It would be practically impossible to think of a holiday, without indulging in a little retail therapy, and if you have to come a shopper’s paradise like Gold Coast, there is no way you can leave without at least a few bags. With cars for rental, Gold Coast becomes easy enough to traverse.

Now, when you come to the Gold Coast, you really need to think about and plan your shopping trips, because there is simply too much for you to choose from. Perhaps, the first thing you should do when you get into town is get yourself Gold Coast car rentals. This way, not only will you be able to get to all the places you want to visit, but also get your purchases back to your hotel.

As mentioned before, the choices on the Gold Coast are extensive and these range from high-end shopping to local markets. It is up to you where you want to shop and what you want to shop for. The local markets include those held at Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach and Coolangatta. Other popular markets include Tamborine Mountain, Robina Town Centre, Canungra Country Market, Paradise Point Art and Craft Market.

With cars for hire, Gold Coast shopping can be much more fun, because you can shuttle from branded shopping to street side, with ease. Perhaps one of the first places you should head to is the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, which is home to some of the best retailers in the country. You can find almost anything and everything you need, under this roof and at reasonable rates as well. If at any point of time, you feel hungry or thirsty, there are several restaurants, bars and cafes.

The Oasis Shopping Centre is another place, worth visiting, because here you will find over 100 stores, which deal in specialty products. You will be able to find gifts to take back home, latest trends and fashion, including clothes and accessories as well as a supermarket. The best thing about this place is that you will also find a range of services, such as a bank, a post office and salon.

If you want a slightly more stylish shopping experience, then Harbour Town is the place for you. This is where you will find all the big brands, including, end of season lines of renowned designers. The shopping center also boasts of the country’s premier purpose built outlet shopping experience.

By: Michael Ed Jones

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The Gold Coast 600 is gearing up to be a massive motor sport event for Australia and the area. Formally an Indy Car event, it has made the switch to a V8 endurance race, making it the third endurance race for the Supercar Championship Series in Australia.

With the Gold Coast 600 being a more family friendly event when compared to previous events, quality family accommodation will be hard to come by and rates will be at a premium.

However, there are ways to save on accommodation during the Gold Coast 600. The most logical solution is to travel with other families and stay in one house that can accommodate all your needs.

There is a range of holiday homes to choose from that are in close proximity to the track area, but far enough away to escape the crowds and noise so you can enjoy other aspects of the Coast. The two more popular areas for family holiday homes are Broadbeach Waters and Surfers Paradise.

Many of the holiday homes are waterfront with private jetties, allowing you to catch a water taxi to and from the event without the hassle of driving in traffic, parking, walking with kids or being concerned if you want to enjoy a few beverages at the event.

Our two picks for family accommodation at the Gold Coast 600 include:

Villa Sunrise – Surfers Paradis – A riverfront home located in Surfers Paradise that has amazing vistas of the Surfers Paradise city skyline. Perfect for families or couples travelling together, you will be only a few minutes’ walk into the heart of all the Gold Coast 600 action, or take a water taxi from your private pontoon for a different view of the city

Furlong – Broadbeach Waters – A 5 bedroom waterfront holiday home in Broadbeach Waters. This is the perfect location for taking in the Gold Coast and still being convenient to the race track by taxi or water taxi. This holiday home is full of remarkable features that will allow you to rest and recharge your batteries after an amazing day taking in the excitement of the Gold Coast 600.

By: Bradley J Davis

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The Gold Coast, located in the southeast Queens land, is Australia’s leading Golf holidays destination. With World Heritage rainforests, international nightlife and casino, 7 miles of golden beaches, shopping and theme parks- it is a stylish and world class holiday destination.The Gold Coast Golf, situated in the sub-tropical area of the southern hemisphere enjoys the sunshine and warmth all year round. Contrary to the Northern hemisphere seasons, Australian seasons have the average temperature of 25 degree Celsius in summers and 15-degree Celsius in winters. You can expect more than 300 days of sunshine every year, thus, making the Gold cost the most reliable golf playgrounds.

