All That's New And Exciting On The Gold Coast: October Update
Fun filled family entertainment and springtime festivities will be in abundance on the Gold Coast over coming months and there are also plenty of new things to see and do in the region particularly with the onset of the warmer weather. See below a snapshot of exciting experiences available during your next visit.
New Developments
- The World's First Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D at Movie World
- Wet 'n' Wild Welcomes The Constrictor
- Zombie Apocalypse Comes to Thunderbird Park
- New Weekend Options at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
- Palazzo Versace Launches New Cabana Packages
- New Tastes at Marine Village, Sanctuary Cove
- Scenic Hummer Safari: 4x4 Adventure Day Tours
- Concerts Galore at Jupiters Hotel & Casino
- Echidna Breeding Program at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
- Free Parking Trial on the Gold Coast
- Lightning McQueen Joins Mack The Transporter on the Gold Coast
- Gold Coast's First Dedicated Aboriginal Tourism and Cultural Centre - Jellurgal
- La Bocca Pizza at Currumbin RSL
- Burleigh Brewing's Black Giraffe Earns Gold at World Beer Championships in Chicago
- Hilton Surfers Paradise Celebrates First Birthday with Major Award Accolade
- Witches Chase Cheese Co Wins Gold at Brisbane Cheese Awards 2012
- The Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival (19-21 October)
- Armor All Gold Coast 600 (19-21 October)
- Sexualising the City - Gold Coast City Art Gallery (20 October - 2 December)
- Queensland Pop Culture Week Explodes on the Gold Coast (18-28 April)
The World's First Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D at Movie World
Warner Bros. Movie World has welcomed an all-new $9 million dollar ride, Justice League Alien Invasion 3D. Visitors to the park will face the most epic battle of their lives as they come under alien attack in this world-first Justice League-themed interactive ride which will feature a mix of state-of-the-art animatronics and 3D technology. The spectacular ride experience is like nothing else in Australia. Superman, Batman and a league of DC Comics Super Heroes join guests as they use their 3D laser blasters to stun their way through cities which have been overrun by the evil villain, Starro the Conqueror. Featuring nearly 200m of track, eight huge 3D screens, 16 state-of-the-art animatronic characters, and 20 themed cars, each seating four riders and all contained within a 2000-sqm facility, Justice League: Alien Invasion 3D is sure to be a huge hit with Warner Bros. Movie World visitors. www.movieworld.com.au
Wet 'n' Wild Welcomes the Constrictor
Wet 'n' Wild has scaled new heights of water slide fun with the launch of the mother of all water slides, the Constrictor. Featuring the tightest and highest turns in the world, the Constrictor is an Australian first where riders hit speeds of up to 30km/h. Riders speed down an enclosed flume slide into a series of corkscrew turns, snaking back and forth in a series of spirals, slithering down its insides on multi-person rafts. Coming out of the corkscrews, riders shoot out into a drenching splashdown. www.wetnwild.myfun.com.au
Zombie Apocalypse Comes to Thunderbird Park
Save the world from a horde of zombies at Thunderbird Park on Tamborine Mountain. Game inventors Peter and Nicole Lander have been running sessions at Thunderbird Park for 10 years and have now introduced Battlefield Undead, a new and exciting outdoor laser skirmish game. Zombies armed with infrared gaming guns upgraded with special sounds effects start their attack from the secret medical research centre. Bold survivors (players) confronted by the zombies with infrared gaming guns accept their mission to battle through the jungle village to the police outpost for weaponry upgrades. Players feel the buzz of playing laser skirmish in the forest as they work together and develop tactics to get rid of the zombie scourge (available till November). Thunderbird Park is one of the most popular destinations at Tamborine Mountain. Nature meets adventure on the 112-hectare rainforest property. It is ideal for short breaks and longer holidays. Onsite accommodation includes shaded campsites for tents and caravans, contemporary rooms and luxurious private lodges. www.thunderbirdpark.com
New Weekend Options at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Australia's award winning destination spa Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat continues to lead the way in health and wellness solutions. For those who prefer a short break, the Spa Weekend is ideal with brand new speciality options now released for November and January. Your Head, Your Brain, Your Health speciality spa weekend from 16-18 November will be led by Sydney based cardiologist Dr Jason Kaplan and neurologist Dr Raymond Schwartz who will share a holistic and realistic preventative action plan that will provide guests with knowledge and tools to take control of their heart and brain health. Chill Out Weekend from 10-13 January (2013) will help guests understand the importance of switching off. Yin based activities combined with lifestyle specialist Sharon Kolkka will work to introduce more quiet and stillness in both mind and body. Breathe and Relax from 25-27 January (2013) will help guests to use breath to improve relaxation and the ability to manage stress. Featuring popular guest presenter Neale Svenson, two specialty sessions will provide easy to understand information and techniques to help maintain energy levels and reach deep relaxation, simply through utilising every breath. www.gwinganna.com
