pacific Rim: Uprising, and Thor: Ragnarok. The Gold Coast is indeed golden.

Being originally from America’s Gold Coast and the then infamous Golden Mile in Miami, I was not at first impressed with Queensland’s version. That was when I was a tourist just passing through on my way to Brisbane. Now that I call Australia my homeland, the Gold Coast seems more golden. Maybe because we’ve both matured.

I look for different things in a travel destination now, and the GC offers more than glitz, glamour and gambling. While Surfer’s Paradise might still come first to mind, there are many other as interesting pit stops in which to stay, play and shop yourself stupid.

Read no further if you want GC Tourist Information about theme parks and attractions. You can get that online.

Read on if you want inside OUT trip tales as research for your gay vacation, holiday package, or getaway trip.

Like tempting your tastebuds with wining (on local QLD wines) & dining (on fresh seafood), how not to get burned on the gay (nude) beaches, where to locate gay businesses for your shopping and services, and how to reserve a subtropical rainforest cabin for your stay with friends and family.

Very Gold Coast: I am so there!

If you want a carefree Gold Coast lifestyle experience, you’ll want to stay and play at the peaceful southern end of the Gold Coast near the Coolangatta airport.

The fast pace, active agenda, nightlife and entertainment venues are further north.

The Hinterlands - the beautiful backdrop of the Gold Coast offers arts and crafts boutiques, stunning walks in National Parks, and wine tasting in charming properties.

Stradbroke Island…now there’s a lesbian and gay destination for the memory albums.

We are Family Vacations – If traveling with kids or kids of all ages, the Gold Coast may become your family favorite… The Gold Coast is famous not just for its beachfront accommodation, but also for its theme parks - Movieworld, Dreamworld, Seaworld, White Water World and Wet'n'Wild.

But with or without kids, something you should really do is take a ferry to South Stradbroke Island and go on a guided tour for whale watching and a barbie.