As well as the theme parks the Gold Coast has to offer children. Surfers Paradise also has plenty of other options to keep inquisitive minds happy and bundles of energy contained. Located behind all the high Rise Hotels, Surfers Paradise beach has enough swell to give beginners a feel for the craft of surfing and Surf schools are abundant and charge between AUD 40 to AUD 50 for a two hour lesson.

There is a neat place called Infinity, that is located near Surfers Paradise, and is a journey of imagination. There are mazes and light shows that depict the future. You can visit from 10 in the morning to 10 at night and only costs adults AUD 20, and children only AUD 12.

At Ripleys Believe It Or Not, Raptis Plaza, you can feast your eyes on all manner of freaky sights, including the worlds tallest and heaviest humans,”genuine shrunken heads and musical instruments that play themselves. Many of the exhibits are in the form of reproductions of photos, however, and chances are you probably will believe it. Open 9am to 11pm Adult AUD 13.50, child AUD8.00

There are two attractions right next to each other that are fun, King Tutts Putt and Snow World. King Tutts Putt has a moving crocodile and props from Movie World. Snow World has giant ice sculptures.

The Wax Museum is a creepy place on the Gold Coast Highway as well. It has a Chamber of Horrors. Adults pay AUD 15 to get in, kids pay AUD 11. Some other fun things for kids are ten pin bowling, sea kayaking, and the Wildlife Reserves have tours, and you can cuddle a koala!

The best way to see Queensland is undoubtedly by car. It’s certainly the only place to get to see all of those out of the way place without taking a tour. Super, diesel and unleaded fuel is available from petrol stations and LPG (gas) is also available in populated areas but not always in the remote service stations. Prices vary accordingly depending on place and time. The price always goes up around the weekends and bank holidays so if you are watching your money, it’s a good idea to fill up on a week day.

There are many rental companies available and the best thing to remember is that if you want to travel a long distance then you will need a policy with unlimited kilometers. Big firms sometimes offer one-way rentals so that you can pick it up in one town and drop it off when you reach your destination but there are a variety of restrictions on these deals and sometimes there can be a huge drop-off fee so read the small print. 4WD and camper vans are a booming market. Having a 4WD enables you to get right off the beaten track and out to some of the natural wonders that most travelers miss but insurance on these can be high and some insurance on 4wd does not cover damage done when off road (anything not bitumen or dirt road).

There are a few multi lane highways, in Queensland, but most major roads are two lanes. There are also many dirt roads which are great when you are wanting to see the countryside. On e of the most common hazards on Australian roads, is the Kangaroo. Hitting one can, no matter what speed you are traveling, can make quite a mess of your car, not to mention the kangaroo. Dust and Dawn is when you need to pay close attention for Kangaroos.

When traveling at night you can be faced with many animal hazards. If a large animal appears in front of your car you should hit the brakes, dim your lights and only swerve if its safe to do so. Many travelers have been killed in accidents caused by swerving to miss animals, it is sometimes its safer for you to hit the animal, even though it can be traumatic.

Along the east coast in general but especially in country areas, drink driving is a real problem. Serious attempts are being made to address this but the vast area is a disadvantage. You will almost definitely come across a random breath testing station or booze bus somewhere on your travels and more often or not these test for drugs and substance abuse too. If you have a level of blood-alcohol in Australia more than 0.05% be prepared for a hefty fine and the loss of your license. Also there is always a danger of parking fines in major cities and tourist towns so be sure park in the proper place even if it may cost a bit!