This is part of my diary of a frequent renter series….52 rental in 2009 so far.
Dot point summary:
· Rental company: Budget using my Budget Fastbreak membership
· Car class and type: Toyota Corolla Ascent 5 door compact auto.
· KM on clock: pickup with 43125 and I drove 380km
· Pickup/Return: Brisbane Airport rent a car depot and return to same location
· Rental Cost: AU$189.53 - 3 days (i save 5% by using my Fastbreak membership number in Oodles VIP loyalty account)
· Site booked: Oodles.com
· Points Earned with: Qantas Frequent Flyer = 426 points
· Best Walk: South Bank – Kangaroo Point Cliffs – Story Bridge – thru Botanic Gardens – Over Kurilpa Bridge – back to South Bank
· Where I stayed: Hotel Diana South Brisbane – Vibe Hotel Surfers Paradise – Mum’s Place Mermaid Beach
Day 1: Brisbane – South Brisbane – West End
Visiting my kids in Brisbane, always nice to get some sunshine as well given it was October and still pretty cool in Melbourne.
Picked my rental car up from Brisbane Airport and made a quick get away as usual given my paperwork is already prepared as a Fastbreak Member.
Headed on into Brisbane City and checked into The Hotel Diana in South Brisbane. Booked it on Wotif.com, It’s a good hotel for $99 buck and close to where my two sons live. There is a really nice French girl working in the reception, but that’s not why i stay there, right…
From South Brisbane it’s an easy walk through south bank for a meal then over to the casino to see if can lose $100 (dollars). Yep, I’m a big spender.
Walked across Brisbane’s new pedestrian bridge which starts right next the Gallery of Modern Art and i think its Tank Street, in the City where it crosses to. Certainly handy for those living in the northern part of South Brisbane and adds more options to walking loops between the city and south bank.
Kurilpa Bridge Brisbane
Day 2: Brisbane – Mermaid Waters – Surfers Paradise
My younger son and i headed down to my mum’s place at Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast for a cup of tea. Had a good chat and ended up staying for dinner, though we had already checked into the Vibe Hotel in Surfers.
Although from the below photo you might think we stayed at the super luxurious Palazzo Vasacchi. (looks can be deceiving). Could only afford to park outside the 6 star hotel and take a quick photo before we got nabbed by the traffic cops.
Could only afford to be photographed - with my rental car - outside palazzo versace.
Went for my regular walk with my son Jaylan up to The Spit then along the river mouth entrance. Love hopping along the rocks as we head out to the point. Great for focusing the mind and co-ordination, one slipped and your #$%##@@ ( let’s just say you’ll at least graze your knees).
Google Map - Brisbane to Gold Coast - Kingscliff - Brisbane
Day 3: Surfers Paradise – Kingscliff – Brisbane Airport
Often when on the Gold Coast or even just passing through I like to take some time out for Kayaking. Found a little rental place called Viking Kayak, in Thrower Dr Currumbin. The only charge about $10 per hour per Kayak and are generous with the time.
My son loves the waves, so we paddle along the Currumbin Creek out to the Beach for some waves. The last few times we got some really good waves and could surf in for around 100 meters. Unfortunately on this occasion there was basically no surf. So try as we may, we only got a few small dribbles. But it was good exercise and my brother came with this time, so we had a ding dong race back.
Kayak Hire on Currumbin Creek
Kayak up the creek to the ocean and waves.