Queensland, Brisbane and the Pacific Coast

Australia is a country of endless white sandy beaches. It has the most incredible reefs; no pictures or words can prepare you for the magic that you can see when you put on a mask and dive into the warm tropical waters. You see nature in all her splendour in this watery paradise. I hope that you, like me, can soon experience it. If you love surfing the waves are fantastic along the Pacific Coast. The coast is one long Eucalyptus forest. You breathe peace as soon as you arrive. The Barrier Reef starts near Lady Elliot Island ‎and goes down the coast to Bramble Kay (2,092km). There are over 2,900 reefs that cover 230,000 square kilometres.

For the fourth time I am fortunate enough to visit this country. After a flight of many hours and losing a complete day, that we will gain when we return home, we arrive in Sydney to connect to Brisbane that I have never been to before. Fortunately, every year that I have come to this enormous island I have visited a different part of this vast and incredible country.

The first time we visited Australia was for our honeymoon. We came with another couple of very good friends, also just married. We visited Cairns and spent some days at Hayman Island. Since we went there, I understand ‎that it has been refurbished, after the devastation left by Cyclone Debbie in 2017. This time our destination is Brisbane ‎and we will drive along the Pacific Coast to Sydney.

Queensland is situated on the East coast of Australia and is a tropical paradise. Bordered by Simpson desert in the west, the Great Barrier to the east and New South Wales to the South. This vast region comprises a quarter of Australia. Because of its size and proximity to the equator ‎the landscape and the climate vary a lot across the state.

One of the Iconic destinations in Australia and world is the Great Barrier Reef. One o‎f the destinations of my honeymoon was Hayman Island, as I told you. It is also a popular place for Japanese couples to get married. During our stay we saw a lot of Japanese couples getting married in special ceremonies around the Island.

The tropical climate in this area creates an exotic outdoor lifestyle. You could start your trip in Cairns, the gateway to the tropical islands. You must visit the Daintree Rainforest, which is the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on the earth and is home of the largest number of animal species and plants in the country. Then visit Whitsunday Islands (74 remote islands) in the Coral Sea. In the clean, blue waters you can swim, dive or snorkel, and if you don’t want to get in the water, just sit in a glass-bottomed boat and watch the beautiful coloured fish ‎and coral with a nice fresh drink in your hand. Going South along the magnificent coast you will arrive to the famous Sunshine Coast, a very popular destination, with lots attractions for all ages.

It was historically populated by indigenous people, the Europeans arrived during the 1800’s looking for timber supplies. The coast is rich in diversity, the region is tucked between Brisbane and Fraser island. From the majestic Glass House Mountains to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, this region includes more than a hundred kilometers of beautiful and pristine sandy beaches, and costal and hinterland villages. It is a place where you feel relaxed.

The local people are very smiley and friendly, which is not surprising in a place where the sun shines around 300 days a year. The average temperature in summer is 28°C (82˚F) and during the mild winters it is 20°C (68˚F).

The Great Barrier Reef

Home to more than 1,500 species of fish, one third of the world’s soft corals and longer than the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef is among the most popular of the natural world’s seven wonders. Scuba dive or snorkel, skim across the ocean in a glass bottomed viewing boat or observe the beauty of this living wonders from the window of a helicopter.

Tropical North Queensland

The region extends from Cairns in the South to Cooktown and beyond in the far north and across the Atherton tablelands to the Gulf Savannah region. It includes drenched flood plains, pristine beaches, volcanic landscapes and lush plantations. UNESCO World Heritage has listed the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rain forest.

Adventure comes with the territory in Far North Queensland, with crocodiles waiting and needing to be fed, by you! Plus the incredible rapids to ride and vast blue skies to dive into. Dive or snorkel in the reefs along the coast depending your preference. Watch the turtles lay their eggs in the sand.

You can find a lot of locally made arts and crafts, nice food and fashion, from the swanky boutiques of Palm Cove and Port Douglas, to community markets of Kuranda and Eumundi, where you can have fun bargaining and find special treasures to take back home that help you to remember a special moment or give them to your family or friends, that I am sure, they will be waiting for them.

Visit the Golden Drop Winery, located outside Mareeba in the heart of tropical North Queensland. It is operated by the owner and his family. All his wines are made of Australian Kensington red mangoes! Very different from other wineries. It used to be a tobacco plantation, later with the slowdown of the sector he decided in 1975 to plant his first mango trees. Today it is one of the largest mango plantations in Australia. Not to be missed. Located at 227 Bilwon Road, Biboohra.

