Gold coast events

Inside: Stars all around ❯❯ p8 Blues on Broadbeach ❯❯ p6

Surfers Paradise Festival ❯❯ p9

The Gold Coast events & adventure edition The feel of raw power: unleashing the beast ❯❯p11 Life sure is a beach ❯❯p13

▲ VIEW VIDEO

2 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Insider's Guide to the events and adventure on the Gold Coast Welcome to the Gold Coast. With its spectacular venues, stunning weather and an unashamed sense of fun the Gold Coast is the perfect location to host some of Australia’s most iconic events As we move towards preparations to be the proud host of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, our city is buzzing with energy and excitement. And rightly so, because if there’s one thing Gold Coasters know, it’s how to host a party. Each year, lovers of sport, food, wine, fashion, music, and the arts flock to our sun-drenched city to find their kind of fun in a calendar brimming with fantastic events.

If sport is your passion, then you can cheer with fellow fans, whether it’s watching local teams compete in rugby league, AFL, or seeing celebrity athletes go head to head in international competitions such as the Armor All Gold Coast 600, the Quicksilver and Roxy Pro, or the Volvik RACV Ladies Masters Golf.

If the arts or culture is more your style, we host an eclectic mix of exhibitions and local

festivals. Soak up the relaxed ambience of festivals such as Blues on Broadbeach, Swell Sculpture Festival or Cooly Rocks On, or indulge your inner foodie at a great range of culinary celebrations.

Whatever your passion, the Gold Coast has an event that celebrates it. So come and join us to see why we’re famous for fun.

For regular event updates and all things Gold Coast, join us on facebook.com/VisitGoldCoast

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 3

eVent CALendAr

JULY 5-6 – Gold Coast Airport Marathon Kokoda 19-20 – Challenge

APRIL 2014 2-26 – Surfers Paradise Festival 3-13 – Gold Coast Film Festival 13 – Coast Triathlon Luke Harrop Memorial

AUGUST 15-17 – Broadbeach Jazz Festival SEPTEMBER 12-21 – Swell Sculpture Festival TBC – The Surfers Paradise Kids Weekend

MAY 3 – Prime Minister’s Cup 9-11 – Opera on the Beach 22-25 – Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 22-25 – ShowBlues on Broadbeach 30-9 June – Cooly Rocks On

OCTOBER TBC – Netfest 3-5 – Gold Coast Festival of Cycling 4-5 – Beach Bash 4-5 – Gold Coast Pet & Animal Expo 11-12– Gold Coast Sevens, Fever Pitch 24-26 – Armor All Gold Coast 600

JUNE 30 May-9 – Cooly Rocks On 20-22 – Broadbeach Country Music Festival

NOVEMBER TBC– Kite Festival 1-2 – Coolangatta Gold 1-9 – Pan Pacific Masters Games

DECEMBER TBC– Christmas on Tedder TBC – Australian PGA Championship 31 – New Year’s Eve Fireworks: Surfers Paradise JANUARY 2015 TBC– Beachlife TBC– Jeep Magic Millions Carnival and Raceday Big Day Out FEBRUARY TBC – Volvik RACV Ladies Golf Masters TBC – Australian Sand Sculpting Championships MARCH TBC – 2015 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro TBC – Bleach* TBC – Sail Paradise Gold Coast TBC – The Cooly Classic Coolangatta Ocean Swim

Gold Coast Airport

Auckland

goldcoastairport.com.au

14047

Christchurch

Straight off the plane, straight on the beach

Sevens keep their eyes on the ball Liam Dann and son enjoy the party atmosphere at the Gold Coast International Sevens Father-son bonding – you've got to start early, right? We are on the Gold Coast for a week and the International Sevens are on.

So rugby it is.

It is a lazy Sunday afternoon, and with Mum and the rest of the kids off to Tropical Fruit World, Theo (then 4 years old) and I jump out at Skilled Park, a 27,000-capacity venue home of the NRL's Titans.

