Tag Archives: Surfers Paradise

Australia, Destinations, East Coast, Travelogues

Contiki – Surfers Paradise, Brisbane, Noosa

Drring! Okay, more like: Beep, beep. Get up early once again. Our stops today: Brisbane and Noosa. After all the suitcases and bags (+ Youngys Surf Board) were stowed away, we were able to recover on the bus.

Justine and Youngy (coach captain) first drove us towards Brisbane. While Justine explained us today’s schedule , the first already fall asleep again. Shortly before 9:30 we got a wake-up call for some of us . A list was handed around that we had to sign. Ths list was about what we want to eat during our Fraser Island expedition. The choices were fish, meat and vegetarian dishes.

Brisbane

Brisbane
Brisbane

Shortly before 9:45, we arrived in Brisbane. After a short ride through the city we were let out at a big square. From here we went to a jewelry store. where they told us something about opals.
Some tour mates including me went towards the city center to eat something / buy something to drink. Then we went shopping for Australia day. Shortly before half past 12! The journey continued to Noosa!

Noosa

It was already after noon. shortly after 2:00 pm. Again plenty of time to

Noosa Beach
Noosa Beach

eat and relax. Except for extremely high-priced restaurants, there was not really something in the main street. I bought just a sandwich and a cappuccino-to-go from 7-11 and we enjoyed some time to stroll on the beach. At about 4 in the afternoon we went to our today’s accommodation, the Australis Noosa Lakes Resort. Here again we had some time to unpack the suitcase and make us fresh, because tonight we will go to a country club which looks more like a large restaurant with slot machines. Earlier we enjoyed some time of course in the pool at the resort.

 

Australis Noosa Lakes Resort

We had an apartment on the first Floor with a balcony with views of the lake. After the entrance you find yourself in an anteroom. There you will find a washer and dryer. The apartment itself has a living room with a open cooking area. The apartment is quite spacious, so plenty of room for a little party: D The couch can be converted into a bed. The separate bedroom has a queen size bed.

Contiki Party

After dinner we went back to the resort, where we threw a little party in our apartment

College Party? I haven’t been to a college party yet, but our party was relatively quiet except for the music. Although some had a lot fun with alcohol and playing cards, others enjoyed the time on the balcony to chill out. 🙂

Australia, Destinations, East Coast, Travelogues

Contiki – Surfers Paradise, Sky-Diving, Draculas – part 2

Jan 19, 2011:

The alarm clock rang early. At 7:20, some tour mates and I had to stand in the lobby. Why? Because I’m going to jump out of an aircraft at 12000 ft. altitude

 

Gold Coast Skydive

Well, there it’s was, the shuttle to the office of the Gold Coast Skydivers. 4 people want to jump from a aircraft which is in my perfect condition. During our trip the first two tour mates (“Jumpers”) filled out a form. That must do every jumper. When we arrived at the office, we got the first instrutions and tips. As Ellen and I, were in the second group , we could relax a little, while the first two were driving to the airport.
My partner was the experienced skydiver jumping Steve, who is also among the first people who jumped from Mount Everest.

Now it was our turn. Following an instruction and the application of the jumpsuits, we drove to the airport, only estimated 5 minutes away. The plane took off, and slowly gained altitude. After a few minutes we reached the jump height of 12000 ft. The side door opened, and Ellen and her Skydive partner slid to the right place. A few moments later I looked through the door. “Ready?” “yes”.

Tied to Steve, he pushed us off the plane. A breathtaking feeling (do not take it literally;-)). Note:I have not yet ridden any rollercoaster;-)

After some time the parachute opened and we floated over the beautiful Gold Coast. “Amazing!” For a while me let Steve steer the parachute, which is quite easy. As we approached the beach a few minutes later, Steve was preparing the landing . During the landing procedure I had to put my shoes on his shoes. Even before I realized we were already standing on the beautiful beach of the Gold Coast. Butter soft landing on the Gold Coast! A “breathtaking experience” which anybody should do. It does cost $ 425 AUD with video recording, but it’s definitely worth it!

Meanwhile, it was just before nine and They took us by shuttle to the hotel. During the ride my dad called and asked what things am I doing. ( I posted a photo on the internet shortly before). I confirmed to him that I just jumped off a plane from 12000ft.

 

Explore Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise - Shopping
Surfers Paradise - Shopping

Since I had booked no further optionals for the day, I decided to have breakfast first and then to explore Surfers Paradise.
I decided after a detailed walk through the party town of Surfers Paradise for a yummy Dark Mocha Frappuccino at Starbucks. Starbucks is part of my mandatory program, when ever I’m traveling around the world. 🙂

Surfers Paradise - Beach
Surfers Paradise - Beach

Afterwards I went for some shopping to Billabong. Yeah! Finally, in a Billabong flagship store. The day was approaching the early evening and therefore I was moving towards the hotel.

