Chevron Island Surfers Paradise is located between Surfers Paradise and Bundall, a nice village with a very good choice of restaurants and coffee shops. My 2 nieces Laura & Elyssa pictured in the header of this blog is at probably my favourite eating spot, Frank’s seafood which is a traditional fish & chip shop.
Chevron Island Surfers Paradise
Cafe Alfons is a nice cafe for coffee or breakfast.
Bacon, eggs avocado.
Throw in a flat white or latte and cost comes to $21.
Hairdresser, R/E agent & Happy Dragon Massage.
Have a haircut, buy a house then go upstairs for a soothing massage. 🙂
Tribeca is a hot new restaurant on Chevron Island
Excellent food and very good service, run by Brandon & Shannon Pollard.
Sadly this venue closed in 2019.
Western end
Three more restaurants including one of 4 Thai restaurants on the island.
Good Thai food
This is the restaurant you see in the previous shot, It was 2011 & I’m with my brother Warren & a girl from Ray White who’s name I can’t recall. 🙂
Fu Manchu
Had lunch at this upmarket new two story restaurant, nice decor and good service but I have mixed feelings about the food.
Mixed reaction
The wontons on the left were not to my liking, fried does not suit me, however the chicken skewers on the right were quite good. Overall the dishes on the menu seem a little expensive, of course I only tried two so it is rather hard to give a reasonable opinion. The Spanish waitress was delightful. 🙂
Espresso Bonsai
A nice little cafe with very good coffee.
Fabulous hot rod
On Chevron for a promotion.
Colour coded outfits
And terrific smiles. 🙂
CHEVRON ISLAND SEAFOOD
My friend Frank operates this excellent fish and chip shop where I have been enjoying fresh seafood for years. Oysters, hamburgers and great prawns are also available. Grab a bottle of wine and a table on the footpath then enjoy the passing Chevron Island eye candy.
Adjacent to the traffic lights
Say hello to Frank and Warren.
Chevron Island Surfers Paradise
More seafood from Frank’s.
Feast at Franks.
Here are my friends enjoying one of Franks feasts, phone 5592 0027 to reserve a table. From left to right is Steve Bates, Nikki Murphy, Tony Murphy, Nick Partridge, Sharon Delmundo and Anne Lacy.
Sadly in March 2017 Anne lost her long battle with cancer & passed away, RIP.
You bump into the nicest people at Franks.
Here is my friend Donna at Chevron Island Seafood.
For a great hotel room rate (with free cancellation) just book through THIS LINK.
Looking east on Thomas Drive
The Surfers skyline is rather spectacular.
From the corporate centre
Chevron Island a few years ago was all low rise, a couple of multi story buildings have popped up recently, this shot however was taken around 2003.
Chevron Island Surfers Paradise photo blog
Farewell from Chevron Island Surfers Paradise , here I am with my old friend Bryan Dart who totally upset me when he told me he had lost 8 kilo since I saw him 18 months ago. The problem is I think that’s how much I have put on. 🙂
Running of the bikes
An article I wrote in the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Tall buildings Surfers Paradise where I lived for 25 years before moving to Thailand in October 2011. Personally I preferred the city in the 70s & 80s before the explosion of modern high rise hotels and apartments. Having said all that, it is quite a spectacular part of Australia.
Old motel for sale
I’m surprised this prime property adjacent to the Chevron Island bridge was not developed years ago.
Chevron Renaissance
One of three towers offering apartments and hotel rooms.
Finally drinks with good friends Phil Thomson and Greg Craig at Melbas. Thanks for visiting my Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise photo blog, before you go check out my Isle Of Capriand Bundall blogs.
Bundall Shops Brothels Racecourse, it has it all. This was where I lived for 21 years until October 2011. The north end of Upton Street was residential with some luxurious waterfront homes including mine, while the southern end is full of shops, offices & factories.
Bundall Shops Brothels Racecourse
90% of anything and everything I needed to purchase over the years I could find in Upton St.
The Corporate Centre
Around the corner in Bundall Road is the iconic Corporate Centre.
Bundall Road near Crombie Avenue
A couple of the Bundall Road prestige office buildings.
McLauchlan & Partners
A financial planning company at 80-82 Upton St, Bundall, I knew Alex many years ago in the late 8os when his office was in Southport. I remember him as a keen golfer who enjoyed a beer.
The Good Guys
Another huge Queensland discount electrical store.
