Gold Coast | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

August 18, 2016 by David Herd

Chevron-sland-Surfers-Paradise-Australia

Thomas Drive

Chevron Island Surfers Paradise

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.

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Holiday Inn

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.

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Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

August 17, 2016 by David Herd

Blue-Sky-white-sand-Surfers-Paradise-tall-bulidings

Nerang River

Tall buildings Surfers Paradise

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.

The Chevron Renaissance

Quite a spectacular skyline in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Book HERE for a discount.

Q1 and 50 Cavil Avenue

Two more well known Surfers Paradise buildings.

The beach

The beach stretches for miles, this view is looking south.

Lifeguard

These lifeguards do a great job protecting the public.

Surfers Paradise Australia

Watch this video on YouTube

Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

Apartments occupy two of the 3 towers with the 3rd a hotel.

Surfers Paradise Hilton

The Hilton offers great views overlooking the beach, book HERE for a good discount.

Orchard Avenue night clubs

Here are three popular night clubs in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Looking south at Q1

Q1 is an 80 story tower with an observation deck on the top floor. For a great discount book through THIS LINK.

Looking north

Featuring Soul tower with Peppers Hotel. Book through THIS LINK for a terrific room rate.

Soul, Blue Sky tall buildings Surfers Paradise

A magnificent 77 level tower with views of the beautiful Surfers paradise beach.

Looking south along Orchard Avenue

Orchard Avenue is Surfer Paradise’s main late night entertainment street. Be careful after midnight. 🙂

Gold Coast light rail

Transport has greatly improved since the introduction of the light rail system.

Light rail map

Current and future routes, stage 2 will link up with the heavy rail system at Helensvale to make travelling to Brisbane much easier.

Q1 80 story tower

Probably the most iconic Gold Coast building.

Skyline view from the racecourse

Surfers Paradise skyline

Watch this video on YouTube

Surfers Paradise

My home for 25 glorious years, this city provides me with so many wonderful memories.

Melbas on the Park

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 Capri and Bundall blogs.

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Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

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Bundall Shops Brothels Racecourse

August 15, 2016 by David Herd

Upton Street Bundall

Bundall Shops Brothels Racecourse

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. 🙂

See what I mean.

Some of them really jump into the booze. 🙂

Surfers Paradise view from the racetrack.

Surfers Paradise skyline

Watch this video on YouTube

Bundall Shops Brothels Racecourse Masters Hardware

This huge store is quite amazing, sadly however they are currently in the hands of receivers.

Here is an important tip for you

Dr Paul Ferguson is an excellent skin cancer doctor who has been treating me for many years. He is very busy so you need to book a fair way ahead.

The adjacent suburb is Isle of Capri, to find out more just follow THIS LINK.

106 Upton Street

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.

Here are some more posts to check out

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That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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.

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Isle of Capri Gold Coast Australia

August 14, 2016 by David Herd

Ciao on Capri

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. 🙂

Manolas Bros

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.

Q1 skyscraper

For a discounted rate at the Q1 hotel just book through THIS LINK.

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Plus free cancellation .

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For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

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Gold Coast life 1999

July 31, 2016 by David Herd

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.

Narrelle, Jack Delanty and Larry Krausz NYE 1998

The celebrations were at Sylvester’s on Chevron Island.

Sadly out mate Larry suffered a major stroke in October 2016 & passed away January 2017, RIP.

Lollipops at Sylvester’s

Evelyn & Tina love sucking Chuppa Chups. 🙂

For a great room rate on the Gold Coast just book through THIS LINK.

Natasha & Alex

New Years Eve 1998 and the girls are feeling no pain. 🙂

My favourite songs from 1999.

Nindie at Marina Mirage

Nindie had a restaurant called Isobar at the Marina Mirage.

My best friend Ziggy

My beautiful Doberman waiting for me to dock at the jetty.

Rick Felsing from Sydney

Tucking into freshly caught mud crabs washed down with a Margaret white.

Dinner & red wine with beautiful Akiko

Beautiful Akiko is one of the most gorgeous Japanese girls I have ever met.

Great company

Perhaps THE MOST GORGEOUS. 🙂

Talking about gorgeous meet Aurora

In my opinion the most gorgeous Melbas girl ever.

Melbas on the Park

Surfers Paradise most iconic bar ever.

Mother’s day 1999

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. 🙂

Ray Shultz & Phil “Swifty” Gregory

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. 🙂

Here are some more posts on my wild wicked ways.

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Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

A-One hotel on Beach Road

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

Brazil Hotels

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

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French village Breil Sur Roya

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David Herd unforgettable year 2003

July 1, 2014 by David Herd

David-herd-Barcelona-Brazil-Bangkok-Pattaya

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 to Vietnam twice in January & April, Thailand in April & July, then around the world in November starting in Chile, then on to Rio De Janeiro in 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 from Beijing.

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. 🙂

Sydney Cricket Ground

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.

Sue and I at Manly

Fish & chips is compulsory for lunch at Manly.

Manly

One of the nicest Sydney seaside suburbs,

Magnificent Sydney skyline

Sydney from the Manly ferry.

Andrea & Gavin Kernot

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.

Melbas Xmas lunch with Graham (Biff) LaRoche.

Each year a group of ex Melbourne guys would get together for a Xmas lunch at Melbas in Surfers Paradise.

The whole crew

Sadly time waits for no man, four guys from this group have now passed away, Noel Smith, John Woods & Ron Collier, RIP.

Dave Allen & Kerry Townsend.

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. Melbas was 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 seafood and 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.

Here are some more posts to check out

Life 2015 Family history Life 1982

Adelaide 1972 Iron Bar Freddy Sydney 2006

Thailand 2008 Gold Coast Babes World trip 2003

Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

Bangkok Hotels Pattaya Hotels

Brazil Hotels

That’s all folks

Pattaya live webcam

A-One hotel on Beach Road

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.

Brazil Hotels

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

Click here to check out my Miami adventure.

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

Check out these great posts

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French village Breil Sur Roya

Breil Sur Roya devastated

Hong Kong 2014

Bradford on Avon

Coogee Beach Australia

Pattaya Thailand 2013

Amazing Iguazu Falls

New York City

Buddhist Temple Asakusa Tokyo

Pattaya live webcam

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Gold Coast Australia beaches

September 4, 2013 by David Herd

Surfers Paradise

Gold Coast Australia beaches, my home for 25 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.

David Herd relaxing on the Broadwater.

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

Watch this video on YouTube

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.

Water Ski stunts.

These guys put on quite a show.

Prepare for take off.

You can stay right beside Seaworld at their nice hotel.

Chevron Renaissance.

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.

Farewell Australia

Farewell drinks at Melbas on the Park with the usual suspects.

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That’s all folks

Holiday Inn

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.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

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

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

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

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

Visiting friends November 2014

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

HCM City in January 2015

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.