Gold coast family edition

Inside: Kidding about at the fun parks  p4

Pat a dolphin at Sea World  p11

The Gold Coast family edition A must-do list for families p10

INSIDER'S GUIDE TO EXPLORING THE GOLD COAST  p2

2 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

Broadwater Parklands

Insider's Guide to the Gold Coast After exhilarating times enjoying the thrills of the Gold Coast’s funparks, factor in some relaxing times at the beaches and parks for swims and seaside barbecues.

The Gold Coast is a popular destination for families looking for fun holidays at amazing theme parks.

But there is so much more to the Gold Coast than its famed attractions. It is also a thriving city with a population who love the outdoors and make the most of being so close to the beaches and its warm temperatures. We have spoken to the locals to gather a few insiders’ tips about how they spend their weekends or time off with the kids. Here’s a few of their suggestions.

Broadwater Parklands Broadwater Parklands is a community and cultural parkland, loved by residents and tourists. The three hectares of parklands includes The Great Lawn which is an ideal spot for family picnics and fun as well as organised events.

It’s here you’ll find the Rockpools water playground which has shallow water with spouting water animals and waterfalls.... as well as Café Rockpool where you can eat in

or take some picnic food out to the park. Other park facilities are the Washington Waters Park with swings, giant lizards, a bike education track, mono rail peddle bikes, flying fox, jumping pillow and a liberty swing. You can also fish off the 100-metre long pier or enjoy a dip in the swimming enclosure, which has a jumping pontoon, a must do for the kids. Free wi-fi is also available in the parklands ensuring that the adults are fully entertained as well.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 3

▲ VIEW VIDEO

Tallebudgera Creek

fisHermen's Co-oPerative www.freshestcatch.com.au Throw another prawn on the barbie, buying them and other freshly caught seafood direct from the boat at Main Beach.

You’ll find the Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-Operative at 168 Seaworld Drive, at the docks So grab the freshest seafood available to cook at your accommodation or one of the free barbecues located along the beaches. free BarBeCues By tHe BeaCH The Gold Coast is blessed with countless stunning locations for picnics or barbecues. With free barbecues and dining areas being provided at many of these locations you just need to bring the food and get cooking. Here are some of our favourites…

Currumbin has a host of great options including Robert Neumann Park (look out for the ducks and geese), the quieter Creekside Michael Park or Winders Park which sprawls for 500m along the creek with shaded play areas, pelican sculptures, barbecues, toilets and tables.

At Tugun the SLSC patrolled beach has a seaside park shaded play areas and park benches, or consider heading to the Bilinga to Kirra stretch of Ocean Walkways.

This is a great picnic spot plus

you have a wide stretch of white soft sandy beaches leading to the water.

At Coolangatta, from the Kirra Hill Lookout RT Peak Memorial Park you can see the coastline from Main Beach to Snapper Rocks on a clear day. Kids will enjoy running around on the grassy hill that slopes down towards the heart of Coolangatta.

Two other great picnic and barbecue spots in Coolangatta are Coolangatta Foreshore Queen Elizabeth II Park and Goodwin Park’s shade, tables and play areas.

And a must-place-to-visit is Point Danger, another elevated headland with grassy areas.

Point Danger is the most eastern point on the Queensland coast and has a steep rocky headland that has spectacular views and marks the Queensland/ New South Wales border.

CurrumBin roCk Pools Just a 15-minute minute drive from Currumbin Beach, you’ll find the Currumbin Rock Pools. The kids can splash about in the pools while parents relax or grab a snack from the café across the road.

If you feel like exploring Currumbin Valley, the walking trails in Mount Cougal National Park include a 1.6 kilometre return walk.

Palm BeaCH Parklands These beautiful open space

parklands overlooking Palm Beach are perfect for a game of cricket or footy. There is also easy access to the surf beach with wide pathways for walking and cycling. Kids will love the themed playground, especially the pirate shipwrecked against a rocky outcrop, incorporating slides, spinners and rockers and a plank they can walk.

CurrumBin / talleBudgera Creek Have a cooling dip or paddle in the waters of Tallebudgera Creek.

This is a great spot for the whole family with tranquil waters and a playground.

Free wi-fi is also available in the parklands ensuring that the adults are fully entertained as well. kurrawa Pratten Park, BroadBeaCH A superb park located right on the beach at Kurrawa that features excellent barbeque and picnic facilities. The park is home to the Gold Coast's first All Abilities Playground. The playground’s design features three zones – sandcastle, undersea and hill – all connected via a network of pathways and six interactive community art projects.

