Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on the Gold Coast Tourist Shuttle and use of the local Surfside bus network, 24
hours a day. Passes are also available for 5, 7, 10, and 14 days.
By Bus Coachtrans
(
&
13 12 30
in Queensland, or 07/5506 9777) also offers
a transfer service between Brisbane and Gold Coast hotels. The fare is A$30
(US$20) adults one-way, half price for kids.
McCafferty's
(
&
13 14 99
) and
Greyhound Pioneer
(
&
13 20 30
) make
daily stops at Surfers Paradise from Sydney and Brisbane. The trip from Sydney
takes 15 to 16 hours, and the fare is A$93 (US$60). Trip time from Brisbane is
90 minutes, and the fare is $17 (US$11).
By Train
Suburban trains (call
Queensland Rail Citytrain;
&
07/3235
5555
) depart Brisbane Central and Roma Street stations every 30 minutes for
the 72-minute trip to the Gold Coast suburb of Robina. The fare is A$9.30
(US$6.05) adults, A$4.70 (US$3.05) children ages 5 to 14. Numerous local
buses meet the trains to take passengers to Surfers Paradise.
If you come by train to Surfers Paradise from Sydney or other southern cities
(call
Countrylink
at
&
13 22 32
in Australia; www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au),
you will need to transfer to a connecting coach in Casino or Murwillumbah,
which are just south of the Queensland border. The trip from Sydney takes 14 to
15 hours and the fare is A$105 (US$68) for a sitting berth, and A$218
(US$142) for a sleeper.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Gold Coast Tourism Bureau
(www.gold
coasttourism.com.au) has an information kiosk on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Par-
adise (
&
07/5538 4419
). It is stacked with brochures on things to see and do,
and they will book tours and arrange accommodations for you. The kiosk is
open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Saturdays and public
holidays from 9am to 5:30pm, and Sundays from 9am to 3:30pm. A second
information booth is at the corner of Griffith and Warner streets in Coolangatta
(
&
07/5536 7765
). It is open from 8am to 4pm weekdays, from 8am to 3pm
Saturdays, from 8am to 1pm public holidays, and closed Sundays.
To obtain material in advance, e-mail info@gctb.com.au or write to the bureau
at P.O. Box 7091, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD 9726.
ORIENTATION
The heart of the Gold Coast is
Surfers Paradise
—“Surfers”
to the locals—a high-rise forest of apartment towers, shops, cheap eateries, taverns,
and amusement parlors. The pedestrians-only Cavill Mall in the center of town
connects the Gold Coast Highway to The Esplanade, which runs along the beach.
The Gold Coast Highway is the main artery that connects the endless beach-
side suburbs lining the coast. Just north of Surfers is
Main Beach
, where Ted-
der Avenue is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. Heading south from
Surfers, the main beach centers are Broadbeach, where retail complexes and
restaurants are mushrooming; family-oriented Burleigh Heads; and the twin
towns of Coolangatta in Queensland and Tweed Heads just over the border
The Secret of the Gold Coast Seasons
School holidays, especially the Christmas vacation from mid-December to
the end of January, are peak season on the Gold Coast. Accommodations
are booked months in advance at these times. The rest of the year, occu-
pancy levels plummet and so do rates! Packages and deals abound in the
off season, so make sure you ask.
Tips
