Australia: Gold Coast - Holiday in Gold Coast

[Karfield]

Hi, going there next month for holiday. Will be staying in Islander Resort. How is the hotel? Any good recommendation for food and shopping?

[Mbris250]

shopping

- harbour town & the stretch of surfer's paradise. don't expect too much. it's a surf area. for harbour town, chk out their visitor's centre & find out which bus to take.

- if i remember correctly, there's a tall tower when you can overlook the whole gold coast. gotta pay though but hey, you're on a holiday.

- take a walk down appel park.

- if you're lucky, you'll get to see people basking.

- warner bros movie world

- australia outback

- paradise farm - ok only, carry kangaroos, see kangaroos, see koala bears sleep. that's all about it.

- have i mentioned harbour town? there's quite a bit of factory outlets, nice place to hang out during the weekends.

 

food

- there's a place called pancakes paradise. all types of pancakes, eat until you PS pancakes over the next few days.

- ate 3x at this viet restaurant called rice padi.

- we love aussie viet food

- just pop into any cafes by the beach, sip coffee & relax.

- for expensive seafood, try grumpy's wharf, it's near appel park.

- ice cream - taste good but px much lower than haagen daz

 

 

general

- the cars even Mazda 3 are 2.4, makes you wonder about our road tax structure

- 1 stayed 5 days, got bored by 5th day, couldn't wait to fly to sydney.

- went with wife & daughter (then 5 years old), best holiday ever since. it's been 1.5 yrs since we went but i go thru the pics at least once every 2 weeks to reminisce. the things we did.....places we visited, even just lying on the beach, watching her dig into the sand, these memories never fail to brighten up my day.

- topless girls - you'll find fat whales who're extremely confident but generally most have nice curves.

- oops, off track.

- before i stop my rambling, do note that you must be early for the tour buses. some older drivers have the white man syndrome.

 

enjoy.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Mbris250

[Ultramega]

For shopping, try Harbour Town. it's a whole shopping "town" of branded factory outlets...Polo, Levi's, Esprit, Nike, Adidas, etc...all factory outlet prices.

http://www.harbourtown.com.au/goldcoast/index.htm

 

For food, try the resturant inside Sirromet Winery. Nice place, good food. Can also go for wine tasting and winery tour if you like.

http://www.sirromet.com/

 

check out this website for other recommendations: http://www.verygc.com/

[Stivo]

For food, try ashmore seafood... ask around, the goldies will know, there are nice seafood buffet if you want, at hotel marriot not marriot courtyard..

[Davidklt]

Nice place..use to live near there..

[Karfield]

The tour agency just give us a briefing and give us some optional tour like hot air balloon for A$180 (half hour ride)or glow worm tour for A$80.

 

Anyone tried? Is it worth the additonal cost especially the hot air balloon. I am going with a family of 4 so the cost will be pretty high.

[Jman888]

tried once in melbourne, the experience was the view of sun rise was breathless used to cost only A$250 2 years back now cost A$290 for an hour tour

[Carndablues]

Do NOT try the food at the Marriott. I was staying there last month, terrible food. If Gordon Ramsay was Australian, it would be on his Kitchen Disaster's show!

 

Even the locals were saying it was terrible.

Edited November 26, 2007 by Carndablues

[Karfield]

Are you refering to Marriott Hotel or Courtyard Marriot?

[Perseus76]

try the spanish food along the stretch of main road called "La Paella"

 

there is one dish called "paella" or something, it is safron rice top with fresh seafood, and it takes at least 1/2 hr to cook. but its damn good. no regrets, but its a little on the high side.

 

I use to drive to the glow worm cave, and its free to go into the cave. the drive is almost an hr from sufers paradise by car, so i guess the A80 bucks is not exactly expensive for 2 ways, but if you know the way, you can always rent a car and drive there in the night.....pitch dark thou.....

 

eat oysters....fresh cheap and good......pacific fair, damn big shopping mall. dream world and sea world are worth visiting also. better then our sentosa, cheaper as well if we are to compare paying for visiting all the area of interest.

 

The dracula castle opposite the pacific fair is another good experience.

[Vroomtattat]

Been there last June, SHIOK!!

 

Dun try the hotair balloon if you are afraid of heights, it went up quite high and it was freezing!

 

Glow worm cave is nice, you will be looking out for the stars in the sky too!

The cave is about an hour drive from Gold Coast and you'll be walking thru a forest in the dark . . . cool!

 

You lucky chap!

 

Have a nice trip and enjoy yourself

[Carndablues]

Marriott Hotel. I stayed there for a week on business and had breakfast and dinner there. Breakfast was only good on one day, how does an Aussie not know how to cook a simple Bacon and Egg breakie???!!!

[Karfield]

Hi PERSEUS76

 

Where can I go for the oysters. Can't miss those. Whole family a big fan of fresh oysters.

 

Thanks

Edited November 27, 2007 by Karfield

[Enrique]

Tried hot air ballooning in cairns, AUD$200 for one hour's flight. it's really worth it but u need to wake up very early in the morning. The view from top is spectacular. Anyway u fly there so far might as well try it to get the experience.

 

Seeing glow worms is free provided u know how to drive to Natural Bridge in Gold Coast Hinterland

[Sir2yrv]

Hiya mate. Hope you'll enjoy your stay in Gold Coast. Just got back last nite from a holiday there. It was great although, ave to warm you, the weather is getting a little muggy & hot at the same time.

 

Few words of caution though,

1. Please be prepared with good sun tan lotion. The sun now is very piercing. Even if you're planning on a sun tan, be prepared still with a suntan lotion.

2. Do wear shades. As you'll be by the sea, the light is extra piercing. If you haven't got one, you can purchase it there. Lotsa shops in Surfers selling shades.

3. I was not staying s Surfers Paradise, where you'll be. I was in the next town (5 mins away), Broadbeach. Surfers is rather crowded now as it is the Schoolies (school holidays). Lotsa people there. Can get a little rowdy, especially in the evenings (after they have a few drinks).

 

Not very particular bout food so bes not to recommend any. Sorry mate.

 

For shopping, like what everyone said, Pacific Fair's the place to be. Was there almost everyday for one thing or another. If not, there's many shops along Surfers that you an frequent.

 

Enjoy your holiday there. I know I did

[Enrique]

Harbourtown have to take bus 1A towards Helensvale train station from Pacific fair, Broadbeach or Surfers' Paradise.

 

The nike factory outlet is there at Harbourtown shopping centre.

 

If time permits, can drive to Byron Bay lighthouse, the most easterly pt of mainland Australia. Very spectacular scenery. If u wan to watch sunrise, then this is the place.

 

Nearby gold coast, at Tweeds Head, there is a lookout called Tom Beatson Lookout. From there can see the whole of gold coast coastline.

Edited December 9, 2007 by Enrique