My Extremely Short Stay In Brisbane – Gold Coast Australia

My Experience At Surfer Paradise & Movie World

First of all, I will like to apologize for not sharing my previous experiences, as I have been too committed in my work and life. It was unlucky of me, as I have fallen sick for this week as I got a virus infection on my seventh nerve in my face that caused me to lose some functions in my tongue, lip and eyelid on half of face.

It is only this weekend while I still recovering from this virus infection that I felt I should write something about my short stay in Brisbane. I only had two days stay for this trip. Although it was a short stay but that did not prevent me from enjoying Gold Coast. Hence, let wait no more and let me tell you something about Gold Coast.


When people mention the Gold Coast. Various images come to mind... stunning beaches, exciting theme parks, sun-kissed locals, sophisticated style, the list goes on. The Gold Coast truly offers something for everyone.

From stunning beaches to cozy hinterland getaways, the Gold Coast offers plenty of places for you to visit. Just expect to be tempted, that is, tempted to stay a little longer.

The Gold Coast is known for being an action-packed holiday destination. Whether it is the theme parks, attractions or tours…there's something for everyone.

Just across the river from Southport lies Main Beach, one of the Gold Coast’s most adored districts. Blessed with café lined boulevards and boutique shopping and all within a short strut of the celebrated sands of the beach. Main Beach offers a vista of multi-million dollar elegance as the calm water area hosts an array of extraordinary vessels and unrivalled residences.


And a just a short stroll south is Surfers Paradise, the playground of the Gold Coast, featuring an abundance of memorable experiences set amid a spectacular skyline and brilliant stretch of coast. To gain a truly unique perspective on this city centre, venture over to the world’s tallest residential apartment building. Topping 80 levels and is a visitor observation lounge on the 78th floor, it is a great way to enjoy the beauty of the Gold Coast and beyond.



Then there’s Broadbeach, one of Queensland’s most plentiful shopping districts. Many of the Gold Coast’s most modern dining establishments and premier nightlife venues are based in the Broadbeach precinct, giving the area a contemporary feel and an absolutely distinctive style.

Surfers Paradise, Queensland

Surfers Paradise is a beach resort town on Australia's Gold Coast in Queensland, noted for its many high-rise hotels and apartment buildings. The central feature of the Surfers Paradise CBD is Cavill Mall, which runs through the centre of the main shopping precinct, directly to the beach. The record-breaking Q1 residential tower is situated on Clifford Street in Surfers Paradise.

Overview

Every year millions of visitors flock from all over the globe to this Gold Coast beach to surf, swim, party and to have a generally good time. Surfers Paradise is full of fun and entertainment all day long. During the day, you can either head to the beach, go shopping, or attend one of the numerous theme parks and attractions such as Sea World, Movie World, bungee jumping, etc. At night, Surfers Paradise keeps jumping with various clubs, bars and the famous Conrad Jupiters Casino.



Getting There

Nearest major international airport: Brisbane Airport in Queensland, Australia

Airport transportation

Brisbane is 48 miles (77 km) from Surfers Paradise. From the airport, you can either rent a car or catch a coach to the Gold Cost. Shuttle buses to Surfers cost A$35 one way and A$60 round trip. For more information, check-out the Brisbane Airport Web site. If you are not in a rush to hit the surf, the city of Brisbane is a nice place to visit and has plenty of shops and restaurants to occupy your interests.

Timing

Surfers is busiest during the Australian summer season, which is December - February, when the beaches are frequented by tourists, local Australians escaping the heat, and crowds of young students enjoying their summer break. In addition to being the most crowded, the summer months can get very hot and humid with an occasional rain-shower. Don't forget your sunscreen; you can burn in minutes. We prefer visiting in late spring (October/November) — fewer crowds and the water is warm enough for swimming.

Lodging

A multitude of lodging options exist in Surfers Paradise, ranging from tall luxury hotels to rented apartments to inexpensive hostels. A comprehensive listing can be found at: www.australianexplorer.com/hotels/surfers_paradise.htm. Hostels are an inexpensive accommodation option for backpackers and can cost as little as A$12 and as much as A$25+ per person per night. The cost will vary by room, amenities and the number of people per room. Try online: www.hostelsurfersparadise.com. Reservations recommended.


Cuisine

If you are daring, you can try to jump-start your morning with vegamite on toast, an Australian favorite, and wash it down with a cup of tea. Don't worry if you are as slow as we to acquire the vegamite taste, because Surfers is a popular international/commercial tourist spot with plenty of restaurants for everyone's taste. There's everything from Asian food to Italian to McDonald's, although the Australians have even added their own Aussie flavor to the golden arches. When you order a hamburger, don't be surprised if comes with one of their favorite toppings: a beet root, a fried egg, or a slice of pineapple.

Travel Tips

As the name suggests, Surfers Paradise is just one of the many great surfing areas on the eastern coast of Australia. You don't have to be able to show off Hawaii Five-O style to try it out. There are plenty of rental shops and instructional camps for all levels. Alternatively, you can use a boogie board or just plain body surf. The best surfing is beyond the sandbar that is just a short swim from the beach. Keep in mind though, the swim back to shore can be difficult, especially after an active day of surfing.

While you are there

If you're looking for a quiet, romantic spot, take a day trip to Byron Bay, just over the New South Wales border. For the 30-something and older crowd, Byron Bay provides an intimate and more relaxing atmosphere with the right touch of shops and restaurants. If you want a break from the beach, a short drive inland provides opportunities for camping, biking and hiking, as well as a chance to visit a number of national parks and nature reserves.
Springbrook National Park offers camping, Tel. 5533-5147
Lamington National Park
Green Mountains Bush, Tel. 5544-0634
Binna Burra, Tel. 5533-3584
Tamborine Mountain, Tel. 5545-3200

Warner Bros. Movie World

Warner Bros. Movie World is a popular movie related theme park on the Gold Coast in Australia. It is owned and operated by Village Roadshow and is the only movie related park in Australia. It opened on June 3, 1991.



Even though it is not Australia's largest theme park, it gets the most visitors (an estimated 5.2 million people a year). The concept of Movie World was the creation of the late CV Wood, one of the world's foremost theme park designers and President of the Recreation Enterprises Division of Warner Bros. Woody, as he was affectionately known, was instrumental in the design and development of Disneyland, Six Flags Over Texas and other leisure-time facilities. From the moment Woody flew to Australia in 1989 and saw the vacant land adjoining the Studios, the promise of Warner Bros. Movie World was born. Within 16 months, an ordinary swamp had been transformed into a spectacular movie-related theme park. Wherever possible, construction involved local skills and labour. Five hundred people were recruited and trained on completion. The park opened on the 3rd of June in 1991. Queensland Premier Wayne Goss marked the occasion by cutting novelty film reel. The opening of the park was attended by celebrities such as Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Well, so much about what I could share.



As It was an extremely short stay in Brisbane, I did enjoy myself especially at Surfer Paradise hanging out as a beach bum getting to to know new friends from HongKong. I also fulfilled my childhood fantasy to take some pictures with my super heros.



Just a short stay, I could only share so little … Wait for my next desitnation but I hope that I don’t have to be so unlucky to fall ill in order to share my next experience. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy Brisbane – Gold Coast if you have an opportunity. Thanks and catch up with all of you soon!

By Sean Toh