Palazzo Versace Launches New Cabana Packages
Palazzo Versace takes poolside lounging to a whole new level this spring and summer with the launch of a seductive suite of poolside cabana packages, designed to create exotically elegant waterside holiday experiences. The Sparkling Cabana and Champagne Cabana packages provide in-house and external guests a cool cabana oasis set amongst Palazzo Versace's shimmering lagoon beach and include every luxury needed for a fun and fashionable day by the water, while sultry 'Twilight Cabana' package offers couples candlelit twilight dining and the option to extend the experience with a romantic accommodation package. www.palazzoversace.com.au
New Tastes at Marine Village, Sanctuary Cove
Brand-new dining spot Quay Street Café & Bar has just opened at Sanctuary Cove, offering a fresh new all-day dining experience in The Marine Village. Situated in Quay Street behind The Promenade, the café is open daily from 7.30am until late and offers delicious options sure to satisfy the spectrum of tastes. From all-day breakfast, light and flavoursome lunches, children's menu and a range of coffees to please all bean aficionados, there's something at Quay Street Café to suit every taste. Joining Quay Street Café is the exciting new Black & White Lounge Bar offering an experience truly unique to Sanctuary Cove. Black & White has a classically chic interior and offers a sophisticated ambience with exquisite cocktails, live music of all genres and premium entertainment each night, as well as regular special events such as themed parties. Black & White is open until midnight, Tuesday - Saturday, introducing an elegant nightlife experience and the excitement of the Gold Coast glitter strips to the heart of Sanctuary Cove.
www.sanctuarycove.com
Scenic Hummer Safari: 4x4 Adventure Day Tours
Ever wanted to ride in a Hummer in extreme off road conditions? Pure luxury, pure off roading, pristine rainforests and amazing photographic memories are all to be had on the Scenic Hummer Safari: 4x4 Adventure Day Tours (half day, full day or tag along). Experience a real four wheel drive journey with a personalised tour guide and a maximum of 5 guests per tour. There are four H2 Hummer tours; Springbrook, Waterfalls and Mt Tamborine, O'Reilly's, Lamington National Park and Mt Tamborine, Waterfalls and Lookouts or The Tag-a-Long Tour. www.hinterlandtours.com.au
Concerts Galore at Jupiters Hotel & Casino
The entertaining times will keep on rolling at Jupiters Hotel & Casino with another nine concerts currently scheduled to take to the stage before the end of the year: Jon English in 'Rock Revolution' (October 12), Smash Mouth (October 21), Jay Sean (October 18), Todd McKenney's 'Songs and Stories of Peter Allen' (November 9), Emmylou Harris and Her Red Dirt Boys (November 16), Boyz II Men (November 23), Village People (November 25), Missy Higgins (November 30) and Human Nature (December 14-15). Jupiters Hotel & Casino will also welcome to its $20 million redeveloped theatre, the venue's second resident stage show, Dien Perry's Tap Dogs. Australia's most successful theatrical export will tap into Jupiters Theatre for a strictly limited season from Saturday 10 November, 2012. With a show that is part theatre, part rock concert and part construction site, the cast of six dancers and two musicians will bring the steel works to life in a fast-paced, unstoppable spectacular that everybody will enjoy. www.jupitersgoldcoast.com.au
Echidna Breeding Program at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital in collaboration with The University of Queensland began research into the secrets of echidna reproduction in 2001. This collaboration has led to the establishment of a purpose built echidna research facility, where the not-for-profit sanctuary cares for 16 Echidnas in 10 large enclosures, all with infra-red sensor cameras recording every move. The short-beaked echidna is one of only 3 egg laying mammals in the world, these enigmatic creatures live throughout Australia but their shy nature makes it difficult to discover the complexities of their breeding. In 2011, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Hospital bred two Puggles (baby Echidnas) which became the 16th and 18th Puggles to be ever bred in captivity. With these healthy additions, CWS hopes to have further success after the June-October (2012) breeding season and eventually set up a conservation project for the Long-beaked Echidna which is currently a critically endangered species in New Guinea. The Currumbin Wildlife Hospital admits over 7000 native animal patients annually with each case receiving the highest level of veterinary care. Following their intensive treatment, the native animals are rehabilitated and then released back into the wild. Visit the Hospital Precinct within Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to see the amazing vets and volunteers in action. www.cws.org.au
Free Parking Trial on the Gold Coast
A trial of free weekend parking in central Surfers Paradise and Southport has commenced and will run through until Sunday 11 November. Council's City Planning Committee approved the trial, which involves free on-street parking on Saturdays and Sundays. The Broadwater Parklands will also be included in the trial. Mayor Tom Tate, who pledged free weekend parking as part of his electoral platform, said free parking on weekends would encourage daytrippers into the business districts and give them a reprieve from weekday parking fees. The outcomes of the free weekend parking trial will be reported to City Planning Committee in mid-December 2012.
