Travel: Gold Coast, Qld

By Steve Farmer

If ever there was a destination which caters for almost all types and ages of travellers, the Gold Coast is it. Whether you're six or 60, single, a couple or a family you'll find a stunning selection of things to do. Forget accommodation woes: there's plenty to suit all budgets, from five-star hotels to excellent caravan parks and camping grounds, some right on or just a short stroll from the water.

For many Queensland and NSW caravanners, a trip to ‘The Coast' is an annual pilgrimage, an end-of-year holiday they've enjoyed for years - perhaps generations.

For others the Gold Coast represents the trip of a lifetime, a special vacation to be planned, saved for and remembered for years to come.

In our case, it was the second visit as a family. Seven years earlier we had stopped in on our way home from two months exploring NSW. Last Christmas, with our youngest at 11 years of age and the two older kids well into their teens, we reckoned we were due for a return visit to this famous slice of sunshine.

The region
Sprawled along the south-east Queensland coastal belt, the Gold Coast (according to tourist brochures) stretches for 70km and boasts more than 35 lifesaver-patrolled beaches. Combined with a reputed 300 days of ‘bright sunshine' each year, the region is seen as the ideal destination for those who like to surf, swim or sun-worship.

Of course, it's the beaches and the climate for which The Coast was originally famous and the area still attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world each year. However, these days Gold Coast tourism incorporates far more than just the narrow band of golden sand. The lofty hinterland of rainforests and mountain villages is just as much a part of the Gold Coast experience as the beaches. In fact, the region is claimed to be Australia's most biologically diverse, supporting 323 species of birds, 71 reptiles, 72 mammals, 34 amphibians and 25 species of fish.

The main tourist area is still concentrated along the coastal strip from around South Stradbroke Island in the north to Coolangatta on the Qld/NSW border in the south. These days this tourist mecca is home to around 400,000 people, with an urban sprawl that is creeping steadily inland. With roughly an hour's drive to Brisbane, many locals live on The Coast and commute daily to work in the city.

For the uninitiated like me, one of the great things about the Gold Coast is that it's so easy to get to. Coming from the north, we skirted Brisbane on the Gateway Motorway before turning onto the Pacific Highway and then the Gold Coast Highway, which took us right to the front gate of our caravan park in Southport - with hardly a cross word between driver and navigator.

If you're coming from the south it's just as easy, if a little more congested, but you have the bonus of being just a block or so from a string of glorious beaches, northwards from Coolangatta.

The park
The Gold Coast City Council runs a total of 11 caravan parks - and they do a great job! From quiet camping grounds surrounded by bush, beach and surf on South Stradbroke Island, to four-and-a-half-star parks, some within walking distance of The Coast's famous beaches and attractions.

We had booked into the Broadwater Tourist Park in Southport and, it being the middle of the school holidays, we arrived to find it operating at close to  capacity.

Situated right on the Broadwater (a wide stretch of sheltered water extending from the mouth of the Nerang River at Southport, northwards in the lee of South Stradbroke Island), Broadwater Tourist Park boasts views of The Coast's distant, high-rise buildings across a quiet, relaxing waterfront scene.

The beach is reasonable, although shallow, and is popular with young families and anglers. In fact, anglers are well catered for with a boat launching ramp and fish cleaning tables within the park, and those with a waterfront van site or cabin are able to leave their vessels anchored at their doorstep overnight. For anglers without a boat there is a hire business a few minutes walk to the south or there are plenty of jetties, beaches or rock walls from which to wet a line.

Situated right on the Gold Coast Highway, Broadwater Tourist Park is also a good base from which to access its famous theme parks and other attractions, both north and south. Sea World is clearly visible straight across the Broadwater (it'll take you just 10 minutes by road) and Dreamworld, Movieworld and Wet'n'Wild are no more than 30 minutes to the north. Most of the large shopping centres are also within half an hour's drive, with the nearest, Australia Fair, being just a few minutes down the road. The nearest and most northern surf beach, Main Beach, is five minutes away and from there it's just minutes between the other famous beach centres.

The Broadwater Tourist Park will also suit if you fancy a cooking-free holiday, with three fast food restaurants, fish and chip shop, pizza place and a couple of small restaurants all within walking distance. There is also a supermarket and newsagent just across the road and a service station and mechanic in the next block.

If you enjoy a morning walk, concrete paths run past the caravan park's front gate and along much of the Broadwater, often passing through waterfront parkland with ever-changing views of the waterway.

