Winter Getaway

We've just returned from a 7-day whirlwind tour of Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour.

The original intention was to suss out CH because we'd heard so much about its lovely climate. But we soon discovered we would need to make several stopovers and stay the night somewhere else, so the plan expanded.

Fly to Gold Coast - spend 3 days - drive to Coffs Harbour - spend 3 days - drive back to Gold Coast - stay one night - fly home

We flew by Tiger Airways on their $49 special (one way). Great if you don't mind dragging luggage and young kids on the long hike from the main terminal to T4 and back again. We distracted J by getting her to look for the 'tiger paw prints' on the ground that showed the way to T4.

The beautiful weather in Gold Coast and Coffs was worth the ear pain Beth and I experienced every time the plane took off and landed. I've been battling ear pain and temporary deafness since we moved to Aus, and it doesn't get any better with each trip. Thankfully, J has no issues.

You have to be there to believe it. People surfing. Girls in bikinis reading on the beach. People sunbaking and walking around in shorts and thongs.

In winter.

It's incredible.

We sampled the whole range of accommodation, from caravan park to 4- and 5-star resort. After staying 3 nights at Courtyard by Mariott, which was right in the heart of Surfers Paradise and a short walk to shops and the beach, the next 3 nights at Banana Coast Caravan Park were a bit of a letdown I think. The pool was unheated and filthy, heating was in the form of one tiny portable heater, and everything looked uncared for (the blankets had holes in them!).

So staying at the RACV Royal Pines on our final night in QLD made for a lovely way to round off the hols. The room was huge, the view was amazing, the interior decor was pleasing to the senses, the service was attentive. Beth loved the pool, CA enjoyed a massage as he soaked in the spa, J loved watching Nick Jr on TV, and I was so inspired by the rattan chaise lounge that allowed me to stretch my legs out fully as I read, that I told CA it would be nice if we had one too!

We all agreed that if we ever visit QLD again, the Royal Pines is where we'll stay.

We asked Beth to name her favourite places to visit and here they are...

QLD:

Australia Zoo
Beth is a huge fan of Bindi The Jungle Girl and she was so chuffed that she actually got to see her偶像 during the Wildlife Warriors show.

CA and I felt the place was overhyped and not quite good value for money though.

Movie World
Beth went on the Scooby Doo Adventure Ride, first time with Daddy and second time with a very reluctant Mummy. I am no fan of thrill-seeking and bodily risk-taking and see no reason to scare myself silly.

Beth was extremely persistent and assured me she would hold my hand and help me see in the dark. (Did I also mention I am blind as a mole?)

"It's not that scary Mom."

I believed her and SCREAMED my lungs out as we hurtled forwards and upwards and downwards through the dark tunnel, secured only by a seat belt around the waist. There were times I thought I was going to fly out of my seat.

Never again.

COFFS HARBOUR:

The Big Banana is a theme park famous for the unmissable giant banana at its entrance, one of many Big Icons in Aus (e.g. Big Prawn, Big Pineapple...). It is located on the Pacific Highway, which is where you will also find most resorts and caravan parks in CH.

It's got heaps of activities under one roof, including a water ride which unfortunately was closed when we visited. We watched the 5-minute interactive space movie (CA and I found it so-so; Beth loved it); went tobogganing down the hillside (Beth complained that Mummy went too slowly); visited the candy shop, puppet shop and orchid nursery; and Beth had a go at ice skating. She's only ever skated once at a friend's birthday party, so she spent her 45 mins gingerly duck-walking around the edge of the rink while the teenagers from a nearby school whizzed by her. That was the only time I found it cold in Coffs.

The Pet Porpoise Pool on Orlando St is another family favourite. If posing for happy snaps isn't enough, you can pay a bit more to swim with the seals and dolphins ($75 per child for the Dolphin Encounter, $150 for the Seal Encounter). Beth begged to go in the water with the dolphins, but we were like, nah... Both the girls got to pet the super-friendly dolphins and feed the fairy penguins, AND I bought 2 photos that the photographer had taken as the girls were getting kissed by the dolphin, so everyone was happy.

As we touched down in freezing Melbourne today, I wonder...did we settle down in the right state? :)