 

Draculas Cabaret Show

Almost all tour mates including me booked the by Justine recommended cabaret show at “Dracula’s Gold Coast”

It is “Australia’s favorite Dinner Theatre”. At the entrance we were welcomed by a creepy-looking character and had to enter the venue through a coffin-like door. After a high-priced cocktail at the bar, we went through a short ghost train into the “Theatre of the Vampire”: D We all sat around a large table, where we could enjoy the show and our more than delicious food (3 course meal) .

Before it continued properly, the vampire from the entrance announced that besides Contiki there’s also another VIP here tonight. Justin Bieber Screaming! 😉 In fact, Mr. Bieber was sitting not even 10 feet away from us and also enjoyed the show.

Unfortunately, in the entire location photography and filming is not allowed.

Therefore, here is the official TV spot for Dracula’s Gold Coast:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF2zwrQLix4

 

Dracula’s is definitely worth it’s $ 85 AUD! The food and the show including comedy and rock music parts are excellent! 2 hours High Quality Fun!

More info at draculas.com.au 🙂

Australia, Destinations, East Coast, Travelogues

Contiki – Wildlife Sanctuary, Surfers Paradise – part 1

Jan 18, 2011:

After a really excellent breakfast at Mojo surf camp “Spot X”, we went further towards Surfers Paradise, but before, , but we made a stop at noon in Byron Bay.

In Byron, we (2 German girls + one New Yorker and I) had a chilled-afternoon and ate a really delicous meal for lunch, while some other tour mates went to the beach.

Then we went to Australia’s most eastern point, Cape Byron. The quasi-mandatory photographing time just went by and we sat in the bus again. Let’s go to Surfers Paradise.

Surfers Paradise is the Miami of Australia. Surfing, beach, shopping, partying and much more can you expect here. Surfers Paradise is part of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. On the Gold Coast many TV series and feature films are produced. Even one of my favorite former children’s series was produced on the Gold Coast.

Wildlife Sanctuary - Kangaroo
Wildlife Sanctuary - Kangaroo

Wildlife Sanctuary

But before we traveled to Surfers Paradise, we made a brief stop at the Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland.

Wildlife Sanctuary - Crocodile
Wildlife Sanctuary - Crocodile

Here we had the opportunity to stroke kangaroos ,to see crocodiles and carry a koala bear on the shoulder (of course with high-priced photo;-)).

Contrary to the claims, the koalas do not stink. So much for rumors. Hehe! I got a koala placed on me and someone took a photo. Koalas are really cute animals.

 

Surfers Paradise – Day 1

Surfers Paradise! Welcome to the party paradise of Australia. I set myself some years ago the goal to come to this place. Surfers Paradise is a part of the Gold Coast and is also a part of several famous movie and television series. Even the famous Australian children’s TV series “H2O – Just Add Water” was filmed here. Some people say that Surfers Paradise is the Miami of Australia. We traveled across the famous Gold Coast Hv. to our hotel, the “Australis Sovereign Surfers Paradise” – a 4.5 star hotel.

Australis Sovereign Surfers Paradise

The hotel has a spacious lobby. Let’s see how the rooms are …

I shared the room again with my tour mates from the surf camp. The “room” consisted of a living room with a kitchen and a sofa convert to bed. The bedroom had a spacious king-size bed and one single bed, a closet provides plenty of storage space. The large balcony can be reached from the living room and bedroom. The bathroom was clean and has a bathtub with shower. The living room has a small flat-screen TV. In the rooms although is WiFi available, but as the Internet at the Internet terminals in the lobby, it’s not for free.

We got a voucher for breakfast from Contiki. Since we stayed for 3 days at this hotel, It was necessary to organize another breakfast.

Since we arrived relatively late on the first day, we had several hours free time to make us fresh and to select a styling for this evening. Our tour guide had already announced that we would now go into the night club “Sin City” – VIP Access Included! I went off earlier to explore the city.

The night – Sin City Club in Surfers Paradise

I arrived first in front of the club and asked my , whether the other tour mates

Surfers Paradise at night
Surfers Paradise at night

were already inside. A few minutes later, I answered my question. The first tour mates arrived. When all were there, Justine(tour guide) accompanied us to the VIP wait line and we went in after passport check. My first Australian nightclub. The atmosphere felt like one the large night clubs in Munich, just a bit more “cozy”. 🙂