Preparing for our family fun on the Gold Coast, we were a little worried about the cyclones that were hitting Queensland at the time. While watching the news, advising of flooding and damage caused along Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, we started to think we might not make it. After a few sunny days, and lots of hard work by Queenslanders, the damage was cleaned up, water resided back to the ocean and we felt safe enough to go on our travels.
At the beginning of February 2013, we landed at Gold Coast Airport, welcomed by Queensland’s lovely hot muggy weather. We arrived at the Redspot Car Rentals desk, happily greeted by Portia where she assisted us in our car hire. Once directed where to go, we found our Holden Captiva waiting for us, lovely and clean with two baby car seats already installed and awaiting our adventures.
Seal Detective Show – Seaworld
Our first destination we visited was Seaworld, weather topping 36⁰, fine and no showers. We started off our day with walking around parts of the park, visiting the seals, shark bay, dolphins and watching the spongebob squarepants parade. We enjoyed a ride on the monorail, our daughter quite excited as Dora & Boots picture was on the side. We watched the seals detective show, which we all enjoyed, had a meet and greet photo with Dora and finished off our day in dolphin cove with the dolphin show which was absolutely fantastic.
Sylvester – Movie World Gold Coast
Our next destination we visited Warners Brothers Movie World, weather 34⁰, fine and possible showers. We started off walking around and down Main St, visiting Harry Potter Store where I purchased a wand/pen in one he was quite excited. Our two year old daughter enjoyed a ride in a tweety bird cage with her daddy, saw tweety bird wandering around so we all had our photo taken. We watched a Batman show, Scooby Doo show but one of the main highlights of our day was the Car Stunt Show which was amazing how well the drivers handled the cars and finished off our day at movie world with the Main Street Parade.
Car Stunt Show – Movie World
Our last destination on the Gold Coast was a visit to Dreamworld, unfortunately because of the weather they had Wiggle Bay closed at the Waterworld but we were still able to visit Wiggle World where our two year old daughter got to meet Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and Henry the Octopus. We walked through Madagascar Island, visiting all the Tigers and Koalas but because of the weather found ourselves heading home.
We then headed up to Sunshine Coast only a 2 hour drive from the Gold Coast, and stayed with family enjoying the sites for a few days shopping and relaxing. On the way back we went to Australia Zoo on the Sunshine Coast which was wonderful. After hiring a buggy cart for our daughter, we went to hand feed the goats, sheep and pigs which was fantastic but the highlight of our day was the Crocodile Show, wow are those crocs scary!! My wife had her photo op cuddling a koala and after spending too much money in the merchandise stores, we headed home!
Our experience in Redspot Car Rentals Captiva was fantastic, long distance or just driving around town the car was easy to park, loads of room for all of our luggage and shopping, we were even able to fit another person in the back seat between two car seats, very impressed. We returned the car to Brisbane Airport, served by Kellie who is always very helpful.
Australia Zoo – Crocodile
Overall, the Gold Coast (and part of the Sunshine Coast) is fantastic for a family holiday break. Although the weather was a bit crazy at that time of year, and the temperature was a bit on the high side, the kids had an absolute ball of a time and we’d recommend it to any family considering their next holiday break.