Family Travelogue: Gold Coast, Hinterlands and Brisbane, Australia/ Family Travelogue 13 May~19 May 2017

Currumbin Beach, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia

Gold coast is at present the 6th largest city in Australia and the second largest city in the state of Queensland. Gold coast was originally known as South coast - located South of Brisbane, the state capital. Tourism is the city"s main industry globally known for its: sub tropical climate, long sandy beaches. great surfing spots, theme parks, rainforest hinterlands and home to mursupial such as the Koala and Kangaroo.

How did we spend our 7 days in this coastal city?

13 May 2017 Arrived Coolangata, checked in at Pacific Views Resort located at the Main Beach area

14 May 2017 Beach walks from Main Beach to Surfers Paradise

15 May 2017 Brisbane: Mount Coot tha, South Parklands, Queen Street Mall, City Hall, Treasury, Botanical Garden

16 May 2017 Beach hopping: Rainbow bay beach at Coolangata, Currumbin beach, Burleigh beach

17 May 2017 Rainforest walk, Curtis falls lookout and tree top walk at Tambourine Mountain and Lamington Park

18 May 2017 Warner Brothers Movie World Theme Park

19 May 2017 Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

My first visit at Gold coast was in 2012, with oiur two girls. This vist was with my hubby. We departed Singapore on 12 May, Friday at 10:25pm. and arrived Coolangata airport the following day at 7:45am. Gold coast was two hours ahead of Singapore. I thought we could start to explore on this day, to get more of what the coast could offer...???

Before we picked up our reserved rented car at Avis, with office at the airport itself, we purchased Yes Optus data sim at the convenience store. I didn't have a problem with Optus when I used its data sim during our visit to Perth, November the previous year. However, unlike at Perth airport, Yes Optus does not have a branch at Coolangata. The seller at the convenience store at Coolangata airport was not able to help us to activate the sim we had purchased from them. It took us hours trying to activate, still unable to go through. We needed the google map to get around, especially we were to drive. Online google map navigator is cheaper than the daily rental of the GPS. Using the wifi at the airport, we downloaded the direction to Pacific Views Resort through google map and saved it. Thereafter, to go to the nearest branch of Yes Optus once in the city,

We then collected our car at Avis and drove all the way to Main beach, navigated by the offline google map with the saved directions.. The driving took about 40 to 50 minutes. We arrived Pacific Views Resort before noon. My hubby was a bit nervous, that was his very first to drive at the other side of the wheel. We were used to left hand driving. We resides though in Singapore, we do not drive in the said country. Singapore has a very good public transports, it bring us closer to our destinations.

We went to the nearest branch of Yes Optus, at the Australian Fair, less than 5 minutes drive from our apartment. Just fyi, the store in charge could not help us activate unless we purchase the sim from their shop. We understand there was a store code to key in. Anyway, the sim was only $2. We were able to use the prepaid voucher we bought earlier for recharging. Sigh!!! just then we started to feel Gold coast. We had not had our breakfast yet, we tried the Angus beef burger at Mcdonalds.

There were two creatures I must meet in Gold coast. Cutie Koala and the Tweety Mascot.

We got to cuddle this cutie mursupial at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. For a fee, as expected, $25.00 for the print photo plus $2 for the softcopy (link was sent thru email)

Need to pay $20 for a photo with the looney tunes cast. I was thinking I would be paying $49 for digital ride photos. Additional $20 for this fancy stuff was too much. During the parade, I stole a shot with the mascot. I think latter was not happy with what I did. I felt he pushed me away, he was shaking hands with the viewers and I was blocking his way, I was a viewer too 😞. Maybe he wanted to tell me, there is no free in this park. I have to start to accept and realize I am too old for this.

But... I have to buy this...???

Our visit in 2012, we bought the small tweety stuff toy and had since my travel buddy. I was so happy I finally found the big one. It was cheap, $30 only. Bigger version of my small one. Of course, this giant cannot travel with us.

view of the Main Beach from the balcony.

VIEWS from the apartment balcony

Main beach was a few minutes on foot from the apartment

walked along the long sandy beach from Main beach to Surfers Paradise

BRISBANE on the 3rd day, 15 May 2017

Mount Coot tha

Brisbane Sign on the south bank of the Brisbane River.

Victoria Bridge over the Brisbane River

Treasury Building, Brisbane and the Brisbane Square Spheres (STEAM)

Treasury Building is near the northern end of Victoria Bridge

Adorning the Brisbane Square are the metal spheres, Steam, by Donna Marcus, Project Steam consists of 15 geodesic spheres placed randomly at Brisbane Square. They are made of 7000 steamers. Donna Marcus is known for using discarded kitchen stuff to create majestic sculptures.

Queen Street Mall is Australia's most popular pedestrian mall located at the heart of Brisbane City, on Queens street.

Colorful flowers at the Brisbane City Botanical Garden

BEACH HOPPING on the Gold Coast
16 May 2017

Rainbow Bay beach

Huge rock at Currumbin Beach

I find Currumbin beach the best on the Gold coast, followed by the Rainbow bay beach. I so love the currumbin rocks. It is safer though to swim on Rainbow bay. Surfers Paradise is my third and Burleigh head the fourth.

Currumbin Beach, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia

Burleigh Head Beach

HINTERLAND RAINFOREST WALKS
Tambourine Mountain and O' Reilly at Lamington National Park
17 May 2017

one of the many buttressed roots fig trees following the Curtis falls track.

Curtis Falls at Tamborine National Park, Queensland, Australia

O' Reilly Tree top walk at Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia

Gold coast is known for many theme parks It could be a regret if we missed a visit.
At Movie World on 18 May 2017

I took most of the adult rides, except for the bat wing. Apparently, my hubby was scared to take even one. I took the fastest, Superman Escape 3x

CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
19 May 2017

Spent our last day with these adorable mursupials. There are more to see at this park. The choo choo train is everyone's favorite. The steam train takes you around the park. stops at 4 stations