Just Back From Gold Coast
by Tully Rosenberg
Inspired by recent reports and rave reviews of the Gold Coast – its theme parks, beaches, food and atmosphere - I book a long weekend away for my boyfriend and me. I’ve often heard Jetstar berated for its lack of in-flight service and entertainment but on this flight, really, there was simply no time. Before I could even read my safety manual we had landed at Coolangatta airport. With only a long weekend in front of us there was no time to waste. The brevity of the flight, the swift pick-up of the hire car and the smooth cruise along the highway to Surfers Paradise set the pace for the days to come.
We checked in to the Vibe hotel which is brilliantly located backing on to the river, and just across from the top of the famous Caville Avenue. Its boutique ambience, friendly service and modern style are perfectly aligned so it feels less chain, more personal. A relaxed holiday ‘vibe’ permeates – an almost tropical island feeling - and we take advantage of our complimentary towels to cool off in the beautiful pool. A perfect pick-me-up for exploring the surrounding city.
Having not been in the neighbourhood for over 10 years I take my partner for a tour of the old city. Alas, not much has changed. Caville Mall remains in tact, and is strewn with all the tourist shops and cafes I remember (good ol' Charlies for one). Of course, the city centre has spread outwards (in size) and upwards (in style) with a greater diversity of places to shop and eat. Still it remains one big resort town in a way that is both kitsch and comforting. Warning: watchout for timeshare scammers luring you with scratch cards and ‘prizes’. They are everywhere.
We take shelter from the humidity in a cute café in the Chevron Renaissance Village – a new-ish outdoor centre which is a neighbourhood favourite for shopping, dining and entertainment, then stroll back to the hotel via the very trendy Circle on Caville Retail Precinct, where we indulge in the best-ever gelato and pretend to be in the market for designer clothes.
The humidity gives way to a massive downpour and we retreat once again to the luxury of the hired Holden Astra we have claimed as our own. Not to be deterred we take a short drive north of the hustle and bustle to the Harbourtown Shopping Centre in Biggera Waters – a hub of outlet shopping even I was impressed with. Blessed with a boyfriend as shopping savvy as I am, we picked up bargains at Cotton On, Nike, Polo and Oroton, resisting temptation at a great many more. It is one of the most satisfying shopping spree’s I have ever had – and that’s saying something!
Having worked up an appetite we succumb to our more touristy inclinations and head to the Hard Rock Café in the centre of Surfers for dinner, followed by a good hour of fun and games at Timezone (Surfers Paradise does this to you) and a well deserved nights sleep in our luxurious hotel room.
I love having breakfast included. Firstly it gets you up in time not to miss it. Secondly, you don’t have to decide where to go and then get there. Lastly, with these grand hotel buffets, you are ridiculously well fuelled for the day ahead. Cue Warner Bros Movie World.
We buy a limited edition ‘ Summer Pass’ that allows access into two parks over 3 days. Perfect! It is $99 each which seemed a lot at first but we later realised the value in this.
We walk through the gates of the famous theme park and it could have been Disneyland we were so excited! Without a second thought we head to the straight to the red rollercoaster ahead. Superman Escapes. It looks tame. It isn’t. And it’s not the loops that get you, it’s the speed. Faster than a speeding bullet. I have never felt anything like it. The g-force is so intense that you almost feel like you’re going backwards; the slopes are so steep you feel like your flying in mid air. I scream so much I almost lose my voice. Then I do it all again. This time with my eyes open.
We approached the theme parks with a ‘try everything once’ philosophy and when you see small kids standing on tip toes desperately trying to pass the height restrictions to get on these heart stopping rides, you can’t justify not facing your fears.
We follow our superhero initiation with the stomach-turning, sky-high Batman returns, an awesome Batman fantasy simulation, the Lethal Weapon looping roller-coaster – legs loose in mid air…yikes! – and the Wild West Water Adventure. The physical intensity of the experience, and the heat, takes it out of you, so after about 4 hours we saved further tummy trauma and quit while we were ahead. It is, however, so much fun.
We once again recuperate with a swim in the pool and a nap in our room before heading out into the fantastic evening atmosphere. The Surfers Paradise Friday Night Market on the beach promenade is heaven for the home decorator, full off creative arts and crafts among other delights. We walk away with hand-milled soap, hand-made baby singlets, a cool locally printed t-shirt and some coconut ice and almond chocolates, straight from mum’s kitchen. Next stop Grumpy’s Wharf, a highly recommended seafood restaurant overlooking the river and conveniently adjacent to our hotel. We gorge on a deluxe seafood platter for two and then, finally, retreat to our haven once again.
Summer Pass Day Two and we head to our second park of choice, Wet ‘n’ Wild. By all accounts this is the best park of them all. Bigger crowds meant longer queues but it was always worth the wait. This is a big fantasy island. There is an overwhelming sense of fun and freedom running around with nothing but your swimmers, paying for everything with your revolutionary Splash Cash armband (a bar-coded armband that is topped up with credit to pay for lockers, photos, food, everything!) and spending an entire day immersed in water. It is addictive. From spiralling through the darkness of Terror Canyon and swirling up the oversized walls of the funnel-like Tornado to surfing the Giant Wave Pool and floating on a massive donut through the calm water of Calypso Beach. Absorbed by the childlike adventure and pure adrenalin we easily spent an entire day riding the rapids and weaving down waterslides (but passed on the Saturday night ‘Dive-In Movie’). At 7:00pm we leave the park with an extraordinary sense of satisfaction. It’s probably the most fun I have ever had. White knuckles and all. We return to our hotel, reflect on the days we’ve had and curl up to sleep with smiles on our faces.
Leaving the Gold Coast it felt like I’d had a real holiday. It was only 3 days, but it was so full – and fulfilling - that it seemed like a week. I felt surprisingly relaxed and energised, and now I’m the one with the rave reviews. The holiday playground label is definitely warranted, but I’m sure it’s charm has more to do with my own inner-child. It still feels like it felt 10 years ago, and there’s a lot to be said for the simple pursuit of fun. The shopping probably helped too!
