Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gold Coast Information & Booking Centre
( 1300 309 440;
www.visitgoldcoast.com
;
Cavill Ave;
8.30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 9am-4pm Sun)
The main GC tourist information booth; also sells theme-
park tickets and has public transport info.
Post Office
(
www.auspost.com.au
;
Shop 165, Centro Surfers Paradise, Cavill Ave Mall;
9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
Surfers Paradise Day & Night Medical Centre
(
07-5592 2299; 3221 Surfers Paradise Blvd;
6am-11pm)
General medical centre and pharmacy. Make an appointment or walk in.
Getting There & Away
Long-distance buses stop at the
Surfers Paradise Transit Centre
(10 Beach Rd)
.
Greyhound
( 1300
473 946;
www.greyhound.com.au
)
and Premier Motor Service (
Click here
)
have frequent services
to/from Brisbane ($20, 1½ hours), Byron Bay ($30, 2½ hours) and beyond.
Getting Around
Car hire costs around $35 to $50 per day.
East Coast Car Rentals
( 07-5592 0444, 1800 028 881;
www.eastcoastcarrentals.com.au
; 80 Ferny Ave;
7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm Sat, to 4pm Sun)
Red Back Rentals
( 07-5592 1655;
www.redbackrentals.com.au
;
Surfers Paradise Transit Centre, 10 Beach Rd;
8am-4.30pm Mon-Fri, to 4pm Sat)
Scooter Hire Gold Coast
( 07-5511 0398;
www.scooterhiregoldcoast.com.au
; 3269 Surfers Paradise Blvd;
8am-5.30pm)
Scooter hire (50cc) from around $65 per day.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
SOUTH STRADBROKE ISLAND
This narrow, 21km-long sand island is largely undeveloped - the perfect antidote to the chaotic Gold Coast strip.
At the northern end, the narrow channel separating it from North Stradbroke Island is a top fishing spot; at the
southern end, the Spit is only 200m away. South Stradbroke was actually attached to North Stradbroke until a
huge storm in 1896 blasted through the isthmus joining them. There's a resort here, plus three camping grounds,
lots of wallabies and plenty of bush, sand and sea. And no cars!
The
Ramada Couran Cove Island Resort
( 07-5597 9999;
www.courancove.com.au
; South Stradbroke
Island; d/ste from $210/250; ) is a luxe resort on the isle's northwest side, with rooms on stilts by the wa-
ter, restaurants, a spa, a private marina and guided nature walks. Pre-booked ferry transfers (return adult/child
$30/15) depart three times daily from Runaway Bay Marina on Bayview St, 7km north of Southport.
For details on camping on the island - at Tipplers, North Currigee and South Currigee camping grounds - in-
cuding transport info, see
www.mystraddie.com.au
.
