We are back from our Ultimate Gold Coast Paradise experience. It has been a very enjoyable and wonderful family holiday. Many 1st times experience for our family and also we learn a lot more for our travel pattern.
Now it’s time to do our Aces family ATR (after tour review) and hope that it will be a good sharing experience with our family & friends.
Day 1: Good Friday, 21 March - Singapore → Brisbane (QF 52) Dep: 2105 / Arr :0655 hr
This is my 1st time travelling on Qantas flight and I must say – the service was very good. The air stewards were very friendly and served with sincerity. The service crew was made up of about 90% male and 10% female. It was a 6 hours flight. There was a menu cum journey planner given to all passengers. It indicated the schedule for the 6 hours flight and also the supper and continental breakfast menu was provided. Both Anthea and Anders had child meal requested for the flight.
The children enjoyed the In-flight entertainment which had all their favorite movies – Enchanted, Mr. Bean, Disney Playhouse and games as well. Luckily they managed to catch a few hours of sleep on the plane.
Day 2: Saturday, 22 March - G’day Brisbane → Sea World
Upon arrival at Brisbane International Airport, we proceeded to the Coachtrans counter for our seat-in coach transfer to our hotel, Courtyard Marriott. It was about 10 am when we reached the hotel and the room was not ready. So we decided to do our SeaWorld tour. As we had the 5 days Super Pass, we had unlimited door to door coach transfers to the Theme Parks and unlimited use of the local Gold Coast bus network. We got directions from the hotel concierge and we were on the bus to Sea World.
In Sea World, we managed to watch the Fish Detective Sea Lion Show. Anthea and Anders also saw Dolphins swimming in the Dolphin Nursery. Then we went to the All New Sesame Street beach for all the children rides.Both of them enjoyed the different rides. Then we took the cable car to the Aquarium and see the Dugong. We had 3 hours of fun at the park and then returned to the hotel for our check in.
Courtyard Marriott is centrally located along Surfers Paradise and there is a main shopping mall by the hotel. Hard Rock café is also located by the hotel.
The room that we had was very spacious and we had 2 queen sized beds in the room. Every room had a private balcony. Noticed that all hotels and service apartments in Gold Coast come with a Balcony, I reckon people simply love the sun and the sea.
After checking in, the children had a short nap before we headed to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.
After dinner, we took a walk along the street and I am quite surprised and pleased that shops in Surfers Paradise do not closed at 5pm, like those in Perth & Melbourne. Matter of fact, there are so many 24 hours conveniences stores and also late night pubs.
On the way back, we even had Baskin Robbins ice cream and the children simple love the kid’s cone. Then we went back to the hotel to rest for the night.
Day 3: Sunday, 23 March - Gold Coast → Paradise Country Farm
We had booked a morning tour to the Paradise country farm. After a sumptuous hotel buffet breakfast, we were picked up by the coach to the Paradise Country farm. At the farm, Anthea and Anders had the chance to see Koalas and hand fed the Kangaroos. They even had chance to feed milk to the baby sheep’s via the milk bottles. It was a lot of fun for them. Then we saw farm shows – Billy tea making, stock horse, and sheep shearing and finally boomerang throwing display. Lunch was included and we had BBQ steak and chicken. It was indeed a “Paradise Experience” for the family.
After the 3 hours tour of the farm, we returned to the hotel. The children had their power nap before heading to the swimming pool for a quick water play. The sun in Australia is very scorching and sun block is a must.
Dinner was Japanese noodles at a noodle outlet very near to the hotel. Then we bought some supper back to the room to enjoy life. We had pizzas and chicken burgers. There is a pizza outlet that sells pizza by slice and each coast AUD$2.80. Consider quite a good deal and there were many selections. There are many fastfood outlet around the hotel, so getting food is not a problem.
Day 4: Monday, 24 March - Gold Coast → Movie World
After a good hotel breakfast, we went to a designated bus stop to wait for our coach to Movie World. This is a day of Action packed fun. We started with Batman Adventure – the Ride 2. Anthea and Anders had so much fun with the simulated ride and were all geared up for more. Then we watched Shrek 4D Adventure show. It was a real thrilled for the children to watch 4D shows. Then we went around the Kids Fun zone and they both had fun going on the different rides.
