THIS KIWI HAS FALLEN HARD FOR THE GC’S ABUNDANT DELIGHTS

THE last time I visited the Gold Coast was 14 years ago as an 18-year-old with my best friend. It was our first holiday without our parents.

We stayed in Surfers Paradise at The Islander for a week. It wasn’t the height or summer but it was stinking hot. We were going to the beach and sunbathing all day and I remember having to move along the beach to get out of the shade from the highrises as the day wore on.

We would get home, crack into our Duty Free, go for dinner and then out for the night. It was sunbathe, eat, drink, sleep, repeat.

One of the nightspots which stood out was Shooters. They played all the bangers, the hits, and I’m pretty sure we went there every night.

When you are young, life can be quite simple. That’s all we did but we had a great time.

We did set aside a day or two for the theme parks and did Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild.

I’ve just finished another week on the GC, this time, at 31, staying at the Peppers in Broadbeach.

I didn’t have time for the theme parks which is a shame as I love a good theme park.

But this time I ticked some serious boxes – jetboating with Ocean Jet, mountain biking in Nerang, dive lesson at Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, surfing at Kirra with Ky Hurst, even got to hug a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

If ever there was an animal where the soft-toy version is an actual reflection of itself, it’s the koala.

I admit I’ve been guilty of thinking of the Gold Coast as a place so close to where I’m based in Auckland that I can always go there. But I never do.

And this trip has made me realise this place is pretty great – it’s so beautiful and the landscape so different to NZ.

The beaches are amazing. I know my beaches. I grew up with a surf lifesaving background. I had forgotten how incredible GC ones are.

What surprised me (and it’s not that I ever thought Australia did food badly) but I was blown away by how good the food and service is.

I went for dinner at Moo Moo, Social Eating House and Mamasan Kitchen Bar. They are unbelievable.

One of the other things I really like too is breakfast or brunch. The GC has so many great places for brunching.

The Gold Coast now is really perceived in NZ as a great place for a family to come. When I get back to NZ I’ll be saying to my girlfriends, “let’s go to the Gold Coast, get an apartment for a week and have a great time”.

You have great beaches and cool theme parks but I’ve realised there is so much more and what I was really surprised by was how close everything is.

We toured the Commonwealth Games venues and it’s all really accessible.

My highlight was surfing in August and being so warm.

I can’t wait to return but unlike my teenage party week, I’m planning to upgrade to beachside accommodation.

I love the GC so much it seems crazy I don’t live here yet, but there’s still time – so you’ve been warned!