Gold Coast, 2025

We have done a fair bit of travel in the last 12 months. To Lakes Entrance. To India and back. A few other trips in Victoria. To North Island, New Zealand and back. To Dallas-Fort Worth and back. But other than a 3-day trip Sydney in 2022, we haven't really explored the rest of Australia. A few places that we have on our bucket list include: Darwin, Cairns, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra, South East Australia from Melbourne to Sydney and back in a camper van, Uluru, Perth, The Ghan train ride and maybe brave a trip on the Nullarbor Plain (desert). 

Thought I'll pen this in lest I forget or lose track of it when other things take priority (read life happens). 

We planned a road-less-travelled in Gold Coast. The planning happened almost as soon as we had come back from the US. I quizzed a colleague of mine who had just moved from Melbourne to Gold Coast and we utilised ChatGPT to prepare an itinerary. Then began the bookings and plans. The last couple of months have been a haze due to a lot of office work as well as being busy at home and the multitude of activities that Dhruv is part of. So after Dhruv's 10th birthday celebrations, we definitely needed a few days to unwind (and maybe relax) before hitting the grind again in earnest. 

Wednesday, 24th September, 2025: Fly into Gold Coast and trails at Springbrook National Park

We have become better packers with each passing trip and this trip was the most optimum in terms of things we were carrying and the time taken to pack and move. Credit to Sruthi for doing the bulk of the heavy lifting! 
It was an early morning start. We had a 8:20AM flight. We reached the airport with sufficient time to spare and even managed to have a breakfast we had packed after check-in and security screening. The flight into Gold Coast (JetStar) was uneventful, decently comfortable and completed with a beautiful landing on a sunny east coast of Australia. The weather was a very welcome change after the bout of cool and wet weather we were facing in Melbourne. We had booked a car for rent at 11AM thinking the flight may get delayed. The opposite happened and we were out of the airport with our bags by 10:15AM. Fun fact, half of the Gold Coast airport is in Queensland and the other half in New South Wales. Once we come out of the airport, we are actually in NSW and then head back into Queensland! Fun-fact, half of the Gold Coast airport is in Queensland and the other half in New South Wales (NSW). Once we come out of the airport, we are actually in NSW and then head back into Queensland! Once we got the car (VW Tiguan), I had a hard time adjusting to the reversed stick handle settings for the wiper and indicator levers. By the time we figured things and headed out, it was noon and time for lunch. We stopped a vegetarian Japanese restaurant (Izakaya Midori, Reedy Creek). The food was homely and filling. 

After this we headed to Springbrook National Park for 3 easy trails - 4kms, 1km and 750mtrs respectively. The first one was the best with a couple of waterfalls and beautiful, old trees. The sun was out but in the trails (as warned by my friend), the temperature was a few degrees lesser. The lookout points offered breathtaking views. By the time we finished the trails and headed back, it was already past 4:30PM. After an early morning rise and a bit of exercise, our body batteries were starting to dip. We headed to our hotel and got there by 6PM. The room was small but considering we planned to be out all days and were go to be inside only for sleeping, this was not too bad. We freshened up and headed to buy some supplies/ groceries after which we ended up at an Indian restaurant. Memorably (sic), Dhruv spotted a cockroach in the restaurant (Sekhon's Indian Cuisine, Miami, Gold Coast). This was a new restaurant (didn't look like one). The service was decent and the food was good (maybe more so since we were quite hungry). 

Thursday, 25th September, 2025: Whale Watching, trails at Burleigh Heads National Park and Putt-Putt Mini Golf (sic)

We woke up a bit groggy but ready for an adventure like never before. Though we have seen dolphins a few times as well as seals and penguins, whales were never in season when we travelled. This time round we had an opportunity to go out on a boat and hopefully watch some humpback whales. It was the right time of the year as mothers, juveniles and calves travel back from the north of Australia all the way back to Antarctica. It was astounding to know that mother whales do not eat on the entire journey up north where they give birth to the baby calves, nurse them and then all the way back to their home in Antarctica. They feed mostly on krill (small, shrimp-like crustaceans) and other small fish. It is unfortunate to know that their very food is being exploited right in the Southern Ocean by super ships that catch, process and package krill which causes lack of food for these gentle giants. Coming back to the whale watching itself, we parked our car and were on time to get into the boat. It was a beautiful , sunny day. The skyline of Gold Coast was beautifully pasted against the backdrop of the Coral Sea and clear, blue skies spattered with wispy, white clouds. The boat didn't have to go too far out before the first sightings. By law, these boats are not to cut across or come too close to these marine wonders. We got close enough though and at times the whales passed under the boat. Since there were babies in the pod, the mother whales kept them close. Baby whales need to come up for breathing every minute or so. Their big white eyes, white underbellies and bluish-black top were mesmerising. The white underbellies and black tops are to camouflage - sunlight and the ocean respectively. Their primary predators (other than humans) are fellow mammals - Orcas or Killer Whales and sharks. We watched the spectacle before us for a good hour-and-a-half before turning back to the pier. On our way back we saw a pod of dolphins flying past us. Bottle-nosed dolphins are always cute to see. 

