Gold Coast Holiday 2015 - Cheap Skate Tips

DeWalt on 25/03/2015 - 17:32
Last edited 26/03/2015 - 15:40

Hi everyone,

I'm heading to the Gold Coast with the family in August this year for 9 days. I have some tips to offer, and i'd appreciate any tips you might have for me!

Travel
* We got flights directly from ADL to OOL for $250pp return on Jetstar. We avoided certain days to make the flights cheaper, baggage for one person, direct deposit to avoid fees, etc.
* We purchased a 7 day family (2A/2C) pass with gcshuttle.com.au - for $290 via RAA. This includes airport transfer, unlimited bus trips on the Gold Coast for 7 days, and unlimited theme park transfers for 7 days. We don't have to use the return airport shuttle service within the 7 days!! The only bummer is that the 7 days for unlimited bus/theme park MUST start the day you arrive… so i'll use that for food shopping!

Accommodation
* We've booked Jupiter's Casino because there was a function in the hotel.
* Jupiters offer a free "Absolute Rewards" card that lets you see new movies on the big screen for free on Monday nights. You get it at the hotel.
* We used Google and searched through the first 20 results for "jupiters casino accommodation". Only ONE website offered a great deal, Qantas. It was almost half the price of WotIf, Agoda, Hotel Club, etc. We saved about $900 on the "discounts" from the others. You really need to look past the first few search results.

Shopping
* We plan to make our own breakfast, lunch and (sometimes) dinner. We're intending to shop for food at Coles and Woolworths, both are a short walk from the casino.
* We intend to use the bar fridge to store milk, juice, etc. We'll take bowls, plates, cups and cutlery ourselves.
* We're not likely to shop for clothing, jewelry, art, etc.

Entertainment
* The hotel has a good swimming pool and it's close to the beach (no surprises there)
* We got the Super Pass for 28 days for Movie World, Sea World and Wet-n-Wild for $90pp through RAA. We went for the 28 days rather than the 3 days because the 3 days has to be 3 consecutive days - and that didn't work for us.
* We are most probably visiting Currumbin bird sanctuary for the day.

Weather
* Find out the average temperature for the time of year you're visiting. eg. http://www.accuweather.com/en/au/gold-coast/13978/august-wea…
* Find out the average rainfall for the time of year you're visiting. eg. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_040764.shtm…
* According to the links i've given, there is less rain in July, August, September than most other months!!! It's also slightly cooler than any other time too.

General tips
* We will look at shop-a-dockets
* We most probably won't buy an entertainment book for one week's worth of use

Help!!
* Do you have any places you can suggest for breakfast / lunch that is suitable for the family and a cheapskate?
* Is there a fresh produce place near Jupiters that anyone can recommend? I'm considering Marina Mirage (Sat 7am-11am). Is that cheap-skate friendly?
* Do you have any other Jupiters casino tips, or Gold Coast tips?
* Do you have any tips for the theme parks (eg. locker tips, food tips, clothing tips for water rides, etc)?
* Do you have any tips for Currumbin bird park (eg. take bird seed with you)?
* Is there anything else we really should see/do while in the Gold Coast?

If you have tips that might benefit others (eg. Harbourtown for shopping, Car Hire, etc) please feel free to add them because that information might be useful for someone else, even if it doesn't help me.

I hope my comments are helpful to you… and thank you for any helpful advice you might have for me.

Cheapskates Unite!!

DeWalt

Travel

Comments

  • Targaryen on 25/03/2015 - 19:51
    +1

    No need to go to Marina Mirage just for produce only. Broadbeach Markets is on every other sunday mornings eg. April 5, April 19, May 3, etc.

    Inside the casino is Bites Restaurant that offers $7 meals. But to go inside the casino must be at least 18y.o.

    As you arrive in Harbour Town go to the Tourist Office and register for the discount card.

    The shop-a-dockets from your grocery shopping from Broadbeach will give you more options to family restaurants in the area.

