Cheap activities Brisbane/Gold Coast
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Topic: Cheap activities Brisbane/Gold Coast
Posted By: denny25
Subject: Cheap activities Brisbane/Gold Coast
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 10:35am
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We are thinking of going to Brisbane and the Gold Coast in August. We need some cheap or free things to do! The theme parks are SO expensive, so we will only be going to a couple of those.
Does anyone know of any cheap wildlife parks and what is there for families (esp toddlers) to do in Brisbane? Any suggestions?? 
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Replies:
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 11:05am
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There is Currumbin Sanctuary Park. It's a bit 'meh" (that was 4 years ago) I wasn't impressed with at all... others that have been there might think differently.
Have you thought about buying your theme park tickets online? Sometimes it works out alot cheaper than buying thru your agent. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 12:29pm
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if you have/no someone with an "entertainment book" you get 15% off the entry prices, and off accomodation at some places too.
failing that join "Myfun" and get 10% off. um currimbin was fun for me at 14 back in 2004 but i dunno about a toddler...lots of walking 
lunar park in Sydney is cheaper than the other theme parks... umm were heading over 4 3 weeks in nov so ive been researching. lol 
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Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 12:52pm
| The Brisbane library is free and pretty cool. It is really funky looking. Tripping up and down the river on the ferry is really cheap. Southbank has cool playgrounds and a fake beach if the weather is nice. |
Posted By: fattykat
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 1:00pm
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I second Southbank, heaps of fun and if you go on a weekend they have a wee market there also (can't remember if its run on Saturday or Sunday or both sorry)
The Friday markets they have along Surfers beach front a worth a look around also (sorry also don't know if they are weekly or what) |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 2:06pm
Flybuys gets you theme park tickets too, I'm saving ours up  ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 2:26pm
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I enjoyed currimbim sanctuary and I know Jake would have a blast if we took him now if that helps? Theres also the superbee honeyworld in currimbim which you could check out while you're in that area.
Southbank rocks and the markets are on from friday evening to sunday, theres also an imagination factory in southbank at the queensland museum, theres a steam train ride thru brisbane on sundays, http://www.ourbrisbane.com/lifestyle/parenting-and-families/1209130.museum-zoo-animals-size-and-me - museum zoo is apparently awesome according to my lil cousin, theres lots of model boat get-togethers which are awesome to watch - we go to the brissy entertainment centre in boondall, theres the climbing centre, the david fleay wildlife park has merit, the australian outback spectacular was primo last time I saw it, or theres aussie country downunder in canungra... lol i love queensland sorry and im typing onehanded coz bfing so scuse messiness... -------------   
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 6:33pm
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We really enjoyed the Currumbin Wildlife Park and thought it was good value for money. I recall you could take your own food so this saved lots.
I thought most of the other attractions were quite expensive for the time it took to go through them so we ended up having beach, pool or walk around the shops days when not at theme parks, but it was summer. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 8:43pm
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Brisbane's Museum of Modern Art has a http://qag.qld.gov.au/kids - children's art centre , which didn't have a lot happening when we were there (4 weeks' ago), but just next door is the Queensland Art Gallery which had a workshop on for kids (hat making).
Otherwise, like others have said, we filled plenty of time at South Bank, at the Museum, and just general sightseeing, walking through the gardens, across the bridges etc. If we'd had a little more time in Brisbane we would've taken the ferries across the river, just for fun (I think they're pretty cheap), or gone up the Wheel of Brisbane, I don't think that was expensive. On the Gold Coast, I don't think any of the wildlife parks are 'cheap', we had a 2 for 1 voucher for Currumbin but otherwise it would have been over $40 per adult, for a wildlife park that I personally didn't think was that great (compared to ones I've been to here). Clara loved the kangaroos though. And the rest of our time on the GC we filled in at the beaches, pools, parks, etc ... the weather should be nice in August, I was there last August too and was fantastic, hot and dry
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Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 23 June 2010 at 11:26pm
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Yep, Southbank is great. There is a man-made beach which you can swim in and its set up for children too. The QLD State library and a Museum is also at Southbank which are free.
Umm, there is Guided walks in Roma Street Parklands which are free, Do the Loop - The Loop is a free bus service that circles Brisbane's Central Business District, Daisy Hill Koala Centre (about 25kms south of the CBD). There are fantastic parks all around Brissy that are great for children, especially the Kidspace ones or Kalinga park at Clayfield and Hidden world playground in Fitzgibbon. Sorry not too sure about the GC, we dont go down there that often and when we go its to the IL's. As anakk said, the weather is usually pretty good. Although last year it was hotter than normal, it isnt usually as warm as it got last year. I guess its generally like a nice NZ summer day ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: denny25
Date Posted: 25 June 2010 at 10:46am
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Thanks everyone
Does anyone know how long it takes to drive from Surfers to Brisbane? |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 25 June 2010 at 10:54am
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I would go to Southbank these days. It is nice but there is so much crime there now my parents don't even go there. If you are staying in Brisbane go up to the Sunshine Coast, it is about an hours drive and up there in Maloolaaba is Underwater World, it is cheap to get into and very cool. Up there is the Big Pineapple, free to go into but you pay for the tours of the factory. Further north is the Ginger Factory in Nandena (sp?) and across the road from them is the Macadania Nut processing plant which is very interesting and you get to try all the different coated nuts. Sunshine Coast also has the beaches which are amazing and Noosa is there too just to walk down Hastings St (most expensive street). Glasshouse Mountains are just before Australia Zoo, and you can also go there for the day too, it isn't cheap thou to get into there now. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: IVFGirl1111
Date Posted: 25 June 2010 at 11:03am
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The best thing we do when we go over to Aussie is buy the Australian entertainment book - if you know of someone that already has one in New Zealand then you can buy a second one for $50 and you will save HEAPS.
We brought the Brisbane one (because we already had the Christchurch one it was only $50nz) and we wrote down everything we saved - worked out as $750! There is things in there like buy one get one free for Steve Irwins Zoo - thats like $50 savings! Plus all the restuarants, accommodation everything - well worth getting. ------------- TTC 6 years IVF it is IVF/ICSI round one 10 eggs, 8 mature, 3 fertilised BFN IVF/ICSI #2 = 22 eggs! 20 mature, 15 fertilised, 1 fresh transfer and 2 frosties BFN 2 Frosties still in freezer thank god |
Posted By: J&Ls mum
Date Posted: 28 June 2010 at 4:31pm
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Totally agree with Booboo, we brought a Gold Coast entertainment book and saved HUNDREDS!
When we wanted to do an activity we picked one out of the book and all the restaurants we ate at were out of the book too! ------------- J - born 26th April 2008 and L - born 3rd Sept 2010 http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 28 June 2010 at 5:23pm
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Linky to the book? -------------
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Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 28 June 2010 at 5:47pm
http://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/ im looking at the QLD one for when we go but we are starting our holiday in Mel and then going to syndey, then bris and QLD but bris and QLD have diff books so dont know if its worth getting one given we are only there about a week max but will be going to themeparks and Australia Zoo
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Babe wrote:Posted By: marielb
Date Posted: 03 July 2010 at 12:53pm
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We went to SeaWorld and Dreamworld and I thought SeaWorld was much better for littlies. Expensive, but we thought it was worth it :) They say you can't take your own food in, but we did and noone checked. If you don't, eating there is SO expensive!
There are HEAPS of parks there which are amazing!!! We spent a few days of our holiday just at different parks with a picnic lunch! And we played at the beaches too  ------------- Isaac is 6, Ethan is 4, Rico is 2 and Hunter is almost 1! |