Christmas in Australia is as far removed as it gets from snowmen, reindeer and eggnog by the fire. If you have ever heard the proudly Australian version of Jingle Bells, it’s all about shorts, thongs, eskies, barbecues and rusty Holden utes.
Capturing the mood of the song, the Gold Coast offers all there is to love about Christmas in Australia: sun, water, sand and plenty of places for family to eat and drink. Whether you’re up early to secure a beachside barbecue in one of the city’s many public parks or you’re relaxing with the relatives in the pool of your Elite Holiday Home, the Gold Coast offers a Christmas experience like no other.
The summer weather on the Gold Coast makes for a perfect Australian Christmas experience. Temperatures average from very pleasant overnight lows of 20.4 to 21.8 and reach daytime maximums of 27.7 to 28.6C, while the heavy rainfall usually hits in February.
Five places to make sure you visit
1. Theme parks
The Gold Coast’s biggest theme parks – Wet ‘n’ Wild, Movie World, Sea World and Dreamworld – are open all through the Christmas period, except Christmas Day. Every night in the week leading up to Christmas, Movie World runs its White Christmas event which includes a Christmas parade, awkward family photos, Christmas stories, face painting and a 4D film about Rudolph, plus a number of the park’s famous rides – perfect for the kids.
Stay: Eutopia is geographically closest to the theme parks.
2. Beaches
It’s free to access the Gold Coast’s renowned beaches and they can be accessed anytime. Try out Rainbow Bay or Kirra if the kids (or you) want to learn how to surf or visit Main Beach or Point Danger if you’re a more accomplished surfer. If you’re looking for a quiet spot for some stand up paddle boarding or swimming, try either Tallebudgera Creek or Currumbin Creek.
Stay: Oceans 74 is situated right on popular Nobbys Beach.
3. Mount Tamborine
The Gold Coast has a picturesque hinterland to explore and Mount Tamborine sits right at its heart. Explore serene Lamington National Park through its many walking trails or fascinate the family with a visit to the glow worm caverns near Cedar Creek Estate. If you’d prefer to get your heart pumping, try one of the high ropes or zipline courses.
Stay: House in the Sky, close to the hinterland, is the nearest house to Tamborine Mountain.
4. SkyPoint
Sydney has the Harbour Bridge Climb; the Gold Coast has SkyPoint. This truly unique attraction is Australia’s highest external building walk and is situated on top of the Q1, one of the city’s tallest buildings. Instead of views of Sydney Harbour, those brave enough to try SkyPoint are treated to unobstructed views of the ocean from right on the beach. After the climb, you can enjoy the same views from a few storeys lower and behind glass at the SkyPoint Observation Deck, while regaling stories of your adventures above.
Stay: Main River Magic is just 1.5km from Q1’s SkyPoint.
5. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a must-visit for families. The theme park lets children get up close and personal with native Australian favourites like kangaroos, dingoes, wombats, echidnas, emus, cassowaries and eagles; endangered species including the Tasmanian devil and overseas cuties like the capybara, ring-tailed lemur, red panda and cotton-top tamarin. The park’s also open every day except for Christmas Day and ANZAC Day, so the festive season’s a perfect time to visit!
Stay: Point Break, overlooking Burleigh Beach, is a quick eight-minute drive from the sanctuary.
Elite Holiday Homes are the perfect accommodation for families over the Christmas period. They offer plenty of space for everyone to spread out, generous outdoor and indoor living areas and have a range of incredible features, including outdoor pools, entertainment rooms, games rooms and much more.
Most homes offer a gourmet kitchen, but you may not feel like using it during a jam-packed Christmas break. On the other hand, eating out every meal can be expensive. The good news is that through My Holiday Concierge, guests from Elite Holiday Homes have access to a wide range of services like an experienced culinary team that make the holidays much simpler – and more fun.
Five My Holiday Concierge services to enhance your holiday
1. Culinary help
Undoubtedly one of My Holiday Concierge’s most popular services is its in-house culinary team and wait staff. A team of qualified chefs can come to your Elite Holiday Home and create anything from a barbecue to a two-course feast – or a menu you’ve put together yourself! It saves you work and the staff are capable of meeting any dietary requirements. The team can also serve beverages and cocktails and can bake special cakes for Christmas if requested.
2. Equipment hire
My Holiday Concierge offers a range of kayaks, bikes, boogie boards, surf boards, eskies, shade tents, beach towels and even Christmas trees for hire at competitive rates. Don’t worry about bringing it all with you! And, if you have a newborn or infant, you can hire capsules, car seats, prams, boosters, strollers, high chairs and cots.
3. Transfers/hire cars
Public transport makes it easy to get around the Gold Coast, but the most convenient way to travel to and from the airport is undoubtedly a transfer. My Holiday Concierge can organise these for you or provide you with your own set of wheels to get around the city, whichever you would prefer.
4. Tours and tickets
One of My Holiday Concierge’s specialties is booking tickets and tours. Christmas on the Gold Coast is busy, so instead of doing that all yourself, just get My Holiday Concierge on the case ahead of time. The service can organise tickets to theme parks, water sports like jet skiing, parasailing and jet boat rides, hair-raising adventures like skydiving or serene tours of the hinterland or Mount Tamborine. Kids are also catered for with games packages, 7D movies, Timezone, ice skating and child-friendly restaurants.
5. Nanny service
After spending so much time with the kids, you may need a bit of break! My Holiday Concierge has access to fully-qualified nannies and childcare workers who can step in and take care of the kids for a few hours or even longer periods. And, remember, if your Elite Holiday Home becomes too much of a mess, you can put in a quick call and My Holiday Concierge can send out cleaners to restore the home’s sparkle and replace linen and amenities like shampoo and conditioner.
Find out the complete range of services available at your Elite Holiday Home through My Holiday Concierge by visiting this website. If you want to book an Elite Holiday Home for your holiday, click here to peruse those that are still available for Christmas.
For more information on either Elite Holiday Homes or My Holiday Concierge, you can contact us today on +61 7 5592 3881 or info@eliteholidayhomes.com.au.