We came back ashore and were quite hungry. We had already decided that we'll not be dining anywhere close to the CBD. But on our way to our destination, we got stuck in traffic within the CBD. Eventually we got on our way and it was fairly simple to reach Burleigh Beach. The place had a wonderful vibe to it. Lots of people heading to or from the beach, lots of restaurants and ice cream bars and a general vibrancy to the place. I was off meat at the time for 3 months since August, 2025. Hence we went looking for a place that wholesome, vegetarian food. We passed by this yoghurt place called Yochi. We had gone to one franchise in Sydney. You can add toppings and it is like an ice cream with yoghurt as base instead of milk. It is a dessert place and we wanted 'proper' food. Just down from this shop was this restaurant called Govinda's. It had all the vibes of ISKON restaurant with Indian food and host of Caucasians at the eatery. Thought it wasn't an ISKON temple associated restaurant, as expected, the food was non-spicy but wholesome. I guess we ordered too much since we struggled to finish all the food. After that there was no space for any dessert. We left to our next destination which was close by - Burleigh Heads National Park. A two-minute ride got us to Burleigh Beach. We started on our trek immediately. It wasn't too taxing and the sea was always in sight with some beautiful vistas. We saw a yacht out far in the distance. We also saw a whale making its way south. The trek through the trees was soothing since it was quite warm out in the sun by this time. The exposed roots of the trees caught Sruthi's interest! After an hour's walk, we walked back to the beach. We spent some time enjoying the sun and all the beach activities happening around us. Coming from unpredictable and mostly cold, wet Melbourne, we felt this was the place to be if there were sufficient opportunities to be had. The sun and all the activities at hand were very welcoming. Maybe a holiday is different to actually living in the Gold Coast but the thought was enticing! 

By this time, Dhruv was thoroughly bored of the walks and the 'roots'! He wanted some play time. We went to a mini golf place very close to our motel. We had a fun time through probably the easiest mini-golf experience we had so far. 

After a warm bath, we had dinner in the motel and hit the sack early enough since we had a long day coming up. 

Friday, 26th September, 2025: Travel to Brisbane and Australia Zoo (Sunshine Coast) and back

It was an early start but it was a jam-packed schedule to reach Australia Zoo (close to Sunshine Coast). We left about 20 minutes late and from there we were just playing catch-up! We stopped on the way for breakfast on the way Brisbane at a place called Springwood. It was a café recommended online - Laneway Green. The food was good. I had ordered an açai berry fruit. I got schooled on how it is pronounced (asaayee and not akayee) and the juice was too sweet and too cold to be had. The sun was out but it was cold as well. Should have stuck to my extra hot coffee and sat indoors! 

Brisbane is a leafy city with confusing roads. We managed to get lost (as always) a few time and spent a few kilometers backpedaling! Eventually we reached the highest point in Brisbane - Mount Coot-tha. It was a nice place but no great shakes. Probably would have been a great ride cycling to the top. We had planned to go to Kangaroo Point Cliffs as well - another lookout. But given we were well delayed, we thought it better to start onwards to Australia Zoo which was our prime destination this day. 

We reached Australia Zoo (it took longer than expected) by around noon. The zoo was started by Steve and Bindi Irvine a long time ago. Long after his death due to a touch by stingray, his wife and kids  and all the helpers at the zoo (sanctuary) continue to personify their love for animals. The animals are quite varied though that if it was only that this would not be great place to be. First up we saw a Komodo Dragon. After a quick lunch, we went to the amphitheater to be wowed by all manner of cockatoos and other birds, a python around the neck but most synonymous with this place and Steve Irvine is the salt water crocodile. The show was a wonderful experience on how large, strong and untamable these creatures can be. After the show, we roamed around the place and saw wombats (that were actually moving during the day), a couple of Tasmanian Devils and a Birds of Prey show to cap things off. 

We had a long ride back with a quick stopover in between. Reached back exhausted and after a quick bath and dinner, we were ready to hit the sack with giant saltwater crocs advancing slowly on us in our dreams! 

Saturday, 27th September, 2025: Surf Lessons, Food at Surfers Paradise (and Timezone)

Sruthi started the day with a walk along the beach all the way into CBD and back - a good 3 hour walk. 

Dhruv and I were positive we'll miss the surfing lessons but she came back perfectly on time and we went for our introductory surf lesson with open minds. We wore the wetsuits they provided and had 30 minutes on yoga mats to practice what was to then be translated on the waves. We picked up our foam surf boards and headed to the beach while listening to instructions about red flags and riptides. We put on the surf ropes on our legs and started doing our runs. Given the warm weather, contrary to what we thought the water was cold. It was good that we elected for wetsuits. Dhruv started getting the hang of it after a few tries. Sruthi had 2 or 3 runs to the beach. I probably managed 1. This went on for more than an hour by which time I had had enough salt water in all my pores and getting tired. The instructor took some photos but given that it was through a digital camera with water flowing, those weren't the best. Albeit a short one, the experience of surfing was amazing. Just like the skiing experience, it gives one an even better understanding of how well those awesome athletes actually perform on the waves and the snow. 

After all that exercise, it was a well deserved pizza in the CBD followed by some time for Dhruv playing at Timezone and for Sruthi shopping. 
We got back home and surprisingly, I had still some gas left in the tank to go walking. After a 2 hour ambling taking the sights near the hotel by night, I got back. After an early-ish dinner, all our tired bodied crawled into bed to get back up early to catch the flight back to Melbourne. 

Sunday, 28th September, 2025: Back to Melbrrrrne

Most people come to the Gold Coast to enjoy the many ride attractions. We were not so enthused by that at this time. Probably something to do when there are more people (read kids) in the group. 
An early morning wake up and drive to Gold Coast Airport (OOL) to wash the hired car, fill up the fuel and drop off followed by a quick coffee and hot chocolate at the airport followed by an earlier than expected pushback and flight. And in the blink of an eye, our holiday to the Gold Coast was over with the wide sweeping flight out into the sea and back overland for us to say a quick goodbye to truly blessed land with the right weather most of the year! There was so much that we still want to do do but its probably good to leave something for later when we do come again. 
We were in Melbourne before time and immediately got miserable again with a light, cold drizzle to welcome us in the taxi stand! 

It was a very short but memorable visit up north. Here's hoping to reach the Top End soon with scuba diving into the Great Barrier Reef, skydiving and a salt water crocodile experience in live environs!