Visit www.visitgoldcoast. com for more great ideas and information.

The Claw at Dreamworld

Kidding about at the funparks Dylan Cleaver unleashes his inner child as he joins his family to enjoy the thrills at the Gold Coast funpark trilogy.

There was a moment, just before the Batwing Spaceshot operator pressed green for go, when I wondered what would happen if my mother-in-law, seated two to my right, was not strapped in.

But before that smirk could properly form, we were propelled 60m into the air with g-forces measuring 4.5, before being dropped equally rudely back to a few feet above terra firma.

For some, this might have been a moment to contemplate mortality. For me, it was an opportunity to reflect on how much my holidays had changed.

It didn't seem that many years ago when a good holiday meant a beat-up backpack, a budget flight and a guidebook that let you know just how old and

otherworldly the buildings and artefacts you were staring at were.

Now the backpack has gone from beat-up to unemployed, the choice of airlines has reduced and the European and Asian guide books on the shelf are in themselves treasured artefacts, dusted off occasionally to remind oneself of carefree days past.

Family holidays are an altogether different beast, so I was kind of glad when the M-I-L was still safely strapped into her Batwing seat. Good babysitters are hard to find these days.

Warner Bros Movie World was the second part of a Gold Coast funpark trilogy, which started at Dreamworld and ended at Sea World. Everyone has their favourite parks and we

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 5

Lethal Weapon at Warner Bros Movie World

 MONEY SAVING TIP When at Sea World buy a refill drink for $10 and refresh as many times as you like with soft drink or frozen soft drink. You get incredibly thirsty in the heat and from screaming on the rides so this deal is a no-brainer.

Shark viewing at Sea World

were no different. Movie World nudged it by the width of one of Catwoman's whiskers.

Ages five through 61 were thoroughly entertained. After spending the entire day at Dreamworld earlier in the week, we'd decided we would be more select at Movie World.

No chance. We left the gates at closing, rain teeming down, brand-new Tweety-Bird brollies up, wishing we had another hour.

Fearless five-year-old wanted one more ride on the ScoobyDoo coaster; more circumspect seven-year-old wanted another crack at the dodgems. The parents wanted another go on the jaw-dropping Green Lantern coaster (well, one of them did), and the grandparents looked like they wanted a drink. (It's hard to keep a tight rein on the oldies these days.)

It's not all about the rides, though many are thrilling and terrifying in the sort of way

that leaves your mild-mannered wife using some of the foulest language known to man. There's a 4-D theatre, a movie-set main street and shows that range from neat to naff.

Not that Dreamworld and Seaworld lagged far behind.

Dreamworld has a phenomenal range of rides with portentous names including The Claw, The Tower of Terror II, The Giant Drop, The Buzzsaw, The Cyclone and the stomachchurning Wipeout. The ToT II warrants further analysis.

As you get closer to boarding, the beating heart soundtrack escalates to the point where a panic attack seems the right and proper thing to do.

There's the impressive Tiger Island enclosure (the clue is in the name) but, really, Dreamworld is all about the rides.

Seaworld takes a different tack. It's more about the shows and the sharks.

A blockbuster roller-coaster, Storm, is opening soon and the park will be the better for it. I'd suggest that Seaworld is a better entrée to the other parks than a dessert, only because it has fewer out-and-out thrills.

The dolphin and seal shows are smart productions, the aquarium element is terrific and, while time doesn't fly as it does at the other two parks, you won't find yourself leaving much before closing.

As you leave Seaworld's gargantuan carpark, the bright lights of the GC start to signal their come-hither winking.

Dylan Cleaver travelled with assistance from Gold Coast Tourism.  STORM Since this article was written Storm has opened at Seaworld.

The ride is a combination between a modern roller coaster and water flume ride offering plenty of thrills and a few surprises.

Enjoy Adults @ Kids Prices with our Holiday World Pass

World Pass

21 days unlimited entry to Dreamworld and WhiteWater World!

Visit www.dreamworld.com.au and enter the coupon code ‘Holiday’ on checkout/payment page.

Offer valid for online purchases only using the coupon code. On sale til 31/10/14. Tickets valid for redemption within 12 months from the date of purchase.

