Gold Coast Holiday Equals Fun

The best way to see the Gold Coast in its full glory is from the sky in a private scenic helicopter flight. A half hour flight is $225 per head, and well worth it! I had never been in a helicopter before but our jovial Gold Coast Helicopter's pilot 'Stretch' soon put us at ease.

The day was so clear that we could see beachgoers splashing about in the surf and all the way to hills of the hinterland, lushly green after recent rain. We were snapped out of our sight-seeing revery when Stretch told us he was going to turn and head after a pod of dolphins he had just spotted.  As our stomachs dropped we hurtled through the air - what a rush!  I counted at least a dozen frolicking in the crystal-clear ocean below.

From the dolphins to Q1, the world's highest residential tower, the sweeping coastline and magnificent mansions on the canals, we didn't miss any of the Gold Coast's highlights.

With my feet planted firmly on the ground we headed south on our next adventure - Catch a Crab on the Tweed River.

Cruising past mangroves on the peaceful Tweed River, it wasn't long before lunch was served.  When a whole chilled mud crab was placed in front of me I had a smile on my face from ear to ear.  Freshly cooked on the boat and served either hot or chilled, the 'muddies' were caught locally and tasted delicious.

The rest of the afternoon was spent yabbying, feeding the pelicans, fishing and off course, checking the crab pots.  Just for the record - we caught two flathead (who didn't make the legal length and were given a second chance) and eight massive 'muddies' - a pretty good effort for a relaxing afternoon.

If you're looking for a night life activity with a difference, the night tour at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a great option. Creeping around the animals and enclosures with our experienced guide, our mission was to spot animals that are normally hidden during daylight hours. Highlights of the tour included cuddling koalas and tasting indigenous bush tucker.

Our beachfront accommodation at Currumbin meant being lulled to sleep with the sound of the waves. I woke early to catch the sun rising over the water from my balcony. Nestled in a deck chair with a cup of coffee, right amongst the sand dunes watching the sweeping views of the coastline and the sun rising - perfection!

Leaving the coastline behind us we set off for the hills into the heart of the Gold Coast hinterland and to O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse. Surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's is truly breathtaking.   My tip for the walking trails was the Treetops walk which is the first of its kind in the world.  Get a bird's eye view of the rainforest's canopy on this 180 metre walk which includes nine bridges suspended mid-air, up to 15 metres high in some parts.

There's so much to explore here, that you can choose to head off by yourself on one the walking trails or get involved in the organised activities.  With everything from guided bird walks to the flying fox and giant swing, O'Reilly's Rainforest Guesthouse guarantees to keep you entertained in the beautiful outdoors. Trek all day and relax at night in the bar - which conveniently is the best spot to catch the sunset.

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