Walking in with the crowd provides a great reminder of how Pacific-focused the Gold Coast has become. All the Island nations, and Kiwis, are heavily represented. We probably outnumber the greenand-gold supporters.

This is Theo's first time at a major sporting event at a big stadium and professional sport these days goes out of its way to create a family environment.

There's a bouncy castle and dodgem cars and the fancy dress Sevens is famous for.

The 2014 event will be the Gold Coast Sevens’ fourth. It’s always fun spotting the outlandish and clever costumes as you enjoy the party atmosphere as well as watching rugby in the glorious Gold Coast sunshine.

I play it safe with a two-beer limit. Theo's happy because he gets chips and a drink.

After some initial awe at the size of the venue, he's revved up to watch some rugby and can't wait to see the All Blacks.

Sevens is a great form of the game for kids. It moves so fast, you can generally see the ball, seven minutes each way and on to the next one.

Theo knows a few countries, too. We go for England in one game because Auntie Katie lives there. We cheer for France because of our friends Luka and Thomas. If a team looks like losing we just switch allegiance.

After about an hour and half, Theo's restless so we hit the amusements. He's game for the dodgem cars. We head back to our seats happy and I grab the second of those beers. He enjoys an icecream.

A game between the All Blacks and Argentina is close but

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 5

the All Blacks win.

We settle back, the boy cuddles up on my knee as I sip the beer slowly and watch the shadows grow longer and the crowd more boisterous.

The crowd’s singing get louder as some people ignore the start

of the next game. But it doesn't matter. It isn't just about the rugby any more. It is all atmosphere.

Theo has fallen asleep, the excitement has been too much. I watch a couple more games, then it's time to rejoin the rest of the family. I carry out my dreamy

lad, waking just enough to recall his dodgem triumph as we pass out the gates.

Father-son bonding – mission accomplished.

Liam Dann travelled the Gold Coast with assistance from Air New Zealand and Queensland Tourism.

getting to the gAme Gold Coast Suns’ home ground is Metricon Stadium. Public transport is the best way to access the stadium (at the intersection of Alabaster Drive and Nerang-Broadbeach Road at Carrara) and is often free of charge upon presentation of your event ticket.

Gold Coast Titans home ground is Cbus Super Stadium, Centreline Place, Robina. Free transport with your event ticket on standard bus and train services.

Or why not use one of the more iconic or fun transport methods available to get to a game – via boat along the famous waterways, take a helicopter for a little glamour or dress up and come along in a real life fire engine with the guys from www.Fire4hire.com.au

Gold Coast AUSTRALIA

3 star hotel in central Surfers Paradise

STAY IN THE HEART OF SURFERS PARADISE When you stay at the Islander Resort Hotel, you will find Cavill Mall, beaches, shopping & restaurants right at your doorstep.

Stay in an air conditioned one bedroom apartment with kitchen facilities or a standard hotel room.

Enjoy free use of all of our resort facilities including tropical pool, spa, steam room, tennis and squash courts.

99

Stay from $ per night Booking Code : 99special

Stay Stay

3

(Hotel Room)

pay for for pay

2

(Hotel Room or Apartment)

Booking Code : 3for2

Stay Stay

7

pay for for pay

5

(One Bedroom Apartment)

Booking Code : 7for5

Also enjoy our restaurant, bar and gaming lounge, tour desk, on-site bottleshop and 24 hour reception.

3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Ph 1800 074 393 Email res@islander.com.au

BONUS

2 for 1 Vouchers Late Check-Out

Visit our website www.islander.com.au for more specials

Valid for travel 1/4/2014 to 19/12/2014. Apartment accommodation is for up to 4 people. Non serviced. Subject to availability & excluding peak periods.

6 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival performer

Blues on Broadbeach The annual Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival has something for everyone, transcending the barriers of age, gender and culture It’s one of Australia’s most iconic blues festivals and this year it runs from May 22 to 25 on outdoor stages, parks and other venues throughout the area.

