Miami
While the US Miami may have the headlines, Australia’s Gold Coast Miami still has plenty of holiday magic. Once the land of Kombumerri people who fished for shell fish and hunted birds and game in coastal swamp lands, the Miami area was described by the first surveyors in the 1860s.
Visit the ceremonial bora ground on Sixth Avenue, protected by law, or imagine across the highway, low wet peatlands were once The Great Swamp, home of the Burleigh Bunyip.
While Southport was gaining a reputation as a holiday playground circa 1880s, Miami became a diversion with a buggy spin along the beach for lunch at Burleigh, further south. In the 1920s the Miami Shore Estate was developed, reflecting a keen interest in America by Australians at that time. Wooden and fibrolite bungalows appeared – now this area is snapped up as valuable property.
A US military camp was established near Nobby Beach during World War II - Miami Ice Works was constructed from military huts. Head to Mermaid to view one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious addresses – at Hedges Avenue.
The suburb has Pizzey Park sporting complex and free barbecues along narrow parkland along the beach.