Adult toy shop
Here is where you can buy all those adult toys & accessories to put some buzz back into your sex life.
Right across the road
For those lonely guys here is Silks one of the local brothels, as I said earlier Upton Street Bundall has everything you could possibly need. 🙂
For all you need to know about the local hookers just follow THIS LINK.
Here’s a map
So you guys won’t get lost. 🙂
OK, back to reality
This is one of about 3 major lighting stores on Upton Street Bundall.
The race track
Upton St also butts onto the Southport race track which used to be the only track in Australia to host a meeting every Saturday.
I’m there for nearly every Melbourne cup or Magic Millions event.
Watching the the ladies slowly deteriorate as the day draws to a close. 🙂
This was my home for 21 fabulous years, I designed and had it built in 1990, added a 2nd story in 2004, which turned out to be a mistake as it made it much harder to sell. However sell it did in October 2011 and one week later I moved to Thailand.
This is an awful looking house
Being built 4 doors from my old home in July 2018.
The lake near where I used to live.
My house was just out of the photo to the right.
For a great hotel room rate (with free cancellation) just book through THIS LINK.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Isle of Capri Gold Coast Australia at the Ciao shopping mall which has a great selection of cafes & restaurants. Some of the restaurants have a view of Surfers Paradise skyline including the iconic Q1 building which has 80 levels with an observation deck on the top floor.
Bakery & deli
Only recently opened and a welcome addition to the centre, prices a little high however I’m guessing their rent is as well.
Luca at Cicchetti Pizza & Pasta Bar
A wonderful fit-out at this trendy bar restaurant, specializing in Pasta & pizza as well as a few traditional Italian dishes.
Cicchetti
High ceilings and chandeliers.
The Fish Emporium
Perfect for a long lazy lunch beside the Isle of Capri waterfront.
View from Fish Emporium.
If you are going to enjoy a fish meal you need to be beside the water. 🙂
Ross Kennedy & I enjoying an Asahi beer.
A couple of cold beers before a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Delicious seafood
We shared 4 dishes, had 2 beers and a bottle of wine and the bill came to $204 plus tip.
Lunch was excellent
As was the service and the food.
The Supermarket
Naturally there is a very good supermarket as well.
The carnivores have not been forgotten. 🙂
I did notice they had crumbed cutlets here, one of my favorite meals.
Oysters to die for.
I never get tired of eating oysters, in Pattaya where I live most of the ones I eat come from France.
From the western entrance
Such a modern interesting shopping center, + a great people watching location. 🙂
Con and Steve Manolas have been sharing their passion of food and their love of connecting with Gold Coasters for more than 20 years.
Manolas at Capri Gold Coast Australia
One of the best delicatessens on the Gold Coast, there is another branch at Broadbeach. They also serve a very good breakfast.
This was before our long lunch at the Fish Emporium
Cold beers at Edgewater to begin our marathon lunch at Capri Gold Coast Australia.
Espresso Martini
The first time I have tried an Espresso Martini but it is not actually a martini, it’s made with coffee liqueur and vodka. We had two each at Edgewater. 🙂
Very smooth indeed
These babies really knock your socks off.
Coffee shops everywhere
So many coffee shops and such little time, they are everywhere in this center.
Enjoying the last year of the 90s, please note, this is not part of my Travel Blog. It’s part of my personal online photo albums.
Gold Coast life 1999
Gold Coast life 1999 was not too different from previous years except for the fact I was no longer working. In 1998 I decided to take a year off work and travel, little did I realise I would never go back to full time work again.
I have often wondered if I made the right decision to retire and travel the world. On one hand had I continued to work for another 6 or 7 years I obviously would have been far better off financially, however on the flip side I can never replace the wonderful years of travel I enjoyed during those years. Consequently looking back in 2016 I’m very happy with the decision I made. Take a look at my travel record for 1999 below. 🙂
An incredible year for travel
The photo above was taken in Koh Samui with Francesca & Barbara from Florence. In 1999 I had three trips to Thailand, February, August & December, my first trip to Rio for Carnival in February was part of an around the world adventure with my friend Larry Krausz. Another fabulous 2 month around the world trip in November included Los Angeles, Las Vegas Miami, Mexico City, Bolivia, Brazil, (Rio, Iguazu falls & Salvador) Paris & Thailand.