Holiday World Pass provides 21 consecutive days of entry to Dreamworld and WhiteWater World. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 7

Zombie Evilution

Hollywood Stunt Driver 2

New rides at the parks Hollywood Stunt Driver 2 Movie World’s new Hollywood Stunt Driver is packed with aerial stunts and extreme precision driving performed by stunt crew, Showtime FMX. The audience experiences being part of a movie set as the director and his crew take them behind the scenes of a shoot for an action blockbuster.

bark and tree branches where visitors watch an interactive show presented by a guide. A film about the local Yugambeh people's story of how the area was created, “Creation of the Gold Coast” is the main feature of the humpy, which also has a large map of the Aborigine tribal boundaries. An assortment of native animals lives outside the humpy – from koalas and kangaroos to cassowaries and a saltwater crocodile.

teams and gearing up with the latest lasers and sensor suits, there’s a briefing for team members about the zombieinfested wasteland on which the war will be waged. Set across two buildings each with two storeys, the goal is simple – look out for your fellow team member and destroy the opposition.

Zombie Evilution Zombie Evilution is Dreamworld's new laser combat challenge. After splitting into

Storm Coaster Ride out the perfect storm on Sea World’s new ride Storm Coaster, making its way through a 20m wave on dry land and braving a fire while being drenched in water.

- Provided by VisitGoldCoast. co.nz

 WARNER BROS MOVIE WORLD

 DREAMWORLD

 SEA WORLD

Pacific Motorway, Gold Coast, Queensland 4210 Open every day of the year except Anzac Day and Christmas, 9.30am-5pm. www.movieworld.com.au New Zealand info phone: 0800 123 FUN

Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera, Queensland 4209 Dreamworld is open every day of the year, except Christmas and Anzac Day, 10am-5pm. Sometimes hours are extended in summer and during school holidays. www.dreamworld.com.au Toll free number from within Australia: 1800 073 300

Sea World Drive, Main Beach Queensland 4217 Open every day except Christmas, 9.30am- 5.30pm. www.seaworld.com.au New Zealand info phone: 0800 123 FUN

Dreamworld Corroboree Dreamworld's new attraction tells the stories of Australia's indigenous people. Central to the Dreamworld Corroboree is the “humpy”, a shelter made of

8 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

Dining at Surfers Paradise

Appetite for eating out – BYO kids Diana Clement and children, Maia and Milo Brown, check out the best child-friendly eateries on the Gold Coast.

Forget haute cuisine, the Gold Coast is a mighty fine place for family-friendly dining.

Almost every second restaurant sports Kids Eat Free nights and some restaurants go the extra distance with kids' clubs, play rooms, and special menus for the BYO kids brigade.

Sushi Train www.sushitrain.com.au The Sushi Train (both

Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise have them) is always a compulsory stop for our family. What makes the Sushi Train special is the conveyor belt delivery of the food which passes your table with small plates of sushi.

"What's that?" is always followed by a scramble to check the menu as the plates approach slowly.

If it looks interesting we help ourselves from the conveyor belt.

What I like as a parent about the Sushi Train is that I don't have to humour hungry children while I wait for the food to come. The kids can start eating as soon as we sit down.

Surf & Sporting Clubs www.northcliffesurfclub.com. au; www.mermaidslsc.org.au; www.currumbinrsl.com.au Surf and life saving clubs restaurants are a popular eating choice on the Gold Coast. Some are more child-friendly than others. Our favourite is the BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Supporters Club in Surfers Paradise, which serves up great food and atmosphere. Another child-friendly venue is the Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 9

As well as surf clubs there are others such as rugby league, Aussie rules, bowling, and Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs. Some of these clubs such as the Currumbin RSL in Currumbin Creek Road have free kids' clubs.

It's worth checking out the clubs' websites in advance and planning your trip itinerary around their specials. I noticed, for example, on our trip that the Broadbeach Bowls Club, on Surf Parade which was near our accommodation at Surfers Beach One offered T-bone steaks, chips and salad for $12 on Tuesday nights. Sundays, however were also a great time to visit because the club was open to all for barefoot bowls from 10am to 8pm at a charge of $7 each person. Under 9s are not permitted to bowl.

TEPPANYAKI www.facebook.com/ ArigatouBroadbeach Teppanyaki is also popular on the Gold Coast. The chef at Arigatou Teppanyaki on the corner of Surf Parade and Albert Avenue, Broadbeach, does a good show of tossing his knives in the air when he is not busy, which appealed to my son.

OUTBACK JACKS www.outbackjacks.com.au Looking for a great steak and a fun place to eat? Try Outback Jacks in Southport or Mermaid Beach. This is a fun family eatery. The Southport branch of Outback Jacks has a huge kids' play area, a life-size replica

crocodile on the ceiling, and is right on the water – albeit a little close to the noisy Gold Coast Highway. Kids eat free on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5-7pm.

