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

THE GOLD COAST 355
to the waitress, and sit back to enjoy the sea views from this casual spot across the
road from the beach. They do big cooked breakfasts for A$6.90 (US$4.50), with
thick toast and decent coffee. The long list of lunch and dinner options includes
pastas, burgers, honey tempura prawns on rice, or southern fried chicken. Grainfed
steaks, hard to find Down Under, come with a baked potato with bacon bits
and sour cream, coleslaw, and a choice of mushroom, pepper, or chili sauce. Look
for the good-value blackboard specials.
Under the Iluka Beach Resort Hotel, The Esplanade at Hanlan St., Surfers Paradise. & 07/5526 7913. Main
courses A$6.90–A$18 (US$4.50–US$12). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon–Fri 11am–10pm; weekends 6:30am–10pm.
Eazy Peazy Thai and Japanezy THAI AND JAPANESE You can have a
quick feed of tempura at the noodle bar or make a night of it at the relaxed tables
and chairs set up alfresco on the corner of happening Tedder Avenue. Everything
on the lengthy menu is light and tasty, from the sushi to the Thai chili beef salad
to the marinated fried chicken on light Japanese veggies. The soups are good
fillers for around A$8 (US$5.20).
Tedder Ave. at Peak Ave., Main Beach. & 07/5591 9000. Main courses A$10–A$20 (US$6.50–US$13). AE,
DC, MC, V. Mon–Fri noon–3pm and 6–10pm; Sat–Sun noon–10pm.
THE GOLD COAST AFTER DARK
The jeans and T-shirt set love the laid-back Billy’s Beach House on The
Esplanade at Hanlan Street, Surfers Paradise (& 07/5531 5666) for its drinks
specials. There’s always a live band Sunday nights. At night a dress code of long
pants and enclosed shoes (that is, no thongs or sandals) applies. All ages and
types frequent Melba’s, 46 Cavill Ave., Surfers Paradise (& 07/5538 7411), a
popular neon-lit dance club. Cover is A$8 (US$5.20).
A genuine Rolls Royce parked in the corner at Rolls nightclub at the Sheraton
Mirage, Sea World Drive, Main Beach (& 07/5591 1488) can be reserved as your
booth for the night. A mixed-age crowd of sophisticated locals rubs shoulders with
hotel guests. There is a A$5 (US$3.25) cover; the club is open Friday and Saturday
night. At 10:30pm they push back the tables at Saks, Marina Mirage, Sea
World Drive, Main Beach (& 07/5591 2755) and the elegant cafe/wine bar
becomes a dance floor for fashionable 20- and 30-somethings. Friday, Saturday,
and Sunday are the coolest nights to turn up, there’s a live band Sundays, no cover.
Revelers 20 to 35 years old go to Shooters Saloon Bar, in the Mark shopping
complex, Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise (& 07/5592 1144), for a fun, hip,
but not slavishly trendy night of dancing. There’s usually some kind of competition
going on, from Bachelor of the Year awards to swimwear parades. Cover
is A$5 (US$3.25) after 10pm. It’s open daily from 11am to 5am.
It’s not as big as some Vegas casinos, but Conrad Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast
Highway, Broadbeach (& 07/5592 8282), has plenty to keep the gambler
amused—70 gaming tables and 1,200-plus slot machines with roulette, blackjack,
Caribbean stud poker, baccarat and minibaccarat, craps, Pai Gow, and Sic
Bo. Downstairs the 1,100-seat Jupiter’s Theatre stages floor shows and concerts;
and there are three bars, including an English-style pub. Of the five restaurants,
the good-value Food Fantasy buffet is outrageously popular, so be prepared to
wait. The casino is open 24 hours. You must be 18 to enter, and smart, casual
dress is required.
Many head for the Twin Towns Services Club, Pacific Highway at Marine
Parade, Tweed Heads (& 1800/014 014 in Australia, or 07/5536 1977 for
bookings), for the 400 slot machines, Keno, and Club Tab for sports betting,
but you can also catch popular—if somewhat dated—acts like Petula Clark,