Kathy was a regular visitor
A simple phone call would result in an hour or so of passion, priceless. 🙂
A little more of Kathy
Without a doubt Kathy had one of the hottest bodies I have ever seen. 🙂
Lots of parties lots of girls, Narrelle, Simone & Kushler.
All through the 90s and beyond the parties never stopped.
Myoung-sook a nice Korean lady
Myoung and I spent some time together in 1999.
Sometimes she would stay for breakfast. 🙂
She was a very keen golfer.
she was quite a keen golfer.
Lorrie & Leonie
I took Lorrie & Leonie boating, they were two Canadians visiting the Gold Coast.
Dinner at Ashmore Steak & Seafood
This popular restaurant always ensured you never left hungry.
My beautiful mother Iris Joyce Herd, my brother Ian & his wife Sandra, Adam one of their sons & Myoung my Korean girlfriend.
Rossco, one of the happiest guys I know.
I count Ross Kennedy as one of my best friends, we had so many great times together. Certainly one of our most memorable adventures was our road trip trip to Melbourne in 1996, to check it out just follow THIS LINK.
Thinking back to my 25 years on the Gold Coast there were just so many highlights, I’m really very happy to be able to re-live them through my FiveStarVagabond photo blog.
Through all those years I remember having a hand full of good friends and many many acquaintances. Due to my reasonably abrasive personality there were also many people that couldn’t stand me. My message to them is quite simple, see below.
A message for the knockers
Having said all that let’s get back to 1999. 🙂
Jimmy Bell & the smokers
Another Sunday session at my Upton St home, Jim “HO HO” Bell rented a room at my home for 17 years.
For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.
Emily used to be a meter maid
And yes the silly tattoo is a temporary one from Thailand. 🙂
Swifty actually wound up marrying Emily and produced a couple of fine sons. I owe thanks to Ray for introducing me to Kathy who you saw at the start of this post.
Farewell Colleen
Colleen was leaving Saks bar & restaurant, owners Duncan McGuiness & Steve are wishing her well.
Phil Thomson, another great friend.
Phil has always been a Porsche lover, these days in 2016 he has a Boxter sitting in the garage.
Talking about cars, here are my beauties
It was a very difficult decision to decide which one to drive. 🙂
Ziggy & my boat
You had to have all the toys & props to stand out on the Gold Coast, to be honest 50% of the people I met were fairly shallow individuals & easily impressed. Then again the same probably applies to other Australian cities as well. 🙂
Main Beach blondes
Catie, Marina & Kylie were waitresses at a popular Main Beach cafe.
Mike Wood, Greg Craig and Dave Allen.
A few drinks at Melbas in as we did so many times over the years, it was simply Gold Coast life 1999.
Sweet Myumi
Well that’s all folks from Myumi & I, thanks for visiting my Gold Coast life 1999 photo blog. It’s now February 2018 & I”m living in Thailand, and I get a huge kick from re-living some of these incredible years through my photo blogs. I just can’t believe what a fortunate life I have had. 🙂
Melbas Gold Coast Legacy is a huge part of Surfers Paradise folklore. Here is my photo record spanning over 25 years showing my friends and I having fun at this iconic nightclub and bar in Surfers Paradise. In the early 80s it was also one of the best restaurants due to the expertise of owner/manager the late great Paul Allen.
My Melba’s three L scenario, Legends were made, Lies were told, Ladies were pursued. 🙂
This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from Surfers Paradise Australia.
New Years Eve 1990 Melbas Gold Coast Legacy
On the left is Tony Fazio who was manager at the time, now living in Perth I believe, on the right is Steve Jones one of the legendary bouncers who sadly passed away far too young, RIP.
Adam & Eve
I think her name was Amanda but don’t hold me to it. A cocktail waitress who was a very sexy lady.
Dinner before we hit Melbas
In those days there was a Japanese restaurant next door where I regularly had dinner before hitting the club. Melbas was only on the 2nd floor then, downstairs was all shops.
Paul’s son Dave Allen part of Melbas Gold Coast Legacy
Dave is a terrific guy, in 1990 he was working behind the bar, in later years he was General manager.
Another New Years Eve around 90/91
Harley Bradstreet one of my greatest long time friends, no Melba’s blog would be complete without him. For a while in the 90s he was actually one of the chefs there, it’s still unknown how many diners were rushed to hospital after eating one of his creations, forgive me mate I’m only joking.
