nbn8

What are the main differences between the two? Is SC a lot quieter than GC? We had originally thought of the GC and that is where most of our research etc has been spent but any thoughts on the SC?

moneypenny20

Hard one. Some people say the SC is a lot quieter than the GC but I guess it depends on where you are in each area. My bit of the GC is quiet, a lot quieter than some suburbs of the SC. Saying that, apparently there is more work here so maybe it is busier in that respect. From what I've seen of the SC, I'm glad I'm here but someone else will come on with the opposite view Suck it and see I guess.

fish.01

GC approx population: 500,000
SC approc population: 260,000

GC visually: Miami style high rise beach strip (tallest 78 floors), lots of canal estates, normal suburbs and then mountains.

SC visually: Low rise beach strip (usually 3 stories to 7 stories roughly), a few canal estates, normal suburbs, low density suburbs/flood plains and then mountains.

Top of GC driving from Brisbane CBD: 50 mins off peak (rough guess)
Bottom of SC driving from Brisbane CBD: 80 mins off peak (very rough guess)

The gold coast probably has the advantage of being commutable to Brisbane if you at the northern end of the gold coast. Sunshine coast is too far - though some do it. Both have limited train services to Brisbane but I think the one from the Gold Coast is better.

GC reputation: Big, brash, crass and touristry
SC reputation: Small, quiet, laid back and more sophisticated

Even though you can find bits that make both of them live up to their reputations I find as a Brisbane local that "both" have:
- great family beaches
- beautiful rivers
- fair tourist attractions at both:
o sunshine coast has underwater world, australia zoo, eumindu markets etc.
o gold coast has dream world, sea world, movie world, wet and wild, currimbum wildlife sanctuary, inifinity, extreme, jupiters casino, o'reillys, australian outback spectacular etc.

The sunshine coast has beautiful empty quiet beaches if you stay away from the main tourist beaches. The Gold Coast has beautiful almost empty quiet beaches if you stay away from the main tourist beaches.

The mountain towns/places behind the sunshine coast are nice - montville, maleny, mapleton, imbil etc

The mountain towns/places behind the gold coast are nice - tamborine, oreillys, springbrook, canugra etc

Sunshine coast has the great beach town of Noosa.

The Sunshine Coast is the gateway to 4wd'ing on the beach and Fraser Island.

The Gold Coast is the gateway to the beautiful northern NSW region.

They are both tourist towns with many jobs in hospitality but the Gold Coast is where the big action is with many large 5/6 star hotels (eg Versace Hotel), apartments etc. The sunshine coast is more focused on spa's/wellness etc.

A lot of this is about tourist stuff where you might be living in a normal suburb but I hope this gives you a feel for them. Maybe looking at photo's on the net would help you get a feel as well.\


As an alternative, I went to Redcliffe on the weekend for the first time in years and I was very impressed. It doesn't have a proper fine white sandy beach like the SC/GC (just a coarse, brown sand beach) but it is very nice along the beach front. Apparently it is 15 mins drive to be dropped at the train station and then a 35min train ride into the Brisbane CBD if this is any help.

nbn8

Thanks for your replies very detailed and will certainly give me food for thought! BE once again not letting me down on the info front thanks

wadhamsfamily

Hi we live on the SC , moved here in Nov 2008 and we love it. We did the same as most and looked north and south of Brisbane before making the move. A lot depends on your need for work and family, there is more work in and around Brisbane and less on the SC.

How old are your family ?
What work do you need ?

Angela.

sammyg

We chose the gold coast and are so glad we did (as we too were undecided between the 2), there is so much to do but we still have everything that the sunshine coast has (quiet beaches, beautiful hinterland walks) but one thing that i have also noticed is that the Gold coast beaches are lots nicer than sunshine coast ones -IMO anyway! Whiter sand, wider beach, prettier looking -i'm a beach person so i notice these things)

We love going out for a meal and seeing the night time skyline of broadbeach/surfers and also enjoy a night out other than in surfclubs (which is what the sunshine coast has to offer)

I only ever hear Sunshine Coasters say that the 'Gold Coast is too toursity' but that is a ignorant remark from people who have probably only ever been to surfers and surfers is only a tiny part.

I thought Noosa was the most pretentious place i have ever been in my life, 50 plus year olds driving/walking around (with big gold sunglasses) in convertibles thinking they were Madonna, looking down on the people around them -wrong!!

Mooloolaba - well, beach a big let down. Couldn't park anywhere, even at 7 in the morning to go to the sealife centre -so..... touristy???

wadhamsfamily

Well as I said its horses for courses, I like both SC and GC but IMO the SC is a lot nicer and better for family / children etc.

GC does have benefits but is a lot of traffic and people in comparison to SC which is more natural .

Sheilas Wheels

For me SC was far too quiet and spread out. It is nice for a short, quiet break but for me personally 3 days was enough. Have to agree with Sammyg, also found Noosa pretentious.
I certainly couldn't live there long term but we all know everyone is different!!

I was pleased to see Q1 in the distance coming home

nbn8

Children are 3 and 6. OH a joiner and Im a secondary teacher so not sure of work prospects.

wadhamsfamily

We honestly don't get it when people say its too quite on the SC, it has everything a family needs an more. If you had teenagers I could understand it may be a little quiet but for a young family its perfect, space to grow up and wonderful mainly empty beaches etc. We moved from a major city (Birmingham) here and don't miss anything about busy city life, noise, traffic and crowding. If I'm honest a few more quality restaurants would be nice but apart from that.

The most important thing has to be work and it is easier to commute from GC than SC . There is plenty of development going on up on the SC but non the less you will have more options South of Brisbane.

The answer is rent in either to start and travel around. It will take 3 to 6 months before you will get a real feel for it. No one is right or wrong about either area it is a personal choice, I don't think either is a bad one though.

Angela