Daintree Rainforest is a living museum, where the green forest melts into the blue sea. ‎Over 135 million years old. It is the world’s oldest rainforest. ‎When you stand under the trees and look up it seems that they never finish, that they touch the sky and they are standing there since such a long time ago and hopefully they will stand there for much longer. North of Cairns in the tropical far north of the region of Queensland it is one of the most diverse and picturesque examples of magnificent mother nature, home of one of the most extensive range of animals‎ and plants in the world. You can drive for hours and see nothing but forest around you.

Visit Cairns on your way to the Barrier Reef. I went there once and I will never forget it. We were walking across a park with husbanito and my friends, Gonzalo and Domenica, during the evening on our way to the restaurant. We saw what looked like enormous birds flying just above our heads. I started screaming when I realized that they were enormous bats. My friend Gonzalo said that they were birds. Nooooo!! Horrible, enormous bats. Also in the evenings in Hayman Island we saw them drinking water from the pool. I saw them again hanging asleep in the trees of the beautiful Sydney botanical garden. Don’t miss it, especially these big bats sleeping during the day hanging in the tall trees.

You should also visit Kuranda, which is 25 km away from Cairns and surrounded by rainforest filled with waterfalls. There you can relax, feed kangaroos and wallabies in the street and visit the koala sanctuaries. You can enjoy a Barron River Cruise, or a rainforest walk. Available also is a cable car ride and the Kuranda scenic railway.

Visit Port Douglas and if is a Sunday while you are there you can go to the local market. There are a lot of activities are available. It is a lovely tranquil town.

Try Hook-a-Barra‎ Fishing adventures. It is the place to go to catch the elusive Australian Barramundi, regardless of weather conditions or seasonal closures. Located 20 minutes north of Port Douglas in the world famous Daintree National Park. (open 7 days a week). Located at Lot 3, Vixes Road, Wonga Beach.

Going south before you reach the Sunshine Coast you will get to the Fraser Coast, that houses the famous heritage site of Fraser Island, which is the largest sand island in the world. There is also Hervey Bay, the whale watching capital of Australia, where you can watch the whales ‎from July to November.

Luxury hotels

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas is a beach front property on Four Mile Beach, one hour’s drive from Cairns international Airport. It is nestled between the world heritage listed Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.

Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore in Tropical Queensland. It is the only absolute beach front resort in the charming village of Palm Cove, 30 minutes from Cairns Airport.

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is north of Brisbane, some of its best-known regions are:

Sunshine Coast Hinterland: the iconic Glass House mountains and their magnificent rainforests offer a breathtaking scenery where you can lose yourself in the natural beauty. You can discover the art trail, retro vibes, markets and connect with the extraordinary nature, as you explore the charming villages and towns in the area, like Kenilworth, Maleny, Eumundi, Longville, Montville, Nambour, Pomona and Yandina. If you want to stay in a special accommodation, have a look at the internet site www.uniquestaysauz.com.au .

Caloundra to Kawana: This is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most relaxed and authentic destinations, with beautiful beaches and great surfing. From here you have views of the Glass House mountains‎.

Mooloolaba to Coolum Beach: It is known for its clean waterways, stunning swimming beaches, markets, nightlife and largest shopping centre in the region.

Noosa and surrounds: this northern section of the Sunshine Coast from Peregian Beach Village to Sunshine Beach and Noosa Head offers contemporary restaurants and bars along Hastings street and Noosaville. The Noosa National Park is very beautiful.

Gympie to Rainbow beach: from the white beaches to incredible hinterlands and heritage towns this area features national parks and unique rainforests flanked by endless beaches.

During the year a lot of sport takes place here. Cycle through the undulating hills and rocky outcrops of the Glass House mountains in the Velothon, go to the championship golf Courses which host the Volkswagen Scramble. Mooloolaba is home to Ironman 70.3 and the Mooloolaba Triathlon. Music, cultural and food events take place. The Curated Plate is a culinary festival that takes place in August and is Australia’s newest food festival.

From the magnificent beaches, ‎you can sail, swim, surf, kayak, jet ski, water ski, jet boat, paddle board, kite board. The options are endless and are good for every taste and expectation.

Some of the activities available on the Sunshine Coast.

