Hertz Downtown Brisbane Car Rental
Hertz has a downtown branch at the central of Brisbane city. It is within walking distance from the Meriton Apartment at Herschel Street. Expecting to incur only AUD230 for 7 days rental, the amount increase to AUD480 after adding in the excess cover and related fees. I was booked on a full sedan but was given the equivalent: Nissan Altima.
Hertz offers day passes for multiple entries for tolls at a high price around AUD20. It is generally not worth it unless you will pass through the toll roads at least 5 times since per toll is AUD4. I did not encounter any toll from the journey from Brisbane to Gold Coast. There are no visible gantries for tolls. Hertz charges an administration fee of AUD16 to process any tolls encountered by the car. (A AUD4 toll will amount to AUD20).
I have encountered one toll when I was travelling from Gold Coast to Sunshine Coast. Unlike Singapore, there are no toll in Brisbane City and tolls can be avoided by passing through the Brisbane city rather than using the highway. Plan your journey well.
For location, click here
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Nissan Altima |
Comfort:
9/10
Mount Coot-tha Summit Lookout
Opening Hours:
24 hours
For location, click here
If you are heading down to Gold Coast from Brisbane City, stop by Mount Coot-tha summit outlook to enjoy the panoramic view of Brisbane City. There are also restaurants and cafes at the lookout.
Drive to Gold Coast
The M1 motorway is a direct highway that brings you to Gold Coast from Brisbane City. It is about 83km and journey time is approximately 1 hour. The speed limit increases slowly from 80km/h in the city to 110km/h when you are outside of the city.
Meriton Apartment at Broadbeach
Comfort:
8/10
The Meriton at Broadbeach offers the same product as the one at Herschel Street. This apartment is conveniently located opposite the Jupiters casino and has many food choices in the vicinity. I have chosen this area for its quiet and relaxing nature compared to the busier streets at Surfer's Paradise. Car parking costs AUD10 for 24 hours parking with multiple entries.
I have booked this apartment for 3 nights through Agoda. Agoda was running an additional 12% off if you were to pay using a UOB credit card. Total cost inclusive of the discount is SGD280.
Surfer's Paradise
Car Parking is very expensive at Surfer's Paradise. However, you can park at Chevron Renaissance to take advantage of their 2 hours free parking scheme. Simply exit before the 2 hours mark and no minimum spending is required in the mall to qualify.
Caution: Do take note when your 2 hours are up.
You can take a slow stroll or feed the birds on the beach. There are plenty of shops in the area too. As it was the sales period, there are many items that are of a bargain.
JTB Travel Agency
Opening Hours:
0800 - 2000
For location, click here
If you are visiting attractions like the 3 worlds (Movie World, Dream World, Sea World), Tropical Fruit world or even the Australia Zoo, you can purchase the tickets from the travel agents here at a discount. I got a AUD6 off per person for the Tropical Fruit World and AUD2 for Australia Zoo. If you are a student, you can purchase the discounted student pass for some attractions. So, remember to bring your local student pass!
If you are not driving, you can take the G:link that runs the whole of Gold Coast, connecting Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.
Dinner at Envy Bistro (Broadbeach)
For location, click here
AUD 12 for ribs and chips platter
Taste:
7/10
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Nearby Woolsworth at Oasis Mall |
Day 3
Lunch at Harbour Seafood Market
Opening Hours:
0900 - 1930
For location, click here
Day 3 plan is shopping at Harbour Town Gold Coast. If you are in the area, do drop by at the Harbour Seafood Market that is located diagonally opposite Harbour Town. You can select your own fish and they will help you cook them (Batter or Crumbs). I personally prefers the batter version. Their calamaris are also a must order item from their menu.
Taste:
9/10
Harbour Town Shopping Outlet
Opening Hours:
0900 - 1700
For location, click here
You have to visit this outlet mall if you are a shopper as they have really good bargains. Most of the shops here have discounts over discounts (E.g. take a further 40% off the already discounted items).
First thing you do when you are there is to head to their customer service centre to get the tourist card. That card will entitle you additional discounts on top of what they are offering.
There is also a lounge there where you can help yourself with the complimentary coffee and tea to recharge yourself for the shopping trip.
