kids encyclopedia robot

Surfers Paradise, Queensland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Surfers Paradise
Gold Coast CityQueensland
Surfers Paradise, QLD skyline.jpg
Viewed from Broadwater
Population 19,668 (2011 census)
Established 1933
Postcode(s) 4217
Location 78 km (48 mi) from Brisbane
LGA(s) City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s) Surfers Paradise
Federal Division(s) Moncrieff
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall
25 °C
77 °F
17 °C
63 °F
1,258 mm
49.5 in
Suburbs around Surfers Paradise:
Southport Main Beach Pacific Ocean
Bundall Surfers Paradise Pacific Ocean
Broadbeach Waters Broadbeach Pacific Ocean




StateLibQld 2 191855 Estate map for Pacific Ocean Estate, Southport, 1915
Estate map for Pacific Ocean Estate, north of Elkhorn Avenue, 1915
Main entrance to the beach
Gold Coast, 2015
Surfers Paradise beach, January 2015




In 1925, Brisbane hotelier Jim Cavill opened the Surfers Paradise Hotel located on what would later become the site of the Surfers Paradise Centre which incorporates the Surfers Paradise Beer Garden and Hard Rock Cafe. In opening the hotel and neighbouring zoo, Cavill created the first attraction in the suburb. Located between the ferry jetty and the white surf beach off the South Coast Road, it became popular and shops and services sprang up around it. In the following years Cavill pushed to have the name Elston changed to Surfers' Paradise. The suburb was officially renamed on 1 December 1933 after the local council felt the Surfers Paradise name was more marketable. In July 1936 Cavill's timber hotel burnt to the ground and was rebuilt the following year.

A development boom followed in the 1950s and 1960s. The first highrise in Surfers Paradise was erected in 1959 and was named the Kinkabool. The Kinkabool stood 10-stories high and remains to this day in Hanlan Street. Many tall apartment buildings were constructed in the decades that followed, including the iconic buildings included the Iluka, St Tropez and The Pink Poodle. The boom later saw strong Japanese investment in the 1980s.



Heritage listings



Surfers Paradise is fronted to the east by the Surfers Paradise Foreshore, a rejuvenated public space that fronts Surfers Paradise Beach and the Pacific Ocean. The Foreshore was completed in 2011 and feature contemporary coastal streetscaping that incorporates existing trees and vegetation, including about 95 pandanus trees. The masterplanned space hosts a full calendar of free public events such as the Surfers Paradise Festival and the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. The area of Surfers Paradise east of Surfers Paradise Boulevard sprawling towards the beach tends to focus on family-friendly attractions such as Time Zone, Ripley's Believe it or Not museum and Adrenalin Park; while the nightclubs and adult entertainment tend to be concentrated in the western part of the suburb.


Surfers Paradise night markets
Night markets in Surfers Paradise

The "Gold Coast Nightlife Precinct" offers many after-dark activities for visitors. The precinct is considered Australia's nightlife capital and attracts close to 20,000 visitors daily. The area also hosts the largest Schoolies week event in the country, attracting tens of thousands of school leavers to the precinct. They always have people protecting the school leavers.


As a popular destination for beach-goers, Surfers Paradise is noted for its relatively steady warm climate throughout the year. Temperatures recorded at the nearest active weather station, Gold Coast Seaway, are milder than Brisbane in summer and warmer in winter. Extreme temperatures at the station have ranged from 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) on 22 February 2004 to 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) on 19 July 2007. The average temperature of the sea ranges from 21.5 °C (70.7 °F) in July and August to 27.1 °C (80.8 °F) in February.

Climate data for Gold Coast Seaway (temperatures: 1992–2016; rainfall: 1994–2016)
Record high °C (°F) 38.5
Average high °C (°F) 28.7
Average low °C (°F) 21.8
Record low °C (°F) 17.2
Rainfall mm (inches) 136.6
Avg. rainy days 14.2 14.6 15.1 12.0 11.6 10.9 8.5 7.1 8.7 9.8 12.3 12.6 137.4


Q1 one
Q1 – The world's fifth tallest residential building




Adrenalin Park
Adrenalin Park
Adrenalin Park in 2007.


Meter Maids





Surfers Paradise Festival



Surfers paradise sign
Cavill Mall in Surfers Paradise during Schoolies week.




Sport and recreation






The precinct is serviced by two modes of public transport which are Surfside Buslines and the G:Link light rail service. Surfside Buslines operates serval bus routes which connect the suburb with the western parts of the city. The G:link runs in a north-south direction.


GCLR Set 9 at Cypress Avenue 2014-09-28
G:link trams at Cypress Avenue station

The G:Link light rail system has five stations through the precinct.

Northcliffe station lies on the southern end of Surfers Paradise Boulevard, near the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway. The station services Northcliffe Surf Lifesaving Club and the Northcliffe beach. Surfers Paradise station is located on Surfers Paradise Boulevard between Clifford Street and Hamilton Avenue. Notably, it is the closest station to the Q1. Cavill Avenue station lies on Surfers Paradise Boulevard between Cavill Avenue and Elkhorn Avenue. It is the closest station to Cavill Avenue, considered to be the heart of the precinct. Cypress Avenue station lies on Surfers Paradise Boulevard between Cypress Avenue and Palm Avenue. It is the closest station to Funtime amusement park. The station provides bus connections to Nerang railway station. Surfers Paradise North station is located on the north side of the intersection of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Ocean Avenue.

In popular culture



The place is part of the open world environment of the 2016 racing video game Forza Horizon 3.


In the 2011 census, Surfers Paradise recorded a population of 19,668 people, 47.8% female and 52.2% male. The median age of the Surfers Paradise population was 36 years, 1 year below the national median of 37. 49.4% of people living in Surfers Paradise were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 9.1%, England 3.9%, India 3.7%, Japan 2%, China 1%. 67.6% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 2.2% Japanese, 1.3% Punjabi, 1.2% Mandarin, 1.1% Arabic, 1.1% Italian.

kids search engine
Surfers Paradise, Queensland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.