A mutual friend of ours Southport solicitor Larry Wilson coined a famous phrase regarding Harley, he said “anyone can have a bad decade”. That really summed it up beautifully, I often used to refer to this great little guy as my own personal disaster area, but a nicer guy than you could never meet. Narrelle with the great smile worked behind the bar and was Tony Fazzio’s main squeeze at the time, a few years later I recall introducing her to her future husband, Jack Delanty, a one eyed Collingwood supporter from Melbourne.
July 7 1992
July 7 1992 was my birthday so naturally we celebrated at Melbas. Great friend Andre Buzek on the left was dentist on Chevron Island who was always offering cut price dental work to any sexy young lady who crossed his path. Sadly Andre lost his life in a car accident in Cuba about 4 or 5 years after this photo was taken.
Greg Johnstone on the right now lives in Thailand as I do, we occasionally have a beer together. At the back are Roger Williams and Len Jones, Roger went back to Adelaide and Len now lives in Sydney, the name of the girls eludes me.
A very happy bunch of people
The young guy at the back is Justin, another one of Paul Allen’s sons.
The legend himself in 1992
Paul was larger than life and ran Melbas with an iron fist. I originally met him when he was head waiter at Eliza’s restaurant in Cavil Avenue. Two of his customers financed Paul into Melbas around 1981, they saw potential in the way Paul interacted with customers and figured he could develop the best restaurant night club on the coast, they were right.
I vividly recall my first visit on January 1st 1982, we had a huge night on Sydney harbour on New Years Eve which ended at dawn, so on the spur of the moment we flew to the Gold Coast checked into St Tropez in Orchard and wound up at Melbas that evening.
At the start Melbas was 75% restaurant and 25% night club separated by a glass wall. Even though the restaurant was top class each passing year saw it get smaller and the nightclub bigger until it disappeared altogether.
January 1982 a couple of days after we arrived the party continued on the Gold Coast. The new sexy girl in the middle was “Kitty” a totally uninhibited Dutch girl who I knew from Sydney, but that’s another story. 🙂 Helen Burke on the right was soon to become my new girlfriend, in November 2014 I visited her at her winery at Dromana in the state of Victoria, my how time flies when you are having fun. The big guy is Graham La Roche aka “the Biff”, a legend in his own lunch time.
Lets jump forward to the year 2000
One of Paul Allen’s rules was to hire the best looking girls to work behind the bar, in my book the best of them all was Aurora. She is definitely part of Melbas Gold Coast Legacy.
The usual suspects Xmas 2000.
From the left we have Jim Bell, John Sinclair, David Herd and Tony Murphy. Jim rented a room in my home for 15 years from 1995. John moved to Thailand around 2001 and Tony still lives on the Gold Coast.
Xmas 2000 and Kerry Townsend-Smith was one of the head girls, I first met her when she was a waitress at the Boardroom, a well known Southport gentlemen’s club. From memory after Melbas she moved to Koi at Broadbeach, a lovely lady with a great personality.
A definite highlight in 2000
One of the most gorgeous ladies I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, Skye Edwards from Launceston.
Skye-Jilly Edwards (born c. 1972) is an Australian beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Globe International 1994 in Istanbul, Turkey and represented her country in the Miss World 1994 pageant in Sun City, South Africa. She was rated in the top 50 models in Australia by Ralph Magazine.
Perfect except for one small thing
Yes, Skye was a smoker, come to think of it so was I in 2000. I finally quit for good 2 years later.
Dean Martin Original Release LITTLE OLD WINE DRINKER ME
You could always guarantee the best eye candy on the coast would wind up at Melba’s on Melbourne cup day.
Paul McCartney - MICHELLE - HDTV-FullHD
The Butterbean Brothers in 2005
Two legends in their own lunch time, the Butterbean brothers aka Larry Krausz & Ross Kennedy. Larry just moved to Pattaya on November 28 2015 and is now my neighbour. (Sadly our buddy Larry passed away in January 2017 after suffering a major stroke in Thailand October 28th 2016) Rossco originally from Melbourne where he sold hot dogs outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and is now a mover and shaker on the Gold Coast. He quit his holdings in Surfers Paradise strip clubs and restaurants to become the glass splash-back Kingof the Coast. We have a long & happy history together with the highlight being a legendary road tripto Sydney, Falls Creek & Melbourne in 1996. What an incredible year 1996 was, read all about it here.
December 2003 Xmas lunch.
