Driving holiday

THINGS TO DO, GOLD COAST Created :

Kiran Mehta

Kiran calls Mumbai home, but is never far from her next trip. Her job involves zipping across the globe, but she insists it is hard work. She has checked into ashrams, lived with strangers in Europe, and tried her hand at extreme sports in Australia, etc., all in an effort to bring you back a story. In addition to the Times Group, she has contributed to National Geographic Traveller (India), Hindustan Times, Spenta Multimedia, The Hindu etc., where she recounts her globe-trotting adventures.

Credit: Getty Images
Getting to Gold Coast is half the adventure, if you take the road. With smooth highways and loads of gorgeous stops en route, a driving holiday is the way to go. Fly into Sydney, admire the Sydney Opera House (which by the way took 16 years to make and is a UNESCO Heritage Site), take a walking tour of the Sydney Cricket Ground and walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach with views of the blue waters and red stones. An insider’s tip—time your visit with Sculpture by the Sea, an annual art fest where quirky art pieces are strewn en route between the two beaches. Do remember to eat at one too many Michelin starred restaurants in the city, and then it’s time to bid Sydney adieu!

Get behind the wheel and head from Sydney to Port Macquarie where you can stop at the world’s first koala hospital (www.koalahospital.org.au) and then at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries (www.ricardoes.com) where you can pick luscious tomatoes and plump strawberries. Pay for them by weight and you have a snack for the ride. Arrive in Coffs Harbour where you can call it a night, but not before you’ve checked out the lookout point or taken a camel ride (yes, a camel ride in Australia!) courtesy Coffs Coast Camels (www.coffscoastcamels.com.au)

Next morning depart for Byron Bay, a beachside town, which reminded me of Goa with its hippie vibe, emphasis on spirituality and love of tie-dye. Spend the night here and next morning head to The Farm Byron Bay (www.thefarmbyronbay.com.au), a working farm, for some fresh breakfast in the open. A short drive from Byron brings you to Gold Coast.
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