Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise is a seaside resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast in eastern Australia. It’s known for its high-rise skyline and Surfers Paradise Beach, which hosts a popular market several evenings a week. Along Cavill Avenue are shops, cafes and lively nightclubs. The towering Q1 building, with its SkyPoint observation deck, offers panoramic ocean and city views.

Founded: 1933

Location: 78 km (48 mi) from Brisbane

Population: 19,668 (2011 census)