A clean coastline spread over miles, lots of adventure and fun, excellent cuisine and verdant vicinity – the Sunshine coast golf is one of the ultimate holiday destinations of the Queensland. Beginning from Caloundra, the coast extends to Cooloola, surrounded by the Blackall Range, Mary Valley, Glass House Mountains and Noosa Hinterland. It will be unfair to complete the description of sunshine coast without mentioning the golf course. The combination of wonderful golf courses and immense beauty makes this coast an ideal destination for golf lovers.You can get exclusive Golf Packages at the sunshine coast, one of the best holiday destinations for an individual, group and family. While you enjoy playing Golf, you can keep your children busy with canoeing, visiting attractions, fishing or wandering the markets. There are various travel agencies offering interesting golf tours understanding your needs and desire.

The most exclusive golfing packages at Sunshine Coast are easily available at a reasonable price. In fact, you can even select the golf course of your choice. Few golf courses at Sunshine include Hyatt Regency Coolum Golf Course, Mount Coolum Golf Club, Twin Waters Golf Course, Headland Golf Club, Noosa Springs Country Club etc

Make sure to check websites for the last minute travel deals on a golfing package. There are many sites offering more than 50 percent off for the people booking golfing packages last minute. Never assume that you will always get lucky and strike a lucrative travel deal last minute. Some areas and regions are booked during peak seasons. Compare the prices between the courses that you would like to play. Sunshine coast has many public golf courses and good resorts that help you to experience true Golf holidays. The tropical climate allows the golf players to enjoy their game all year round.

The Above par golf tours specialize in golf tours gaining its roots in the Gold Coast, Australia. The main objective is to offer its clients with the finest possible and the most customized golf experience. One of the advantages it has is the local base making it a perfect location to stay connected to the potential market. As they are not diversified tour operators, it gives them an edge over the other operators in their quotations and mission.

By: Piter Smith

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The Gold Coast is one of the most visited tourist site in Australia and also globally. It is a unique holiday destination as it has the slow pace of relaxing and peaceful beaches as well as the hustle and bustle of the city where there are a lot of options for entertainment. The Gold Coast accommodation also offers a range of options with beachfront resorts, self contained apartments, hotels as well as motels. There is luxury as well as nominally priced accommodation options.

Surrounding the Gold Coast on the south is the exotic Kingscliff beach and on the north is a rural town Beenleigh. The beautiful beaches Surfers paradise as well as the Broadbeach is centrally located. There are so many activities going on the Gold coast that there is never a dull moment. This place is apt for family holidays with accommodation options to suit all pockets.

Main beach is the best location for the tourists to put up as it is well connected to all other tourist sites. This is also one of the best places to start off your tour with. This beach has patrolled beaches, excellent options for shopping like the shopping centers and the local malls, parks where you can relax and the variety of food joints like the cafes, restaurants, bistros situated all along the Tedder Avenue. For accommodation, the Main Beach has a range of rooms available in different configurations like Gold Coast resorts, hostels, hotels, motels and apartments. There are a lot of fun and entertainment activities happening on the Main beach. To enjoy these entire things one must book the Gold Coast holiday accommodation in advance.

There are self contained apartments which are apt for large families. These apartments are fully furnished and have everything that you need. The whole family can stay together just as they do in their own home. These apartments are available in all range of prices. Apart from these there are a lot of five star hotels. The hotels offer a lot more facilities than the apartments. These hotels have swimming pools and bars which are open 24 x 7. But the apartments have a lot more privacy. All these accommodation options offer value for money. There are 4.5 star hotels having access to three lagoon pools as well as theme parks. These are much cheaper than the five star hotels but have most of the facilities that are offered by the five star hotels.

Other accommodation options are cabins, on site cottages, camping sites and caravans. These are very affordable and have a very good view of the sea. All these accommodation options are very near to the famous attractions of Gold Coast like the Sea world which has a very popular theme park. The other attractions are the Sea bay which provides a peak at the ocean inhabitants. One can also go for scuba diving and snorkeling here. The main attraction though is the dolphin show which is absolutely marvelous. So, to enjoy the beauty of Gold Coast it is better to book your accommodation in advance. There are numerous online sites who offer these services. Check out their websites to find out about their offers and get the best deal for your holiday.