Lightning McQueen joins Mack The Transporter on the Gold Coast
Disney-Pixar CARS fans will enjoy star racecar Lightning McQueen when he heads to the Gold Coast for the very first time with his famous friend Mack The Transporter from Friday 17 - Sunday 21 October. CARS fans on the Gold Coast will be able to get up close to McQueen at the Armor All Gold Coast 600. International drivers will co-drive with V8 Supercar stars by day, international and Australian music acts will perform at night, plus the Disney-Pixar CARS Truck Tour will keep the kids entertained all weekend. All CARS fans will be able to put themselves into a scene of their choice from the movie in the green screen photography zone, as part of the Disney-Pixar CARS Truck Tour. They'll learn the rules of the road using pedal power while on the Junior Drivers Training Track, complete with its very own road, signs, round-a-bout and traffic light. Parked up alongside Mack The Transporter is the major attraction, a life-sized model of Lightning McQueen, polished to perfection and sporting his famous grin. Plus, there's colour-in fun in Mater's Workshop, a jumping castle, wheel change station, remote controlled racing action, iPad zone, 3D cinema, toys, souvenirs and the ultimate Race-O-Rama. www.lifeliketouring.com
Gold Coast's First Dedicated Aboriginal Tourism and Cultural Centre - Jellurgal
Refurbishments are currently underway on the former Queensland Parks and Wildlife Information Centre at the foot of Burleigh Mountain ahead of the December opening of the Gold Coast's first dedicated Aboriginal Tourism and Cultural Centre, Jellurgal. Jellurgal is the Aboriginal name for the 25 hectre rainforest stretching across the headland from Tallebudgera Estuary to Burleigh. The name was created thousands of years ago by the first inhabitants of the Burleigh Headland to mark the resting place of the dreamtime giant, Jabreen. The establishment of an Aboriginal tourism centre is an initiative of Kalwun Development Corporation. The cultural centre has been a long-term goal for Kalwun, an organisation that currently offers a range of support services to the local Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and the mainstream community. For some years, Kalwun has offered Aboriginal Cultural bus and walking tours on the Gold Coast, which were authorised and established by the traditional descendants of the Yugambeh people. In the past, tours have focused on schools and corporate groups. Now, the new centre, with its highway frontage and beachside location, will create a landmark that Kalwun hopes will quickly become a tourism hub on the Southern Gold Coast.
