The technicolour dream coast

Lunch cruises, water parks and a supernatural-themed cabaret... here’s how to discover Australia’s Gold Coast in 48 hours

August 16, 2017 05:25 pm | Updated 07:00 pm IST

2.67 lakh. That’s the number of Indians who went Down Under in 2016-17, a significant increase from the year before that.

Australia is increasingly becoming the go-to destination for Indians who’re looking for an experience beyond plain tourism. We’re no different. Our choice of destination is the Gold Coast, a picturesque coastal city that has much to offer.

Arrive: Day 1

9 am – Sea World

We’re in Australia’s only water park resort, and staying there gets you some privileges. One of them is easier access to the theme park that’s next door, earlier than when the other customers arrive. The dolphins are practising when we troop in near the pool. One of them leaps out of the water and reaches out to the sky, before making a giant splash in the water on its way back. All it takes is a whistle to get them back in order, and ready for the next set of activities.

18kt

18kt

 

On the way out, you could probably say hello to a couple of polar bears that are busy scrambling in the ice. If the bears are funny, the penguins are funnier... they actually stand and pose for selfies! But don’t expect that at the underground shark bay, where we spotted creatures of all sizes swimming comfortably with each other. The sea might be their real world, but the ‘sea world’ doesn’t seem bad either.

This water resort park has — apart from numerous water rides — well put-together shows, with these marine creatures turning ‘performers’ in a bid to entertain the crowd.

3 pm – Atop a fire truck

Fancy riding on a real fire truck with sirens blaring? You can do exactly that from Surfers Paradise, where a group of retired fire trucks await tourist groups. At about $50, the truck takes you through the busy lanes of Gold Coast, with good music and commentary on board.

Make sure you have your fire helmets on the ride to enjoy the experience better. Some time into our journey, the guide — a former fire serviceman himself — lets us try the real fire hose and shoot out water into the greenery. “I’ve been to India once,” he tells us, as he neatly folds the fire hose that we’ve been messing with, “The fire trucks there are so huge and wonderful.”

 

6 pm – Experience infinity

The ‘bhoot bungalows’ in Indian theme parks attempt to scare you. Infinity, located at Surfers Paradise, is similarly-structured, but it attempts to blow your mind. That it does, because a trip inside will make you laugh and scream within minutes of each other. Laugh when you tread gingerly on a bed of cushions and scream when you enter a maze filled with illusions. That’s not all... you also get to dance in a special effects zone. Try staying close to your group, for, if you miss your way, chances are that you’d wish you were never inside in the first place. No wonder someone remarked: “You can’t describe it, you have to experience it.”

Day 2

6 am – Sunrise points

 

Gold Coast is a wonderful sight in the mornings, with the sun peeking its head slowly near the waters and gradually spilling its warmth on the city, even as joggers sprint for their everyday dose of exercise. The beach off Surfers Paradise might just be a good place to check out at this time of the day — in the evenings, it tends to become a little crowded. Mornings are also the best time to get a wonderful aerial view of the city; you could have a leisurely breakfast on the 77th floor of the iconic Q1 building, which houses Australia’s only beach-side observation deck. You could also try a ride on the hot-air balloon that presents a beautiful view of the city’s many wondrous sights.

12 pm – Cruise along...

You could never buy the homes that the rich and famous own, but you can at least see them. We spotted many of those when we went aboard the Wyndham Cruise that is a unique way to sight-see. “Exploring the Gold Coast via the waterways is the best way,” says Dean Griffin, the general manager, who welcomes us with a warm smile. Indeed it is — Gold Coast has more waterways than Amsterdam and Venice put together.

Griffin’s busy steering the cruise and ensuring that he’s keeping good speed, but he also shares some interesting nuggets about the city he loves. “Keep your eyes open, you might just spot some water creatures,” he says, excitedly, as he guides us to a sumptuous lunch that includes local trawler prawns, salads and freshly baked rolls that are served with a smile. At about $60, this two-hour cruise offers some great views of the Marina Mirage and the glittering waters of Broadwater.

6.30 pm – Vampires go viral

When we queue up outside Dracula’s, we have little idea what we’re getting into. The start is dramatic enough — a ghost train ride takes you to the main performance arena. You might want to keep your cool among the many scares in this little journey — they might just play your reaction on the big screen later in the evening. Once inside Dracula’s Cabaret Theatre, get ready for an exciting evening in which you’ll witness some electrifying performances (which include partial nudity — the show is rated MA15+) and really loud music. The comedy is wild and the music is far from mild. There are finger foods and drinks to add to the experience, all served by staff who are dressed like vampires gone wild.

Getting there

 

There are many airline operators plying from India to the Gold Coast, with stop-overs at either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. The round-trip fare with low-cost carriers like Scoot-Tigerair works out to between ₹13,000 and ₹17,000. There will be time to while away at Singapore; either wander around the massive Changi airport, or apply for a temporary visa to explore the city.

Indian visitors to Australia need to have a valid visa, which has to be applied well in advance of travel dates. The Australian government recently launched an online visa facility for Indian visitors to streamline the process.

(The writer was in Australia on the invitation of Scoot-Tigerair and Tourism and Events Queensland)

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