Self-Drive Sydney to Gold Coast: Six Days, Five Nights
Sydney to Gold Coast Round Trip: Six Days, Five Nights
During the school holidays, flight tickets were too expensive, so we decided to drive ourselves. The main challenge was the 9-10 hour drive between the two destinations, so we planned a one-night stopover midway. For accommodations, we chose only two places to avoid wasting time on frequent check-ins and check-outs. As for meals, we kept it simple and convenient, so we won’t elaborate on that.
Day 1: Departure and Stopover at Stoney Park
Early in the morning, we set off from Sydney, heading north towards the Gold Coast. Given the long drive, we decided to rest for a night at Stoney Park. Unlike bustling cities, this place is full of natural charm. We spent a peaceful night at a cozy resort surrounded by nature.
Day 2: Water Activities at Stoney Park and Arrival at Gold Coast
The next morning, we jumped straight into the inflatable water park activities at Stoney Park. The lake was filled with inflatable slides, diving platforms, and balance beams, providing endless fun. Everyone had a blast, and the morning was well spent.
Afterward, we continued our journey north, aiming for the Gold Coast. By evening, we arrived and visited the SkyPoint Observation Deck, where we enjoyed a panoramic view of the city and its stunning coastline. The sunset over the skyscrapers and ocean was like a breathtaking painting. That night, we stayed at Ruby by Serain, a centrally located apartment with excellent facilities and views.
Day 3: A Full Day at Dreamworld
On the third day, we headed to one of Gold Coast’s famous theme parks, Dreamworld. It features cartoon-themed areas perfect for younger kids, and we even watched a tiger show. Though we were exhausted by the end of the day, we felt incredibly fulfilled. After dinner, we returned to Ruby by Serain to relax and enjoy the night view from the balcony.
Day 4: A Day at WhiteWater World
On the fourth day, we chose to visit WhiteWater World, the water park next to Dreamworld! The park offered a variety of water slides, from the leisurely lazy river to adrenaline-pumping vertical slides. We tried almost every attraction. The kids loved the water maze, while the adults enjoyed the relaxing floating pool. We returned to Ruby by Serain in the evening.
Day 5: Aquaduck Experience and Departure from Gold Coast
On the fifth morning, we took a ride on the famous Gold Coast "Aquaduck," an amphibious vehicle that operates on both land and water. The guide provided entertaining commentary about the city and coastal scenery. When the vehicle drove straight into the water, everyone was thrilled, as if entering a magical world. In the afternoon, we began our journey back, arriving at Stoney Park by evening for another night’s rest.
Day 6: More Water Activities at Stoney Park and Return to Sydney
On the final day of our trip, we enjoyed more water activities at Stoney Park. This time, we took a more relaxed approach, canoeing and snorkeling by the lake, while the kids remained enthusiastic about the inflatable facilities. After lunch, we packed up and headed back to Sydney.
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Stoney Holiday Park & Aqua Park (Accommodation & Water Sports)
📍Address: 16 Hacks Ferry Road, Telegraph Point NSW 2441, Australia
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Ruby Gold Coast by Serain (Accommodation)
📍Address: 9 Norfolk Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
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Dreamworld & WhiteWater World Theme Parks
📍Address: 1 Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera QLD 4209, Australia
💰Cost per person: You can purchase combo tickets in advance, or if you plan to visit twice within a year, consider getting an annual pass.
Fully recommend as you’ll see how the city looks from could level
It's billed as the fifth tallest building in the world, but I don't think it's even on the list anymore. The view from up there is truly stunning. I went up on October 6th, the Mid-Autumn Festival, just before sunset. I shot a time-lapse video there, which was quite impressive. I originally wanted to eat at the rooftop restaurant, but it was crowded and noisy, so I ultimately gave up. I bought my ticket on Ctrip for 107 RMB. Tickets at the door were priced at 41 AUD. Prices in Australia are really rising fast.
The scenery is charming, and it's suitable to go at 4-5 o'clock to see the sunset. The food and beverages are average. I forgot my wallet in the restaurant that day, and the waiter helped me find it in the evening. It was great!
The scenery is very beautiful, one side is the sea, the other side is the city, the elevator speed is very fast, looking at the ceiling of the elevator, there are video watching, counting to 77 seconds, it will be there. I went up at about 3 o'clock, saw the scenery during the day, and then waited for the sunset. It was very beautiful. At dusk, there are singers performing, while enjoying music while making scenery, very freehand.
Climb up to the Q1 observation deck on the 77th floor and you can have a panoramic view of the longest and most beautiful golden coastline! There are also coffee and desserts to choose from. It is very enjoyable to sit here and drink afternoon tea and look at the beautiful coastline!
Every city has a high-rise building, where you can enjoy the city scenery from a high altitude. Q1 is the tallest building on the Gold Coast, where you can see the beautiful golden beach, the vast Pacific Ocean, the waterfront villas, the winding waterways, and the mountains in the distance. Everything forms an unparalleled landscape painting. In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset, order some Western food, and spend this wonderful time leisurely. Overall, it feels worth a visit.
I bought the ticket on my phone the night before. I thought I would need to wait until the next day to get the ticket, but the e-ticket came in a while. It was so convenient and funny. This ticket can be used on the same day, and you can enter and exit the observation deck. It is very convenient and reasonable. If you live nearby, you can definitely go there once in the morning, afternoon, and evening. It is definitely worth the ticket price. The afternoon tea on the observation deck above is also very good, and there are not many people. It is great to sit and watch the sunset! Originally, I wanted to experience climbing, but later I thought it would be better to enjoy the sunset like this. If you go out halfway, be sure to bring your passport as a voucher.
Got myself a 3day tickets and all 3 days' views were very different. Worth the price up there to see the coastal line of Gold Coast!!