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Bought a pair of Nike Air Jordan Shoe for AUD80 after an additional 30% off the discounted price |
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Bought a Ben Sherman Tees for AUD13.50 |
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Bought a pair of jeans for AUD35 and 3 underwears for AUD20. The prices are before an additional 10% off when you present the tourist card.
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Polo Ralph Lauren |
Bought a polo tee here for just AUD38!
Bought a pair of shorts for AUD10
Shopping Experience:
9/10
Dinner at Harbourside Market
Dinner was once again at Harbourside Market. The craving for the calamaris were too hard to resist. Also, this is one of the place that do not close at 5pm.
The box contains 2 types of fish, 1 fish roe, calamari rings, fish bites, seafood sticks, whitefish fritters, and lots of fries. Total cost around AUD30. Its a feast!
Late Nights at Jupiters
Opening Hours:
24 hours
For location, click here
Parking is free at Jupiters
Do not bring too big of a bag if you are intending to enter the casino area. They might require you to deposit them at the customer service counter.
Although the casino is free to enter, it costs me AUD75 at the end of the day :/
Day 4
Breakfast at Mcdonalds
Opening Hours:
0630 - 2100
For location, click here
Build your own burger. We have a few of this machines back in Singapore too.
They use real beef chunks for the wrap. One meal will set you off at around AUD9. Pretty expensive for a Mcdonalds.
Taste:
8/10
Superbee Honey World
Opening Hours:
0900 -1700
Admission:
Retail Shop - Free
Live Beekeeping Show - AUD11
For location, click here
Superbee Honey World is close to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Short term parking (<1 hour) is free when you visit Superbee honey world. You can park at the express parking lots outside of the main parking lots. The main parking lots are attended by a parking attendant and are chargeable (AUD10 per entry)
Free sampling of the different honey available for sale
Tweed Head
Opening Hours:
24 hours
Admission:
Free
For location, click here
Visit the border of Queensland and New South Wales at the Captain Cook Memorial in Tweed Head.
I am in 2 states at once!
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View from Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse (Tweed head) |
Tropical Fruit World
Opening Hours:
1000 - 1600
Admission:
AUD45 (AUD39 from travel agent)
For location, click here
The tropical fruit world used to be a pure research lab for avocado
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Our ride for the tour |
Fruit Tour:
The first fruit that we tried is the banana. It tastes harder than the ones in Singapore.
Macadamia Nuts
The guide brought us to the macadamia trees where there are raw nuts available for eating. There is a simple tool to crack open the nuts or you can simply use a large rock to crack the nuts against the ground.
Animal Feeding
Next stop is the animal feeding experience. We were brought to feed the cows in the shed. There are also other animals such as the donkeys, horses and kangaroo in the area as well. Hidden on the roof of the shed is a python. But it appears to be sleeping.
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Feeding the cows with milk |
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Python sleeping on the roof of the shed |
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Donkeys |
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Kangaroos |
River cruise experience
Next, we bought the river cruise for a tour round the island. In the process, we were handed breads to feed the ducks swimming in the river.
Miniature train ride
Hold on tight as we will be embarking on a round the island ride on this miniature train. Of all the rides, this one is most fun and memorable.
Fruit tasting time
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Avocado, tomato, kiwi, custard apple, dragon fruit, sour-sop |
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Bought a sleeping tea leaves. Pretty effective I would say |
Late lunch at Throwers Fish and Chips
Opening hours:
1100 - 1900
For location, click here
Parking wise, just park along the side of the road
Once again, the calamaris are awesome! The fish is not as good as the ones at Harbourside market but nonetheless edible!
Taste:
7/10 (9/10 for the Calamaris)
Pacific Fair Shopping Centre
Opening Hours:
0900 - 1730
Parking:
Free
For location, click here
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Myer having the Australia stocktake sales |
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Kmart closes at 9pm. So visit the other outlets first |
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Bought a 7 days brief at Kmart for AUD15 |
Ming Palace
For location, click here
Heard from my mum (a tour guide) that this place serves very good Dim Sum. Did not have the time to try. It costs around AUD6 for a dim sum.
Moving back to Brisbane
Supper
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AUD5 for the whole pizza if you order before 9pm Taste: 8/10 |
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Mamee instant noodles (MUST TRY!) Taste: 9/10 |
Moving back to Brisbane