The 100 | In the city
InCoolangatta,theformerOceanViewMotelisnowThePink
Hotel,astylish(andverypink)18-roomluxuryproperty,whilethe
WatermarkHotelrecentlyreopenedastheupscalevocoGoldCoast,
completewithafancyafternoonteaandadecadentdayspa.
Ofcourse,thisnewwaveofsophisticationdoesn’tdetractfrom
theregion’sperennialcharms.Ifyou’vegotkids,oddsareyou’llendup
atoneoftheregion’sthemeparks.MovieWorldishometoDCRivals,
thesouthernhemisphere’stallest,longestandfastesthypercoaster,
whilelaterthisyearDreamworldwillunveilSkyVoyager,anew$17
millionflightsimulatorthatwillallowgueststosoarovertheBarossa
ValleyandSydneyHarbour.Therearegentlerpursuitstoo,suchas
Holoverse,theworld’sfirsthologramarcade,andCurrumbinWildlife
Sanctuary,a72-year-oldheritage-listedzoologicalgardenwitha
hospitalthattreatsmorethan10,000sickandorphanedanimalsayear.
AddtothemixAustralia’slargestoutletshoppingcentre,vast
swathesofverdanthinterlandandsomeofthecountry’sbest
surfbreaksandyou’dbeforgivenforthinkingtheregionisunfairly
blessed.PerhapstheGames’greatestlegacywon’tbethenew
stadiumsandhotels,butthereminderofwhatwehaveinour
ownbackyard.THE GREEN AND GOLD
Strike out from the beaches and
boutique hotels of the Gold Coast
into its lush hinterland and you are
in for a treat of rainforests, waterfalls
and wildlife-packed scenery.TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN
Tamborine National Park is the third
oldest national park in the world; it has
walking tracks (try the Witches Falls
circuit), waterfalls (head to Curtis Falls)
and attractions such as the Tamborine
Rainforest Skywalk and glow worm caves.SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK
A one-hour drive from the heart of the
Gold Coast, Springbrook National Park’s
stunning natural wonders include Natural
Bridge, a cave rock formation and
waterfall; The Gondwana Rainforests of
Australia World Heritage Area, the most
extensive subtropical rainforest in the
world teeming with wildlife and plant
species; and Springbrook Plateau, which
boasts stunning views across the park.LAMINGTON NATIONAL PARK
Also part of The Gondwana Rainforests
of Australia World Heritage Area is
Lamington National Park. Head to the
Green Mountains section of the park
for spectacular views; camping is
available and you can book half day
and full day tours of the area.PHOTOGRAPHY: TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND