Gold Coast: skyscrapers on the ocean

Emerging as an informal beach destination in the 1950s, Gold Coast has grown into one of the few cities in the world where residential high-rises overlook directly onto kilometers of sandy beaches.

A light tram connects the main neighborhoods comfortably along the coast.

Surfers Paradise, the neighborhood with the highest concentration of skyscrapers, owes its name to an advertising stunt from the nineteen-thirties conceived to attract tourists toward what was then only a long isolated beach.

The Q1, at 322 meters tall, was at the time of its completion in 2005 the world's tallest residential building, with an observation deck offering views of both the hinterland and ocean in both directions.

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, a wildlife reserve dedicated to Australian fauna, allows hand-feeding of flocks of wild parrots that spontaneously gather every morning at the park's entrance.

The theme parks in the area, including Dreamworld and Warner Bros. Movie World, have made Gold Coast Australia's capital for roller coasters and theme park entertainment.

The name Surfers Paradise, born from a publicity stunt, ended up defining the identity of the entire city far more than any official urban plan.

From Q1, looking inland, that same strip of skyscrapers appears as an isolated exception against the green of the surrounding Australian coast.