Last September (2013), I visited the Gold Coast, Australia area. This was actually my second time in the area having visited a few friends there a year earlier and stayed at the Hilton property. While there, the Queensland Tourist Board invited myself and a few others to see some of the areas’ attractions. It was lovely! Here are the things we experienced:
- Jet Boating – While there I used Paradise Jet Boating. This is the wildest ride I’ve ever had. I have no pictures of the event as you cannot take anything with you out there. It’s just you and the boat. It’s like a roller coaster on water.
- Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk – Here you get to walk through the rain forest on a skywalk. After which you continue by walking along a nature trail.
- Warner Brothers Movie World – This is a theme park with rides based on Warner Brothers Movies. This includes Superman, which is a very wild, but cool ride. Green Lantern is also another ride.
Here are some things you should know about this Australian vacation area:
- Airport Name: Gold Coast Airport (Coolangata Airport) (OOL) – One of the coolest airport codes I think. The nearby airport is Brisbane (BNE).
- Airlines Serving: airnorth (TL), Air Asia (AK), Air New Zealand (NZ), JetStar (JQ), Qantas (QF), Scoot (TZ), Tigerair (TT), Virgin Australia (VA).
- Airport Tip: The airport is small and very easy to navigate. Arrivals and departure are on the same ground level and at the time of this writing, there are no jetways. Check your schedules on passrider.com.
- Airport Lounges: Qantas Club and Virgin Australia Lounge ; additional information
- Airport To The City: The best way is to take the local bus into Surfers’ Paradise where most of the hotels are located. A tourist shuttle and taxi service are also available; additional information.
- Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
- Language: English with a really cool accent
- Visa and Health Requirements: If you are a U.S. citizen and citizens from select other countries, a visa is required. Use this link to check for other citizenship. For some countries, you can apply and pay for this visa online. It’s called an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Some airlines do have the capability to do this application when you check-in as well. Here is some additional information from the U.S. State Department including visa and health requirements.
- Airport Wifi: Free
- Accommodations: There are several hotels in this area as its a tourist destination. All the excitement occur in the Surfers Paradise area.
Surfers Paradise has some of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen. Not mention the roar of the surf breaking on the white sand beach.
The Local bus to Surfers Paradise.
The Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle takes you to the hotels in the Surfers Paradise Area.
The entrance to the Gold Coast Airport.
A Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 is seen at the hard stand in Gold Coast Airport. This airline is now Virgin Australia.
The inlet at Surfers Paradise.
Please leave a comment below about your own experiences and tips.
Comments 10
My wife and I have non-reved to Australia almost every year for the past 20 years. We usually fly from LAX to BNE (Brisbane) non-stop, on Qantas. So far, we have never had a problem with getting a seat on the LAX – BNE flight, but we try to avoid flying during the Australian school holidays. You can catch the train from the BNE airport all the way to the Gold Coast, with plenty of stops to disembark along the way. If you were trying to get to Surfer’s Paradise, you could take the train to the Helensvale stop, then catch a cab or bus to the beach. Total travel time from the Brisbane airport to Surfer’s Paradise would be about 2 hours.
Author
Hi Griz,
Great tip indeed. Thank you.
I guess that one is not so heavily traveled; everyone wants to get to Sydney and forget that you can just do OA to get down there and the Northeastern coast of Australia is really very beautiful.
Griz what months do you find the best to down under flying non rev? thanks Jerry
My wife and I have non-reved to Australia almost every year for the past 20 years. We usually fly from LAX to BNE (Brisbane) non-stop, on Qantas. So far, we have never had a problem with getting a seat on the LAX – BNE flight, but we try to avoid flying during the Australian school holidays. You can catch the train from the BNE airport all the way to the Gold Coast, with plenty of stops to disembark along the way. If you were trying to get to Surfer’s Paradise, you could take the train to the Helensvale stop, then catch a cab or bus to the beach. Total travel time from the Brisbane airport to Surfer’s Paradise would be about 2 hours.
Hi Griz,
Great tip indeed. Thank you.
I guess that one is not so heavily traveled; everyone wants to get to Sydney and forget that you can just do OA to get down there and the Northeastern coast of Australia is really very beautiful.
sPENT 38 DAYS THERE, COULD NOT SEE IT ALL PLUS THE SOFT SAND MADE IT A GREAT TRIP. BROUGHT WIFE AND DAUGHTER BACK FOR A 21 DAY TRIP. LOVE IT AND FRIEND MADE THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE.
Author
Hi William,
Wonderful! Thank you for your comment.
It is a great area with lots to explore. It’s a bit pricey so I can’t stay long whenever I go :-).
Kerwin
http://www.Passrider.com
http://www.FB.com/Passrider
sPENT 38 DAYS THERE, COULD NOT SEE IT ALL PLUS THE SOFT SAND MADE IT A GREAT TRIP. BROUGHT WIFE AND DAUGHTER BACK FOR A 21 DAY TRIP. LOVE IT AND FRIEND MADE THERE ARE FRIENDS FOR LIFE.