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

THE GOLD COAST 347
Tips The Secret of the Seasons
School holidays, especially the Christmas vacation from mid-December to
the end of January, are peak season on the Gold Coast. Accommodations
are booked months in advance at these times. The rest of the year, occupancy
levels plummet and so do rates! Packages and deals abound in the
off season, and perfectly adequate motel rooms can go for as little as
A$50 (US$33) double on standby.
(US$6.05) adults, A$4.70 (US$3.05) children ages 5 to 14. Numerous local
buses meet the trains to take passengers to Surfers Paradise.
If you come by train to Surfers Paradise from Sydney or other southern cities
you will need to transfer to a connecting coach in Casino or Murwillumbah,
which are just south of the Queensland border; contact Countrylink (& 13 22
32 in Australia; www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au) for information. The trip from
Sydney takes 14 to 15 hours and the fare is A$105 (US$68) for a sitting berth,
and A$218 (US$142) for a sleeper.
VISITOR INFORMATION The Gold Coast Tourism Bureau (www.gold
coasttourism.com.au) has an information kiosk on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise
(& 07/5538 4419). It is stacked with brochures on things to see and do, and
they will book tours and arrange accommodations for you. The kiosk is open
Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Saturdays and public holidays
from 9am to 5:30pm, and Sundays from 9am to 3:30pm. A second information
booth is at the corner of Griffith and Warner streets, Coolangatta (& 07/5536
7765). It is open 8am to 4pm weekdays, 8am to 3pm Saturday, 8am to 1pm public
holidays, and closed Sunday.
To obtain material in advance, e-mail info@gctb.com.au or write to the
bureau at P.O. Box 7091, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD 9726.
ORIENTATION The heart of the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise (“Surfers”
to the locals), a high-rise forest of apartment towers, shops, cheap eateries, taverns,
and amusement parlors. The pedestrian-only Cavill Mall in the center of town
connects the Gold Coast Highway to The Esplanade, which runs along the
beach.
The Gold Coast Highway is the main artery that connects the beachside suburbs
lining the coast. Just north of Surfers is Main Beach , where Tedder
Avenue is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Heading south from Surfers,
the main beach centers are Broadbeach, where retail complexes and restaurants
are mushrooming; family-oriented Burleigh Heads; and the twin towns of
Coolangatta in Queensland and Tweed Heads just over the border in New
South Wales. Coolangatta still has the small-town feel ideal for families, despite
some major development in the past few years. Gold Coast Airport is the other
side of the highway from Coolangatta township.
West of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are the affluent suburbs of Ashmore
and Nerang, where luxury residential estates and many of the region’s championship
golf courses have sprung up.
GETTING AROUND You don’t really need a car to get around. The hotels
listed below are within walking distance of the beach, shops, and restaurants, and
many tour companies pick up at hotels. You can reach the theme parks by bus. A
car is handy for a day trip to the hinterland, and to get around to restaurants and