You can read Parts 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
My solo traveling continued after leaving Sydney. I now made my way to Gold Coast. A Con-X-ion driver met me at the luggage carousel. The driver then whisked me to the Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise, an IHG hotel.
Gold Coast
Gold Coast residents are called Gold Coasters! 1920s onward, tourism led to economic growth in the region. The 20th century saw its tourism diversify with theme park openings.
Gold Coast is central to Australia’s entertainment industry. The best time to visit it is between April & June.
Con-X-ion
Con-X-ion Airport Transfers is an airport shuttle service provider in Australia. You can explore Gold Coast via its shuttle transfers. It can be booked online or via phone or email, all hassle-free & instant. It also provides charter options & premium transport services.
Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise
Crowne Plaza was a perfect hotel to relax in. Here, I woke up to the sound of the ocean. I enjoyed sweeping views of the Gold Coast as it towered over coastline stretches.
Crowne Plaza was also well – connected to attractions.
It was late when I checked in. The only thing left to do was take a relaxing bath. Then I turned in for the night. But not before I spent a few minutes on my balcony, looking out at the Glittering Gold Coast.
I pinched myself. A small-town girl from India traveling alone to the other side of the planet & living it up in style! Who would have thought? Certainly not me! I thanked my privilege, my parents & my gods for bringing me this far…
The next day began with a visit to Dreamworld.
Dreamworld
Attractions at the Dreamworld theme park ranged from thrill rides like The Claw to family & kids’ attractions. Thus, there was something to do for everyone.
The themed lands inside have a collection of rides, animal exhibits, shows, food outlets & merchandise shops. I walked past houses dedicated to Fairy-tale Treasures & Dreamworld Cinema. This theater showcases a film several times throughout an operating day.
Then, I made my way to an arena called Town of Gold Rush.
Town of Gold Rush
This themed area featured the Thunder River Rapids Ride & the BuzzSaw. I lined up for the latter. It was a roller-coaster, one of the seven thrill rides at Dreamworld. I was directed through pathways. TV screens embedded in the walls showed burning timber.
There were crime scene signs too. I heard the sound of buzz-saws. Warnings told me not to go any further. They urged me to escape while I can! It had a single train that held just a handful of riders.
We were vertically lifted. At the top, our train was pulled back before being released into a roll & a drop. It lasted less than a minute. If you’re being inverted high in the air, that minute can seem a lifetime.
BuzzSaw actually was the second highest inversion in the world at that time. It was a total ‘scream machine’!
I didn’t go on Thunder River Rapids. Instead, I made my way to another section for a ride called The Giant Drop.
The Giant Drop
Then, the Giant Drop held the record for one of the tallest drop towers in the world. It consisted of a pair of vertical tracks which attached to the flank of the Dreamworld Tower. I queued in an undercover oil – themed outdoor queue before entering the indoor queue.
The indoor queue was themed to the control center of an oil rig. The gondolas were released into a free-fall upon reaching the top of the tower. They attained a terminal velocity of 135 kmph.
The gondolas were then stopped by permanently – mounted rare earth magnets! Suffice to say that my heart leapt to my mouth!
The Claw
This was my last ride. Swinging nine stories high, spinning 360 degrees, reaching zero gravity! The ride sat 30+ guests at the same time in a single ring which slowly rotated as the ride operated.
All the rides blew my mind off! Done with my huge adrenaline boost, I walked over to the vintage cars section, which was a visual treat. From here, I wandered to the zoological section called Dreamworld Corroboree.
Dreamworld Corroboree
Dreamworld Corroboree is a registered zoo with 800 native & barnyard animals located within the Dreamworld grounds. My first stop was Outback Adventure. Here, I gushed at the dingos and tried, unsuccessfully, to click shy reptiles.
A couple of kangaroos, one brown & one grey, slept in harmony. An emu flaunted its feathers. I then moved to the Kakadu Wetlands. Here, a massive crocodile made it clear that it was the boss.
A souvenir shop called Croc Creek Traders caught my attention momentarily. It has Indigenous Australian and Australian animal themed merchandise.
Another massive crocodile was lying peacefully in its swamp but its sheer size made me tremble. The sign was apt and funny. It said, “No objects to be thrown into crocodile swamp. You will be asked to retrieve them.”
Kakadu Wetlands was also home to a collection of magpie geese & water-hens. I then made my way to the section called Koala Country. Here, I got a chance to get close to a joey (a young kangaroo) and pet it.
A pair of koalas did what they do best – munch on eucalyptus leaves. I then headed to a section called Tiger Island. The tigers here have been raised within the compound & are free to roam & interact with the visitors!
Tiger Island had a presentation. The tigers climbed 20-foot trees. They also jumped up to 10-foot into the air. Next to me, even a lizard watched the presentation with awe – what majestic creatures!
A subterranean pathway took me below the tigers’ quarters. At a couple of places, the beast sat just above me on the glass surface. I gently touched its paw resting on the glass.
This would be the closest I would come to a tiger ever. With this, I bid adieu to Dreamworld. Heading back to the city, I requested for a drop at Q1.
Q1
Q1 is the tallest building in Australia. My adrenaline rush from Dreamworld needed to be calmed down with a few serene moments here. I took the express elevator to the SkyPoint Observation Deck. It was located on levels 77 & 78.
The elevator reached the SkyPoint Observation Deck in <45 seconds! From there, the view was breathtaking. I enjoyed a 360-degree view. Brisbane was to the north.
The Gold Coast hinterland stretched to the west. To the south lay Byron Bay. The Pacific Ocean was visible to the east. The clusters of land in between the blue made me happy as I soaked it all in.
A drink later, I took the lift down & spent some time walking on the beach. My hotel was not too far off & I walked back to it (without Google Maps then).
My time at Gold Coast ended with a stroll around my hotel & then a relaxing dip in the bathtub.
