The Post-Apocalyptic Roadmap/Australia

Gold Coast, Australia:

After the bombing of Australia's cities, the eastern seaboard's sprawling towns devolved into more tribal communities. None more so than Surfer's Paradise. Once packed with tourists, all are now refugees. Unable to return to their own countries, and exiled by their nationality, they have taken up residence in the many now abandoned hotels. As far south as Broadbeach, and as far north as Main Beach, there are walls of cars, scrap metal, and packed sand. Each ethnicity fights for control of the beaches, the only place where food can be fished out.

Of course, the Kebab stands still exist. These points of diplomacy in an otherwise racially charged sea are the only places the tribes interact peaceably, and those who can actually afford these dishes are few and far between.

The inner suburbs of the Gold Coast have long been abandoned, except by those willing to brave the encroaching desert. Southport is but a shell of itself, although it remains the safest place to seek out goods. Surprisingly, both Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, and Australia Fair in Southport are still operative, even if their goods have changed somewhat. The two exist in stark opposition, vying for power and resources, a largely bloodless war, in contrast to Surfer's.

With the destruction of the highway, the train remains as the only way up further than Helensvale, and sometimes there are expeditions to brave the wasteland of Brisbane, though these are incredibly dangerous. Thus, both Helensvale and Nerang maintain a small community of expeditioners, train mechanics, and civilians. Helensvale has fared better than most of the Gold Coast, with it's Westfield shopping centre able to provide refuge and food for those who survived further north.

There are rumours that Sydney suburbs survivors are trying to reopen the old railway to establish trade with their Gold Coast brethren, although with the desert fast moving in, it's unknown whether it will be possible.

Also, although the Western Queensland outback farms still exist, the difficulty of transporting goods between these corrugated-iron guarded outposts and the coastal towns is harrowing, at the very least. Bands of brigands, riding stolen vehicles and horses (and often painted in aboriginal tribal patterns) often attack the food convoys, so a small industry has popped up around protecting them in exchange for food and shelter.