By: Alon Farnendo

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Gold Coast is a coastal city and is a part of the state of Queensland, Australia. For as long as we can remember, this city has been a high profile vacation getaway for Australian locals and travellers from all over the planet. The city has made ample arrangements for accommodations for visitors and has an option for everyone. We’ve done some extensive research on options for holiday accommodations in the city in Gold Cost. Here’s all that we came up with;

Gold Coast Accommodations – The Fun in Backpacking: Backpackers move in and out of the city all year long. As a backpacker, if you want a budget accommodation in the city you will be able to find one in the Surfers Paradise. Other than that, there are a number of backpacker hostels in South Port, Coolangatta as well as South Port that will offer you dorm beds for nothing more than $20 a night.

Gold Coast Accommodations – Staying at a Motel: Inexpensive motels can be found all along the city highway. Most of them are clustered in Miami, Labrador, Palm Beach, Labrador and Tweed Heads. Single rooms for two are available for $60 to $70 and double rooms are available for $80 to $90. Gold Coast witnesses a rush of tourists during peak summers and is a time when most motels in the vicinity hike their prices.

Motels that are further away from the Surfers paradise are relatively cheaper.

Gold Coast Accommodations – Apartments: More than hotels, people travelling to this city prefer to stay in Apartments. Here are some details:

A two-bedroom apartment in and around Surfers paradise will coast you around $150 per night ($300 and above in case you are travelling to Gold Coast on peak summers). Most of them are available for stay for not less than 3 to 5 days. Unlike round-the-clock reception hours in hotels, reception hours in apartments are limited.

Inside Facilities – Kitchen, Separate Bedrooms, Bath Linen and general everyday accessories.

Outside Facilities – Gym, Swimming pool and other resort facilities.

General Hotel Accommodations: Along with several mid-range hotels, Canberra is home to a few 5-star hotels as well such as Marriot and Crown Plaza. Surfing is the most important reason that tourists visit the city. You need to know that most hotel accommodations are located in Surfers paradise as well as Broad Beach. If you are a surfer, we recommend you stay near these two locations. The accommodations will be a bit expensive but will be more convenient. On the contrary, if you just want to enjoy the sun you may stay at an accommodation of your choice near the beach anywhere in Gold Coast.

By: Alon Farnendo

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When you book your Gold Coast accommodation, you might want to consider the hassle of having to wait or call for a taxi to take you to the places you may want to go to. Finding the right car from one of the numerous Gold Coast Car Rentals that are associated with your rented accommodation is often pretty easy. When you rent a vehicle that you can either drive or one that has a driver, you can go to spots you wish to see or restaurants to want to dine in without having to wait too long to go to and from your choice venue.

Your Car Rental Choices

When in the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia, you may want to check with your local car rental specialists for the many different kinds of vehicles they might have available for your use. There are economy cars and compact cars you can rent for your vacation here that are often self-driven. There are also family size cars and even vans for those people who often vacation in large groups. These many vehicle choices are made available due to the many different needs vacationers have. If you are a solo person on vacation, you might want to get a compact vehicle to take you around the area. If you are with your family, a full sized vehicle or family sized sedan might suit your needs more.

Different Car Rental Rates

Depending on the kind of vehicle you might want to rent, rates can vary from a low $25 per day for a three door compact car to $39 per day for a four door family sedan. Some rates include an unlimited kilometre use of the vehicle, and start of usage may be from the time you land at the airport or from the time you have the vehicle delivered to your Gold Coast Apartment or whatever accommodations you have in Queensland. Additional options for your rented vehicle may include baby seats or baby boosters and even a navigation unit. These additional items can be had at an extra cost of a few dollars per day or a fixed cost for the whole duration of your use of the vehicle. You should also note that the vehicles you rent are often subjected to a minimum number of days of use before you can rent them. There are sometimes Gold Coast car rentals that stipulate a mandatory 7-day rental of the vehicles, and payment is sometimes asked for upon reservation.

