Travel: Australia - Gold Coast

[snower]

Hi We are travelling in the June holiday with my two teenager boys. We have 3 free days, beside the usual attraction is there any other places we can go? We are going to the usual place like movieworld, crab cruise, harbour town outlet, seaworld theme park, abalone world and winery.

[pojo]

snower:

Hi We are travelling in the June holiday with my two teenager boys. We have 3 free days, beside the usual attraction is there any other places we can go? We are going to the usual place like movieworld, crab cruise, harbour town outlet, seaworld theme park, abalone world and winery.

Can visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. The boys can get up close to some animals there. Also the boys will probably enjoy Dreamworld which has more exciting rollercoaster and other rides.

[snower]

Hi Pojo, thanks for your reply. That’s great, my younger boy love animals. Has anyone go for the whale watching, firefly cave and zoo? Any good shopping place to go? Any chinese food there? Thanks for all the questions.

[Buzydad]

snower:

Hi Pojo, thanks for your reply. That's great, my younger boy love animals. Has anyone go for the whale watching, firefly cave and zoo? Any good shopping place to go? Any chinese food there? Thanks for all the questions.

I had tried glow worm cave and stargazing with my family some years back. Personally I felt the glow worm trip was nothing very special. The star gazing was supposed to be interesting (as I always find the universe fascinating since I was a primary school kid), but it happened to be on a night before or after the full moon night - the sky was too bright. (what a pity!).

You might want to consider farm stay (real farm stay - not those commercial \"show\" farms) or Moreton Island (Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort / Desert)? We had been to the zoo and the Underwater World near/on Sunshine Coast (if I remember correctly, I was told Jacky Chan filmed one of his movies in the Underwater World). Well, both places were ok, but not something very fantastic (Between the two, I liked the Underwater World more). We passed by a place near Sunshine Coast (couldn't recall the name of the palce now) and bought quite a number of art and craft items there.

Well, I guess whether you find a place / activity interesting or not - it much depends on your interest..

[Buzydad]

I am also planning to go to Gold Coast with my family this year.


Anyone ever stayed in Paradise Centre Apartments? Are the apartments there good? Any free car parking lot for the guest staying there?

[snower]

Hi Buzydad, thanks for your reply. Will probably try the Tangalooma Resort. I wonder how is the public transport over there, is the cab expensive? We are going to the zoo by ourselves. Our agent quoted us $660 for 4 to arrange the transport to zoo and thereafter to watch the crocodile which is far too expensive.

[Dnls_mum]

snower:

Hi Buzydad, thanks for your reply. Will probably try the Tangalooma Resort. I wonder how is the public transport over there, is the cab expensive? We are going to the zoo by ourselves. Our agent quoted us $660 for 4 to arrange the transport to zoo and thereafter to watch the crocodile which is far too expensive.

Are you refering to public transport on Tangalooma or in Gold coast? Tangalooma needs no public transportation. Just enjoy the beach and remember to book your dolphin feeding. There are limited tokens given out each day. Make sure your agent arranges it for you. We did the sand toboganning. Kids had fun but the climb up the sand dune can be tiring.

If you are moving around on your own in Gold Coast, then it is probably cheaper to rent a car.

[snower]

I’m referrring to the public transport. The package tour actually include transport to and fro for our trip but the last two days we are on our own. We are visiting the zoo, so was wondering should we take a cab there. How to get to the Tangalooma? Is the sand toboganning same as the ATV Quad Bike? Anyone tried this before? Is it safe, can my 14 yr old boy ride?

[Dnls_mum]

snower:

I'm referrring to the public transport. The package tour actually include transport to and fro for our trip but the last two days we are on our own. We are visiting the zoo, so was wondering should we take a cab there. How to get to the Tangalooma? Is the sand toboganning same as the ATV Quad Bike? Anyone tried this before? Is it safe, can my 14 yr old boy ride?

You mean you have airport pick up for to and fro the airpirt or to and fro tangalooma? To get to tangalooma, You just get yourself to the jetty to take the ferry. We had a prearranged transfers to and from the jetty. If you drive, you can arrange for overnight parking at the jetty. I suppose you can always hail a cab to take u to the jetty. Once you reach tangalioma, the resort is just by the jetty.

The quad bike is diff from the sand taboganning. Quad bike is individual bikes for each person and the group go round the island. For the sand taboganning, we were taken on a 4 wheel drive into the dunes to do it. My DSs were only 6 and 9 when they did it. The 9 yo did it on his own, my 6yo did it with DH. I sat out as I was pregnant with DD then. My dad who was 66yo did it too. But the climb was kind of tiring for him, so on hindsight, we shd not have let him. Nonetheless the 4 of them enjoyed themselves.

[Buzydad]

snower:

Hi Buzydad, thanks for your reply. Will probably try the Tangalooma Resort. I wonder how is the public transport over there, is the cab expensive? We are going to the zoo by ourselves. Our agent quoted us $660 for 4 to arrange the transport to zoo and thereafter to watch the crocodile which is far too expensive.

We were on package tours the last 2 times we were there (one of which was a Gold Coast - Sydney tour). We only had 1 free day in Gold Coast. We didn't go very far. We took the tour guide's suggestion to try out the public bus service to go to Pacific Fair then, just to have an experience of the bus ride there. Well, not a bad experience. We got to see some small streets and less crowded area. On the way, we saw the bus driver patiently listening to the enquiry of an old lady who boarded the bus and slowly explained to her something. And people slowly alighted the bus after pressing the bell (need not to worry the bus driver drove off too early or other people staring at you). Life seemed relax and slow. That bus ride was about 8 years ago, not sure if it is still the similar situation now. We took a cab back to the hotel then. Can't remember how much it cost now.

I guess, for your case, the transportation charges could be quite high if you are not renting a car because the places you are going to could be far away from your hotel.