Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast enjoy bumper tourism season

Tourists are soaking up the sun in droves as southeast Queensland tourism operators bathe in the glow of the best summer holiday season in years – and possibly ever.

TOURISTS are soaking up the sun in droves as southeast Queensland tourism operators bathe in the glow of the best summer holiday season in years – and possibly ever.

The Gold and Sunshine Coasts are packed in a Christmas-new year visitor boom being attributed to the extended run of perfect weather, along with an array of new attractions.

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The M1 has been gridlocked north and south of Brisbane, as tens of thousands of residents flock to both coasts to lap up the idyllic conditions, and the influx is set to continue this week, with more stunning weather forecast until at least Friday.

Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista said the Glitter Strip tourism industry enjoyed a stellar peak holiday season last year but this year’s was shaping to be “possibly our best summer ever”.

“We are hearing reports of strong accommodation bookings, with many operators experiencing levels on par with last year, if not better,” she said.

“Occupancy is sitting above 80 per cent with some knocking on 90 per cent, but there is still plenty of availability over summer to cater for more visitors.”

Fiona and Rob Hagen of Melbourne frolic on the Gold Coast with sons Max (left), 6, and Harry, 5. Picture: Nigel Hallett

A Visit Sunshine Coast spokesman said it was “house full” at major accommodation houses up and down the Coast, with the Novotel Twin Waters booked out for two weeks until this Saturday after it introduced pop-up attractions including a children’s water park.

He said Sunshine Coast camping grounds were also expected to attract a large number of Woodford revellers when the annual folk festival finishes tomorrow.

The rejuvenation of attractions such as The Wharf at Mooloolaba and Mary River Rattler train service had also helped boost visitor numbers, the spokesman added.

Theme parks have also been doing a roaring trade, with carparks close to capacity at Dreamworld, Movie World, Sea World and Wet ’n’ Wild.

New Dreamworld CEO John Osborne said the launch of the $17 million Sky Voyager – the southern hemisphere’s first “flying theatre” – was expected to further boost crowds when it opened in the coming weeks.

The Gold Coast is already bracing for its first major tourist event of the year, with the Magic Millions carnival starting next week.