Sadly two old friends in this photo have passed away. Second from the left Ron Collier died April 26 2012. I first met Ron in Melbourne in the 70s before he & Yvonne moved to Byron Bay, a great character who loved life to the max. Second on the left is Noel Smith a regular Melba’s customer who passed away in 2011.
Graham La Roche aka “The Biff”.
A true Aussie legend, I also met Graham in Melbourne in the 70s, as his nickname suggests he was a hell of a fighter. Fought with the famous Jimmy Sharman’s boxing troupethroughout Victoria in the 60s and was never defeated. Graham was on-board by boat in Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve 1981 when we got smashed by fireworks because I stupidly anchored in the drop zone, read about it here.
I think this beautiful lady was Maltese, I only wish I was 20 years younger and 4 times wealthier.
Melbourne Cup 2006.
Important evens were always celebrated at Melba’s, here I am with good friends David Robertson aka “Chocolates” and Phil Thomson aka “Baldrick“. Chocs was famous for the huge volume of “Forsters Light” he would consume daily while Baldrick was famous for……… nothing really. 🙂
Another terrific old friend who was a regular member of our Melba’s drinking crew. Also known as “Coupons” which he collects to swap for free stuff. 🙂
Another gorgeous staff member
Service with a smile.
2007, German and gorgeous.
Not only gorgeous but a sparkling personality as well. I can’t remember her unusual name, Zea or something like that.
Concentration plus
Keep that red wine flowing my dear. 🙂
2007 Alan Jones
Twice world Formula 1 champion, a true living legend if ever there was one. Pictured here with myself and well known Gold Coast sycophant David Hoskit.
My birthday 2008
As I said previously all important events were celebrated at Melbas. One of the clowns, I think it was Noodles decided I was old enough for a wheelchair. I can guarantee one thing for sure, Chocs would not have paid for that bottle of red, & everybody who knows him would agree with me. 🙂
Just so cute
It was 2009 and I think her name was Linda, another one of the super cute Melba’s bar staff.
Dani Tobin, a real wild child.
Over the 25 years of drinking at Melba’s I met some wild crazy ladies, and Dani certainly makes it into my top 10. I see her occasionally on Facebook and she seems to have quietened down a little little, hopefully we may catch up again one day. This photo is from 2009.
The usual suspects in 2008
We usually met around 5pm most days and left around 7 pm to sneak home dodging the breathalyzer.
2008 Drinks for my AFL tipping comp
I ran an Australian Rules tipping competition for around 10 years and Melba’s were one of our sponsors.
2009 AFL footy tipping dinner
Here is part of the mob at our end of year dinner in 2009.
Straight out of the Folies Bergère
Another gorgeous drink waitress who contributed to Melbas Gold Coast Legacy.
I’m including this song just because I like it.
It’s a happy song and for some strange reason it makes me think of all the happy times I had at Melba’s.
When and why did Lloyd become a legend you may well ask? Well sometime around the turn of the century Lloyd relocated his office from Bundall to 50 Cavil Avenue right next door to Melbas. I am sure that no other customer has ever spent more in this bar than Lloyd, for a start most days from 11 am he would conduct his business in the south east corner of the bar surrounded by various friends and associates. He would normally pull up stumps around 6 pm and head home to Main Beach.
One memorable evening around 2007 Lloyd was enjoying himself so much he stayed on much later until the place was jumping. The crowd in the bar at that time was several hundred, so without any fanfare he ordered 600 shooters at a cost of $5,000, guaranteeing his place in Melba’s on the Park folklore for evermore. It didn’t stop there, he followed up with another 600 to consolidate his legendary status. 🙂
Only a few days before making my huge life changing move to Thailand I started having farewell drinks at my favourite bar with my favourite friends.
My last visit November 2014
After my road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road I flew to the Gold Coastto catch up with friends and family. Phil Thomson and I kept alive our tradition of drinks at Melbas on Melbourne day.
Nothing changes
Here is a group of old friends in August 2017, still rocking on after all those years. 🙂
David Herd unforgettable year 2003, not sure how I survived, it was one of the busiest & best years for travel, & at home on the Gold Coast, that I have ever experienced. I went toVietnam twice in January & April, Thailand in April & July, then around the world in November starting in Chile, then on to Rio De Janeiroin Brazil, Barcelona & Bangkok on the way home to Australia.
In August I took 3 lovely Japanese girls on a 7,000 kilometer road trip through the Outback to Uluru, stopping at Broken Hill & Coober Pedy then on the way home we went to Airlie Beach& Hervey Bay to see the whales.