Vehicle Availability

If you need a vehicle of a certain type for your stay in the Gold Coast, you may need to book your vehicles in advance or ask for a reservation of the kind of vehicle you will need. There may be times when the car you want is in demand, and units are hard to come by if you book these at the last minute. This is often true for those peak vacation seasons when people flock to Queensland for special occasions or events. You may need to ask your travel agent to book your rental car along with your travel plans to ensure availability of the car you want.

By: Beverly Maniago

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What does the Gold Coast have to offer?

The Gold Coast has absolutely everything a family could need for the perfect holiday.

Great stretches of golden sands and rolling waves as the Pacific Ocean greets Queenslands playground – the Gold Coast. World famous beaches such as Surfers Paradise, Palm Beach, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach, Mermaid Waters, Nobby Beach and not to forget the beautiful South Stradbroke Island.

How to get to the Gold Coast

The Gold coast is easily accessible by air, with major airports at Coolangatta (at the southern end of the Gold Coast strip) and Brisbane. Brisbane is only 1 hours drive north of the Gold Coast. There is plenty of parking and things to do, so hire a car at the Gold Coast and be free to see the sights.

Shopping

Shop til you drop! Enjoy the leafy walkways and lakeside restaurants at Pacific Fair – one of Australia’s largest shopping centres. At Marina Mirage, overlooking the magnificent Broadwater, you’ll find local designer and imported fashions and accessories and enjoy casual dining, cafes and art galleries. If you are in Broadbeach, you can’t miss the Oasis Shopping Centre right in the heart of the fabulous dining precinct. Surfers Paradise and its famous Cavill Avenue is just as much Shoppers Paradise with a wide range of shopping centres, boutique lined boulevards and duty free stores. Cavill Mall is a must-see when you’re in Surfers. Dozens of cafes, eateries and bars to cater to all tastes and budgets.

There are also a wide and varied selection of markets to choose from including the Carrara Markets – the biggest markets in the southern hemisphere, offering great crafts, food, leather goods, novelties, books and rides. There are beachfront markets at Surfers Paradise every Friday night between 5:30 and 10pm. There are also markets at Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Coolangatta, Jimboomba and Tambourine Mountain.

Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is undoubtedly the theme park capital of Queensland. Dreamworld, the largest theme park in the southern hemisphere boasts 11 themed worlds of fun. Don’t miss Warner Brothers Movie World where the magic of screen comes alive. Sea World is a favourite with the delightful friendly marine life. For more hands on, take the plunge on Wet’n'Wild’s speed slide. Less famous but just as much fun are the smaller theme parks such as Ripley’s Believe it or not Cable Ski World, Frozen World, and numerous family amusement arcades.

Conrad Jupiters Casino

For entertainment without the kids, you can’t go past Conrad Jupiters Casino. A trip to the Gold Coast would not be complete without the excitement of a visit to this world famous casino. Open 24 hours with two floors of gaming tables, a high rollers room, fabulous live shows and a host of bars and themed restaurants, it is definitely worth a visit.

Nature’s Wonderland

For peace and nature lovers, don’t miss the Gold Coast. Follow the roads inland just a few kilometers from the beaches and a magical world unfolds. Don’t miss Lamington National Park, Mount Tamborine or the green mountains of O’Reilly’sEnjoy the tropical rainforests, mountain villages and other hidden treasures of the Gold Coast’s hinterland. Experience the natural beauty on one of the national park’s many walking tracks. These include Witches Falls, Border Rangers, Lamington, Mt Warning, Nightcap and Springbrook National Parks. All National Parks in the hinterland area offer maps to guide you on their walking tracks, which are designed for all levels of fitness. In addition, many day tour companies have guided walks through the rainforest with visits to natural swimming holes.

Don’t miss the largest collection of native animals in the world at Currumbin Sanctuary. Have your photo taken with a koala, feed the colourful lorikeets, walk among the kangaroos, see the fresh water crocodiles or come face to face with the Tasmanian devil – all in their natural environment.

Gold Coast Accommodation

Gold Coast apartments, Gold Coast hotels, Gold Coast resorts…whatever type of accommodation you are looking for you will find it. From the excitement and buzz of Surfers Paradise, to the peace and beauty of Palm Beach, you will find accommodation at the Gold Coast to suit your lifestyle and budget.