The people who come again and again to the festival love it because it feeds on Broadbeach’s village-like atmosphere and relaxed ambience.

The blues festival nurtures Australian talent as well as providing a stage for international acts. This year’s lineup includes around 60 different acts including Australian icon Russell Morris, award-winning Diesel, New Zealand’s Trinity Roots who

headline on the Saturday night and Eugene Hideaway Bridge from the United States.

The ticketless, free event is family friendly, too, with carousel rides for children, face painters and clowns to entertain the youngest blues fans, and the festival is unlicensed. The only place alcohol can be consumed is in the licensed venues. (Some venues do have age restrictions).

While blues music is food for the soul, this festival combines the best of blues with the cream of the Gold Coast cuisine in a guaranteed recipe for success.

Testimony to Broadbeach blues’ popularity is the collection

of awards it picked up last year: • Winner of the Best Regional Event in Queensland at the Australian Event Awards 2013 • Winner of the Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event in Queensland at the Australian Event Awards 2013 • Bronze winner of the Festival & Events at the 2013 Queensland Tourism Awards • Top ten finalist in Australia's Favourite Event at the Australian Event Awards 2013 And for those who love sport and music, the New Zealand Warriors are playing the GC Titans on the Gold Coast on the same weekend as the festival.

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

8 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Stars all around Sand, sun … and opera … only in Australia!

Sometimes it feels like a crime to go indoors when the skies are clear, even for a night at the opera.

That’s exactly what the organisers of the Bleach Festival thought and now they have taken opera out of the theatre and onto the beach.

Picture families enjoying a picnic on the beach, children playing as the sun goes down, and beautiful music. It’s all possible with the Australian

production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute in May. This new production is directed by Michael Gow and stars some of Opera Australia’s finest singers, including Serbian-born Milica Ilic who migrated to New Zealand in 1996. Milica plays Queen of the Night and is joined by New Zealanders Jonathon Abernethy (Tamino), Conal Coad (Sarasto) and Aussie baritone Jason Barry-Smith (Papageno).

Showtime What: Opera on the Beach.

When: May 9-11 at 6.30pm (running time 160 minutes including a 30-minute interval).

Where: Greenmount Beach.

Opera on the beach

Arts and surf The Bleach* festival is fun, youthful, creative and covered in sand and surf, and takes place every March.

Beachside villages become a hub of activity for arts, music and beach culture, with the heart and soul of the programme taking place in the southern Gold Coast alongside world famous surf breaks.

There’s a feast of contemporary live music, pop up art installations and exhibitions, outdoor film screenings, street parties and theatre over three mega weekends.

The first weekend coincides with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro surfing event. This annual event is the focus of the surfing lifestyle and culture. A large number of the world’s leading surfers - including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson - own homes on the Gold coast and tend to live here for half of the year. www.bleachfestival.com.au

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 9

Free and fantastic The Surfers Paradise Festival celebrates music, art, food and culture So much to do and so little to pay.

The emphasis is on free events at the April Surfers Paradise Festival and the focus is on celebrating music, art, food and culture.

As well as being a chance to showcase emerging local talent, the festival is also a platform for national and international artists across four weekends of free community events.

These events really are all about having fun. Take the afterdark ghost tour of the old Surfers Paradise or hop on board the Magic Bus, a double-decker charting the route between

festival hotspots while keeping passengers entertained with music, fun and games. Indulge your classical side at the Bach to Beethoven concert or enjoy a mix of acoustic bands and street entertainers, along with art and craft markets at the Laneway Project. There’s a Bricks N Fun Brick Expo featuring working Lego trains, large scale models, a play zone, plus a buy and build area for kids (and playful adults), street parades, beach concerts … and all those events happen in week one of the four-week programme.

fAMILY FUN Find out more about all the events at the Surfers Paradise Festival from April 3 to 26 at www.surfersparadisefestival.com

THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT Are you ready to red carpet? The Gold Coast Film Festival is a screen culture extravaganza from April 3 to 13. There’s movie premieres, celebrity guest appearances, film making seminars and the best of all things pop culture, sci fi, fantasy and anime. www.qpow.com.au www.gcfilmfestival.com

10 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Kids’ pLAY

Have a Swell time at the beach September brings the 10-day Swell Sculpture Festival to the Gold Coast Swell Sculpture Festival is a free display of more than 50 sculptures built by local, national and international artists at Currumbin Beach. Visitors can view the sculptures, go on twilight walks, enjoy artist talks, artist master classes, children’s workshops or wander through the Swell Smalls Gallery from September 12 to 21. www.swellsculpture.com.au

Stand aside in September, parents, because the kids get to rule during The Surfers Paradise Kids Weekend. The focus is on families as fun rides, facepainting, animals and fireworks transform Surfers Paradise into a playground. Live entertainment on the coastal precinct includes The Wiggles’ Dorothy the Dinosaur, art activities, night-time beach cinemas and fireworks.

ALL the good things in Life Pencil in a weekend visit to the Carrara Markets, Australia’s biggest permanent weekend marketplace. With more than 500 stalls. it’s an easy place to entertain the kids with buskers, pony rides, bungy trampolines and face www.painters. carraramarkets.com.au

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 events & adventure edition I 11

V8 Supercar

The feel of raw power: unleashing the beast A couple of laps at the Gold Coast’s V8 SuperSchool has Paul Davies hooked on this thrilling sport.

When I found out I'd be driving a V8 Supercar on a race track on the Gold Coast, I was excited that I'd be in charge of a ridiculously fast car, but also that I would find out what all the fuss was about watching car racing events.

The V8 SuperSchool at the Performance Driving Centre in Norwell is not just a place you go to test drive a race car. It's a driver training school and a workshop

for building Gold Coast 600 and other V8 Supercar competition winners. You can also race gokarts and have your work party there. After a tour of the operation I put on my hairnet and overalls for a spin on the tarmac.

Once you've managed to snake your way through the roll cage and into the bucket seats, you start to sense the power of this purpose-built

machine. My instructor, a former Holden V8 Ute competitor named Steve, took me on a slow journey around the 2.1km circuit, pointing out where to accelerate, brake and change gear as highlighted by colourcoded cones on the trackside.

Next it was my turn. The first lap was another steady drive by as I repeated his movements precisely. Once that was lap was

12 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Keep the motors running Race by day and rock all night at the Amor All Gold Coast 600, a mix of music and V8 Supercar racing on the streets of Surfers Paradise from October 24-26.

V8 Superfest features more than 25 events across the coast including pop-up free concerts, opera, moonlight movies, art exhibitions, animal expos, street tapas and motorsport museums. www.v8supercars.com.au

Speed thrills on the Gold Coast Sea World's new Storm Coaster: Prepare to go up, down and all around before finishing with a splash. www.seaworld.com.au

Gold Coast 600

completed, "Ok let's go!"

It took only a slight push of the accelerator for me to feel the raw power of this beast. I stayed within my comfort zone for two laps. Once my teacher was satisfied I wasn't going to roll a car valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, he yelled to pick it up. On the short circuit, we reached speeds of almost 150km/h on the back straight and clocked a best lap time of 1 minute 12 seconds.

I hopped out of the car confident I could've had a career as a V8 Supercar driver.

That was Steve drove and I realised what these cars are capable of. The speed of a

transition from full throttle on the straight to a tight hairpin corner was incredible and after three laps of this expert driving the adrenaline was flowing.

I was given a USB stick to take home with footage of my performance taken from two pencams, one looking out the windscreen, the other looking back at the driver. It includes a speedometer and a stopwatch recording your lap times with a soundtrack of the instructor yelling at you above the roar of the V8 engine. It might not the best driving in the world but it's fun to watch.