Accommodation options and facilities in the park are also excellent. There are three standards of waterfront cabins and villas (one with disabled facilities), powered and unpowered sites, a handful of waterfront sites and a dozen ensuite sites.

Facilities include two covered barbecues and camp kitchens, three amenities blocks, full laundry facilities, heated swimming pool, TV and recreation room, kiosk/office offering limited foodstuffs, tourist information and tour and theme park bookings, STD phones, gas and ice supplies and a tennis court - all you'll need for a very comfortable stay.

The attractions
Detailing all the attractions and activities the Gold Coast has to offer would be close to impossible. Suffice to say that no matter what your preference there's a fair chance this place can cater for it.

Like many families with teenage children, our main reason for visiting The Coast was to check out the theme parks and the kids debated long and hard on which ones would be the best. We limited their choice to three and they eventually settled on Sea World, Dreamworld and Wet'n'Wild.

One suggestion I would make is that you try to allow a rest day between theme parks. There's so much to see and do that a visit to most is a full-on, exhausting experience requiring a recovery period for everyone except hyperactive teenagers. I would also suggest that, especially in summer, a hat, sunscreen, shirt or top with at least short sleeves and comfortable shoes are essential. Small backpacks make it easier to carry swimwear and towels, cameras, water bottles and snack food - BYO snacks will save you dollars and time, allowing your hungry brood to refuel while waiting in the inevitable queues for rides and shows.

I was concerned that one theme park might be much the same as another, but this didn't prove to be the case.

Sea World is the park which I felt had the broadest appeal, as I am certain toddlers, teens and adults of all ages would thoroughly enjoy a day here. Interaction with animals and marine life is Sea World's claim to fame and brochures describes the place as "Australia's leading marine park where visitors of all ages can make contact with amazing marine life wonders".

Shows and exhibits not to be missed include the dolphins, seals, penguins, polar bears and the new shark pool. We also particularly enjoyed the animated 4D show, Planet SOS. It was fun and very entertaining, but also delivered a strong message about the degradation of our marine environment.

There are water slides and pools, rides such as the Bermuda Triangle and the Flume, rollercoasters, a monorail and a cable car, as well as a swag of other temptations. And I would suggest finishing the day at 4pm near the front gate with the Water Ski Challenge.

Despite its whimsical name, Dreamworld was definitely the park for adrenalin junkies, boasting five big, scary rides guaranteed to get your heart pumping - the Cyclone, Giant Drop, The Thunderbolt (Australia's fastest double-loop rollercoaster), Wipeout and the Tower of Terror. I get heart palpitations just thinking about them!

Fortunately, for those who like their fun with fewer thrills, there are also a host of more sedate rides from which to choose. In fact, Dreamworld helps its guests by rating the rides by their thrill level. Check the park map you'll receive as you go through the front gate. As well as the rides there are also shows and exhibits, such as the Australian Wildlife Experience and the Bengal Tigers, the inevitable water park complete with slides and so much more. As the Dreamworld brochure proclaims, "It's more than just a theme park; it's a world of fun".

Wet'n'Wild was the final theme park on our agenda and it turned out to be a good way to finish. This is the sort of place where the older kids can take off and swim and slide all day while mum and dad rest a little. With 14 water features (with names like Twister, Speed Coaster, Terror Canyon and Double Screamer) from which to choose, the kids were kept busy the whole day. We joined them on a few of the rides, such as the Key Largo Lagoon drift (very relaxing) and the Mammoth Falls (great fun but too short) and I even raced the kids on the Super 8 Aqua Racer and the Double Screamer (I didn't win but I also didn't scream... just).

In between we sat and watched the kids on the slides or cooled off in the Giant Wave Pool. If you're staying late, the wave pool becomes a ‘Dive-in' picture theatre at dusk, with guests floating on tubes or lounging poolside to watch a current movie on the big screen at the end of the pool.

Of course, our week on the Gold Coast was way too short. We only scratched the surface of all there is to see and do and I'm sure you could easily spend months and still not cover everything. But it would certainly be fun trying.

Gold Coast fast facts
The Gold Coast is in Queensland's south-east corner, about an hour's drive from Brisbane.
Broadwater Tourist Park: Gold Coast Highway, Southport, (07) 5581 7733 or www.gctp.com.au/bwater.
Dreamworld: (07) 5588 1111 or www.dreamworld.com.au.
Sea World: (07) 5588 2205 or www.seaworld.com.au.
Wet'n'Wild: (07) 5573 2255 or www.wetnwild.com.au.
Check the websites or call for current prices and vacancies. Booking ahead is recommended at Gold Coast caravan parks during school holidays.