Gold Coast, Queensland (Minimum two days)

Gold Coast is a coastal city that is situated in the state of Queensland, about 66 km southeast of the capital Brisbane. Queensland is the second largest state in the country after Western Australia and is the third most populous one. Gold Coast is also close and north of the border with New South Wales. It is the sixth largest city in Australia, with a population of around 640,000 people.

The first settlement in the area was a penal colony around the area of what is now Redcliffe. Gold Coast was mostly uninhabited until British explorer John Oxley landed in Mermaid Beach in 1823. The region grew tremendously after Surfers Paradise Hotel was built in the late 1920s and by 1980s the area became a leading tourist destination. Gold Coast will host the upcoming Commonwealth Games in 2018.

Airports

Gold Coast International and Brisbane International.

Public Transportation

Trams, Buses, Rail and Taxis.

Recommended Hotels

Marriott, Crowne Plaza and Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise. RACV Royal Pines, Sofitel, Nirvana By The Sea, Meriton Service Apartments and InterContinental Sanctuary Cove.

Recommended Restaurants

Longboards Laidback Eatery & Bar, De Vito Waterfront, Seaduction, Omeros Brothers, The Fish House, Tribeca NYC, Willow Dining Room, Hank Dining & Bar, Moo Moo the Wine Bar + Grill, Social Eating House and Allure on Currumbin.

Recommended Parks

Warner Bros Movie World:

Opened in 1991 on 415 acres of land, this highly popular park contains several movie-themed rides and attractions ranging from motion simulators, roller coasters and slow river rides. They also have a few active film studios within the park complex.

Dream World

This is the largest theme park in Gold Coast with over 40 rides and attractions, including five monstrous roller coasters. It was opened in 1981 on 210 acres of land. You might need one full day to explore this park and an extra day to recover ………

This park is made up of several themed lands, with a collection of rides, animal exhibits, shows, food outlets and shops.

Other Recommended Sites

When you have extra time, you might want to visit Wet’n’Wild, Sea World and Harbour Town- for a nice meal and a bit of shopping.

Other sites that are not theme parks worth visiting include: Surfers Paradise (of course), Snapper Rocks and Burleigh Heads National Park.

As mentioned earlier, we have been to Australia a few times when my sons were younger and we always return home smiling. I highly recommend both Sydney and the Gold Coast to take your young children for a holiday. It’s a country where the people know how to have fun and enjoy outdoor activities to the fullest. And it is easy to get around in the large cities, whether you are in Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Good luck and safe travels!