Palm Springs Residences – for a relaxing Gold Coast holiday for the whole family

September 1 2010: You and your family can have a fabulous holiday on Queensland’s Gold Coast without breaking the bank.

Winter is now over but it is not yet the holiday season. Prices are “off season” but the weather is perfect. It is 21° here and already there are people enjoying the sun and the surf. Is it any wonder that the Gold Coast is Australia’s premier holiday destination?  If you are looking for Gold Coast beach accommodation for the family why not rent a holiday home at one of the Palm Beach resorts.

Beautiful Palm Springs Residencies is the perfect place for a family holiday. Relax  in one of our luxury fully-furnished apartments.  Guests here enjoy absolute beach frontage and wonderful panoramic views from the holiday unit of their choice. Guests have a variety of holiday entertainment options right at your doorstep.  Palm Springs is an ideal holiday location for the entire family. Relax on the beach, around the pool, in the spacious gardens or in the comfort of your holiday unit. The pool is heated in the cooler weather so you can swim all year round  …and for jogging, well, the beach is a mere 10 metres away.

Palm Springs Residencies has AAA – four star rating. This resort is located outside of the main entertainment area and as such offers peace and tranquillity for those seeking a relaxed family atmosphere.  You can walk to shops and restaurants that cater to a variety of tastes and budgets.  With its central location you are just a short drive from all the major Gold Coast attractions. …and yet you are only 10 minutes from the Gold Coast airport.

We have spacious two and three bedroom units available, all at affordable prices. All units are fully furnished, including linen, kitchen items and laundry facilities. There is  ducted air-conditioning, full security and secure undercover parking.  Just unpack your bags and start enjoying your holiday.  Gold Coast Holiday Rentals guarantees LIVE availability and the best rates are available online. Check out our video and then check availability at gchr.com.au.

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As customary, you should never leave a place without getting any souvenir. If you happen to be on the Gold Coast during the months of September to May, better make sure you can catch the Broadbeach Mall Lantern Markets at least once.

What the Festival Is All About

The lantern markets start at 6pm to 10pm Friday from the months of September until May. Thus, it is called the lantern market. Hundreds of stalls participate, bringing in their best goods, from organic produce to arts and crafts coming from the Hinterland. The good news is majority of them are unique and certainly way cheaper than the ones sold in shopping complexes.

What to Do

Take the time to shop. You practically have four hours to roam around and figure out what you want to get at the market. Nevertheless, be alert and attentive as there will be hundreds of people coming in every day. Do not forget to haggle. Most of the sellers will be more than happy to have their goods sold at very small markup prices.

Shopping, though, is not the only thing you can do at Broadbeach. The area is famous for its patrolled beach, where you can do plenty of water activities. You can rent a catamaran in the marina or perhaps a snorkel and diving suit. You can ride a jet ski, canoe, fish, or swim. You may just simply sit on the sand and watch the sunset.

Near the Broadbeach mall are the countless restaurants, bars, and bistros that become even more alive at night time. Several of them offer nightly entertainment, such as jazz and blues music, poetry reading, and open mic sessions. You can also dance to the latest techno and pop songs in the country.

Head to Jupiters for an Australian casino experience. It also has several boutiques if you are looking for high-end clothing.

Broadbeach is cosmopolitan with a feel-good vibe. It is one of the best places to stay when you are on a Gold Coast holiday. There are a number of Broadbeach accommodation options, which tend to fill up quickly. So you can catch the lantern markets during the mentioned months next year, reserve a room as early as now. GCHR.com.au website can provide with the details that you need, from where to stay to what accommodation is available on your preferred dates.

Gold Coast is not only meant for the surfers, business executives, singles who are looking for fun, and honeymooners. The region also welcomes families. To make sure they would have the grandest time during their holiday, they can join or watch the Gold Coast City Cup Raceday.

What the Festival Is About

The Gold Coast City Cup Raceday is an annual celebration. Around this time, various jockeys will compete among themselves on board their horses. However, these are not only meant for the 18+ crowd, it also has several activities prepared for those who are under 18 years old.

The carnival usually begins at 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon on August 28. It is held at Gold Coast Turf Club Racecourse Drive at Bundall, Gold Coast. The entrance fee is cheap. It’s only $10 for the adults. Kids who are under 18 are free of charge.