Seaplane flights: take off from clear waters and soar over this magnificent coastline.
Skydiving adventures: freefalling at 220 km/hr.
Fishing: some of the best deep fishing charters operate from the Sunshine Coast. No experience is required, also possible to fish in rivers and canals.
Jet ski adventures: from gentle to extreme, in open ocean or calmer passages, where you can see dolphins, rays and bird life, turtles ‎and much more.
Scuba diving and snorkeling: There are over 25 sites to explore, a beautiful reef system and scuttled navy ship. Downunder drive, a must-see destination in the area, consisting of the Aussie world family theme park.
Big Kart track
Sea life is an all-weather oceanarium in Mooloolaba, where you can experience the sea life, swim with sharks and rays and swim with the whales, a majestic humpback‎ whale.
Bellingham Maze – get lost in the giant living hedge maze, play in the 18 holes mini golf.
Sunshine Castle is filled with medieval and historical displays.
Try Wavelength Reef Cruises in Port Douglas. It is one of Australia’s first operators to receive advanced ‎Eco tourism certification and one of the leaders in the market. The experience is only suitable for persons that can swim 50 metres without the aid of a float and not suitable for children under 8 years old. ‎They are snorkeling specialists, allowing guests to experience nature close-up. All of the equipment is included.
Discover the magical underground caverns at Chillagoo, get to know the local wildlife at the David Fleay Wildlife Park, go to the Mungana Caves National Park. Witness nesting ‎and hatching turtles in Mon Repos Conservation Park. Visit Wildlife HQ Zoo, 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye. It is the home of more than 250 species of Australian ‎native and exotic animals from around the world.

Market Guide along the Sunshine Coast

There are great produce and artisan markets. Discover fresh local produce, funky jewellery and unusual handmade clothing.

‎Friday:

Marcoola Market, Marcoola (at night)
Nights on Ocean, Maroochydore (2nd)
Noosa junction Twilight Markets (3rd)
Havana Nights Twilight markets, Peregian Springs (4th)

Saturday:

Beerwah tower green markets (1st)
Big pineapple markets
Crystal Organics Farmers Market, Palmwoods
Dagun Growers Market
Eumundi Markets
Hinterland Harvest Market
Kawana waters Artisans and Farmers Market
Landsborough Country markets (2nd and 4th)
Timari Village marketplace, Pacific Paradise (morning)
Yandina Plant and produce Market

Sunday:

Buderim Sunday markets (2nd and 4th)
Caloundra Country and Farmers markets, Currimundi
Caloundra street Fair
Cotton tree markets
Eumundi Collectable Market
Fisherman’s Road markets, Maroochydore
Gympie Museum markets (1^st,3^rd, 5^th)
Gympie Southside markets (2^nd and 4^th)
Imbil Country markets
Kin Kin Creations markets (1^st
Maleny Art, crafts and collectables markets
Mooloolaba Beach markets (2^nd and 4^th)
Noosa farmers markets
Noosa Marina Markets
Peachester Markets
Peregian Beach Markets (1^st 3^rd and 5^th)
Sunshine Coast collective Markets, Coloom Beach (4th)

Wednesday:

Eumundi Markets

Thursday:

Cooroy Community Market
Nambour village square market

Brisbane

Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and capital of Queensland. It has a population of approximately 2.3 million people. If you arrive by plane, in the airport get the Brisbane visitors’ guide, for free, it has a lot of useful information you may need during your stay.

In Queensland the public transport is good and there is an extensive network of bus, train, and ferry lines. You can fly to Brisbane and take a train to the Gold Coast. The best thing to do is to buy a Go card, which can be used for all Translink services (bus, train, including airtrain, ferry and tram). For more information contact Queensland Rail. For buses try www.greyhound.com.au. The Australians, like the British, Indians and Japanese, drive on the left-hand side of the Road. Have this in mind if you rent a car.

Brisbane is a very relaxing place and has a peaceful atmosphere. ‎As the Capital of the sunshine state the city is blessed with subtropical weather. The modern city is constructed on the Brisbane River and is bordered by beautiful parks, children’s playgrounds, fountains and very nice cafés, bars and restaurants.

You can sit in the nice and comfortable colourful striped ‎chairs and watch the river. People are very respectful and don’t damage or steal them! There are also lots of comfortable benches to sit along the board walk of the river.

You can visit the various museums for instance the Museum of Brisbane (museumofbrisbane.com.au).