    Wear polyester type clothing when going to water rides. Weather here atm is still 30deg daytime.

    • DeWalt on 25/03/2015 - 20:04

      Thanks Targaryen - great comments. What does the Harbourtown discount card do?
      If I am not there when the Broadbeach markets are on, where would you go instead?

      • Targaryen on 25/03/2015 - 20:27
        +1

        I just checked the "VIP Card" and its offered to locals only. It gives extra 10% discount to half of the shops. But, theres a Tourist card for rural and interstate visitors that offers similar benefits. Register online.
        For produce near Broadbeach, go to Carrara Markets, about 3km west of the casino. Bus service may take you there or checkout Carrara Markets along Nerang-Broadbeach Rd as they may offer a free return shuttle pick-up from Jupiters. Open 7 days.
        A local around Broadbeach area may offer more suggestions.

        • DeWalt on 26/03/2015 - 10:21

          Thanks Targaryen.

          I just noticed the Broadbeach markets are supposedly open 1st and 3rd Sunday in each month. That would make it 2nd and 16th August. Is that correct, or is it every second Sunday (as you mentioned)?

          I found my information here,
          http://www.marketsonline.com.au/queensland/broadbeach-market…

        • Targaryen on 26/03/2015 - 14:46
          +1

          @DeWalt:
          You're correct 1st and 3rd sunday it is. 2nd and 16th August. From 8am. Breakfast too.

      • whodidthat on 26/03/2015 - 16:02
        +1

        For fresh produce at markets http://www.gctc.com.au/local-markets
        Farmers’ Market is held every Sunday from 6am – 11am in the Gold Coast Turf Club’s complex.

        Last year, we stayed at http://www.freshwaterpointresort.com.au/ (as a timeshare exchange - into a 2 bedroon unit, cost total $650).

        Plenty of places to eat around Broadbeach, cheap to expensive.
        There's also Sizzlers up the road http://www.sizzler.com.au/restaurants/mermaid-beach

        Pacific Fair Shopping Centre is a mess at the moment with a lot of shops closing or closed. Not sure how much better it will be by August.
        Alternative shopping at Oasis.

        • DeWalt on 27/03/2015 - 09:10

          Thanks for the great suggestions - will check them out. What's happening at PAC fair? Is it upgrades, or is it like many other places with downturn in retail?

          The Gold Coast turf club is about 30 minutes walk and 15 minutes bus trip. That's most probably not going to work from Jupiters.

        • whodidthat on 27/03/2015 - 09:26
          +1

          @DeWalt: You're welcome :) I've been to Gold Coast quite a few times recently on business and holidays (in fact going there on 10th April) so I've logged up a fair bit of info.

          We got fruit & veg from the farmers market and it was really good quality as well as good prices (even found King Edward potatoes!). Strawberries - sooooo nice!

          Pacific Fair, the're changing a lot. The cinema has gone and a few of the big shops have moved into an extension on the "main" building.
          A big part of the outer sections has now been bulldozed to carry out redesigning & further extensions.

  • Peanut money on 25/03/2015 - 20:13
    +1

    Don't hit the tables hoping to clean up

    • DeWalt on 26/03/2015 - 10:01

      The more I drink, the better my chances of winning!!

  • PVA on 25/03/2015 - 20:17
    +1

    absolute rewards is good for a cheap meal at Spinners, at the moment steak,lobster chips and salad is $15 - pretty good too (had it last week)
    It changes around so may be something different when you are up.

    Hop on the tram and go into Surfers for a day, look around, grab a burger at MOSburgers (japanese burger chain) and go on the beach.
    For fun hire electric bikes and ride from Surfers to the spit (past Sea world) along the back paths - depends on your kids ages I guess.

    Jupiter is next to Pacific Fair shops, I know there is Coles, dont think there is Aldis.

    The pool at the casino looks great - if you want splurge one night buy a couple of nice pizzas at Vivo upstairs overlooking the pool.

