Australia : Safety by City
Australia - safety as a country The Gold Coast is a coastal city in the southeast corner of the state of Queensland in Australia, located between the state capital of Brisbane to the north and the New South Wales state border to the south.
The Gold Coast Hinterland has three national parks, numerous mountains, creeks, waterfalls valleys, and natural rock formations.
The area is mostly covered in sub-tropical rainforest, but sections have been cleared for dairy farmland and wineries.
The Gold Coast has long been a high-profile tourist destination for Australians and overseas travelers; it’s a famous paradise for surfers.
Over 30 beaches are stretching a total of 35 km.
Volunteer and professional lifesavers patrol almost all.
The Gold Coast region has many theme parks.
And they are swamped during peak season.
Warnings & Dangers in Gold Coast
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
In the city you need to be careful with nightlife, to avoid drunken companies and relationships with drugs. Especially attentive to be with wildlife in the city. Australia has a large number of poisonous animals and insects, more than in any other country.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Taxis and public transportation are safe. You can use it at any time of the day or night. However, you should always use common sense. Book only licensed taxis and be sure that drivers turn on a taximeter.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Pickpocketing is a common problem in the region. Tourists and surfer buddies are the main targets. Travelers are advised to keep an eye on their pockets, not to carry valuables with them, and not to leave things unattended, especially on the beaches.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Severe flooding, storms, bush fires, cyclones, and heat waves are major natural incidents that potentially could affect the city. Wildlife and poison animals as well may cause disturb - since the region has a lot of deadly poisonous animals and insects.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
Gold coast considered to be one of the most criminal places in Australia with robbery and mugging. Robbers can attack tourists who are too relaxed after an active day. Avoid drunk fights, do not let you in drug-related gangs, and don't show up on the beaches late at night.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
Australia did not have significant terrorist attacks, but the country has developed protection measures if any happen. The risk of terrorism in the Gold Coast exists but is not common. Travelers should be very cautioned and avoid demonstrations and protest actions.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
А scam is quite common. Perhaps a lot of fraud with fake money and cards. Be careful not to leave your things unattended. reported cases where tourists were approached to offer assistance, and then tried to sell fake "precious" items.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Women traveling alone will feel completely safe at the Gold Coast. However, be careful when moving around the city at night and use common sense during all activities. Also, be cautious in bars if you all alone.
So... How Safe Is Gold Coast Really?
Gold Coast attracts many tourists, and it is a tidbit for scammers and thieves.
The index of crime is moderate, but it’s increasing in the past years.
Swimming and surfing is the main idea here.
So you should take measures to protect yourself and always swim between the flags.
Alcohol-fuelled violence is another issue in Gold Coast.
Violence often erupts late at night and in the early hours of the morning.
Areas to be careful to avoid are Cavill Ave and Orchid Ave in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach Mall in Broadbeach, and Griffith St in Coolangatta.
Everyone should beware of scammers because there are a lot of them.
Beware Paradise Currency Exchange on Orchid Avenue.
They are known to dispense “fake” or older style USD notes.
Once swapped, they will deny ever giving you the unusable notes and accuse you of exchanging the bills yourself.
Best to stay clear of it or and change money in banks.
One of the main problems in the Gold Coast is in violent offenses such as common assault, stabbing, and attempted murder are often related to the need to obtain drugs.
When it comes to Australian wildlife – giant stinging jellyfish, some up to a meter in diameter, wash up on Gold Coast beaches and can be very dangerous.
How Does Gold Coast Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 69 |
| Sydney | 80 |
| Melbourne | 80 |
| Canberra | 88 |
| Adelaide | 88 |
| Brisbane | 90 |
| Hobart | 90 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
| Vancouver (Canada) | 82 |
| Toronto (Canada) | 81 |
Useful Information
Visas
Australia has maintained a universal visa regime, meaning that every non-citizen in Australia must have a visa. Australia does not issue visas on arrival. Most visas any traveler can get in an electronic way.
Currency
The Australian dollar is the currency of Australia. It is signed $ and code AUD. Almost always it abbreviated with the dollar sign ($), with A$ or AU$ sometimes used to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100 cents.
Weather
The best times to visit the Gold Coast for ideal weather are from April to mid- November. Temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year.