SOUTHPORT SHARKS www.southportsharks.com.au Halfway through our lunch at the Southport Sharks clubrooms I gazed out to the pitch and thought to myself: "I wonder what sport they play here?" The answer turned out to be Aussie Rules football.

You don't need to be an Aussie Rules aficionado to visit what is in my opinion the best childfriendly eatery on the Gold Coast.

The Sharks complex is huge. It has six bars and restaurants. What's more, it has a supervised indoor play area, the Wobbygong’s Kids Fun Zone, with a rock climbing wall, mini basketball court, PlayStations, and two "theatrettes" showing movies and television shows.

That means that parents can finish their meal in peace while the kids are looked after. Onehour sessions in Wobbygong’s cost $5 Monday to Thursday and $6 Friday and the weekends and public holidays for each child for non-members and should be booked in advance.

The great thing about eating at the Sharks is that you can mix and match different styles of food.

My children adore all-you-caneat-style buffets with the same level of passion that their mother hates them. So each to their own and the kids piled their plates high, while I ordered a Thai beef salad from the a-la-carte menu,

and dessert from the cafe.

The Southport Sharks is the most northern part of the suburb, so if you don't have a hire car, then it's best to take the free courtesy bus, which picks up from the Southport the shopping centre and other locations. Call 0412 752 319 to arrange a pickup.

Don't miss the large fish-tank with live sharks in it. The kids were fascinated.

 More family dining options: • Bistro Zagame's (Paradise Resort) 122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise: www.paradiseresort.com.au/ eat/bistro_zagames/ • Woodfire Pizzeria & Bar (Turtle Beach Resort) 2346 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach: www.turtlebeach.com.au/ facilities • Vapiano Gold Coast 8 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise: www.vapiano.com.au/ restaurants/gold-coast/ • Helm Bar & Bistro Surfers Paradise, 30-34 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise: www.helmbar.surfers.com.au • Hurricanes Bar & Grill Surfers Paradise, Soul, 4-14 The Esplanade, Level 1 Surfers Paradise: www.surfers.hurricanesgrill. com.au • Saffron Indian Gourmet 22 Surf Parade, Broadbeach www.saffrongc.com

10 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

Pat a dolphin at Sea World

A must-do list for families With so much to do on the Gold Coast, Carol Smith checks out the options.

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK SPECTACULAR www.outbackspectacular. com.au This entertaining show celebrates the Outback and the legend of Phar Lap in "Spirit of the Horse". Before the show started, we whet our whistles at the Outback Bar, were given a stockman's hat each and had the opportunity to get a photo with the horses. Then we settled into our seats to watch talented stunt riders and animals put on a

show built around the competitive spirit of Australians, with the story based on two rival cattle stations. Stockman Bluey split the audience into two groups to barrack for each station and we were encouraged to cheer loudly as each team tried to be top dog. Between scenes featuring wild horses, stampeding cattle, bush vehicles, quad bikes and a mustering helicopter which arrived in the arena, we were fed Aussie bush tucker and, yes, pavlova.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 11

Tiger feeding at Dreamworld

PAT A DOLPHIN www.seaworld.com.au I've always wanted to cuddle a dolphin so the chance to pat one at the Dolphin Discovery Presentation at Sea World seemed as close as I am likely to get. I'm sure these intelligent creatures, who learn to perform amazing tricks, wonder why they can't train us. But they humour us by striking a pose so we can get our souvenir shot. Bottlenose dolphins try to establish a pecking order like humans – they maintain dominance by biting, chasing, jaw-clapping, and smacking their tails on the water. When they get aggressive they scratch one another with their teeth (I use my nails, but the principle is the same). They also show aggression by emitting bubble clouds from their blowholes, so stay clear of these when patting

Australian Outback Spectacular

them. The trainer told us they enjoyed being stroked on their backs so I obliged. A dolphin's skin is amazing to touch – it's rubbery and incredibly smooth.

the tiger to run at the fence and the photographer asked me to smile and look at him while the tiger was grabbing the piece of meat off my tongs.

TIGER FEEDING AT DREAMWORLD www.dreamworld.com.au "There is no way I'm doing that," declared my son Blair when I told him we were going to feed the tigers. We had just watched one of Tiger Island's young Sumatran tigers casually wrap his paws around a handler holding a milk carton for him to drink from. Blair calmed down a little when I said we wouldn't be roaming around the island enclosure – we would be feeding tigers from behind a wire fence, poking meat through on the end of a pair of tongs. Still, it was a bit scary when the handler asked

PANDAMONIUM www.dreamworld.com.au Before it starts, it looks like a nice ride you could take granny on, but this is one kick-arse Kung Fu panda experience.