What to Do

The parents can anticipate the horse racing competition. On the other hand, the kids can ride ponies, pet some animals at the zoo, climb the wall, or be entertained by clowns and other performers. They can also watch the racing contest of the big kids. Those who are into fashion can wait for the yearly fashion show at the field. The little ones, meanwhile, can enjoy painting their faces or jumping at castles. The visually talented children can surely bag great prizes in the coloring competition.

While waiting for the competition or perhaps when the kids get hungry, the entire family can hang out the myriad of restaurants or bistros within the vicinity. They can also relax inside the coffee shop. Those with babies can freshen their toddlers at the changing room. The car parking lot can accommodate hundreds of cars simultaneously.

Once the day is over, you can head to the Surfers’ Paradise, which is only 5 minutes away from the club. There you can spend time doing plenty of water activities, such as snorkeling, diving, swimming, canoeing, and fishing. You can also charter a yacht or a boat that can take you on a sunset cruise around the Gold Coast area.

Because the raceday attracts hundreds of people, make sure that you can book your Gold Coast accommodation as early as possible. We can offer many excellent choices, from holiday homes to apartment rentals. You can also request to have some of the services personalized according to your needs.

Is it possible to have a luxurious holiday lifestyle in Surfers Paradise for less than $300? The answer is yes. Check out your options.

Chevron Renaissance

The stylishly designed towers are hard to miss. It features the Beaches in the Sky, Health Pavilion, private theater and lounge, as well as its own shopping complex. You can also stay in a two-bedroom apartment, which is located on level 10. Each room also has its own bathroom and a balcony that leads you to the panoramic view of the ocean, river, and the Hinterland.

Moroccan Resort

Live the Moroccan high life in Moroccan Resort. The white-colored domed tower offers three-bedroom apartments that are located on the seventh level. The living room features a floor-to-ceiling glass door that goes straight into the balcony. You’ll get a pleasant view of Surfers Paradise beaches and the Esplanade.

Crown Towers Resort

The contemporary finish of the resort makes it appealing to the travelers of today. It also has a well-manicured lawn and expansive pools for entertainment and relaxation. Their three-bedroom apartment is very wide, spanning over 160 square meters. There’s a private lift for residents, as well as security intercom. The balcony opens to the majestic views of the surfing breaks of the Pacific Ocean.

Chateau Beachside Resort

It’s located in the Esplanade, one of the tourist hotspots in Gold Coast. It has plenty of restaurants, cafes, art galleries, and specialty shops. It’s also located near the patrolled beaches. It has an Internet booth for business travelers and playground for the children. The apartment, on the other hand, contains two bedrooms. The master’s bedroom has a king-sized bed and sofa, while the other has two single beds with a built-in robe.

Peninsula Resort

There are two things you can look forward to in the resort: its nearness to Surfers Paradise’s shopping and entertainment district and the three huge swimming pools, two outdoor and one indoor. The apartment units contain two bedrooms, with the dining area containing 6 chairs. The lounge has a flat screen TV and free Foxtel connection. For entertainment, you have sound system and DVD player.

Artique Resort

The contemporary accommodation features great outdoor facilities such as the barbecue area, swimming pool, and heated spa. It also has a well-manicured lawn with tropical plants and flowers. The two-bedroom apartment can accommodate 5 people at most. The balcony gives you a great view of the Hinterland and Coolangatta.

Think of the Gold Coast, and you’ll think of the commercial complexes, business districts, attractions, and the beaches that make Australia uber-popular all over the world. You’ll think about the fast-paced lifestyle of both the locals and tourists. However, if you learn to hang around during the late part of August until September, you may just get to see a whole new dimension of the area. You can be part of the Tastes of Gold Coast Festival.

What the Festival Is About

The Taste of Gold Coast Festival is more than a week long celebration of the finest produce of the region. Two of them include the food and wine. Specifically, the festival starts from 8 in the morning of August 26 to September 5.

What to Do

There are a lot of things to look forward to during the celebration. You can take advantage of the Farmers’ Markets, where you can shop for the freshest fruits and vegetables. They all come from the Hinterland. Some of the best choices include pineapples, pickles, and cheeses. You can also purchase the said items right near the beach resorts. There are also some people who can create great edible dishes from what you’ve purchased, and you can decide to dine on them right on the sand.

There are so many different types of farmers’ markets you can choose, but you may want to know their schedule as they don’t open all at the same time. For example, the Banora Point is available on the third Sunday of the month along with the Beechmont Market. Beaudesert is on a Saturday.