This is not a travel blog just a personal photo collection from 2003.
Lovely Japanese girls + Vannessa
Most of these lovely girls were students, I took 3 of them on a 7,000 kilometre road trip through the Outback and to Uluru. My friend Vannessa Teo is the lovely lady on the right.
The girls loved my Mercedes.
I had a couple of Japanese girls staying in my home, they loved my yellow Mercedes & here they are after I had taken them & their friends for a Yum Cha.
A very happy group Friends family students
Harley is looking like a stunned mullet, the other guy is Jack, an Aussie who I met in Vietnam in January.
My beautiful home
I lived here from 1990 to 2011 & loved every minute.
David Herd unforgettable year
I enjoyed these beautiful sunsets for 21 wonderful years living in my beautiful home on the Gold Coast in Australia.
My beautiful Mercedes
I owned this lovely car for 17 years, I reluctantly sold it in 2007 when I was starting to downsize with a view of moving to Thailand.
Duranbah Beach Tweed Heads
Duranbah Beach (NSW, also called Flagstaff Beach) is the most northern beach in NSW. The 500 m long beach faces east and is located between the northern 400 m long entrance wall of the Tweed River mouth and the 30 m high black basalt slopes of Point Danger, which marks the Queensland-NSW border.
Lunch with friends Ross & Mariana Kennedy
Lunch at Omeros Brothers restaurant with good friends Ross & Mariana at the Marina Mirage.
Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise
One of my favourite people watching locations.
Getting ready for out road trip.
My 3 Japanese friends Yukako, Noriko & Megumi who came on the Outback road trip. Did I mention life 2003 was frantic? Well our 7000 km journey in 2 weeks certainly was. 🙂
life 2003 celebrating my 60th birthday
My 60th birthday with John Sinclair, Bruce Donachie, Ross Kennedy & Phil Thomson.
Owned by Billionaire Bob Ell.
It would cost me a years wages (if I had a job) to fill it up with diesel.
Tony Murphy’s houseboat
My friend Tony Murphy lived on his houseboat here in Surfers Paradise and previously in Townsville.
Coffee on Chevron Island with Ross Kennedy.
I rarely miss a day going to Chevron Island for coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner. 🙂
David Herd unforgettable year with some sweet Japanese girls
On the left is Sayuri with her friend and Ziggy in the background. Sayuri stayed at my home for several months while studying English.
Sonia & I went out together for a while, we met in Toowoomba where she was going to university, then hooked up last year in Beijing. She moved to Sydney and found a husband. 🙂
I was at the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch my beloved Sydney Swan play Australian Football. Luckily my friend Peter Hesky had a private box which makes the game more enjoyable.
Pothole, Apple and Sue
John Martin aka Pothole, Apple and Sue in Sydney for the weekend.
Sue, Apple Pothole & his sister Anne.
Strange how things turn out, it is 2016 and Pothole live in the same building in Pattaya Thailand.
Apple was the best Thai cook I have ever seen.
Finally after the love affair finished with Pothole Apple wound up married to an ex cop in London. She was with him at Buckingham Palace when he received an award from the Queen, not bad for a girl from Nana Plaza. 🙂
Visiting my brother Bryan
Bryan built a lovely home at Cobbity which is near Camden west of Sydney.
My friend Gavin with his gorgeous girlfriend Andrea. Have a look at my 2005 Paris post where I spent some time with Gavin and and Cheryl Kernot who was a well known Australian politician.
Dave was the manager at Melbas and Kerry was the receptionist. Dave was the son of the owner Paul Allen who sadly passed away in July or August 2011. Melbaswas the premier restaurant & nightclub on the Gold Coast since 1981. It was also my local drinking hole, the memories I have from there are unforgettable.
Xmas day lunch at home for David Herd unforgettable year.
David Herd unforgettable year 2003 was frantic with Friends family students I was happy to spend Xmas day alone with my best friend Ziggy (my Doberman) enjoying my beautiful home that I built in 1990. I ate magnificent seafoodand washed it down with my favourite white wine from Margaret River in W.A. a Salitage unwooded Chardonnay, life does not get much better than this. It was great having a quiet day to reflect on my wild & frantic year.
Thanks for visiting my David Herd unforgettable year photo blog.
I’ll leave it to Glenn Frey to tell you how I feel right now.
