After a hideous, extended home renovation, my sister-in-law and her family were desperate for a break, so we gave them a guest voucher for a week's holiday 'somewhere in Australia'. Although availablity was limited when they went to book, they happily chose Cedar Lakes, a family-oriented resort in the beautiful Gold Coast hinterland, not far from our own home.
Although the hinterland is only a 20-minute drive away from the bustle and beaches of the coast, it offers a completely different experience. Up there, the emphasis is on nature and relaxation, where darkness falls quickly and the night stays quiet, apart from the gentle sounds of small creatures going about their business. If you like quiet, Cedar Lakes will be right for you, and if it's a no-fuss family holiday you seek, then you've come to the right place too.
My husband and I visited the resort the week before the family was due to arrive, so we could let them know what to expect. We were welcomed courteously and invited to have a look around at our leisure. There are three groups of adjoining units, spread wide across the sweeping lawns of the resort and all overlooking the lake and bush-clad hills. The central building houses the reception area, a restaurant, and a bar with an open fireplace. There is ample parking, although you may have to carry your belongings a short way to your unit.
The accommodation at Cedar Lakes is a little tired, but the units are well-equipped and quite spacious, with plenty of room for a couple and two children. Some have interconnecting doors, so if you are travelling with others, you can easily double your living space.
Facilities, such as the restaurant, are a bit past their prime in a charming, old-fashioned sort of way, and the menu is serviceable and inexpensive. The central building reminded us of a comfortable old holiday house, with rustic furniture, an open fireplace, and plenty of kid-friendly spaces, including one sectioned-off area in the restaurant where you can drop off the kids while you eat and chat in peace.
Nearby is a large, safely fenced pool and spa, a game room, and a jetty with access to paddle-boat things. Guests are also encouraged to feed the local wildlife, and meeting the very sociable tortoises in the stream, who rushed to greet us (and wait hopefully for food), were an unexpected delight.
Having reported favourably, we were all dismayed when the Gold Coast was hit with torrential storms the week of the planned visit. The pretty lake turned into a huge butterscotch-coloured sea, the well-behaved stream became more aggressive than a teenage son, and on the second day, suddenly the plumbing and electricity couldn't cope. We called in for a visit to find 11 inches of extra water in the lake, none in the unit, the TV off-air, and a row of sauce pans lined up on the lawn to catch rainwater for drinking! Even more inconvenient, we had to drive down to the main building to use the shower and toilet -- no fun at all with a grumpy one-year-old and toddler in tow.
Still, it was holiday time, and events that would be considered disasters at home were turned into a bit of a laugh at Cedar Lakes. With all credit to the managers, the problems were fixed quickly, and a day or two later, the sun returned to the usually sunny Gold Coast.
You will definitely need a car if you're staying at Cedar Lakes, and we also recommend that you stock up with provisions before heading up to the resort. The hinterland is dotted with little villages, arts-and-crafts markets, and natural streams. Behind the resort is an equestrian centre, if you fancy a bit of horseback riding, and just down the road is Hinze Dam, source of the Gold Coast's main water supply, where you can enjoy a picnic and and bush walk. But a word of caution: despite the recent storms, the Gold Coast has been in the grip of a severe drought for several years, and strict water and fire restrictions are in place. Please check if barbeques are permitted before you light a match and never, ever light a fire outside a proper fireplace. Every year, devastating fires tear through parts of Queensland, and more often than not, they are casued by arsonists or careless holidaymakers.
If crowds and nightlife are more to your liking, spend some time wandering through the shops at Surfer's Paradise and enjoying the many open-air restaurants at next-door Broadbeach. From the resort, it's between 30 and 50 minutes' drive to famous Gold Coast attractions, such as the beaches, SeaWorld, DreamWorld, and MovieWorld (with entry fees costing around A$28 for kids under 14 and A$56 for adults).
For my money, the best value, most Australian experience is a day trip to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, at the southern end of the Gold Coast. You can easily spend a day here toodling around on the toy train, watching the animal and bird shows, and getting to know some of the country's more famous native animals. Have your photo taken with a baby crocodile, cuddle a koala, and pat one of the many docile kangaroos. There are food outlets at the sanctuary, but they're basic hot-dog-and-ice-cream-type places, so if you can be bothered carrying it, take your own lunch. Also, the sanctaury is an all-outdoor experience, so be sure to take plenty of sunscreen (or, in our case, umbrellas). We always take visitors to Currumbin at the end of their holidays -- and it seems to be the one thing everyone remembers, even years later. Enjoy!