You can also participate in the Food and Wine Trail. There are two types of maps that you can use. These are the Pacific Trail and the Hinterland Trail. You can download them at http://www.tastesofgoldcoast.com.au/food-wine-trail/. Along with your friends and family, you can hop from one vineyard to another and get to sip from their finest collections of wines, those that are commonly sold in hefty price tags all over the world. Of course, you can expect a tour to the wine valleys, as well as partake on a small cocktail menu at their cellars. They are also the best places to purchase your souvenirs for the festival.

Indeed, the combination of food and wine is something you should not let go easily. Seriously consider becoming a part of the Tastes of Gold Coast Festival, so you can see for yourself why it’s one of the most celebrated in the country. You don’t have to worry about Gold Coast accommodation, simply contact us and we’ll arrange it for you.

It wouldn’t be far from the truth if we told you that the Gold Coast never sleeps. Open around the clock, you can have a real blast in GC and enjoy every minute of it. For shopaholics, the Gold Coast is, quite literally, God’s gift to mankind. With a wide range of shopping malls, department stores, designer boutiques, and local markets open on all seven days of the week, it can get really hard to decide where to shop and what to shop. Here’s a list of places on the Gold Coast that you can shop at:

Pacific Fair – The largest shopping mall in Queensland and one of the biggest in Oz, this is the first place to hit for shopping when on the Gold Coast. It’s located at Broadbeach.

Surfers Paradise – The range of stores and shops here is exhaustive and uncompromising. From hi-end street wear to designer labels, to bargain shops, the Surfers shopping scene is in a league of its very own. If you get tired during your shopping expedition, stop by the many sea facing cafes and alfresco restaurants for a cool drink and bite.

Marina Mirage – Arguably one of the best waterfront shopping districts in Queensland, the Marina offers an exciting backdrop of yatchs, boats, jets, and the Broadwater beach.

The Oasis, Broadbeach – Situated opposite the Broadbeach beach, the Oasis stands next to the Broadbeach Mall and is connected from Jupiters Casino by monorail. A good way to spend time window shopping for sure!

Stockland Burleigh Heads – Besides the CBD shopping districts at downtown Burleigh, the Stockland Burleigh Heads is another well-known member of the booming retail scene on the Gold Coast.

Robina Town Centre – Currently undergoing a $300 million worth expansion, Robina Town Centre is becoming the new Pacific Fair leaving the leader behind in the number of arcades and malls.

Australia Fair – Located at Southport, this 60,000 sq mts big multi-level shopping centre boasts of 230 speciality shops besides the most popular department stores. A must visit for shopaholics.

Beaches the world over are synonymous with fun, revelry, and entertainment, all sorts of entertainment. From Miami in the US to the Ibiza in Spain to the Gold Coast in Australia, everyone wants exciting nightlife that offers a range of partying choices.

Considered to be the leading partying getaway in Australia, the Gold Coast has a wide and eclectic range of night entertainment choices. With more than 20 exclusive clubs, bars, and pubs in Surfers Paradise alone, a night out in Gold Coast is certainly the best place to let your hair down.

Next on the list is Broadbeach. With a rapidly expanding share of chic bars, clubs and dining options, Broadbeach is quickly becoming the number one choice for tourists who prefer a more laid-back, easy-going, and relaxed nightlife experience. Much like the case with other Gold Coast entertainment venues, all the facilities are located well within walking distance of each other. You can easily hop-skip-jump from one pub to the next club without wasting time in looking for transportation! One of the biggest nightlife attractions of Broadbeach is the Conrad Jupiter Casino that’s located on the highway and without a doubt, a hot n’ happening place for tourists who not just want to try out their luck but also get a taste of the “uber” chic Gold Coast crowd.

In an attempt to be original and innovative and draw the tourists’ attention, club and restaurant owners have been laying a lavish spread of drinks, food, and entertainment for the tourists. Spoilt for choice, tourists may find it extremely difficult to choose between stylish, laid-back lounge bars, alfresco restaurants that offer a mouth-watering array of international dishes, and the surf clubs that are casual and cool and located right on the beachfront giving an uninterrupted view of the ocean.

With an outdoor lifestyle, Gold Coast nightlife is truly a great mix of fun, adventure, activity and vibrancy.

Japanese tourists feel quite at home on the Gold Coast.

