Queensland holiday travel and attractions

Lplj77 on 05/09/2014 - 16:45

Hi

I'm taking my kids (16 & 5 yrs) to Queensland in September, staying at turtle beach resort in mermaid beach.

I've got 2x super passes (free through flybuys) and 1x VIP gold magic pass ($80) for the 3 of us

We will definitely be going to seaword and movie world (unsure if I'll use the wetnwild yet) and currumbin.

My travel agent can get me a hire care for the week $297.75 ($42.25 per day) or I can get the freedom pass or public transport.

I'm not a confident driver outside my local area, also will be flying so need to get to resort. Staying in unit so also need to go to shops for food, etc as it has a kitchen.

Advice on if to hire care, buy freedom pass or use a go card and just use public transport. I'm also on a pension card so can get concession on freedom pass for $103 for 7 days for myself. $66 child pass and my sons a student unsure if concession extends to students.

Also any other ideas on entertainment would be great.

Need to buy currumbin tickets too.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Travel

Comments

  • whodidthat on 05/09/2014 - 17:13

    Turtle Beach Resort is a little way from most of the theme parks so it would take a while to get to them via buses, you're also restricted by the schedules - though it is the cheapest method given you are on concession.
    You can get the bus from Gold Coast airport, runs right past the resort.

    Shopping is a bit restricted near the resort.

    I prefer freedom to get to where I want, when I want.

    If you get travel insurance from Australia Post, that would cover insurance excess on a rental car so you wouldn't have to pay their own rental insurance - but you would need to have (I think it's) $3,000 available to hold on a credit card when you pick a car up.

    We were up there a few months back and hired from East Coast car rentals, they pick up from the irport and drive you to their depot to pick a car up.

    A week for a compact car is $189.03
    Economy Automatic $207.81
    Intermediate $223.20

    Currumbin tickets are currently 50% off through Entertainement book.

  • toristo on 05/09/2014 - 19:36
    +2

    To get the most out of the holiday, the car gives you far more time and options. Public transport can be challenging over those kinds of distances, even if it's cheap.

  • plj77 on 06/09/2014 - 06:53

    50% off! that's great! will have to ask around for someone with a book! I didn't get one this year. I had a shop a docket saved to use was cheap but they took down the offer and silly me just bookmarked the page instead of printing it off .. Doh..

    Is it difficult driving around there? I'm not good away from home driving, don't have $3000 available, did find a discount of just over $200 through frequent values for a rental, just nervous and worried about the excess if something happens

    • whodidthat on 06/09/2014 - 12:31

      Seems like you need the Entertainment card to get the discount…..

      Enjoy a day at Currumbin Wildlife
      Sanctuary for just $24.50 per ticket.
      That’s 50% OFF (normally 25% off)
      an Adult Ticket! Offer valid on the regular
      day Adult, Concession & Child tickets.

      Adult RRP $49.00 - Entertainment ™ Price $24.50
      Child RRP $35.00 - Entertainment™ Price $24.50
      Concession RRP $40.00 - Entertainment™ Price $24.50

      Just present your Entertainment™ Card
      at the gate to obtain this special offer.

      Offer is valid for sale until 30 September 2014.

      Driving around GC is pretty easy, from the airport almost everything is off that road.
      Just stay out of driving in the centre of Surfers as it can be confusing with the new tram, also difficult tofind parking in there these days. (there's parking just by the main road as you head towards Labrador, I think it's at Palm Avenue or close to. Cheaper than in main surfers, about 10 mins walk into the centre). But, apart from that you shouldn't have any problems.

      I really would recommend a car for convenience.

  • MITM on 06/09/2014 - 10:53

    http://www.experienceoz.com.au/gold-coast/hot-deals
    Currumbin discount tix.
    http://www.experienceoz.com.au/currumbin-wildlife-sanctuary/…

    http://www.shopadocket.com.au/regions/gold-coast - heaps here including subway and all-u-can-eat buffet Pizza Hut on the beach (Coolangatta) and free Subway foot longs.

    +1 East Coast Car Hire. Gps on your phone will help.

    Driving GC isn't hard for you. drive out of airport, turn left onto GC Hwy all the way to Turtle Beach. (You'll drive past Currumbin bird Sanctuary on the right, so you'll know where that is for another day.16yo may enjoy rope challenge) And at the next intersection past TBR is 7/11. A little further ahead is a strip of restaurants and across the road from them is a great fruit n veg shop. And further ahead from the restaurants is Pacific Fair. Turn left at the big PF sign to enter the Myer car park building straight ahead. You'll find a park easy enough for movies, food court, Coles and shopping.

    Or at the the 7/11 intersection turn left into Markeri Street which will take you all the way to Q Supercentre for Coles, Woolies Aldi and more shopping, but is mainly a large outdoor suburban shopping centre. Follow Markeri St to the end (Caltex) Turn left to Robina Town Centre shopping mall (#1 IMHO) and M1 or turn right to M1 and follow signs to theme parks straight ahead..

    To get to Seaworld, turn left out of Turtle Beach Resort onto GC Highway and drive north through Broadbeach, Surfers and follow signs to Seaworld passing Marina Mirage shops (with a McDonalds) and Sheraton opposite across the footbridge is worthy of a wander after Sea World. If so park under Marina Mirage.
    Take the car to the beaches. Drive along the beach road through Surfers, but the best beaches are across the road from TBR (via car)

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join