We had lunch in the park and for a kid’s meal that we ordered, we had a Batman mask.
After lunch, we watched the Street Parade and the children were so happy to see all the familiar characters up close and personal – Batman, Wonder Woman, Sylvester & Tweety, Bugs Bunny and many more. What a Treat for the eyes!!
After the parade, we carried on with a few more adventure rides before we ended our day and returned to our hotel. They went for a quick swim before we had dinner in the room. The children slept early after a full day of fun.
Day 5: Tuesday, 25 March - Gold Coast → Dream World
This is supposed to be our Free & Easy day, so we decided to go ahead with a tour to the Dream World.
Upon arrival at the Dream World, we took a ride on the train to the Australian Wildlife Experience. Anthea and Anders had chance to see Kangaroos and Koalas at this place. Then we headed to the Tiger Island and saw some white tigers. We had lunch at the theme park. After that, the children had some fun on the rides.
We ended our tour around 3pm and returned to the hotel. Children went to the pool again before dinner. I managed to squeeze in some shopping time for my MIL’s shopping list. I bought back some chocolates for my colleagues and Adrian bought some for his collagues.
Day 6: Wednesday, 26 March - Gold Coast →Brisbane → Singapore (QF 51) Dep: 1345 / Arr 1930
Our coach picked us to Brisbane International Airport for our Qantas flight. We had a very good flight home. Upon arrival, Anthea and Anders were happy to see yeye & nainai waiting for them at the arrival hall.
It was Home Sweet Home.
It had been a fun 6 days for the family and there are things that we learnt from this holiday. I was quite glad that we did not follow guided tour as original planned. I think F&E still suits us better.
Gold Coast is indeed a Surfers Paradise and definitely a good option for family with children to visit. Mainly because of it theme parks. Otherwise, it’s also a good place for people who love the Sun, Sand and Sea.
I do hope that we will be able to visit Australia again and perhaps does a farm stay on our next holiday...hee : p
Now it’s time to do our Aces family ATR (after tour review) and hope that it will be a good sharing experience with our family & friends.
Day 1: Good Friday, 21 March - Singapore → Brisbane (QF 52) Dep: 2105 / Arr :0655 hr
This is my 1st time travelling on Qantas flight and I must say – the service was very good. The air stewards were very friendly and served with sincerity. The service crew was made up of about 90% male and 10% female. It was a 6 hours flight. There was a menu cum journey planner given to all passengers. It indicated the schedule for the 6 hours flight and also the supper and continental breakfast menu was provided. Both Anthea and Anders had child meal requested for the flight.
The children enjoyed the In-flight entertainment which had all their favorite movies – Enchanted, Mr. Bean, Disney Playhouse and games as well. Luckily they managed to catch a few hours of sleep on the plane.
Day 2: Saturday, 22 March - G’day Brisbane → Sea World
Upon arrival at Brisbane International Airport, we proceeded to the Coachtrans counter for our seat-in coach transfer to our hotel, Courtyard Marriott. It was about 10 am when we reached the hotel and the room was not ready. So we decided to do our SeaWorld tour. As we had the 5 days Super Pass, we had unlimited door to door coach transfers to the Theme Parks and unlimited use of the local Gold Coast bus network. We got directions from the hotel concierge and we were on the bus to Sea World.
In Sea World, we managed to watch the Fish Detective Sea Lion Show. Anthea and Anders also saw Dolphins swimming in the Dolphin Nursery. Then we went to the All New Sesame Street beach for all the children rides.Both of them enjoyed the different rides. Then we took the cable car to the Aquarium and see the Dugong. We had 3 hours of fun at the park and then returned to the hotel for our check in.
Courtyard Marriott is centrally located along Surfers Paradise and there is a main shopping mall by the hotel. Hard Rock café is also located by the hotel.
The room that we had was very spacious and we had 2 queen sized beds in the room. Every room had a private balcony. Noticed that all hotels and service apartments in Gold Coast come with a Balcony, I reckon people simply love the sun and the sea.
After checking in, the children had a short nap before we headed to a Chinese restaurant for dinner.
After dinner, we took a walk along the street and I am quite surprised and pleased that shops in Surfers Paradise do not closed at 5pm, like those in Perth & Melbourne. Matter of fact, there are so many 24 hours conveniences stores and also late night pubs.
