Why the Gold Coast is perfect for a family holiday
For many people the Gold Coast ticks all the boxes. Getting there doesn't have to cost a fortune - there are lots of budget airlines that fly to the Gold Coast, and there are bargains to be found if you're willing to be flexible. Known for its beautiful blue skies and sunshine, our desire to feel the warmth of the sun would be well and truly catered for, and, with family in nearby Brisbane, we could easily organise a get-together.
Flying budget with grandkids
Most families I know don't have spare cash to splash on expensive airlines or seats, so it's cattle class and budget airlines. There's a fear of flying with kids, but my mantra is to just repeat, "it's only three hours (or however many) of my life, this, too, shall pass" over and over. That said, there are ways to make budget flying easier.
Perks like movies and food cost more on some airlines like Jetstar, so bring your own. My grandkids are six and four-years-old so we brought a device with movies and games, sticker books and colouring in. Sure, you can search Pinterest and find a whole host of imaginative creations to keep kids entertained. However, my kids were happy watching screens and, for an hour or so of quiet, I didn't mind at all.
If you forget, or your packed lunch doesn't quite fit the bill, kids packs are available on Jetstar for an extra cost, and some include a few activities too.
Where to stay
The idea of a kids club appeals to me. It's not because I like having some spa time to myself, or that my husband and I enjoy the occasional kid-free cocktail, I really want my grandchildren to have a great holiday. If there's a place where they are entertained, surrounded by other children their own age, where parental supervision isn't always a necessity - I'm all for it.
We stayed at Treasure Island, a resort near Labrador, across the road from the Harbour City outlet shopping centre. The resort is set up for families - with swimming pools, games, a giant jumping pillow and more. My favourite place was enjoying a refreshing beverage at the restaurant overlooking the splash pad. While we were watching our children happily running around the splash pad, my husband remarked that it had been a long time since he'd felt so relaxed on holiday, and I felt the same.
The resort caters for varying budgets - from campers to luxury cabins and villas. It perfectly suited us, and we've already vowed a return trip.
There are plenty of similar resorts on the Gold Coast - and each has its own charm and suitability. It pays to do your research before you book.
Theme parks
One of the biggest attractions of visiting the Gold Coast is the theme parks. We were at Dreamworld a mere two weeks before the tragedy where four people were killed on the Thunder Rapids ride. Like so many, I was aghast and the awful event struck close to home.
Theme park accidents happen, but they are rare. A good chunk of Queensland tourism is from theme park visitors, so to abandon the parks completely would do the state a lot of harm. I hope that a full and thorough investigation will lead to positive changes in the way theme parks operate, so families can visit without them fear.
I felt our children were a bit too young to fully enjoy the big theme park. They much preferred White Water World - the water park. I was able to supervise my younger daughter at the age-appropriate slides and pool, while my husband ran around with our older daughter, enjoying the more thrilling slides and rides.
Wildlife
Aside from the theme parks, we really enjoyed visiting Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Seeing kangaroos, koalas and other Aussie wildlife was thrilling for the kids. I recommend riding the train around the park for tired little legs, and taking a packed lunch along - though there are options for dining if you prefer.
Everything else
There is so much to do and see on the Gold Coast that I don't think we even scratched the surface. While it was tempting to try and squeeze as much as we could into our holiday, I factored in some rest days which were really welcome. My grandchildren are still quite young, and I figured that, since we'd chosen to stay at a resort, we would make the most of it. This worked well for us as it gave us a chance to slow down and spend some quality time together - you couldn't ask for more from a family holiday.
Written by Rhonwyn Newson. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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