Bi Coastal...
As I remember Peter (They still call Australia home) Allen used to
say...he’s Bi-Coastal! L. A. and New York...Guess that’s me also not Los Angeles
and New York exactly but bi-coastal meaning the north and south coasts of
Brisbane.
I now live on the Gold Coast of Queensland but used to live two hours north
on the Sunshine Coast and still have connections there hence the bi-coastal
bit!
Both are equally attractive. Beautiful beaches and a busy cafe culture,
restaurants and night life. Maybe more the Gold Coast for night life..if that’s
what appeals.. but are both equally attractive.
When I lived on the Sunshine Coast my latest house was beachfront and I
mean beach frontage. Just a brief walk out the back gate and on the beach. It
was wonderful of course but always at the back of my mind come cyclone season
was exactly that...cyclones! The last one was in the early 1980’s and a long
time ago but locals always said it will happen again...oh it will happen and
with so much housing built where there was no housing years ago I always
wondered.
Maybe silly to worry about such things I know but when those things hit
they certainly hit! Also usually they don’t travel this far south...but as I say
they have done.
So for the last twelve years or so now I have lived on the Gold Coast in an
apartment building with pools..one inside one outside. Large gardens that
someone else has to look after plus they clean the pool. That was always a big
job the daily pool cleaning as trees backed on to the property and leaves were a
daily chore.
Mental note (to anyone) NEVER either build a pool or buy a house with a
pool that’s near trees! Not that is if you want to spend a great deal of the
time cleaning it. I love trees and they look wonderful but....
The difference between the two coasts is a fairly big one. The Gold Coasts
population is around six hundred thousand plus and known for its many high rise
apartment buildings. It is the sixth largest and is said to be the fastest
growing city in Australia. It has the top three fastest growing suburbs in the
country as well. There is a very good transport system a new light rail or tram
you would call it. That connects to the heavy rail and can be In Brisbane less
than an hour away. Many shopping centres. I could go to a different one every
week for quite a few months or so if I wanted to but I always prefer Pacific
Fair at Broadbeach. I would recommend that it’s always enjoyable...even just for
grocery shopping. Good shopping and great atmosphere.
The green behind the gold of the Gold Coast is always a pleasure to explore
with magical walks to waterfalls and tropical rainforests. There is a casino...if
that’s your thing...not really mine. We do go really to watch the money
being passed across the tables to the croupiers. I have no idea what some of
these people must do as many seem to have hundreds of dollars of notes in their
pockets. I always look in amazement. They scream and yell when they win and if
they lose slide discreetly either out of the room or to yet another table.
The Sunshine Coast is equally beautiful in it’s natural beauty. Less people
but growing rapidly with a population of around three hundred and forty
thousand. I guess Mooloolaba/Caloundra and Noosa are the most well known
destinations. Some equally good shopping centres, beautiful beaches of
course the same coffee culture and restaurants. Noosa is known as the “trendy”
place. Everyone from the southern states knows something about Noosa. Either
they have holidayed there at one stage..known someone who lives there or have a
holiday place there.
The Bruce highway can be a problem when it’s holiday period and we always
time our journeys from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast by leaving in the
mornings just after the morning rush. On return making completely sure we
travel early afternoon before the afternoon/evening rush of workers leaving
Brisbane to return home to either coasts.
I always have many mixed emotions when on the Sunshine Coast though beautiful it holds many happy and many sad memories. I lived there with my
Parents and they have both since passed on. I had businesses there, some good
some not so good, also a business partnership I would rather forget but I
shouldn’t let that spoil my memories of happy times spent on the coast and the
really good people I met along the way.
I would say if anyone is thinking of visiting from another state of
Australia, or from overseas, take the time to visit both coasts as well as
Brisbane city of course on the way through. Between the two you certainly wont
be disappointed and maybe even want to stay like so many others have
done....including myself!
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