Airports
Gold Coast Airport is an Australian international airport located at the southern end of the Gold Coast and approximately 30 km from the city. It is the sixth-busiest airport in Australia.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.
Gold Coast Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 29 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 |
| Low °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 |
| High °F | 84 | 82 | 82 | 79 | 75 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 75 | 77 | 81 | 82 |
| Low °F | 70 | 70 | 66 | 63 | 57 | 52 | 48 | 50 | 54 | 59 | 64 | 68 |
Australia - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | 88 |
| Brisbane | 90 |
| Cairns | 61 |
| Canberra | 88 |
| Darwin | 70 |
| Gold Coast | 69 |
| Hobart | 90 |
| Melbourne | 80 |
| Perth | 85 |
| Sydney | 80 |
| Townsville | 77 |
| Wollongong | 55 |
Hope you enjoy your stay
As a local I was surprised by the comments about safety. I have travelled overseas extensively and would rate this part of the world extremely safe for people who use common sense.
Avoiding deserted areas, including the beachfront, late at night is a no-brainer not only here, but everywhere. So too is avoiding Surfers Paradise where dodgy people concentrate their efforts knowing tourists are there. One place I frequent is the Broadbeach Mall which is a family friendly area so I don’t understand the warning. Our wonderful beaches are there to be enjoyed but PLEASE swim between the flags.
I'm A Local And I Live In Fear For My Life
– A few months ago a woman was raped in a park on Peninsular Drive. Near the traffic lights and canal with “no witnesses”.
– A gun was fired off in Orchid Avenue.
The man was a local – with an illegally acquired weapon.
– 6 months ago a shirtless guy with nunchucks used to hang out in the alleyways between peninsular drive, Leonard Avenue and Watson Street and mug the locals or just threaten them if they had nothing of value.
My child and I inadvertantly watched a blatant drug deal go down in broad daylight on a side walk in Leonard Avenue yesterday.
They know the cops don’t care and won’t do anything – regardless of how hard the drugs are.
Locals in Surfers warn each other about dangerous people and places, but since the cops the don’t care enough to do anything then a tourist will be in danger if they wander into the local streets.
Daylight does not guarantee safety at all.
Walking alone where the locals live is an extremely risky decision – especially at night and ALWAYS ensure you can defend yourself if necessary.
Surfers is NOT safe, so never forget there are people off their heads on drugs all around you, people carrying weapons, people who WILL hurt you to rob you if you look “rich enough” and I’m not talking about the MASSES of homeless people that sleep in parks or benches or along the Cavil Avenue mall strips and throughout Surfers Paradise itself.
I’m talking about the locals who live here.
But Surfers Paradise has a huge amount of homeless people as well – some of them set up actual camps and live in large groups. You can’t miss them.
Enjoy your stay, because the “good” locals are only here for cheap rent or they’d have left a looooooong time ago. It’s that unsafe here.
Mate, you’re exaggerating a bit, those articles are real but crime is decreasing faster than a full charged emu
bruh chill out you lie
Truth
There are no real locals in surfers paradise, especially peninsular drive. If its that bad why not leave?
I moved to the Gold Coast 33 years ago I hate living here. I have been burgled so many times
It’s a scary place to out at night danger of rape or robbery. Murders are committed and the Gold Coast police don’t even attend life threatening situations. I rang the police at around 7 7 times last night as a nut job on ice threatening to eat my puppy. I just want to get out of this he’ll hole and move back to classy sedate Adelaide
Margaret collins I
AMAZING
the Gold Coast is amazing so everyone freaking out and this article needs to shut up because it is the most amazing place in the world and I visit at least 4 times a year go now its really good this article is freaking out and trying to scare you don’t fall for this
very good
gold coast good you must go
The comments on safety are vaguely true of the suburb of Surfers Paradise only, and are not a risk unless intoxicated. The crimes, thefts and scams described are universally committed by foreign travellers on tourists and other foreign travellers and are unheard-of outside the tourist areas. The “locals” described are generally travellers and working holidaymakers “living” in Surfers Paradise for a few months at a time. The official police statistics provide ample evidence of the above.
Typical – it’s always the foreigners. What you forget to mention is that many people Gold Coast are xenophobic, racist, homophobic, and transphobic. So you are safe – as long as you are white and can pass as straight.