    • DeWalt on 26/03/2015 - 10:09

      That's really good advice PVA. The bikes sound like great fun (as does the food).

      According to Google maps, there's an Aldi at Mermaid Waters.
      https://www.google.com.au/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=…

      Yep, I just checked Google maps using street view. There's definitely an Aldi there, the sign is on the side of the building in some shopping complex. I have been driving around the Gold Coast (well, at least using Google street view) to get an idea of what's there. Google street view is fantastic when you need it!!

      It looks like it's on the other side of the canal from Pac Fair, so it's not part of the same shopping complex … I'll have to do a little more virtual driving to find out.

      • PVA on 26/03/2015 - 13:53
        +1

        That Aldi is not close to you, not walking distance at all - about 8-10 minute drive from the casino, 4-5 km. If you are staying at teh casino just walk across the road and go to coles or there's Woolies about opposite the convention centre (which is next to you) with all restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops. Down the end of that mall is the Kurrawa surf club, good for a meal and a beer.at the . The park next to the club has markets on weekends (well it used to , haven't been for a while.
        (I call the casino area Broadbeach, not Mermaid waters - we used to stay at the broadbeach caravan park in the '70s which is the island that the casino is now on - wow thats a long time ago)

        When we got our red reward card, it had $20 to spend on the casino (cant cash it in). not sure if thats still the case.

        • DeWalt on 26/03/2015 - 15:39

          Thanks PVA. That sounds like good advice. I'll update my description to remove Aldi. It looks like a 45 minute trip.

        • PVA on 26/03/2015 - 17:04
          +1

          @DeWalt:

          Keep the question coming.
          You say family, how old are the kids?

        • DeWalt on 27/03/2015 - 09:18

          @PVA:

          The kids are 8 and 10. One love hardcore sports, the other loves books and animals.

          Other than my questions above the title "help!", the only other thing that is on my mind at the moment is recommended cheap eats near Jupiters.

          Google street view is just so fantastic, you can walk the streets so that when you get there, you know exactly where to go by foot, car, bus, etc. It's just amazing how much Street View has improved in the last 12 months. I now know how to get to Surfers, where to get the bus, how often it goes, the bus number, etc.. It's great!!

          Everyone's advice has been fantastic - and I hope our summaries will help others!!

        • PVA on 27/03/2015 - 11:29
          +1

          @DeWalt:
          You wont take the bus from the casino to surfers , you hop on the new tram - it's straight outside , nice and simple and fun for the kids.
          Just use the bus to get to the theme parks.

          Cheap eats, not sure how cheap you mean as even Maccas for 4 people adds up - opposite the casino is Broadbeach, surf parade and streets around there and is full of restaurants and cafes - not all is cheap but you can get pizzas, Boon Chu is great for Thai street food (satays, noodle, rice type stuff get a few plates and share between the 4 of you then you have room at Cold Rock for an ice cream, there's sushi, maccas, guzman and gomez mexican - like I said lots.
          In surfers go to Longboards burgers at the Q1 and buy one Phat Burger to share between all four of you (yes it will do all four) its around $30, cheap for 4 people.

          Don't try and plan everything, Broadbeach and Surfers has lots to do - the kids will spend a ton of time at the beach and pool, you have days at theme parks - the rest cruise around and enjoy what pops up.

        • whodidthat on 27/03/2015 - 12:24
          +1

          @DeWalt: Like I said before, there's a lot of choice for eating around Broadbeach and not too far from Surfers if you still can't find anything.

          I think you'll find this useful: http://www.shopadocket.com.au/regions/gold-coast

        • DeWalt on 27/03/2015 - 16:15

          @PVA:

          Thanks PVA. With gcshuttle.com.au, I've got unlimited bus trips for the family - but not for trams. That's why i'll take the bus instead :)
          re: don't plan everything. The good thing about knowing your options is you can pull a rabbit out of the hat :). I've got several days planned, and the rest will be shuffling deck chairs of options.

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