For many years the Australian Gold Coast has been a favourite destination for Japanese holidaymakers. At first the market was driven by young couples seeking an ideal destination for their honeymoon. Over the years, as word has spread, more and more Japanese, of all ages have been visiting “The Coast”. The traditional holiday market has been supplemented by students and by retirees seeking a more relaxed lifestyle than Japan can offer.

As a result, the Japanese now have a visible presence on the Coast from Coolangatta to Paradise Point. There are Japanese restaurants to be found in almost all suburbs as well as groceries catering to Japanese tastes – even the major chains now have shelves supplying Japanese products.

In the 2006 Census 30,778 Japanese-born residents were counted in Australia. This excludes Australian-born persons of Japanese ancestry, and Japanese in Australia as overseas visitors (and would also include non-Japanese born in Japan). Of this number 24,373 spoke Japanese at home, and 40,968 others declared Japanese ancestry. Back then there were 3148 Japanese living here on the Coast – the fourth largest centre for Japanese in Australia (Brisbane was third).

A relatively recent ethnic group, only 2,384 Japanese-born had arrived in Australia before 1980. The lifting of barriers in Australia to non-European immigration in the 1960s coincided with the Japanese post-war economic miracle which dissuaded Japanese from emigrating.

Japanese only began to emigrate from their homeland in the 1980s. The Immigration Restriction Act 1901 temporarily prevented more Japanese from immigration to Australia, but they were shortly later exempted from the dictation test when applying for extended residency.

In Australia at the time many of the original Japanese settlers worked as pearlers in Northern Australia or in the sugar cane industry in Queensland. They were particularly prominent in the Western Australian Kimberley town of Broome, where until the Second World War they were the largest ethnic group, who were attracted to the opportunities in pearling. Several streets of Broome have Japanese names, and the town has one of the largest Japanese cemeteries outside Japan.

The Second World War led to the Japanese population being detained and later expelled at the cessation of hostilities. The Japanese population in Australia was later replenished in the 1950s by the arrival of 500 Japanese war brides, who had married Australian soldiers stationed in occupied Japan.

Japan’s increasing economic importance to Australia from the 1960s, and rising prosperity and linkages between the two countries, naturally led to an increase in the number of Japanese choosing to live in Australia. Most resorts on the Gold Coast cater to Japanese and have Japanese speaking staff. There is accommodation available to suit every budget and our holiday homes can cater to entire families.

Why not invite your own family or friends from Japan to visit Australia this year for a holiday? With a  range of options to choose ranging from resorts to houses, Gold Coast Holiday Rentals can supply accommodation for the entire family. They will have a holiday that they will never forget. Check out our availability at our website www.gchr.com.au, book online and you will be doing them a favour.

No Gold Coast beach holiday can be complete without visiting the best beaches in this region. Famous for its perfect golden sand beaches and clear waters that stretch 57 km long, the Gold Coast beaches are equally popular with swimmers and surfers. Don’t believe us? Get a grab of this:

Southport – Broadwater

Southport boasts of Sea World at The Spit, Main Beach. From dolphins to sharks to sea lions, you can make your pick and enjoy their shows. The Spit is also home to some of the most stylish boutiques and elegant waterfront restaurants as well as cafes that make dining a real pleasure. Other things to enjoy include cinemas, retail outlets, pubs, clubs etc.

It is also popular for its wide range of water sports like jet skiing, windsurfing, parasailing and game fishing. You can cruise out into the ocean from Fisherman’s Wharf and enjoy yourself fishing or swimming.

Surfers Paradise – Main Beach

As the name suggests, Surfers Paradise is a ‘paradise’ for surfers. In the heart of the Gold Coast region, this is one of the busiest beaches and offers a wide range of affordable Gold Coast accommodation options that are some of the best in the region. A lavish spread of restaurants, nightclubs, bars, along the waterfront and within a short distance from each other make it a highly fun place to be at. Visit Cavill Mall, Paradise Centre, Tedder Avenue, and the Main Beach through Narrowneck for some pleasure and entertainment!

Broadbeach

Only a short few kilometres from Surfers Paradise towards the south lies Broadbeach. Yet another major beach destination, it is one of the safest surf beaches on the coast. The Conrad Jupiter Casino is an all-action zone with restaurants, live stage shows, bars and shopping. Also, the biggest shopping complex, Pacific Fair is located in Broadbeach and has vast range of arcades and stores to quench the hunger of even the most avid shopper.

Other beaches on the Gold Coast include Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach, Coolangatta, Miami Beach and more!.