Gold Coast Australia beaches, my home for25 years from 1987 and have many wonderful memories. It is like a smaller version of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, miles & miles of canals with luxury homes enjoying waterfront living.
Surfers Paradise sunset.
Buildings overlooking the Nerang river in Surfers Paradise.
Gold Coast Australia beautiful beaches
The Gold Coast in Australia is one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, 80 kilometers south of Brisbane and 800 kilometres north of Sydney.
Leisure activities for the locals revolve around spending a day on a boat on the Broadwater, or enjoying the world class beaches. Surfing is a huge sport on the Coast, visitors from all over the world flock here to enjoy the pristine white sandy beaches.
Southport skyline.
Boating is one of the main pastimes on the Gold Coast.
Point Danger in NSW.
I am virtually standing on the border of NSW & QLD taking the above photo.
Rainbow Bay Gold Coast beach
Surfers Paradise beach.
The are miles of beautiful white sandy beaches, sadly council planning over the years has been 2nd rate by allowing high rise structures to be built along the beach, resulting in encroaching shadows on the beach from mid afternoon.
Amazing seafood on Gold Coast.
My good friend Phil Thomson & I decided to enjoy some amazing seafood for lunch. The Gold Coast definitely has some of the finest in the world, it is one of the few things I really miss about Australia.
Charis seafood market at Labrador.
Check out the magnificent selection of fresh seafood.
This was my home on Australia’s Gold Coast for 21 years.
I mentioned earlier the miles of canals with luxury homes enjoying waterfront living. This was my home in Surfers Paradise for 21 years from 1990 until I sold up and moved to Thailand in October 2011. It was 503 square meters with 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms a jetty and a sandy beach. I designed the home, and added a 2nd story in 2004, and did we have some great parties there? You bet we did. 😎
The Gold Coast Turf Club.
Horse racing is a huge industry in Australia, I could actually see this course from my home, it is the only track in the country which has a race meeting every week of the year.
Beer from a semi trailer
Every knows Australians love their beer, they even bring a semi trailer to the race track to make sure everyone has enough to drink.
Hang gliding on Mount Tambourine.
A 45 minute drive west from the coast is Mt Tambourine which is part of Australia’s Great Dividing Range. A popular place for hang gliding as well as many quaint little restaurants and hotels if you fell like getting away from the coast.
Byron Bay lighthouse is Australia’s most easterly point.
This is the place in Australia hit by the first rays of the morning sun. Byron Bay is one of the most popular beach side backpacker destinations in the country.
Secluded beach south of Byron Bay
Gold Coast Australia beaches.
Please click on Google + to help my ranking.
Diving Dolphins at Sea World.
Personally I would prefer these beautiful animals were set free in the ocean.
I guess Dolphins like a tummy rub.
There are many theme parks on the Gold Coast, Sea world, Dreamworld, Movie World, Wet & Wild and many more. So it really is a wonderful family destination.
Sea World Polar Bear.
Beautiful creatures but sad to see them in captivity.
In the heart of Surfers Paradise the Chevron Renaissance holiday apartments have many interesting cafes & restaurants to dine at.
Colonial golf club at Robina
The Gold Coast has many world class golf courses and the Colonial at Robina is no exception, there is water on almost every hole so take plenty of balls.
For a great hotel room rate just book through THIS LINK.
Cararra stadium aka Metricon
Home ground for the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.
My beautiful Mercedes Sports.
I just could not do a post on the Gold Coast without slipping in a photos of my beautiful yellow canary. This magic little car carried me around the Gold Coast for 17 years.
My two beautiful chariots.
These were my two babies when I lived on the Gold Coast, it was compulsory to have the proper toys. Many Australians consider the coast to be a flashy superficial place, and frankly I agree with them. However flashy & superficial can be fun when you are young enough to enjoy it. Sadly it seems when you get a little older you seem to tire a little with this life. I did, so I moved to Thailand in October 2011 and have replaced flashy & superficial with down & dirty, only joking folks. 😆
Listen to Harry Chapin describe my life in about 7 minutes.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.
Here is another beach resort on the other side of the world
Well folks, many thanks for visiting my blog on Gold Coast Australia, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed living there. Please send the link to your friends https://fivestarvagabond.com/
Here I am with friends on the Gold Coast before moving to Thailand
A final gathering of the usual suspects before leaving for Thailand. I hope you enjoyed my Melbas Gold Coast Legacy post.