Paul Davies travelled courtesy of Gold Coast Tourism.

Dream World's Pandamonium: Kung Fu Panda-inspired merry go round on steroids. One version swings you round and the other, side to side, upside down at 3.8 G-force. www.dreamworld.com.au Dream World's Giant Drop: The tallest free-falling ride in the world at 119 metres. www.dreamworld.com.au Jetboating: Skim across the coast’s waterways, doing high speed drifting and 360 spins. oceanjetboating.com.au Go Karting: The best indoor go karting on the Gold Coast. www.gokartinggoldcoast.com.au Motorcycle tours: Harley Davidson motorcycle tours and transfers. www.wildfiretours.com

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 13

More beach classics Steph Gilmore ‘ASP / Kelly Cestari’

Surf’s up on the Gold Coast Gold Coast has some of the world’s greatest waves, making it the natural home for the Quiksilver Pro and the Roxy Pro World Championship Tour events.

The men’s event is the Quiksilver Pro, one of 10 events making up the ASP Men's World Tour. Roxy Pro is for the gun women surfers and is one of seven events on the ASP Women's World Tour.

Both events attract the sport's top athletes as they compete at the Gold Coast’s famous Snapper Rocks, in some of the best waves on the ASP World Tour.

At this year’s event in March, Brazilian Gabriel Medina became only the second goofy-

footer to win the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, nudging out Australian Joel Parkinson by the narrowest of margins. Stephanie Gilmore made her fellow Aussies proud, taking out the coveted Roxy Pro title.

The event attracts thousands of spectators and extensive media coverage shows the world why many leading surfers including Kelly Slater and champions Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson own homes on the Gold Coast and opt to live here for half of the year.

The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro events take place in March. It’s a great month for sports fans with the line up including the premier yachting event Sail Paradise Gold Coast and the Cooly Classic Coolangatta Ocean Swim. Once you’ve watched your favourite sports people work up a sweat, make sure you pencil in some relaxation time for Bleach*, the premiere arts festival on the Gold Coast.

In November you have the Beach Bash, Australia’s craziest and sandiest obstacle challenge, and Coolangatta Gold, a 42.7 kilometre test of endurance comprising surf ski racing, beach runs, a surf swim and a board race.

Jump On In Go Ride A Wave: www. gorideawave.com.au Brad Holmes Surf Coaching: www. bradholmessurfcoaching.com JM Stand Up Paddle Boarding: www.jmsup.com Water Sport Guru: watersportsguru.com Duffy Down Under: www.duffydownunder.com.au

14 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Surf, Seafood and Symphony A new edition to the Surfers Paradise Festival.

This premier food event on foodies’ calendars will see the Foreshore and Cavill Mall filled with food stalls on April 12 offering the best seafood and international menus the Gold Coast’s traders have to offer.

The day’s free activities of entertainment throughout the precinct culminate with a symphony orchestra performing on the beach with some special guest stars of Australia's stage and screen, followed by fireworks.

ALL the good things in Life

AustrALiAn sAnd sCuLpting ChAmpionships

Surfers Paradise Kids Weekend: What better way to start your September school holidays than this free family friendly event? Each year, Surfers Paradise comes alive for The Kids Weekend as it takes over the coastal precinct to offer fun and games, free family activities and entertainment. www.surfersparadise.com

In February, Surfers Paradise Beach will be transformed into a gallery during The Australian Sand Sculpting Championships. www.surfersparadise.com

KirrA Kite festiVAL November’s Kirra Kite Festival offers kite culture, music, multicultural arts, gourmet food and street performance framed by the Southern Gold Coast. www.kirrakitefestival.com

wine, food And song Mt Tamborine Cooking School: www.tamborinecookingschool.com.au Cedar Creek Estate: www.cedarcreekestate.com.au Canungra Valley Vineyards: www.oreillys.com.au/ canungra-valley-vineyards Black Coffee Lyrics: www.blackcoffeelyrics.com.au

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 15

Life sure is a beach A new January dance festival promises to be one to remember Come January, Australia’s hottest new beach festival will land on iconic Surfers Paradise beach as Beachlife hosts two days of dance DJs and R’n’B artists.

