On the coast 80 km South of Brisbane. This is the big one on the Gold Coast. In a way, its name says it all. The front looks just like Miami Beach, with high-rise blocks lining the esplanade. Indeed, such is the development here that to some extent it defeats its own object. In the late afternoon as the sun sinks to the west, the huge buildings ensure that the beach is plunged into shadow. But no one seems to worry. People come here for the fun as much as the sun. This is the home of the Drive-Thru Bottle Shop, the Cocktail Academy, the Bar-B-Kew Chicken and All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast. And at night you can bop till you drop in the dozens of discos and clubs. Just like Florida, Surfer’s Paradise has a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not (www.ripleys.com/surfersparadise), a Seaworld theme park with performing dolphins and whales (http://seaworld.com.au/), a Dreamworld theme park (paddle steamers, gold mine, and so on http://www.dreamworld.com.au/), and a Movie World (http://movieworld.com.au/). The only thing missing is Disney World. But to make up for the lack of Goofy and his pals there’s always bungee jumping, jet-skiing, day cruises, diving to see wrecks – you name it. And if you can’t think of anything else to do, there are always the casino and the bars. The wildest time of year is at Christmas and New Year, when I can guarantee you’ll have a holiday you’ll never remember. If you’re looking for that ‘away from it all’ holiday, this is the last place in Australia for you.