Remember to take out travel insurance if you think that you may, for health or other reasons, be unable to travel to your holiday of a lifetime.

By: Rebecca Greg

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The moment you think of a holiday on the Gold Coast, you might start imagining yourself walking down tree-lined avenues with loads of shopping bags. Somewhere, in the middle of that daydream, you might start wishing that things would be so much better, if you had a car to lug all your shopping back to your hotel. In case, you have already done your research there is a strong chance that car rental in Gold Coast Australia, might pop up in your head, and all your tensions about getting from one place to another will be averted.

The sheer range of things you can buy on the Gold Coast is impressive and exhaustive; you might want to be a little careful with your credit card! There are not only designer boutiques, but also almost every brand name you have ever heard of as well as smaller markets, where you can pick up things created by locals. Rent a car in Gold Coast and you will actually be able to get to most of these places, without much of a struggle.

However, the best part of shopping on the Gold Coast is not the variety, but the fact that you can shop in accordance with your likes and needs. This means that shopping is open all days of the week and until late hours. Since parking is in abundance, you will be able to find parking for your Gold Coast airport car hire, with ease.

While you will be able to find big brands like Gucci, Prada, Fendi and Louis Vuitton with ease, you really should try visiting the local and weekend markets. These markets can be found across the length and breadth of the Gold Coast and are ideal places for you to spend a lazy afternoon.

When you are planning a visit to the local markets, you will not have to carry anything with you, because you will find everything here. If you are thirsty, you will find fine wines, from vineyards across the country. For the slight hunger pangs, you will be able to find fresh fruits, organic vegetables, delicious cheeses and freshly prepared bakery items. Kids will not have a moment to get bored, because there will be several toys on sale, to keep them happy and excited.

However, if you are in the mood for some typical retail style shopping, there are several places, which will meet your expectations. Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, The Oasis Shopping Centre, Paradise Centre, Harbour Town, Marina Mirage and Australia Fair are some of the places to find good deals and often, bargains.

By: Michael Ed Jones

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Queensland’s Gold Coast is situated in the south east corner of Queensland about an hour’s drive from Brisbane. Also known as Surfers Paradise the Gold Coast has grown into one of Australia’s largest regional cities and offers something for everyone.

Of course the theme parks still provides loads of fun for the kids and the beaches cater for surfers to families. And don’t forget Whale Watching!

Gold Coast International Airport has flights to New Zealand and some Asian destinations. The domestic airport flies out to most major Australian destinations.

Best beaches on the Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise
Close to everything is the best way to describe Surfers Paradise. Don’t be concerned about crowds though there is 3km of beach to share! This beach has all the amenities and shops nearby and you can hire surf and body boards or even get a surf lesson.

A word of warning though avoid Surfers Paradise in December. This is when all the school leavers from Queensland and New South Wales visit. Best waiting till they go.

Broadbeach

Kurrawa Beach at Broadbeach is a real family favourite. Grab the footy or Frisbee and get everyone off their towels for some fun. Kurrawa is known to be a little unpredictable so check the Surf Life savers board when you get down there. There’s loads of shady spots and fantastic playground equipment for the little ones. Kurrawa Beach is close to shops and accommodation which makes Broadbeach an excellent base to explore the rest of the Gold Coast.

Snapper Rocks

Once known as a premier fishing spot Snapper Rocks is now famous as one of Australia’s top surfing beaches. Snapper Rocks is not patrolled so it’s not really suitable swimmers. If you love getting on the board though Snapper is for you.

Main Beach

Despite it’s name Main Beach at the northern end of the Gold Coast is in fact one of the quieter beaches. This makes Main Beach ideal for families. Whilst it doesn’t attract the crowds like the other beaches Main Beach has all the amenities including playground equipment and BBQ facilities. Why not have lunch at the Southport Surf Club. Given it’s proximity to all the Theme parks Main Beach is a great spot to head to after visiting places such as Seaworld which is nearby.

Rainbow Bay

My favourite! Between Greenmount Hill and Snapper Rocks you will find the magical Rainbow Bay. This beach really has something for everyone. Popular with surfers there is loads of room for families to stretch out as well. Make sure you take the walk from the beach to Greemount Hill and Point Danger lookout. There are magnificent views of the coastline and Surfers Paradise.

Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is home to the most well known theme parks in Australia. Here’s a taste:

Dreamworld

Once a meek and mild theme park for the little ones Dreamworld is now the home for adrenalin junkies. Rides such as The Claw, The Tower of Terror and the Big Drop make Dreamworld a favourite for the older kids. Not to be outdone though there’s Wiggleworld and Nickelodean Central for the little ones.

SeaWorld

This is my favourite of all the Gold Coast theme parks. Check out all kinds of marine life, water shows, 4-d movies and great rides. The star attraction at the moment however is Australia’s only polar bears Liya and Nelson.

Australian Outback Spectacular

The Australian Outback Spectacular has grown into one of the most popular attractions on the Gold Coast. This is a great family night out and a chance to learn something about our country’s tradition and culture. There are numerous animals brought into the arena and the show can be quite interactive. A three course meal and a great stockman’s hat to keep is more than worth the money.

Other Theme parks
Warner Bros Movieworld
Wet’n Wild
WhiteWater World
Currumbin Bird Sanctuary
Adrenalin Park
Adventure Parc

Gold Coast Hinterland

Where and what

Just 30 minutes from the bustling coastal strip is the magnificent Gold Coast hinterland. Here is a pick of my favourite spots:

Canungra township
Springbrook National Park – including the Natural Bridge
Tamborine Mountain’s Gallery Walk
Tamborine National Park
the wineries trail and
Lamington National Park, home to Binna Burra and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

When

Summer is the time to go with temperatures cooler than the coast.

Walks

The canopy walkway suspended high among the trees at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
The Border Track bushwalk between Binna Burra and O’Reilly’s (experienced trekkers only)
Another high-rise thrill at the Adventure Parc at Cedar Creek with a whole series of treetop walks
The bushwalk through Joalah at Mt Tamborine, only a short distance from the tourist shopping hub of Gallery Walk.

Types of Hinterland accommodation

Bed and breakfast
Mountain villas
Rainforest lodges
Camping and campervan sites
Self-contained
Resorts
Hotels and motels
Farm stays

You really need at least 3-4 days to explore the Gold Coast or why not consider some of the more relaxed beaches around Coolangatta on the southern end of the coast and spend a whole week or more doing very little!

By: Michael McGarry

About the Author:

First of all, I will tell give you a little bit of background information on the Gold Coast Property Market and Gold Coast itself.

Gold Coast is a city in Queensland, Australia. It is the second most populated city in the State and the sixth most populated city in the whole of Australia. It has a population of over 550,000 people.

It is well known for it’s sunny, subtropical climate, the average maximum average temperature is 25.0 degrees centigrade or 77 Fahrenheit. The minimum is 15.3 centigrade and 60 Fahrenheit. This weather makes it perfect for surfers and there are so many popular beaches, not only for surfers, but for those who want to enjoy the tropical sunshine. These include Southport, Paradise Point and Santa Barbara along its 57km of coastline. Not only that, but there is 860km of navigable tidal waterways, and along these, there are also many beaches.

Gold Coast has a very active nightlife and a huge variety of different tourist attractions, it boasts no less than five major theme parks as well as well as the internationally renowned surf beaches.

It is no wonder that the Gold Coast property market is on the increase. It is easily accessible, from both Brisbane (80km) and Sydney (957km) on the motorways, and you can drive, fly or even get a coach easily from any of the major towns and cities.

When visiting you will notice that the skyline is primarily dominated by many high rise apartments and other buildings. These were initially developed in the 1970′s, when the real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics. At first, the high-rise buildings were largely only in the area which is now known as Surfer’s Paradise, but are now widely spread and well known in the property market. However, the Gold Coast property market is now booming massively, and so many developments are coming about every day!

There are worse places you could buy property. The property market is now bigger than ever, and is getting bigger by the day! New developments are being built, and more established properties are becoming widely available. Not only that but the Gold Coast property market is now holding record prices, making it easier than ever to get on the property ladder.

The property market is now becoming Australia’s fastest developing market, so it makes sense to jump in now while you still have the chance!

By: Andy Allen

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