Pandamonium is a thrilling ride at Dreamworld and it's far from gentle. You have the chance to choose which queue to be in – there's a "not so crazy" line where you will enjoy a rickshaw chase adventure, spinning round and round and side to side. And there's a "seriously crazy" line. If you like being tipped and turned and totally disorientated you've come to the right ride. If you don't, you've been warned. 

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 12

Cuddle a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctaury

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctaury

CurrumBin wildlife sanCtuary www.cws.org.au www.adventureparcaustralia. com.au Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a favourite place with families who enjoy seeing the huge variety of Australian animals.

They can cuddle a koala, get up close to a crocodile, mingle among the kangaroos or check out the reptiles, birds and marsupials in the wildlife shows and displays.

Now Currumbin also offers the exhilarating Adventure Parc with 80 challenges in five separate treetops ropes courses woven through the eucalypt and rainforest canopy.

Adventure Parc takes elements of SAS commando training delivered as a safe, fun and exciting treetops ropes courses for children and adults, including two beginners’ and one intermediate course, the Croc Shock and the most challenging Black Course. - NZ Herald

FAMILY SPECIAL

Bring your family into Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to see our amazing Australian wildlife including feeding our friendly kangaroos

Now $99AUD Save $32AUD

Buy online at www.cws.org.au/gcnz *Valid for up to 2 adults & 2 children (4-14). Valid to 24th Dec 2014. Excludes. Adventure Parc High Ropes Challenge.

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Phone +61 7 5534 1266

Cnr Gold Coast Highway & Tomewin Street, Currumbin, Gold Coast QUEENSLAND

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 13

Hooray for Henry Meet this cute little Australianborn polar bear cub.

It’s not every day that you can swim in tropical waters and then get up close to a polar bear cub.

But you can at Sea World on the Gold Coast, home to little Henry, Australia’s first baby polar bear born in Australia in more than two decades.

He is named after Henry Hudson, the explorer who discovered Hudson Bay in Canada.

Sea World's $1.5 million extension to Polar Bear Shores, Polar Pre-School, allows the public to view Liya and her cub as well as the twin male bears Hudson and Nelson at the same time. There is a large pool, various substrates and natural vegetation as well as foraging pits for the bears to dig and play in. www.seaworld.com.au

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14 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

Entertainment for all times and weather If you feel like heading under cover while you’re on the Gold Coast, there’s plenty of places to find thrills, views and entertainment.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium www.ripleys.com/ surfersparadise Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Odditorium is a new, interactive attraction featuring authentic unbelievable exhibits, illusions, unusual stories, mystery, interactive games, twin spinning tunnels, the world's smallest ecofriendly car … and that’s just a sample of the offerings.

Infinity www.infinitygc.com.au Infinity takes visitors on a journey into futuristic maze-like worlds of wonder – a dreamlike, interactive fun house. Laugh and scream your way through a series of multi-sensual environments filled with special effects, atmospheric sound fields, music and illusions that appear to go all the way to infinity.

SkyPoint Observation Deck www.skypoint.com.au SkyPoint Observation Deck’s 360-degree views from the coast to the hinterland are simply sensational, plus there’s a minitheatrette, feature zones and

displays. Dine and watch the views in Seventy7 Cafe and Bar – you might even spot whales migrating along the coast or a storm rolling in. By night, SkyPoint Observation Deck is a chic, high-altitude lounge bar with music on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Racecentre www.racecentre.com Racecentre operates Australia's most advanced racing simulation centre allowing full-motion, surround-screen and surroundsound technology in real-time racing. Their simulators are the same as race drivers use for training and practise and often V8 professional drivers drop in for race sessions. Drivers can choose any car - F1, V8, Rally, GT3, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, Drift and Formula Ford – to race on any track, worldwide Go Karting Gold Coast www.gokartinggoldcoast.com.au The indoor racing track at Go Karting Gold Coast features 20 of the latest European racing machines so karters can enjoy adrenaline-pumping action.

The 350 metre-long track has a 55-metre banked cross-over bridge, two tunnels, S bends, sweepers and skill-testing hairpins. It is all about the driver! As for the karts, they are purpose-built European racing chassis, powered by Honda 10hp 4 stroke engines which can reach 70km/h. They are fitted with individual timing transponders which time the karts to 1/1000th of a second, so drivers can race their mates.