Promoters have revealed support acts handpicked by the festival’s headliner, Grammy Award-winning DJ Skrillex.

The iconic Gold Coast shoreline will be transformed into ‘‘party central’’ with a spaceship stage and state-of-the-art lighting

hit the sAnds

when Jack Beats, What So Not and Alvin Risk join the Saturday line-up selected by Skrillex.

Also playing are Hermitude and Ta-Ku, who join hip hop international superstars Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky on Sunday. It will be the only Queensland show for Skrillex, Wiz Khalifa and A$AP Rocky.

The 16+ event is expected to attract more than 10,000 festival goers each day.

What: Beach Life Gold Coast.

Where: Surfers Paradise beach. www.beachlifegc.com.au

Keep the pArtY going Keep the party going by staying on for a few days before or after the weekend. Come earlier and enjoy New Year’s Eve at Surfers Paradise or stay on for one of the Jeep Magic Millions race days.

Or you can make plans to stay on or return for the Big Day Out later in the month.

A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE GOLD COAST Start your adventure the right way, with a chauffeured transfer from Brisbane or Gold Coast Airport.

Fixed price service to suit your needs.

Comfortable

Reliable

CLICK HERE TO BOOK NOW

Easy

GET 10% OFF

WHEN YOU BOOK FROM THIS ADVERT OFFER EXPIRES 30/10/2014 Terms & Conditions apply

16 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Clarke Gayford enjoying the Jeep Magic Millions

All the fun of the carnival Clarke Gayford mixes and mingles with celebrities at the Gold Coast’s Jeep Magic Millions Carnival The Jeep Magic Millions is the Gold Coast's equivalent of the Melbourne Cup. The $5 million premier horse racing event is broadcast around the globe with a local crowd of 20,000 punters all turning up in their bests to have a flutter.

Not that my travelling companion and I were treated as punters after nabbing the last two tickets to the Jeep Moet VIP marquee.

Seeing the standard of dress on display I was pleased we both had put in a bit of effort.

Quaffing free champers from huge gold Moet mugs, the VIP marquee was a fascinating affair, especially being

surrounded by Australia's A-list and not having a flipping clue who anyone was.

Our assigned photographer kept insisting on a photo with "this person'' and "you must get a photo with this girl" ... I kept nodding and happily met all the glamorous types.

One of those people was "it'' girl and daughter to racing royalty, Kate Waterhouse. Her mum is Gai Waterhouse, who trained the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. So when Kate gave me a hot tip on Northern Glory in race seven, I paid attention. Up until then, I had bet on horses that sounded fast.

Of course when race seven came

around I watched the horse I was going to pick, Sweet Idea, come storming home in front, while Northern Glory failed to even place. Typical.

we're racing Every January the Gold Coast hosts the Magic Millions Yearling Sales and 10 days of carnival and society events surrounding the Magic Millions raceday. The $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic is the highlight - with only graduates of the Magic Millions Sales eligible to compete. www.magicmillions.com.au

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 17

Tournament link to Australian greats Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament is always a hit Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament, the Australian PGA Championship in December, is always popular with sports followers.

With $1.25 million in prize money, the Gold Coast tournament attracts Australian and international stars.

The tournament dates back to 1905, with gaps in play during both world wars. The winner receives the Joe Kirkwood Cup, named after the Australian golfer

acknowledged as having put Australian golf on the world map.

Last year, Masters Champion Adam Scott won the cup in a talented field which included Rickie Fowler and David McKenzie.

Scott, said winning his first Australian PGA Championship has a special place alongside his career highlights.