On the way back, we even had Baskin Robbins ice cream and the children simple love the kid’s cone. Then we went back to the hotel to rest for the night.
Day 3: Sunday, 23 March - Gold Coast → Paradise Country Farm
We had booked a morning tour to the Paradise country farm. After a sumptuous hotel buffet breakfast, we were picked up by the coach to the Paradise Country farm. At the farm, Anthea and Anders had the chance to see Koalas and hand fed the Kangaroos. They even had chance to feed milk to the baby sheep’s via the milk bottles. It was a lot of fun for them. Then we saw farm shows – Billy tea making, stock horse, and sheep shearing and finally boomerang throwing display. Lunch was included and we had BBQ steak and chicken. It was indeed a “Paradise Experience” for the family.
After the 3 hours tour of the farm, we returned to the hotel. The children had their power nap before heading to the swimming pool for a quick water play. The sun in Australia is very scorching and sun block is a must.
Dinner was Japanese noodles at a noodle outlet very near to the hotel. Then we bought some supper back to the room to enjoy life. We had pizzas and chicken burgers. There is a pizza outlet that sells pizza by slice and each coast AUD$2.80. Consider quite a good deal and there were many selections. There are many fastfood outlet around the hotel, so getting food is not a problem.
Day 4: Monday, 24 March - Gold Coast → Movie World
After a good hotel breakfast, we went to a designated bus stop to wait for our coach to Movie World. This is a day of Action packed fun. We started with Batman Adventure – the Ride 2. Anthea and Anders had so much fun with the simulated ride and were all geared up for more. Then we watched Shrek 4D Adventure show. It was a real thrilled for the children to watch 4D shows. Then we went around the Kids Fun zone and they both had fun going on the different rides.
We had lunch in the park and for a kid’s meal that we ordered, we had a Batman mask.
After lunch, we watched the Street Parade and the children were so happy to see all the familiar characters up close and personal – Batman, Wonder Woman, Sylvester & Tweety, Bugs Bunny and many more. What a Treat for the eyes!!
After the parade, we carried on with a few more adventure rides before we ended our day and returned to our hotel. They went for a quick swim before we had dinner in the room. The children slept early after a full day of fun.
Day 5: Tuesday, 25 March - Gold Coast → Dream World
This is supposed to be our Free & Easy day, so we decided to go ahead with a tour to the Dream World.
Upon arrival at the Dream World, we took a ride on the train to the Australian Wildlife Experience. Anthea and Anders had chance to see Kangaroos and Koalas at this place. Then we headed to the Tiger Island and saw some white tigers. We had lunch at the theme park. After that, the children had some fun on the rides.
We ended our tour around 3pm and returned to the hotel. Children went to the pool again before dinner. I managed to squeeze in some shopping time for my MIL’s shopping list. I bought back some chocolates for my colleagues and Adrian bought some for his collagues.
Day 6: Wednesday, 26 March - Gold Coast →Brisbane → Singapore (QF 51) Dep: 1345 / Arr 1930
Our coach picked us to Brisbane International Airport for our Qantas flight. We had a very good flight home. Upon arrival, Anthea and Anders were happy to see yeye & nainai waiting for them at the arrival hall.
It was Home Sweet Home.
It had been a fun 6 days for the family and there are things that we learnt from this holiday. I was quite glad that we did not follow guided tour as original planned. I think F&E still suits us better.
Gold Coast is indeed a Surfers Paradise and definitely a good option for family with children to visit. Mainly because of it theme parks. Otherwise, it’s also a good place for people who love the Sun, Sand and Sea.
I do hope that we will be able to visit Australia again and perhaps does a farm stay on our next holiday...hee : p
4 comments:
WOW!!! Glad you all had a G.R.E.A.T trip! I am sure your kids will remember the fun they had in australia for a long long time!!!!
I want to go there again! :) Wonderful trip you had and it sure brought back memories for me :)
Hi Angelcow,
Yeah, the kids had so much fun till now they are still talking about it..hee : )
Hi LZmommy,
I know what you meant. It will be school holiday soon..hee : P
cheers,
astee
Welcome back! I can see the happy faces and what a wonderful time you had with family :)
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