Timezone Surfers Paradise www.timezonegoldcoast.com.au Timezone Surfers Paradise is Australia’s largest Indoor family entertainment centre as well as being the world’s biggest Timezone. You’ll find it in Surfers Paradise’s Centro Shopping Centre, covering 5000 square metres with more than 300 games including racing, shooting, bowling and basketball. There’s also a 30-player Laser Skirmish Maze, 15-car bumper bars, 18-hole mini golf course, Typhoon Simulator, Mini Rider2 Simulator, Dark Escape 4D and six lanes of bowling.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 15

Paradise Resort Gold Coast

Stay, play and enjoy Gold Coast’s accommodation and attractions that offer that little bit extra for the whole family.

RESORTS PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST www.paradiseresort.com.au Paradise Resort Gold Coast is a heavenly place for kids and paradise for parents. Kids will love the Zone 4 Kids club, giant Zone 4 Kids Water and Planet Chill, a permanent iceskating rink.

TURTLE BEACH www.turtlebeach.com.au Turtle Beach Resort is just 300 metres from the beach and its self-contained apartments all have

balconies or terraces. There are pools, a waterslide, spas, mini putt, playgrounds and nine barbecue areas. Club Turtle is for kids aged four to 12 and offers art and craft, big screen Wii interactive games and an Xbox room.

MAIN BEACH TOURIST PARK www.goldcoasttouristsparks. com.au/park.main-beach Main Beach Tourist Park is opposite the beach at the northern end of Surfers Paradise in the trendy Main Beach precinct.

It has a resort-style pool and

barbecue area and it’s an easy walk to nearby restaurants, shopping and cafes. Across the road is a surf beach with patrolled swimming areas year round. The park has surf boards for hire.

SEA WORLD RESORT & WATER PARK www.seaworldresort.com.au Sea World Resort and Water Park is a popular place for families who love the aquatic adventure playground, full-sized water slide, the Nickelodeon characters and the Kid's Club. 

16 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

aCtivities gold Coast island adventures www.goldcoastadventures. com.au Join Gold Coast Island Adventures and Gold Coast Whale Adventures (Tallship Cruises) to sail on a tall ship or cruise on a catamaran along the Gold Coast Broadwater, to McLarens Landing at South Stradbroke Island. Watch humpback whales in front of Surfers Paradise from June to November. At McLarens Landing, South Stradbroke Island, you can look at the wildlife and enjoy a barbecue lunch. Optional activities include Segway safaris, parasailing and a 4WD eco tour with sand tobogganing.

Stay for 4 nights pay

stand uP Paddle Boarding www.bradholmessurfcoaching. com Stand up paddle boarding or surfing lessons. Since 1992, Brad Holmes has been teaching surfing at Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club, incorporating Tai Chi and Qigong into the warmup to improve flexibility, coordination and balance.

to off-road driving, whip cracking, wine tasting, glow worm tours and overnight camping.

soutHern Cross 4wd sc4wd.com.au Southern Cross 4WD Tours visit sub tropical rainforests in Tamborine National Park, Springbrook National Park and the World Heritage Listed, Lamington National Park and activities include nature walks, animal spotting and bird feeding

tHunderBird Park www.thunderbirdpark.com Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain is about an hour's drive from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. You can explore the walking tracks and see colourful birds, native animals and rare plants. There are also adventures for all age groups. Find treasure

tamBorine rainforest skywalk www.rainforestskywalk.com.au Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk Explores the Rainforest Canopies on an elevated walkway through the beautiful middle and upper canopies of the forest.

for 3 at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort Stay in a spacious 2 bedroom apartment at Outrigger Twin Town’s Resort for 4 nights and only pay for 3! The resort features two pools, spas, two tennis courts, mini golf course, games room, gymnasium with steam room and outdoor barbeque areas, perfect for a fun family getaway!

Click here to book your accommodation now *Terms and conditions apply. Offer subject to availability. Offer on sale from 10th February 2014 until 30th June 2014; for travel up until 30th October 2014. Blackout dates: 5th-9th June 2014 inclusive. Rate based on 4 people per room per night. All rates are in Australian Dollars.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 17

filled thundereggs formed when dinosaurs roamed the earth, play laser skirmish in a jungle village setting, tackle the adventure high ropes course at Tree Top Challenge and enjoy a horse trail ride through the rainforest or dine in style in the Rainforest Restaurant and Lounge Bar. troPiCal fruit world www.tropicalfruitworld.com.au Tropical Fruit World, just 10 minutes from the Gold Coast Airport, has500 varieties of the world's weird and wonderful exotic fruits. Board a tractor train for a guided tour of the plantation and its exotic treats such as the chocolate pudding fruit, dragonfruit and chewing gum tree. Enjoy a billabong boat cruise to the fauna park where

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctaury Adventure Parc

you'll meet kangaroos and emus, or try the flying fox and mini golf course. adventure ParC at CurrumBin wildlife sanCtuary www.cws.org.au Adventure Parc at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast is designed for family fun and fitness. It takes elements of SAS commando training delivered as safe, fun and exciting treetops ropes course

for children and adults. 65 challenges over four courses.