“I’m really proud, the PGA means a lot to me and my family and I think this is an incredible

Enjoy another day in paradise for FREE Stay for 4 nights pay for 3* Stay at Ocean Royale which is centrally located in Queensland’s famous Gold Coast for 4 nights and only pay for 3! Spacious one and two bedroom fullyself contained apartments with ocean and garden views, private balconies and secure undercover parking.

Facilities include: heated pools – indoor with spa, male and female saunas, half tennis court, BBQ and pergola area; tours booked at front desk and on-site resident managers. Email us on info@oceanroyale.com.au for our amazing 4 nights pay for 3 offer.

www.oceanroyale.com.au Terms and conditions apply. Offer subject to availability. Offer on sale from 1st April 2014 until 30th June 2014 – for travel up to 20th September 2014 .Blackout dates: 18-21 April 2014(Easter); 22-25 May 2014(Blues on Broadbeach). Rates based on 2 persons per (1 bedroom) and 4 persons per (2 bedroom). All rates are in Australian Dollars.

*

win,” said Scott, whose father Phil is also a PGA professional.

The winner also commented on the great support from the crowd who follow the action on the RACV Royal Pines Resort’s championship course framed by the Nerang River with fresh and salt-water lakes coming into play on nine of the 18 holes.

“I felt an incredible support from the crowd, it was nice seeing them getting so excited for me to get a win.”

18 I Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition

Gold Coast Airport Marathon

Going for gold The flat, fast course of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon is a great opportunity to achieve a personal best, writes Chris Daniels.

To change yourself you sometimes have to change those around you.

I've been running marathons for nearly 10 years now, and in that time I've never considered myself a speedster. Sure, I have endurance but I'd convinced myself that taking up running in my mid-30s meant I'd never achieve any great speed. Year

after year, I was content with finishing races in middling, unspectacular times. The first few, long, slow marathons hardwired an equivalent slow, steady pace into my muscles and brain that I hadn't been able to shake.

But it turns out this steady equilibrium can be broken. For me it was cracked by leaving home and racing in another city

- one that hypes itself as home to a flat fast course that gives runners every opportunity to get that personal best time.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has just been given "gold label" status by the International Association of Athletics Federations - the only race in our region to have such a grade, putting it

Travel Gold Coast events & adventure edition I 19

PACE YOURSELF

Chris Daniels

in the same league as its more famous counterparts in New York, Berlin and Tokyo. Just under 25,000 runners took part in last year's race weekend almost 5000 for the marathon, 10,000 for the half, 5600 for the 10km and 3500 for the 5.7km distance. Another 1500 raced in the kid's "junior dash" events.

There are a lot of serious runners there - but the race still has a fun, family vibe.

I ran the half marathon - and came in at 1hr 37m - but the full marathon is just as flat and fast, perhaps more scenic, too, as it takes in more of the beachfront along Surfers Paradise and up to

Beachfront running

the turnaround point at Burleigh Heads before heading back to the Southport start-finish area.

The race starts early in the morning before the sun comes up - with the first few kilometres of running under a sun rising over the Tasman.

A brisk run with 10,000 others on a warm winter morning on the Gold Coast can transform expectations of yourself. A psychological reboot that helped me to go on and break my own personal best marathon time twice in the next two months.

Chris Daniels travelled as a guest of Gold Coast Tourism.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon on July 5 and 6 features a marathon, half marathon, 10km run, 5km challenge and junior dash races for the kids over 4km and 2km.

More than 25,000 people from around the world relish the magnificent running climate, as well as the flat, fast and beautiful course that runs alongside the Pacific Ocean. www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

Kokoda Challenge The Kokoda Challenge on July 19 and 20 is hailed as Australia’s toughest endurance event.

Participants trek a 96km course that leads along fire trails, crosses 12 creeks and summits 5000m of vertical elevation. The goal is to finish as a complete team of four in honour of the spirit forged on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during WWII: Mateship, courage and sacrifice. www.kokodachallenge.com

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.