La Bocca at Currumbin RSL
Recently opened La Bocca is a collaboration of ideas and planning by the staff and management of Currumbin RSL. Created to offer traditional pizza, craft beer and specialist wine coupled with quality customer service, La Bocca, meaning 'the mouth' in Italian is a place for lovers of great food and wine. Using locally sourced and seasonal produce, La Bocca pizzas are different to what the standard Aussie pizza offers. They are skewed towards the scrumptious thin crust with use of tantalising gourmet ingredients for its taste and quality. These pizzas are deliciously fresh and gourmet and the beverages unique and thirst quenching. You will really taste the distinct flavours, special La Bocca sauce and the love gone into making each pizza. It's a little bit of country Italy in right in the heart of beautiful Currumbin. www.currumbinrsl.com.au/dining/la-bocca/
Awards
Burleigh Brewing's Black Giraffe Earns Gold at World Beer Championships in Chicago
Only weeks after hitting bottle shops and bars across Australia, Black Giraffe, the black coffee lager produced by Burleigh Brewing Co, has taken home GOLD at the World Beer Championships in the United States. Commenting on Black Giraffe, the World Beer Championships judges said; "Lush artisan roasted coffee and chocolate with nut aromas and a crisp, chewy, dryish medium-to-full body and a tangy, grilled fruit, chestnuts, and peppered arugula finish with a noticeable caffeine "buzz". The World Beer Championships are run annually in a series of style-based tasting sessions in a dedicated tasting lab at the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in Chicago, and are one of the most professional and highly regarded competitions in the world. www.burleighbrewing.com.au
Hilton Surfers Paradise Celebrates First Birthday with Major Award Accolade
Hilton Surfers Paradise's first birthday celebration has coincided with a major award win for the $700 million property. The hotel was awarded the prestigious title of 2012 Hotel Management Awards 'New Hotel' of the year at a gala dinner held in Sydney. The accolade comes just as the hotel is commencing a month long calendar of special
birthday activities and events through until 10 October 2012 including an evening hosted by celebrity Chef Luke Mangan. www.hiltonsurfersparadise.com.au
Witches Chase Cheese Co Wins Gold at Brisbane Cheese Awards 2012
It's not easy being a cheese maker and trying to handcraft award winning cheeses, but Witches Chase Cheese Co took home the Gold Medal at the Brisbane Cheese Awards 2012 for their Triple Cream Brie. Cheese maker Adam Papprill said he was extremely proud to win Gold Medal; "You enter these awards not knowing whether you will win, there are so many great Australian Cheeses out there and we are very happy that our Triple Cream Brie was awarded Gold this year." Witches Chase Cheese Co is open 7 days a week 10-4pm. Head up to Tamborine Mt and for the price of a smile you can sample their award winning cheeses. www.witcheschasecheese.com.au
What's On
The Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival (19-21 October)
The Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow Festival is an annual welcome-all event celebrating imagination and creativity. A 14km trail is dotted with over 200 Scarecrow Folk competing for prize money and titles such as Best Celebrity, Most Humorous and Best Traditional. Music and performing arts will be in abundance along Main Street on Saturday with further busking, face painting, and live bands performing at Gallery Walk on Sunday. The Scarecrow Festival gives locals and visitors alike the opportunity to explore the Scarecrow Trail and enjoy the Mountain's charming cafes, handicraft and antique shops, art galleries and wineries. www.tamborinemtncc.org.au
Armor All Gold Coast 600 (19-21 October)
Get revved up and ready to rock at the Gold Coast's biggest party, the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600 hitting the streets of Surfers Paradise from October 19-21. Pitting the world's best drivers against Australia's top motorsport talent, the iconic event combines trackside thrills with all-star entertainment from headliners Good Charlotte, Aussie rock trio The Living End and rising hip hop star 360. An unbeatable line-up of 28 leading international drivers including Nick Heidfeld, Marco Andretti, David Brabham and Sebastien Bourdais will do battle with home-grown heroes Lowndes, Tander and Whincup, on one of the world's toughest street tracks. Kids 12 and under are FREE with paying adult.
www.surfersparadise.v8supercars.com.au
Sexualising the City - Gold Coast City Art Gallery (20 October - 2 December)
Within the popular imagination, there is a direct link between the image of the sexualised body and the city image of the Gold Coast. These perceptions are however often disparaged and limited by cliché, leading to a wider dismissal of the Gold Coast as a whole. Sexualising the City at The Arts Centre Gold Coast confronts and challenges this view by presenting important and visually rich images and objects from art, design, fashion, popular culture and architecture from the 1920s to the present. It aims to offer much more layered and diverse view of the way in which the crafting of these types of images grew to contribute to city identity. www.theartscentregc.com.au
Queensland Pop Culture Week Explodes on the Gold Coast (18-28 April)
Calling all cinefiles, film fans, cosplayers (costume role-players), trekkies and pop culture fandom. QPOW! Queensland Pop Culture Week will explode next April with a week of pop-culture related events, staged at various venues, exclusively to the Gold Coast. Major highlights of the 2013 event include; the Gold Coast Film Festival presented by Pacific Fair Shopping Centre with feature films and red carpet premieres at Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinemas plus free outdoor movies, film making master classes and seminars; Supanova Pop Culture Expo where pop culture fans come face-to-face with the celebrities and creative talent from the worlds of film, TV, comic, gaming and more; Screamworld: Supanova After Dark including a film screening and a DJ laser spectacular show; an Anime Art Exhibition at The Arts Centre Gold Coast; Supanova Cosplay Parade in Broadbeach led by the 501ST Legion Star Wars Garrison; and a 'Heroes and Villains' Superhero sculpture display at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.
www.queenslandpopcultureweek.com.au