Restaurants

I recommend the Stokehouse-Q Brisbane River ‎Restaurant, which has excellent meat, Barramundi fish and Moreton bay bugs. Located at Sidon Street, South Bank, Brisbane. www.stokehouse.com.au .

Another very good restaurant is on the top floor of the Hotel Emporium South Bank, with an exceptional view of the river and the city. The food, service and music are all very good. The place is quite psychedelic and is a very trendy place to have drinks.

La Vue waterfront restaurant, has the best water views in Brisbane and good French cuisine. www.lavuerestaurant.com.au

Brisbane River and getting around

Taking the boat along the river is cruise is a good and fast way of getting around Brisbane. There are several boat stops along the board walk, both sides of the river. Try River City Cruises. It is very nice to see the city from the river. They depart daily from the Cultural Centre Pontoon, located on the board walk outside the State Library.

Try Mirimar Cruises (Koala and River Cruise), join this sightseeing tour on a half day scenic river cruise. If you are looking for a cruise experience that is uniquely Australian, you can take the Mirimar II for an Aussie adventure. It is a way to get close and personal with Australia’s cuddliest creatures, while enjoying the sights and sounds of Brisbane’s waterfront. During the tour you can see historic Queenslander homes and modern mansions along the river front. 3 hours exploring Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you can hand feed kangaroos and emus. You will also experience an authentic Australian sheep dog show. www.mirimarcruises.com.au

Alternatively, you can go around the city on a bike or make a tour. For instance try Brisbane by bicycle (brisbanebybicycle.com.au). There are several places where you can rent them. It is possible to rent a scooter.

Walking through the park you get to the Rain Forest area, which is a green tropical forest, with paths across small ponds that will transport you with your mind to another place. It is very unusual to find this in a modern city. Soon after you will find the Nepalese Pagoda. ‎So why is there a Nepalese Peace Pagoda in the South Bank Parklands you may ask yourself?

The Pagoda was originally commissioned and installed on the South Bank for Expo 88. Following its success it become a coveted item, with several international bidders vying to keep it there. It remains here today thanks to donations from the Australian Government, the Brisbane City Council and generous private donors. Expo 88 was a world’s fair that show cased and celebrated different countries and was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 30 April 1988‎.

If you keep on walking following the river you are going to arrive in the Museum Area and find the Performing Arts Centre, just across from the Convention Centre. The Wheel of Brisbane offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and skyline from the South Bank Parklands‎. At this point there is a bridge where you can cross the river, either walking or by car. On the other side of the river the pedestrian shopping Queens Street starts. First you will be in front of the impressive Casino building ‎built in Art Deco style.

‎Queen Street is a very wide pedestrian street full of shops, restaurants and bars (many in the middle of the street). There are also a lot of conveniently placed benches to sit on and watch people go by. You can find local shops, especially ones that sell Australian goods, made with kangaroo leather and crocodile skin. ‎Take your time and you will find for sure some souvenir to take with you. You will find good quality products, at prices similar to those in Europe or the USA.

Shopping in Brisbane

You can find Uggs boots ‎in lots of different models that you will never find anywhere else in the world and for sure half the price of what you would pay outside Australia. My suggestion is that if you are interested in buying them, you should see all the shops before you buy. There are a lot of them on Queen Street and the side streets. Compare prices and models. Some have more discount than others and there are different types on offer. Uggs boots were born as men’s shoes, comfortable to wear after hours surfing in the cold water. It is interesting that they are not trendy for locals who say that they are for “bogans”. For us in the rest of the world they were very trendy some years ago, and most people find them comfortable and cosy for winter time. The prices of the boots go from 80 to 150 dollars, you can find them a little cheaper if you are lucky, depending on which model you choose.

‎You will find great Australian hand-made boots at RM Williams. The shop ‎is located in 105 B Wintergarden shopping Centre. The shop is very nice, and you will find beautiful hand-made men’s and women’s boots that will last forever. ‎There is a display that shows you how the boots are made, step by step.

Australian hats are famous. They are made to last a life time and there is a large variety of models. You can get them in the souvenir shops and they cost between 60 and 200 dollars. The hats are mostly for outdoors, in leather, felt or straw. Some are fun, like the crocodile dandy, with crocodile ‎teeth around them. Others are very traditional.

