Frommer's Australia from $50 a Day 13th Edition - To Parent Directory

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CHAPTER 6 . QUEENSLAND & THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
bungee jumping to jet-skiing. The best activity on the Gold Coast, though, is the
natural kind, and it doesn’t cost a cent—hitting the surf and lazing on the beach.
GOLD COAST ESSENTIALS
GETTING THERE By Car Access to the Gold Coast Highway, which runs
the length of the Coast, is off the Pacific Highway from Sydney or Brisbane. The
drive takes about 80 minutes from Brisbane. From Sydney it’s an 11-hour trip,
sometimes longer, on the crowded, rundown Pacific Highway.
By Plane Domestic flights land at Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta, 25km
(15 miles) south of Surfers Paradise. Qantas (& 13 13 13 in Australia; www.
qantas.com.au) operates plenty of direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and
Brisbane. Virgin Blue (& 13 67 89) flies direct from Sydney, Melbourne, and
Adelaide. The Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle (& 13 12 30) meets every flight
and will transfer you to your accommodation; the fare is A$14 (US$9.10) oneway
and A$24 (US$16) round-trip. A taxi from the airport to Surfers Paradise is
about A$30 (US$20), depending on the traffic, which can be heavy.
The nearest international gateway is Brisbane International Airport. The
Coachtrans Airporter bus meets most flights and makes about 20 trips a day
from the domestic and international terminals at Brisbane Airport to Gold
Coast accommodations for A$35 (US$23) adults and A$18 (US$12) for children
4 to 14. The trip takes about 90 minutes to Surfers Paradise. No need to
book in advance unless you are on an evening flight.
AirtrainConnect services link Brisbane Airport and the Gold Coast by train
and bus for A$25 (US$16) adults, A$15 (US$9.75) children 5 to 14, or A$80
(US$52) for a group of four. Take Airtrain to the Gold Coast, then an air-conditioned
coach shuttle will take you to any accommodation house between
Southport Spit at the northern end of the Gold Coast and Burleigh Heads to the
south. Airtrain’s SmartPass, for which you pay A$89 (US$58) per adult, A$43
(US$28) per child ages 4 to 14, or A$215 (US$140) for a family of four for 3
days, covers AirtrainConnect transfers, as well as unlimited door-to-door theme
park transfers on the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle and use of the local Surfside
bus network, 24 hours a day. Passes are also available for 5, 7, 10, and 14 days.
By Bus Coachtrans (& 13 12 30 in Queensland, or 07/5506 9777) also
offers a transfer service between Brisbane and Gold Coast hotels. The fare is
A$30 (US$20) adults one-way, half price for kids.
McCafferty’s (& 13 14 99) and Greyhound Pioneer (& 13 20 30) make
daily stops at Surfers Paradise from Sydney and Brisbane. The trip from Sydney
takes 15 to 16 hours, and the fare is A$93 (US$60). Trip time from Brisbane is
90 minutes, and the fare is $17 (US$11).
By Train Suburban trains (call Queensland Rail Citytrain at & 07/3235
5555) depart Brisbane Central and Roma Street stations every 30 minutes for
the 72-minute trip to the Gold Coast suburb of Robina. The fare is A$9.30
Value Look for the Coupons
Discount coupons and special deals on tours, cruises, car rental, restaurants,
nightclubs, and so on, are advertised in countless free weekly pocket guides
available in hotel lobbies and shops everywhere. Grab a handful and make
the most of them!