Carrara markets www.carraramarkets.com.au Carrara Markets are Australia's biggest permanent markets with more than 500 stalls covering four hectares. It's a popular family day out with pony rides, merry go rounds, bungy trampolines, mini golf, face painters and Luke's Reptile Kingdom. Open Saturday and Sunday, 7am-4pm.

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New experience.

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Where the city meets the sea, Surfers Paradise offers the best of beach life with dining, shopping, nightlife and entertainment options abound in its beachside streets. And Watermark Hotel & Spa sits right in the middle of it all.

Our New Zealand friends can now experience an affordable

3 Night Beach Break from only $399 *

· · · ·

4½ star accommodation in an upgraded Deluxe Room $50 dining voucher Pillow menu, bath robes and slippers 12pm checkout

An in-house restaurant and sports bar, 2 pools, gym and the L’Aqua Day Spa are all offered by the Watermark to enjoy.

BOOK NOW

or call +61 7 5588 8333

*Subject to availability. See website for full conditions. Valid to 30 October 2014.

3032 Surfers Paradise Boulevard Surfers Paradise QLD Australia

visit watermarkhotelgoldcoast.com.au

18 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

White Water World

Wet 'n' Wild

Time to cool off Get the most of your theme park passes by cooling off after thrilling adventures at the water park next door.

DREAMWORLD plus WHITEWATER WORLD www.dreamworld.com.au www.whitewaterworld.com.au It can be hard work battling the zombies at Zombie Evilution, Dreamworld’s newest and scariest attraction, and all the other rides and shows including the thrilling V8 Supercars RedLine. After a full-on session at Dreamworld, both adults and children just might be looking for a way to cool down, especially after the kids have done the rounds of Shrek's Faire Faire Away, Madagascar Madness and Kung Fu Panda.

You don’t have to look far…

WhiteWater is Dreamworld’s

next-door neighbour and has plenty of family friendly attractions as well as more thrills on extreme waterslides - once you’ve recharged your energy levels. At WhiteWater World the rides include The BRO, the eight-lane octopus racer; Super Tubes HydroCoaster, an intense rollercoaster on water; The Green Room, a funnel thrill ride; The Rip; The Temple of Huey and The Cave of Waves with surging 1.5m waves. Or watch the kids as they splash and play at Wiggle Bay, with its safe, shallow pools and mini waterslides, interactive sprays, colourful water cannons and giant instruments.

MOVIE WORLD plus WET ‘N’ WILD www.movieworld.com.au www.wetnwild.com.au After soaring like Superman on the Justice League 3D ride and meeting your favourite characters at Movie World, you can easily find a place to cool down next door at Wet “N” Wild.

There are lots more fun things to do including the constrictor giant wave pool and four new full looping transparent slides taking riders to speeds of up to 60km/h. If you're after a slower pace, head to the River Rapids at White Water Mountain or drift round a tropical paradise at Calypso Beach.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 19

Surfers Paradise Festival

Gold Coast Family Events Plan your holiday around some of Gold Coast’s fantastic festivals, from sand sculpting to sports, kite and community festivals.

Australian Sand Sculpting Championships – Feb/ Mar 2015 Witness Australia's best sand sculptors in action as they compete in the third annual Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. Ten professional sculptors will mould and carve over 180 tonnes of sand into fantastic, crowd-pleasing works

of art as they deliver their interpretation of the main theme, Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales.

There are also activities for families and children.

Surfers Paradise festival – 2-26 April 2014 www.surfersparadisefestival.com The Surfers Paradise Festival involves four weekends of community events. See the street parade and dance along to the Launch It Concert Series, with three nights of beach concerts. There’s food and wine, fireworks, a street party, outdoors cinema and street entertainers.

Kirra Kite Festival – 14-17 November 2014 www.kirrakitefestival.com Kirra Kite Festival celebrates kite culture, music, multicultural arts, gourmet food and street

performance framed by the beautiful southern Gold Coast.

