Gold Coast Travel Forum

Hi there,

I am busy trying to organise a 1 week family holiday either to Gold Coast or some where on the Sunshine coast. My children are only 4 and 1. Could anyone recommend what would be the better place for us to go? We want to give the kids a fun, exciting time but at the same time we want to relax. This is the first family holiday for us and I haven't a clue about travelling with two small children. Anyone have any advice/tips would be appreciated. We are travelling from Melbourne.

Its a hard one to answer. One factor for the Gold Coast is that low cost airlines fly into Coolangatta, but 1 or 2 also fly to the Sunshine Coast airport as well.

Personally I prefer the Sunshine Coast. Its less commercial, a bit quieter, and there is a fair amount to do. Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin) is up there, The beaches are great. The Big Pineapple also has a kind of walk round zoo. The Hinterland is beautiful, and if you had a car, its only a reasonable drive to Hervey Bay for the day if you wished.

Just my thoughts, but enjoy whichever you elect to do.

STEVE

I just posted a similar response not long ago on the snowy mountains forum.
I agree with Steve, Sunshine Coast is probably the best bet. If the kids were a bit older, they would get more out of the Gold Coast. I used to take my son to Surfer's nearly every year as he loved the wally worlds' !!!
Another nice thing to do would be to get the ferry from Tewantin into Noosa. It's a nice trip and then no parking problem in Noosa!
There are some lovely walks around the Noosa national park as well. Rainbow Beach also a nice day trip.

As Steve pointed out, the Gold Coast is probably more commercialised than the Sunshine Coast. Some people prefer the peacefulness of the Sunshine Coast while others prefer the "buzz" of Surfers.
Advantages of the Gold Coast would be the beaches, Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, the Gold Coast Hinterland (Lamington National Park; O'Reilly's - where the kids will be able to feed the crimson rosellas, king parrots etc.) and is also within driving distance of northern NSW (Tweed etc.).
Advantages of the Sunshine Coast are Noosa, Coolum (one of my favourite 'unspoilt' beaches), Australia Zoo, Glasshouse Mountains, Alma Park Zoo, Bli Bli Castle.
I reckon you guys will have a great time, whichever area you choose!

Tend to agree with previous posters advise and I also vote for Sunshine Coast over Gold Coast (should say that I'm not a fan of the Gold Coast) Downside of Sunshine Coast is that you'd probably need to hire a car for a couple of days if you want to go see some of the sights. Noosa although quite pricey is the pick of the places to go.

>This is the first family holiday for us and I haven't a clue about
>travelling with two small children.

ARE WE THERE YET - LOL. Can I suggest strong drugs for the trips there and back - LOL

Spot on Sirgaw, I forgot to mention that. The Gold Coast has a great public transport network & you can easily rely on that. Right from landing at Coolangatta and up to the theme parks the buses are fine.
Problem with the Sunshine Coast is that everything is so spread out and bus system not as good. So if you do choose Sunshine Coast, hiring a car would make life so much easier.
Have a great holiday - enjoy the little ones while you can - they grow up so fast.
Sirgaw - I think the drugs would only be nessessary if driving from Melbourne.......;=)

>Sirgaw - I think the drugs would only be nessessary if driving from >Melbourne.......;=)

NO - LOL Have you ever been on an aircraft with a number of screaming, kicking throwing up brats err children around you? Why do you think the airlines put crushed up Vallium in ALL childrens meals and why there is a strange mist that comes out of the pencil case in the free kids travel packs that the airlines hand out to the ankle biters.

BTW what sort of parrot is the little guy on your photo? I have a cockatiel who is learning how to use the computer - even has his own web page.

Nothing to do with this thread in the slightest but.....
Max is a princess parrot, Sirgaw. Although she is 75% human and loves butter, cheese and chocolate.
We have 2 princess parrots, and although they won't get their own webpage, I'm trying to get a another picture up on my homepage because they are so cute....stay tuned.
By the way, I wondered why the kids on planes seemed so quiet!

Max is very cute Betty :o)
I go with the Gold Coast option because of the transport thing and also because of the options of things to see with young children such as Currumbin Bird Sanctuary and Sea World for the dolphin show.
Check out this accommodation. My parents used to come & stay here when they visited us when we lived there years ago. Tugan beach is quite often quiet and you can usually walk along the beach early morning or late evening and not strike many people at all.
http://www.pelican-sands.com/
Anyway, whatever you decide, have a wonderful holiday!!
Cheers,
Ann :o)

Hi fellow Melbournite!

Look your kids are so young that I would just think of yourselves. What would you like to do! I would just go to Sunshine Beach which is near Noosa but quieter (rent an apartment) and relax. The kids will think its a 'fun, exiting time' just being somewhere different.

Have a nice time,
John

You can actually find heaps of holiday accommodation that are self contained to a degree. What I mean is that you can find places that have some amusements built in like pools, fun parlours, tennis courts, mini golf, slides and swings and the like, within the confines of their accommodation. One that I stayed at with one son and his young family was like this. What it meant was that we had a relatively quiet time, playing around the accommodation. We had a car with us but you could then hire a car or whatever to go to Australia Zoo, seaworld or whatever. The littlest child found a day anywhere a bit long. My son and I definitely appreciated the ability to close the door and have peace and quiet every night. I forget the name of the resort but will look it up and post here when I find it if you are interested.

Carole.

Gold Coast v Sunshine Coast. The perennial argument. My preference is Gold Coast, from Burleigh to the border. North of Burleigh, give it a miss. With 1 and 4 year olds I would suggest the Currumbin,Tugun area.

Thanks for replying to me so quickly. I think I am leading towards the Sunshine coast after reading all the replies. Its sounding more like we are after.

To be honest, I love them both, They are both special parts of OZ in their own way, and there are heaps of great things to do in either areas.
If I were you, with 2 littlies, it would all boil down to whether you were hiring a car or not.
Have a good break.
Betska

Betty makes a good point. I agree totally...and thumbs up matey :o) If you choose the Sunshine Coast, then you'll definately need a car.

Thanks again. You've definitely given me a lot of things to think about. I only just joined virtual tourist and have been amazed at the advice and tips that came to me so quickly. Its a great site.

It certainly is!!...and we hope that you stick around and share your holiday pix with us all :o) Don't forget to share in the fun on the miscellaneous forum too. Cheers, :o)

Gives you a nice fuzzy warm feeling inside, being able to help people dosn't it Anne. The fact is that we are so proud of our beautiful country !!!
Heard rumours of Perth drinks - wish I wasn't so far away :-(

Yep Perth drinks are on next Firday Betty :o) ...just getting around to posting it on the meetings thingy & inviting everyone. Wish you were here!! :o)