Anyone been to Australia Zoo near Brisbane?

[cluttered]

We may be spending a few days in Brisbane en route to NZ in December and I was wondering about day trips to Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast. We would like to visit beach but also see some native animals especially snakes and parrots (interests of DC). I have looked at Australia Zoo website and it looks a bit OTT, has anyone been? Alternatively how about the wildlife Sanctuary at Currumbin on Gold Coast. How far are these from Brisbane as we could instead spend a couple of days out of Brisbane if they are too far for day trips although in this case we would prefer to be on Sunshine Coast as Gold Coast sounds a bit too glitzy.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

cluttered if you are going to stay in Noosa I can recommend here

We are having a week there in April. It is very close to Hasting street and the beach and is across from the Noosa River where you can also swim. It has a great pool and cafes close by.

The ginger factory could be fine for that age. You can do a tour of the processing plant that includes a tasting!!! There's a Bee show where you get to see and learn about bees and honey and more tastings. A short train ride and theme park style boat ride. You pay for each bit separately so can select what is of interest. It will depend on DS's interests so if not interested in listening and learning, staying by the pool for the day may be a better option.

The apartment we rented through Laguna Real Estate has a minimum stay of 3 nights outside peak/high season so you may still be fine there if you wanted.

We had similar arrival times and arrived in Noosa around lunchtime, checked in and went and lazed by the pool!!!!!

Cluttered am not sure how old you are, but the ginger factory used to be in Buderim, but has moved now. And is now much more interesting than in the Buderim days - though you are probably too young to have gone to that site....!! We used to go there on school trips. (Yawn yawn) It was dire!

This is another apartment block in Mooloolaba....though they probably have the same high season requirements for December?

janinlondon- I may indeed have gone to the Buderim site as am fairly old. I went mid 70s. I can't remember much of the factory except getting a plastic mug of ginger so don't know if dire or not.

I have found another possible place to stay in Mooloolaba called the Peninsular and it has Dec 9-12 as low season hence we could do a short stay. Looks good on trip advisor, do you know how it compares with The Spit in terms of location and facilities? Not clear from The Spit website whether Dec shoulder season is classed as mid when minimum stays apply so I will contact them.

Do any of you experienced travellers have any recommendations for a not too pricey place to stay in Central Sydney on our way back to London? Since we are flying Qantas we have to go NZ to London via Australia so have decided to have a brief stop in Sydney to see New Years Eve fireworks. Found a great sounding B&B called B&B sydney harbour but unfortunately they have 5 night minimum stay over New Year! Our only requirement is we want to be walking distance from fireworks display.

Thanks!

If it was the '70s, you will have been to the old factory in Buderim. Things have moved on a bit since then. I have heard that Peninsular and Landmark (next door to it) are good - though the rooms are considerably smaller than Beachcomber and you will have to cross the busy main road to get to the beach. They are up in the main shopping precinct. So closer to restaurants etc.

Thanks Jan, how about the Spit, what is size of rooms like there?

Cluttered is it "84 the Spit" that you are looking at? If so, that is very similar to and very close in proximity to Beachcomber.

Thanks everyone,

I think after looking up lots of the areas recommended here on Trip Advisor we are going to try to stay at Gemini Resort at Golden Beach, Caloundra as it seems to be close to the (calm water)beach and has a nice pool in resort and excellent reviews. Also not too far from the beach pool on Kings Beach. Close to Australia Zoo too!

I was tempted by Mooloolaba but think the beach may be too "surfy" for my two DS who are keener on snorkelling than body boarding. Also, a lot of the resorts had minimum stays of more than 3 nights. 84 the Spit would have been fine but the pool looked a bit "tired". Loved the look of the pool at LaMer next door but they didn't do 3 night stays.

One niggling worry about Gemini though is that they don't specify air conditioning in the apartments so does that mean they aren't or is it taken for granted?