With glorious beaches, perfect weather and a thriving entertainment and nightlife scene, who wouldn’t want to be living on the Gold Coast? While the city is famous for its relaxed beachside lifestyle, there are also numerous world-class educational institutions and promising career opportunities.

If you’re planning to study in Australia, here are ten awesome reasons to live on the Gold Coast.

1. The nature

It’s almost impossible to talk about the Gold Coast without mentioning its most famous attractions – the beaches. From tourist hotspots like Main Beach to local gems such as Echo Beach, the Gold Coast has you covered.

Stretching across 57km, the Gold Coast is one white sandy beach after another, with lots of famous surfing spots that draw enthusiasts from far and wide. Gold Coast beaches also play host to several different sport and recreational activities and major events, so there’s always something fun to do.

And while the beaches might steal most of the attention, the Gold Coast is also home to lots of national parks and bush walks that are pretty much as beautiful as it gets.

Burleigh National Park is a popular trekking spot that offers stunning views of Surfers Paradise and the Pacific Ocean. Or, step just outside the Gold Coast to explore the breathtaking Gondwana Rainforests, which contain the largest subtropical rainforests in the world.

2. The sunny weather

While the sun might not shine every day of the year on the Gold Coast, it does come pretty close. In fact, the city enjoys around 300 sunny days each year.

The winters are milder than in cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, and while Gold Coast summers may get uncomfortably hot and humid, it’s the perfect excuse to swim at one of the many magnificent beaches.

3. The laidback vibe

Thanks to the sunny weather, palm trees, and never-ending beaches, the Gold Coast is overflowing with holiday vibes. You’ll find that the pace is slower on the Gold Coast than in other major cities, and the friendly locals love to have a chat.

Gold Coasters have perfected a laidback beach culture that balances hard work with plenty of sunshine and good times. You may be studying a lot, but living on the Gold Coast will make it feel like an endless vacation.

4. The multiculturalism

With three universities located on the Gold Coast and a large TAFE Institute in Southport, the city attracts thousands of international students to its shores each year. Along with the many tourists that visit the area, the Gold Coast is a fun, diverse and multicultural place to live. In fact, nearly one in three Gold Coast residents was born overseas.

There are plenty of multicultural events and activities occurring each year, including Harmony Week in March and Multicultural Month in August. The popular Chinatown in Southport also hosts regular street markets and cultural festivals.

5. The nightlife

Surfers Paradise boasts an unrivalled party reputation. The streets are lined with pounding dance clubs, bars, restaurants, and live music venues, meaning there’s an awesome venue to be found around every corner.

Outside of Surfers Paradise, the fun continues. Check out suburbs like Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads to discover top restaurants and trendy bars that’ll keep the drinks flowing from dusk until dawn.

6. The world-class universities

The Gold Coast is home to several fantastic educational institutions. Griffith University ranks 30th in the 2020 Times Higher Education Young University Rankings and 33rd in the 2021 QS World University Rankings Top 50 Under 50. Plus, in the Shanghai Ranking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020, the University placed in the top 10 for Hospitality and Leisure Management (3rd in the world) and Nursing (2nd in the world).

Bond University has been consistently rated as one of the top universities in Australia for student experience, as well as the leading university in Australia for employer satisfaction with graduates.

Southern Cross University sits in the world’s top 200 universities under the age of 50 according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. It’s also considered the best university in Australia for international student support.

On top of universities, you’ll find several colleges and TAFE campuses on the Gold Coast offering courses in all kinds of areas, including cookery, hospitality, design, tourism, IT and more.

7. The employment opportunities

While the Gold Coast is smaller than big capital cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, there are plenty of opportunities to secure work and build a career. Plus, the Gold Coast is considered a ‘regional area’, which means graduating students in the Gold Coast can now stay and work for between three and five years (check the Department of Home Affairs for more details). They’ll also have access to the Regional Occupation List, meaning a choice of more jobs and visa options.

The health and medical industry is undergoing major employment growth and is currently the leading sector for the most available jobs. Other areas with high employment opportunities include ICT, tourism, education, and hospitality.

8. The affordability

Compared to living in a capital city, the Gold Coast can be an extremely affordable city to live in. Accommodation rates are generally lower than in capital cities, with rooms in a share house starting from as low as $135 per week in great areas such as Southport and Surfers Paradise.

Combine this with cheap public transport and plenty of free and low-cost social activities, the Gold Coast is a very budget-friendly choice.

9. The good public transport access

The Gold Coast has a fantastic public transport system that makes getting around the city very easy. There’s no shortage of buses, trains, and trams to get you where you need to go, and the network usually runs on time. Plus, the public transport network can take you to several day-trip and overnight destinations outside the Gold Coast, including Brisbane.

As a student, you may qualify for a concession rate on your GO card, meaning you can save up to 50% off on your rides.

10. The endless entertainment and events

There’s always something happening on the Gold Coast.

The city offers the biggest collection of theme parks in the Southern Hemisphere including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet‘n’Wild, and more.

You’ll find countless festivals celebrating food, film, music, culture, art, and everything in between. Some of the best events include the Gold Coast Film Festival, Sand Safari Arts Festival, Surfers Paradise LIVE, and Bleach* Festival.

The Home of the Arts (HOTA) is a cultural hub showcasing the latest movies, live concerts, exhibitions, and shows across all kinds of genres. Plus, there’s always events and activities taking place in parks, entertainment venues, beaches, and libraries across the city.

Whatever you’re into, you’ll never get bored on the Gold Coast.