Moving from one sunshine state to the next, I ditched my sunny, hot beachfront campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and flew across the world to Australia. Instantly, I fell for the glow of the Gold Coast and lusted for this new kind of sunshine. Although the sunrises are magnificent on the east coast of Florida, I am positioned on the west. Gifted with numerous breathtaking sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, I am extremely fortunate to have been blessed with beautiful endings to my days.
But wth a new mindset and a fresh start in Australia, I grew excited about the possibility of having those beautiful views to begin my days rather than end them. What better way to begin each day than a face full of sunshine and endless smiles?
With the blinds cracked open, the first peak of light gleams into my room, and I start to slowly awaken from my deep sleep. Before I know it, I’m fully woken up by the piercing noise of my alarm, a sharp reminder to get out of bed to start my day. Recently, this has been falling just after 5 a.m., so coffee will be needed.
I quickly scramble around, throwing on a matching workout set and debating whether today’s walk calls for sneakers or Birkenstocks—though either way, I’ll end up with sandy soles from the beach. Last, I reach for a light sweatshirt to wear in guard of the crisp morning, anticipating to take it off as the sun’s warmth takes over. As soon as I am done, I dash towards the door, out onto the streets with all of the other early risers.
Why would you want to live anywhere else, when you can live on the Gold Coast … that was my theory.” This quote speaks for itself, and I couldn’t agree more! It is found in Broadbeach on the pathway near the Surf Life Saving Club.The Gold Coast wakes up with intent. As I make my way to the beach, I pass by numerous groups. Surfers with their boards under their arms making their way to the beach with eyes fixated on the waves. Walkers, joggers, and runners on the sidewalks, headphones on, ready to indulge in some exercise to fully wake up. Then there are the beach walkers, like me, who use the sound of the ocean as their morning soundtrack and have come for the sole purpose of seeing the sun’s rays peer over the horizon. Some days, I head out solo; others, I meet up with my friend from my TEAN group, but no matter the company, people, or waves, the Gold Coast is alive.
A guaranteed good walk is to Surfers Paradise. I suggest walking on the beach on the way there and then taking the pathway on the way back. My usual walk can sometimes be up to almost 4 miles! The views are beautiful, and you are surrounded by like-minded people.Sometimes, depending on my schedule, I sit down in the sand and focus my attention on the brave surfers who chose to go out and patiently wait for the perfect wave. There is just something so calming about watching them float out in the water, completely at ease with the waves and tide. It reminds me of life here, relaxed but always in motion.
I begin my walk against the shoreline, with my head facing down, making sure I don’t pass by a beautiful shell or piece of sea glass. Everyone on the beach walking, jogging, running, sitting—even the dogs—is sharing the same peaceful moment and greeting each other with a smile. Clearly, the beach has become more than just a place on the Gold Coast; it has fabricated itself into a lifestyle—one that I love and strive to be a part of.
Four local surfers went out to catch some waves during peak sunrise and paddled their way into the golden glow cast over the ocean. I sat and watched them from the beach, mesmerized by the beauty of it all.
Elk Espresso, located in Broadbeach, is my personal favorite coffee shop/cafe near my apartment. Huge fan of their cinnamon latte—hot or iced, both are good—or their strawberry matcha.The fresh breeze from the ocean gently mixes with the aroma of coffee steaming from multiple local cafes. Those cafes will soon be all the buzz with lines out the door as the morning crew awaits their ultimate energy supply. There’s something so calming about the sunrise and feeling grounded on the beach with the sand under your feet, just feeling yourself breathing in and out.
The quiet vibe dissipates as the sun rises higher, and the energy grows for the day to begin. After all of this, I feel ready to take on each day with the level of chill that all Aussies seem to have. So, my suggestion to anyone who wants to feel like they belong on the Gold Coast is to wake up early and let your golden day begin with some sunshine!
Levi McCollum, Eckerd College, is studying in the Gold Coast, Australia, with TEAN.