The festival includes an outdoor beachside Film Festival, Flavours of Kirra gourmet food and wine event and the main event in Roughton Park on November17 featuring entertainment, kids’ activities and workshops, multicultural cuisine, markets, rides and colourful character kites.

Gold Coast Rugby 7s The Gold Coast Sevens at Skilled Park, in early October, is one of Australia’s great sporting experiences. Fans wear fancy dress and karaoke and dance battles also feature in the non-stop entertainment.

On the field there is a try every two and a half minutes from national teams from every part of the globe. See 45 matches over two days.

20 I Travel Gold Coast family edition

Cycling is a great way to get around the Gold Coast

Getting here, there and everywhere

Easy to get to and easy to explore with the family.

Rental cars Choose from one of the many rental car companies. It is best to book before you go, especially during busy seasons.

interchanges planned for Southport and Broadbeach. Trams will run from 4.39am-12.51am Sunday to Thursday and non-stop on Friday and Saturday.

Buses www.surfside.com.au www.gcshuttle.com.au/ freedom-pass The Surfside Buses operate 24 hours a day, seven days, reaching most main tourist areas and shopping centres. Bus stops are every 300 metres. Another service is the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle Freedom.

Pedal power www.funbike.com.au Cruise the Gold Coast on an electric bike from Fun Bike, transport all the family can enjoy.

Laugh in the face of headwinds and effortlessly power up hills as the pedal assist bike does all the hard work for you.

Gold Coast Light Rail Trams will operate between Gold Coast University Hospital (Parklands Drive, Southport) to Broadbeach from June 2014. There will be 16 stations along the corridor, with bus

SEgway www.xperiences.com.au Roll along with your informative guide on the fun-filled Segway Gold Coast Eco Xperiences through the Broadwater Parklands and surrounding park areas. The tours are a novel way to explore and learn about the

3.2km route along the foreshore and adjoining parks.

Hire a boat www.duffydownunder.com.au Hire a boat from Duffy Down Under Boat Hire Gold Coast.

The electric boats do not require a licence to drive them, they are easy to manoeuvre and operate and can take up to 12 people.

Water taxis Explore the Gold Coasts waterways by water taxi, with multiple water taxi companies to choose from.

Travel by fire engine wwwfire4hire.com.au Fire4Hire can carry 10 passengers on its fleet of of four former Scania fire trucks. You can also try operating a fire hose and wear a fire helmet, great for the kids.

Travel Gold Coast family edition I 21

fire4hire

Fly Direct to the Gold Coast Fly direct to the Gold Coast with: • Air New Zealand from Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown or Christchurch www.airnewzealand.co.nz Domestic New Zealand connections are available • Virgin Australia from Auckland www.virginaustralia.com/nz • Jetstar from Auckland or Christchurch www.jetstar.co.nz • Once you arrive at the Gold Coast International Airport, it is only a 30 minute transfer time to Surfers Paradise. For more information on the Gold Coast Airport go to www. goldcoastairport.com.au Transferring from Gold Coast Airport to your accommodation is easy: • By coach: Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle

provides a door to door service www.gcshuttle.com.au or to catch the free Airport Link shuttle which will take you straight out to the Gold Coast Highway where public transport is readily available • By coach: Door to door transfer with Con-X-ion www.con-x-ion.com • By taxi: A fixed price taxi service is now available from the Gold Coast airport to hotels. www.gccabs.com. au/airport-transfers

Fly to Brisbane Fly direct to Brisbane with: • Air New Zealand from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch www.airnewzealand.co.nz • Virgin Australia from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch www.virginaustralia.com/nz • Qantas from Auckland www.qantas. com.au

Get great Gold Coast deals at visitgoldcoast.co.nz

• Jetstar from Christchurch www.jetstar.co.nz • Emirates from Auckland www.emirates.co.nz Once you arrive at Brisbane International Airport it is only a one hour drive south to the Gold Coast. For more information on the Brisbane Airport go to: www.brisbaneairport.com.au Transferring from Brisbane International Airport to the Gold Coast is easy: • By rail: Airtrain links Brisbane Airport, Brisbane CBD and the Gold Coast with an efficient train service: www.airtrain.com.au • By road: From Brisbane via the eightlane Pacific motorway: www.mainroads.qld.gov.au • By coach: Door to door transfer with Con-X-ion www.con-x-ion.com

Make new holiday memories with Mantra

Mantra on Salt Beach, Kingscliff.

Finding Gold Coast accommodation has never been easier with 10 Mantra locations. Offering a range of resorts, hotels and apartments, we have all your holiday needs covered.

Book now at mantra.com.au