Built for pleasure with a lifestyle dedicated to sun, surf and the body beautiful, the Gold Coast is Australia’s most iconic holiday destination. It’s the best of both worlds: all the urban pace of high-rises with a glittering nightlife, balanced by pristine beaches, surf breaks, epic sunsets, natural hinterlands, perfect temps and more than 300 days of sunshine a year.

The Gold Coast is a very special place with very special people – and very special experiences. From balancing between the lifestyle of a beach town to all the hustle of a small city, we’ve captured all the unique elements that show you’re a genuine Coastie through and through.

LEGIT, YOU’RE FROM THE GOLD COAST WHEN…

• You have to create a translation guide to the Gold Coast for non-Gold Coast visitors (this definitely includes anyone north of Ormeau and south of Tweed):

• You know where Kirra is, even if Australia Post has relabelled it to Coolangatta.
• You will always run into someone you know. Always. If you don’t know them, they’re from out of town.
• It’s perfectly acceptable to wander around in your active wear, bikini or boardies. You actually consider it dressing up when you wear a cardi or thongs. But not uggies – cos that’s so Beaudesert.

• You throw a chopstick and it lands in a Sushi Train.
• Montezuma’s Coolangatta, Elephant Rock Café and Charlie’s Café & Bar will always hold affectionate places in your heart, cos they were the first places your parents let you hang out as a preteen without them.
• You had the first decent coffee in your life at Zarraffas.
• You’ve never been to Dracula’s #sorry
• You know the freshest fish on the coast – especially for Christmas and Easter – comes from PKG Seafood.
• You love The Kitchens at Robina Town Centre because it indulges all your Master Chef wannabe inclinations.
• The Convention Centre, Pac Fair and Turf Club feature at least once in your yearly calendar.

• You know that Ashmore Road is not even in Ashmore.
• You always slow down driving across Palm Beach-Currumbin and Tallebudgera Creek bridges. Because. Epically. Scenic.
• When you’re on the M1 Motorway and taking the turnoff for Tugun, you instinctively look up at Billabong’s Gordon Merchant’s hilltop property. And you always point it out to visitors. Every single time.
• You always end up on Burleigh Hill for surfing, working on your tan, dates, picnic-ing, people watching, grabbing a Rick Shores Lobster Roll or Cold Rock Ice Cream – even though you know it’s always chockas AF.
• You avoid parking near the trees in Burleigh or Coolangatta around sunset. Because. All them lorikeets.
• You sprint between Duranbah, Greenmount Beach and Rainbow Bay for the perfect wave rather than racing up to Currumbin Alley or Burleigh. Because. Paying for parking.

• Sunrises are no longer a big deal, because it’s just the start of another perfect day (and not at all the walk of shame) #notatall
• You dis-associate yourself with Brisbane (even though it’s the capital city of your state), but you’re perfectly fine to make Byron Bay, GC inclusive. Because. Earth n Sea Pizza.

• Or when they’re at Pac Fair staring around with open mouths because shopping alfresco is brand new and shiny.
• Or when they’re just really pale and wearing weird stylish clothes.
• You get confused which side to barrack for at State of Origin – well, no you don’t: Queensland wins every year and you only go for winners.
• You will never get your head around daylight savings. Ever. Except when it’s your birthday and New Years. Because. Celebrating twice.
• It’s perfectly ok for you to trash the GC, but not for anyone else – especially if they don’t live here. Because. Gold Coast is the best place on earth.