Island Travel Interviews, Australia (Gold Cost)

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Let’s learn about the Gold Coast in Australia with Megan from A Traveling Tribe! Megan and I went to the same college and then coincidentally (and so fortunately for me!) ended up at the same elementary school (for our children). And then, she moved on me! To Australia!!! It has been so much fun for my kids and me to FaceTime with Megan and her kids to hear firsthand all about their fun adventures and discoveries. The first time we attempted FaceTime, the kids basically just stared at each other, but now… they are all FaceTime pros and it’s so fun to hear them share all of the things that are important to 7 year olds.

Name and Blog Name/URL

Megan Freudigmann

A Traveling Tribe

http://atravelingtribe.com/

Which Island Will You Be Talking About and Why Did You Choose This Island?

Australia – the largest island in the world that is also a continent AND a country. But more specifically, I will be sharing all about the Gold Coast in Queensland because it has been my temporary home for the past 10 months and I have simply fallen in love with it here! The Gold Coast is the 6th largest city in Australia and the 2nd largest city in the state of Queensland. It is home to about 650,000 people of numerous cultures and is quite a vast and diverse city including everything from beaches to busy city life to rainforests.

How Many Days Would You Recommend Staying on This Island?

Is this a trick question? For Australia, at least a month – but honestly 10 months hasn’t even been long enough to see it all. But if you are asking about the Gold Coast, well, you could hit all of the main attractions and hotspots in a week, but I would give yourself about two to three weeks to fully explore and enjoy all this area has to offer. You literally could get lost in all of the little beach and mountain towns that make up the Gold Coast.

Favorite Thing About/Memory From Your Trip to This Island?

Honestly, this is a super difficult question. And one I couldn’t answer fully in a blog post. So, to save time and reader attention, I will go with THE BEACHES!!! The Gold Coast is basically known for unending golden and white sandy beaches along the great Pacific’s turquoise blue waters. There are about 43 miles (70 kilometers) of coastline along the Gold Coast, which means beaches galore! We have attempted to visit as many of these gorgeous beaches during our stay, but we definitely have our favorites – Main Beach, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Creek, and Kirra Beach (this is our favorite – and our eldest daughter’s namesake).

What is Your “Can’t Miss” Activity on the Island? What activities/opportunities does this island provide?

• Animal encounters at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary – “can’t miss”
• Surfing – “Can’t miss”

• Kite Surfing

• Boating on the Broadwater and canals

• Sand Castle Building

• Boutique shopping

  

   

• Rainforest hiking in Lamington National Park – “Can’t miss”
• Waterfall hunting in the hinterland
• Amusement Park adventuring (SeaWorld, Wet-N-Wild, Paradise Country, Movie World, and DreamWorld)
• Wine tasting
• Tropical Fruit World visiting
• Enjoying  fresh seafood – Fish n’ Chips on the beach is a must!
• AquaSplash (check out our video all about this favorite of ours on the blog)

Best Restaurant/Place to Eat?

This really depends. The Gold Coast offers a plethora of options for the foodie, the fiscally responsible, and the average food consumer. You literally can find ANY flavor, ethnicity, or food sensitivity option up and down the coast. Check out our Instagram account for some of our faves – @atravelingtribe

What Surprised You About this Island?

When I first came to Australia in 2001, I only knew about the Great Barrier Reef and Brumbies (wild horses) from “The Man from Snowy River”. Never in my wildest imagination would I ever have believed there was such a richness to the people, the land, and the amount of diverse landscapes, animals, and coastline in one city of Australia, such as the Gold Coast. Each time we get to explore a little more, we find ourselves in awe of just how unique the land and people are – just in our apartment building we have met people from over 10 countries.

Any Travel Advice for those considering this island as a destination (e.g., where to stay, ease of getting there, how best to get around, language, money)?

1. First – make Australia a priority on your bucket list!
2. Second – research each destination you would like to visit before booking your tickets. You may want to visit Cairns (northern part of Queensland and where the Great Barrier Reef can be accessed) but also Sydney. They are extremely far apart, so a domestic flight would be a must, unless you have unlimited time to travel via car, bus, or train.
3. The Gold Coast Airport (OOL) is very convenient! And you can find decent flights in and out to the major cities!
4. Translink on the Gold Coast is a great way to get around – buses and trains are reliable and very easy to navigate (even with 4 kids and a stroller)!

If my readers want to hear more about your island, do you have a link to your full article?

Feel free to check out A Traveling Tribe’s blog to read more about our crazy Aussie adventures! We have visited lots of fun places all over the country and are currently updating articles on some of our favorites!

Many, many thanks to Megan for this very help guide to the Gold Coast! If you’re like me and probably won’t get to visit for awhile, here is a pin 🙂 This would also be a sophisticated addition to my home to remind me of the dream or as gift for someone who has actually been to the Gold Coast. Just click here.

And if you missed the interview about Can’t Miss activities in Sydney with my friend and neighbor, Kathy, just click here.