The allure of GOLD

MANILA, Philippines - The allure of the Gold Coast as Australia’s top holiday destination is well deserved. An average of 10 million local and foreign tourists are drawn every year by the white sand beaches that stretch for miles, surfing spots for all skill levels, theme parks that rival the best in the world and the year-round sunshine that gives a golden glow to the city.
A planned family vacation to the Gold Coast was therefore eagerly awaited. This was going to be our second holiday in this coastal city of Queensland after seven years. December and January are summer months in Australia and are therefore an ideal time for visitors, particularly those who want to escape the cold winters of the northern hemisphere. Temperatures in the city during this time of the year range from 28°C to 17°C. The skies are generally clear with scattered rainshowers, enough to keep the summer temperature cool.

The best way to the Gold Coast from Manila is via Philippine Airlines which flies to Brisbane four times a week. The flight takes around 8 hours, including a one-hour stop-over in Darwin. From Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city, it takes only an hour’s drive to the Gold Coast.

The unique topography of the Gold Coast lends to its attraction as a popular tourist destination. Its 70 kilometers of pristine coastline, blissful water temperatures and accessible beaches are top draws.

The Gold Coast also has inland canals and waterways that weave through the city, providing precious waterfront living to many residents. During our last visit, my niece and nephew went fishing in the waterway fronting our condotel and within an hour caught five big Australian bass which we grilled for dinner.

The city center looks like it was designed and built for pleasure as it was centuries ago when the area became a popular vacation spot for rich Brisbane residents. At present, the world-famous Surfers Paradise Beach is bordered by high-rises, mega-clubs, restaurants and shopping centers which make it convenient for tourists to swim, sunbathe, eat, shop and party – all within walking distance. There is a youthful spirit and ambience to this part of the Gold Coast with the beaches, streets and alleyways teeming with golden tanned millennials eager to savor what the city has to offer.

If you’re a surfing aficionado, then this is your place. It has some of the best surf breaks in Australia like The Pass, Burleigh Heads, Snapper Rocks, Duranbah, Currumbin Alley, The Superbank, Rainbow Bay and, of course, the Surfers Paradise. We went surf watching at Burleigh Heads, a suburb south of Surfers Paradise Beach, which has a good vantage point. It was quite exciting to watch surfers catch the waves, adeptly balance on their boards and ride each wave like gymnasts on a horizontal bar.

For nature lovers, the Gold Coast hinterland is quite accessible – just an hour’s drive from the city with beautiful scenery along the way. Located inland towards the west, it consists of a series of mountain ranges with features that are in stark contrast to those of the city – nature resorts, charming villages, national parks, scenic walking tracks and lush rainforests with some rare flora and fauna. There are numerous nature spots to visit, with hidden waterfalls and creeks that are perfect for picnics.

We did a day trip to Tamborine Mountain National Park and spent a most relaxing day interacting with nature at the Birchgrove Nursery and Café, walking the canopies at the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk and savoring locally-made boutique cheeses at the Witches Chase Cheese factory.

The most popular destinations for family vacationers are the Gold Coast’s theme parks, and there are plenty of them. This has earned the city the distinction of being the “theme park capital of Australia.” The most popular among them are Sea World, Wet n’ Wild Gold Coast, Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Infinity Attraction, Tree Top Challenge and Paradise Resort Gold Coast.

We only had time to visit two, so we opted for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, where we had an amazing time cuddling koalas, feeding kangaroos, watching sheep get sheared and playing with parakeets. For thrill rides, we visited the Movie World where I braved two treacherous roller coaster rides that flung me around like a rag doll.

Of course, no family vacation is complete without shopping and boy, are there plenty of shopping centers to explore! For clothes and souvenir items, the shopping areas of Surfers Paradise have small boutique stores that cater to tourists. The locals go to the big shopping malls like Westfield, Pacific Fair, Harbour Town and Robina Town Center. The best time to go shopping in Australia is during Boxing Day, observed every year on Dec. 26. No, it’s not the day when everyone goes boxing. It’s the day when everybody goes shopping because everything is on sale! The term’s etymology originates in England and comes from the Christmas box or gift given to household staff the day after Christmas.

So on Boxing Day, we went to Harbour Town together with tens of thousands of Australians and tourists. The queue for parking tested our patience because it stretched for miles. But the shopping was worth it. Most of the shops in this sprawling shopping center are outlets of name brands which offered discounts ranging from 50 to 80 percent. We happily came out with quite a number of shopping bags of clothes, shoes, accessories and toiletries.

When it was time to go back to Manila, our two-week vacation in the Gold Coast seemed to end abruptly as there were other things we still wanted to do and see. But of course, there will always be a third time…

Text and photos by JVM Francisco