Gold Coast holiday
#1
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 404
Gold Coast holiday
Hi folks,
Was thinking of going to Gold Coast with OH and my 2 teens in December to celebrate my 50th!!
However someone has told me that as I am restricted to school holidays (daughter will be doing NCEA level 3) that the area will be mega busy. Any ideas hints/tips?
Ta
Was thinking of going to Gold Coast with OH and my 2 teens in December to celebrate my 50th!!
However someone has told me that as I am restricted to school holidays (daughter will be doing NCEA level 3) that the area will be mega busy. Any ideas hints/tips?
Ta
#2
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,038
Gold Coast holiday
Nah, it won't be mega busy provided you go before Christmas, we had a few holidays the two weeks before Christmas, absolutely wonderful, sun, sea and heat.
The schools can get a bit poohey about time out, especially for a holiday, gentle tact and plenty of advance warnings are the key, we never had any problems.
I remember on one occasion when we returned to Auckland and the thermometer said 12c..........we had to put the electric blankets on that night!
The schools can get a bit poohey about time out, especially for a holiday, gentle tact and plenty of advance warnings are the key, we never had any problems.
I remember on one occasion when we returned to Auckland and the thermometer said 12c..........we had to put the electric blankets on that night!
Last edited by Nice Guy; Jul 15th 2008 at 11:29 pm. Reason: Another spilling mistake
#3
Re: Gold Coast holiday
Schoolies week is 16-25 November. Basically, this is when a lot of drunken australian teenagers run rampant on the Gold Coast. It is feral.
Unfortunately what that means is that the dates just after that, in early december are busy and then leading into Christmas where it is also busy.
The Queensland and NSW holidays are roughly the same as NZ holidays so chances are it will be busy. However, it is 'busy manageable' from what i know rather than 'busy unbearable'.
The theme parks will be busy because schools take their classes there for their end of year trip so even if the NSW/QLD holidays aren't on, chances are the theme parks will still be busy.
As for ideas, some people like to stay in Surfers Paradise. Personally, i don't like it....however, there are nicer places to stay slightly further down the coast. Broadbeach/Mermaid Beach is good. I stayed recently near Burleigh Heads (January) and enjoyed it. There is a bus to the theme parks and as long as you get on the express it can be pretty quick. However, for a few of you it is just as easy to drive and park the car there. Waste of a days rental car but certainly easy to get to.
As nippers, my parents took my brother and I to a place called Diamond Cove Apartments in mermaid beach a few times. In terms of location it was great, not quite in surfers paradise so my parents had a bit of a break but near enough for my brother and I to go to the beach or walk/bus to pacific fair. I know a few people also recommend Burleigh Heads which imo is actually really nice and prettier than mermaid beach surrounds. The only problem is that it is further away from Surfers (again, imo not such a bad thing!). Oh, Mermaid Beach now has a Hooters. I was horrified that they have put a Hooters next to where we used to play minigolf. My father, however, was pleased as punch to find this out and has suggested to my mother that they revist the Gold Coast.
Flying into Coollangatta is really convenient by the way. So if you can do that, do.
Oh, and the early evening buffet at the Crowne Plaza hotel (seafood night...tuesday i think??
Sorry, i went on a bit then
Unfortunately what that means is that the dates just after that, in early december are busy and then leading into Christmas where it is also busy.
The Queensland and NSW holidays are roughly the same as NZ holidays so chances are it will be busy. However, it is 'busy manageable' from what i know rather than 'busy unbearable'.
The theme parks will be busy because schools take their classes there for their end of year trip so even if the NSW/QLD holidays aren't on, chances are the theme parks will still be busy.
As for ideas, some people like to stay in Surfers Paradise. Personally, i don't like it....however, there are nicer places to stay slightly further down the coast. Broadbeach/Mermaid Beach is good. I stayed recently near Burleigh Heads (January) and enjoyed it. There is a bus to the theme parks and as long as you get on the express it can be pretty quick. However, for a few of you it is just as easy to drive and park the car there. Waste of a days rental car but certainly easy to get to.
As nippers, my parents took my brother and I to a place called Diamond Cove Apartments in mermaid beach a few times. In terms of location it was great, not quite in surfers paradise so my parents had a bit of a break but near enough for my brother and I to go to the beach or walk/bus to pacific fair. I know a few people also recommend Burleigh Heads which imo is actually really nice and prettier than mermaid beach surrounds. The only problem is that it is further away from Surfers (again, imo not such a bad thing!). Oh, Mermaid Beach now has a Hooters. I was horrified that they have put a Hooters next to where we used to play minigolf. My father, however, was pleased as punch to find this out and has suggested to my mother that they revist the Gold Coast.
Flying into Coollangatta is really convenient by the way. So if you can do that, do.
Oh, and the early evening buffet at the Crowne Plaza hotel (seafood night...tuesday i think??
Sorry, i went on a bit then
#4
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,820
Re: Gold Coast holiday
Thanks for this I'm just about to book us a hol in the Gold Coast and it's come in handy We'll be staying at Surfers Paradise at Paradise Resort Gold Coast in September, just before the school holidays
#5
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Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Gold Coast holiday
As well as Schoolies, look out for Indy week at the end of October - fantastic if you are a petrol head and like watching cars race round the streets, hell if you aren't.
#6
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 404
Re: Gold Coast holiday
This site is just brilliant!!! Now thinking of just before Christmas or just after new year. Thanks for all the usual good advice