I recommend that you visit Brisbane Hatters ‎in the Brisbane Arcade, that is a beautiful old gallery, full of special shops. It is worth seeing, even if you don’t buy anything. Entering the Arcade from Queen Street the hat shop is at the end, shop 26 on the ground level. You can find there a big assortment of colours and shapes of quality hats, plus plastic covers for rainy days, which are very difficult to find elsewhere. They have products to protect hats, pieces to make hats smaller, brushes to clean them, etc. The shop is very nice! Don’t miss it.

In the Brisbane Arcade you will find a very interesting tea shop, with lots of different knitted covers for teapots that are very colourful and unusual‎. There is also a shop that sells the famous cultivated Australian pearls and a very nice Pen shop with a variety of beautiful and nice things to make presents and much more.

Worth buying in Brisbane are also:

Kangaroo skins, bags, belts, wallets. The skin can be furry or not. Kangaroo ‎skins come in many different sizes. There are also sheep skins.
Crocodile belts and bags. In the north of Australia there are lots of crocodile farms. Many of the products are made very well in Japan and then sold in the Australian market.
A big ‎variety of children toys, representing the Australian animals.
T-shirts.
And small presents to take back home for family and friends.
There are very good creams for the skin, with lanoline, emu oil, manuka honey and others. There is a lot of tree oil and Eucalyptus oil.

If you need perfumes, vitamins and things from the pharmacy, I always buy in Chemist Warehouse, which has excellent prices and a big variety of products. I always go back home full of things. In Queen street you will find at least three of their shops.

On Queen Street you will find the shops like Zara, H&M, etc. On the left-hand side you will find the Queens Plaza Gallery, where there are located the luxury international brands ‎like Chanel, Ferragamo and others. There is also David Jones department store and very nice local boutiques like:

Camilla that has beautiful kaftans in colourful silk, shirts, accessories and other things. There is a big variety, but prices are high.
Jamilla Okubo has very nice, colourful clothes and things for the house.

On the lower ground level there is a very good food court, where you can have lunch. Also, on the first floor with view of the Queen street you can have lunch in the station. Alternatively, you can sit on Queen Street and have a nice meal at the Pig n Whistle. There are lots of options depending what tempts you.

In Queen street there are several places to exchange money.

Brisbane suburbs

Brisbane is divided in different precincts:

Fortitude Valley: the suburb does double duty as an indie shopping haven and nightlife spot;
New Farm: the great outdoors, the famous New Farm Park is beautiful, a great place to have picnics and play cricket;
Newstead and Tenerife: a leafy riverside suburb with rich history ‎and many boutiques, cafés and restaurants. Visit Commercial Road Antiques and decorative arts;
James Street: street shopping and bar hopping;
Ascot and Hamilton‎: horseplay, big variety of bars and restaurants, and shopping.
Bulimba and Hawthorne: beautiful for picnics and walking along Oxford Street, where you can find unique shops and eateries;
‎Spring Hill and Roma street Parkland: a world-class garden;
Caxton Street and the Barracks: Brisbane’s heart of good times, live music and much more; and
Paddington: a hub of culture and charm. Lots of vintage and antique shops. Walk down Latrobe Terrace where you will find classic restaurants and trendy cafes.

Out of Brisbane

‎Another must do is Brisbane Whale Watching, just 30 minutes from North of Brisbane CBD, 7 days a week from June to November. www.brisbanewhalewatching.com.au. The clear waters of Moreton Bay‎ are one of the preferred breeding grounds for whales, where mothers give birth to their babies. They stay for many days to bond with their babies: they feed and play with them. Other places in the world that also take place, are Hermanus in South Africa and Puerto Madryn in Argentina. The whales play with the dolphins only few meters away. It is an incredible experience.

The Moreton Bay Marine National Park is home to bottle nose dolphins, loggerhead turtles and others. Don’t miss this incredible experience.

‎To have more information of things to do in Brisbane check the Concierge services top ten Brisbane things to do ‎(conciergeservices.com.au).

If you drive an hour south of Brisbane, down a very busy highway, you will reach the Gold Coast (more about that later): 70 km of beaches and wild nightlife. You can choose between award winning restaurants, wineries that are very famous in Australia, nightclubs, golf courses, theme parks and white sandy beaches.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a one hour’s drive, about 100 km, south of Brisbane along the Bruce Highway A1. It is always full of traffic, it took us a long time to get out of the city and to reach the Gold Coast. Calculate at least 2 hours and more. We did it in winter time. I am sure that in the summer you will need more time.

You can get there by renting a car, by train, by bus or by plane, whichever is more convenient and better for you and your budget. The car offers you the possibility to explore this magnificent area. Stop on the way to watch the surfers enjoying the waves, have a swim, or just sit in cafés along the coast.

When you arrive on the coast look for the Gold Coast tourist magazine (free) and you will find a lot of coupons for the different attractions. www.‎goldcoastmag.com.au

You can see the coast from ABC Heli’s luxury helicopters. See from above the pristine beaches, surfers, dolphins and whales. They also offer Heli picnics in variety of beautiful locations, including wineries across the region (check the big range of options they have).

Visit the town of Surfers Paradise, a very relaxed place for young people, full of bars, shops and night clubs. Friday evening is full of people walking around. We had dinner in the Surfers Paradise Restaurant and Bar and discovered that the food on Friday nights was half price. The fish and chips were really excellent and so were the salads. We stayed the night at the Marriott hotel, that has very good facilities. Breakfast was very good. There is a large pool area. We were upgraded to a large suite on the top floor that had an amazing view.

During the evening we walked along the seafront, while a fireworks competition was starting. There was live music and a nice seaside market was taking place where I found some interesting things to buy.

From Surfers Paradise we drove down the coast to Byron Bay, which is a nice, trendy sea town. There were lots of surfers on the beach and lots of people around the many shops, some of which were very interesting.

In a back street near the carpark by the beach we had a great lunch in ‎Fish Mongers, open since 1999, where they have fantastic vegetable and fish tempura, great barramundi fish and other very good fresh fish. We talked with the lovely owner, a very friendly person. It was a great discovery and I really recommend this restaurant if you want to have a very good, very reasonably priced meal.

At Mariner’s Cove Marina, Main Beach you can hire a boat that is very easy to drive. It is Duffi down under boat. They are particularly good for people who have never driven a boat before, beautifully appointed 18 or 22 foot electric boats, with full canopy top. You don’t need previous experience or a license.

Visit Currumbin wildlife sanctuary (www.CurrumbinSanctuary.com.au ), part of the National Trust, where you can cuddle a koala, pat a kangaroo, feed the lorikeets, feed a crocodile and much more. Located 30 km south of Surfers Paradise.

What about the Australian Parachute Federation? There is no better way to witness the beauty of Queensland than from 12,000 feet! ‎(3,658meters) strapped to an expert or learning to skydive solo. There are dozens of drop zones across the state. Located at Unit 3, Portal Office West, 2994 Logan Road, Underwood.

At the Aboriginal Cultural Centre you can go for a guided walk along the picturesque ‎beach side rainforest and learn about aboriginal history and culture of the gold Coast. ‎Located at 1711 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads.

Shopping for all tastes

Some shopping centres on the Gold Coast:

‎The Marina Mirage water front shopping and dining hosts over 80 designer boutiques. It is located at 74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach‎.
Harbour Town shopping Outlet, 220 stores (open air, palm lined mall, be prepared to leave all your money there (Polo, Coach…etc). Located at 147-189 Brisbane Road.
Pacific Fair is the largest retail ‎destination in Queensland and has one of the biggest concentrations of luxury International designers: Hermes, Laboutin, Gucci. Louis Vuitton, etc. It also has International fast fashion brands: H&M, Zara, Uniclo. In addition there is a strong group of Australian designers, like Aje, Camilla, Carla Zampatti, Ginger and Smart and others. Located at Hooker Boulevard ‎ Broad Beach 4218.
Robina Town centre: David Jones, Myer, and more than 350 stores. Located at 19, Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina

Luxury Hotel

Q1 Resort and Spa, Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise Skyline provides 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Standing on the skyline its exterior of steel and glass is pleasing the eye. With a height of 225 metres the views are outstanding. The Penthouse Presidential suite on the 74^th floor has a private heated pool.

Going South

Along Coff’s Coast you will find an area of over 30 great fishing locations (a fisherman’s paradise). You can find complete information ‎on the fishing in Coff’s Coast magazine (free), which specifies the good locations and all the information you will need.

Coff’s Harbour is surrounded by nature, half way between Sydney and Brisbane, it ‎is tranquil seaside city which a paradise for nature lovers, nestled at the picturesque junction where the ancient Gondwana rainforest of the highlands‎ cascades down to meet more than 70 km of pristine cost. In the area there are more than 11 national parks to visit to discover. You can dive, snorkel, surf, whale watch and fish. For more information visit www.coffscoast.com .