Recommendations on staying on the Gold Coast or Brisbane?

[JAKE3337]

Hello,

We have just booked a cruise out of Sydney for April 2024 but we have sailed from there 2 times before.  So for this cruise, we will fly into Brisbane and stay 2 weeks around that area and then fly to Sydney 3 nights before the cruise since it looks like flights are very reasonable.    I want to go back to the Lone Park Koala Santuary to see my favouite koalas.  

 

I'm looking for recommendations as to where to stay for the 2 weeks,  Gold Coast or Brisbane or both?    We would like a place with a kitchen so that we don't have to go out for all meals.   We would love a place overlooking the ocean if possible if reasonable prices and maybe not too much of a loud party area if that is possible but we love lots of things going on.  Are there different areas in the Gold Coast that are better locations?     

 

We are nervous to rent a car being that driving is on the opposite side of the road and maybe it is busy.  Thoughts?

 

Thank you!

Angela

 

[possum52]

6 hours ago, JAKE3337 said:

Hello,

We have just booked a cruise out of Sydney for April 2024 but we have sailed from there 2 times before.  So for this cruise, we will fly into Brisbane and stay 2 weeks around that area and then fly to Sydney 3 nights before the cruise since it looks like flights are very reasonable.    I want to go back to the Lone Park Koala Santuary to see my favouite koalas.  

 

I'm looking for recommendations as to where to stay for the 2 weeks,  Gold Coast or Brisbane or both?    We would like a place with a kitchen so that we don't have to go out for all meals.   We would love a place overlooking the ocean if possible if reasonable prices and maybe not too much of a loud party area if that is possible but we love lots of things going on.  Are there different areas in the Gold Coast that are better locations?     

 

We are nervous to rent a car being that driving is on the opposite side of the road and maybe it is busy.  Thoughts?

 

Thank you!

Angela

 

Perhaps spend some time at both localities. The Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane is a thought as well. 

 

The Gold Coast has many holiday apartments. We usually stay in Broadbeach which has public bus routes and a light rail line through to the north of the Gold Coast. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and great beaches. We nearly always choose an apartment to stay in. 

[JAKE3337]

26 minutes ago, possum52 said:

Perhaps spend some time at both localities. The Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane is a thought as well. 

 

The Gold Coast has many holiday apartments. We usually stay in Broadbeach which has public bus routes and a light rail line through to the north of the Gold Coast. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and great beaches. We nearly always choose an apartment to stay in. 

Thank you.  I was reading one of your other posts mentioning Meriton in Sydney.  The new location looks nice on Sussex St.   Since we have 17 nights in total now before our cruise, we are thinking 12 nights around the Gold Coast/Brisbane area and 5 nights in Sydney, we do love Sydney even though we have been there twice before.   

 

I see that Meriton as a location in Broadbeach.  Would that location be better than Surfers Paradise?  Do you know what the difference would be?  Thinking about this a little more, maybe it would be best to just stay in one place Gold Coast/Brisbane instead of moving since we will have kitchen facilities so that we don't have to pack everything up and move.   We could take transit/transport to Brisbane when we want to avoid packing/moving/checking out and having to wait to check in at the next place.  What do you think of that idea?    So, 12 nights on the Gold Coast and 5 in Sydney, both staying at the Meriton.  It would be great to get all of our laundry done as well before we board the ship for 17 nights to Hawaii  🙂

 

Angela

[possum52]

5 hours ago, JAKE3337 said:

Thank you.  I was reading one of your other posts mentioning Meriton in Sydney.  The new location looks nice on Sussex St.   Since we have 17 nights in total now before our cruise, we are thinking 12 nights around the Gold Coast/Brisbane area and 5 nights in Sydney, we do love Sydney even though we have been there twice before.   

 

I see that Meriton as a location in Broadbeach.  Would that location be better than Surfers Paradise?  Do you know what the difference would be?  Thinking about this a little more, maybe it would be best to just stay in one place Gold Coast/Brisbane instead of moving since we will have kitchen facilities so that we don't have to pack everything up and move.   We could take transit/transport to Brisbane when we want to avoid packing/moving/checking out and having to wait to check in at the next place.  What do you think of that idea?    So, 12 nights on the Gold Coast and 5 in Sydney, both staying at the Meriton.  It would be great to get all of our laundry done as well before we board the ship for 17 nights to Hawaii  🙂

 

Angela

I much prefer Broadbeach to Surfers Paradise. The Meriton is not far from The Pacific Fair shopping centre - a ten minute walk at most, a 7-8 minute walk to the beach. It is just a few minutes to restaurants and cafes. 

 

The light rail line runs opposite Meriton and it is about a five minute walk to the Broadbeach North station which will take you into Surfers Paradise. Broadbeach North Station

 

 

[ceeceeDee]

As a Gold Coast local I would take Broadbeach over Surfers Paradise any day.

[Aussiecruisers123]

Hands down, stay on the Gold Coast rather than Brisbane. The Gold Coast offers beaches and a holiday vibe, while Brisbane is a small city located on a river. You can fly into the Gold Coast airport and travel to any property in the southern part of the area is easy. As others have suggested, Broadbeach is a great option, as is Burleigh Heads. Avoid Surfers Paradise if you can. I'd describe it as tacky and touristy. Good luck🙂

Edited July 16, 2023 by Aussiecruisers123
typo

[possum52]

12 hours ago, Aussiecruisers123 said:

Hands down, stay on the Gold Coast rather than Brisbane. The Gold Coast offers beaches and a holiday vibe, while Brisbane is a small city located on a river. You can fly into the Gold Coast airport and travel to any property in the southern part of the area is easy. As others have suggested, Broadbeach is a great option, as is Burleigh Heads. Avoid Surfers Paradise if you can. I'd describe it as tacky and touristy. Good luck🙂

I wouldn't describe Brisbane as a small city, it has a population of around 2.5 million. It is the third biggest city in Australia. 

[yarramar]

My question is why stay for 12 nights on the GC if you are an international visitor? It is the least unique place in Australia

[Cruise Junky]

We love the Sheraton on Main Beach. We bus to broadbeach and walk to surfers.  I’d also do Brisbane itself for a few days. Especially if you want to go to the Koala sanctuary.  Great city.  

[beatleman]

On 7/17/2023 at 10:26 PM, yarramar said:

My question is why stay for 12 nights on the GC if you are an international visitor? It is the least unique place in Australia

 Head to the Sunshine Coast a more pleasant area than the GC. Mooloolaba or Noosa are my picks for a base.

[cathaana]

Lived in Surfers for a couple of years and in Brisbane for about a decade. As with everything, all areas have upsides and downsides and it really depends on what you want. But I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them.

We like to stay at Currumbin Sands when going to the Gold Coast or the JW Marriott if we want more of a hotel vibe. Rumba Beach when at the Sunshine Coast. In Brisbane we like the Emporium.