Oz Gold Coast: Where to stay/do?

[erebus]

We (family of 4) will be on the Gold Coast for a few days at Easter this year so I need to get booking now!

Which suburb should we stay in? We will have a car. We are looking for somewhere reasonably cheap so no need for a pool and spa! But we want to avoid Surfers. We won't be 'hitting the surf', either (DSs, 9 and 11 AND Easter, not height of summer!). We will be visiting a theme park (but I have another thread about which one?!) and we will be driving down to Springbrook and climbing Mt Warning, so, Burleigh? Broadwater?

Which shopping centre would you recommend? Pacific Fair? Again, I'm not a big leisure shopper but I think one should visit such a place whilst in Oz!

Any other 'must sees' on the GC?

TIA

Seaworld is still fab. There is a hotel attached too. Make sure you pre-book the dolphin experience - the photos of your kids with the dolphins are once in a lifetime shots!

I'd recommend the Marriot. Although it says surfers it is outside surfers - a good 15 minute walk to all that sort of stuff so quiet and out of the way. Make sure you book the Marriot that has the manmade beach pool (it is the better of the 2 there). Breakfast there is fab!

As for theme parks, if it is just the one then it has to be Seaworld. The others are pretty lame but if you have time worth a visit if you won't be back.

There is a big retail outlet but I can't remember its name. Will have a search and come back to you. OK if you want shopping.

Plazzo Versace is good for a drink/coffee and isn't far from Seaworld.