One
of the first questions my overseas visitors ask me about the beaches on
the Gold Coast is "What about the sharks?"
Well
there has not been a fatal shark attack on the patrolled Gold Coast
surfing beaches since 1958.
The Queensland
Department of Primary Industries carries out the
Queensland Shark Control Program [SCP] to protect swimmers from sharks.
This
is just another good reason to only swim within the protected areas [
between the yellow flags]. Just about all beaches on the Gold Coast
are protected by lifeguards during the day.
Bathing
between the yellow flags ensures that you are entering the water where
there are no dangerous currents and you are being watched by
Australia's largest professional surf lifesaving service. As boats, jet
skis and surfboard riders are not allowed within the yellow flag area,
you won't run the risk of being run over by a surfboard or boat.
Probably
the most dangerous hazard on the beach is the sun. Many people believe
that they can remain in the sun untill they feel that they
have had too much exposure. In truth usually you won't feel the adverse
effects of a sunburn untill the evening after sunbathing; that is long
after the damage is done. To avoid the pain and skin damage from a
sunburn make sure to use a good protective sunscreen and reaply it
if you have entered the water.
Get used to the sun
gradually - spend less than an hour in the sun, in
the early mornings for a few days and gradually extend the time of
exposure.
The Gold Coast
coastline is home to some of the most popular surf breaks in
Australia including, South Stradbroke Island, The Spit, Main Beach,
Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami,
Burleigh Beach, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Beach, Palm Beach,
Currumbin Beach, Tugun, Bilinga, Kirra, Coolangatta, Greenmount,
Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and Froggies Beach. Duranbah beach is one of
the world's best known surfing beaches and is often thought of as being
part of Gold Coast City, but is actually just across the New South
Wales state border in Tweed Shire.
There are
also beaches along many of the Gold Coast's 860km of navigable tidal
waterways. Popular inland beaches include Southport, Budds Beach,
Marine Stadium, Currumbin Alley, Tallebudgera Estuary, Jacobs Well,
Jabiru Island, Paradise Point, Harley Park Labrador, Santa Barbara,
Boykambil and Evandale Lake.
