Surfers Paradise beach and skyline, Gold Coast

Taylor Family Holiday

Gold Coast
2026

Four nights at Mermaid Beach, then a road trip down the coast through Yamba, Coffs Harbour and Gosford to Sydney. Monday 14 September to Wednesday 23 September 2026. Matt, Susan, Xavier and Chelsea.

Trip at a Glance

Ten days, one flight up, one drive down, one flight home.

Mon 14 Sep

Fly Melbourne 7:45am to Gold Coast 11:40am, pick up the hire carCheck in at Diamond Beach Resort, Mermaid Beach

14 to 18 Sep

Gold Coast, 4 nightsDiamond Beach Resort, Apt 158, between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach

Fri 18 Sep

Drive to Yamba, 1 nightAbout 2 hrs 20 down the M1

Sat 19 Sep

Drive to Coffs Harbour, 1 nightAbout 1 hr 30

Sun 20 Sep

Drive to Gosford, 1 nightThe big driving day, about 4 hrs

Mon 21 Sep

Drive to Sydney, 2 nightsAbout 1 hr 15

Wed 23 Sep

Drop the car at Sydney Airport by 7:00pm, fly home 8:30pmLand in Melbourne 10:05pm

Flights

Both bookings confirmed with Virgin Australia. Tap a flight for details.

Up: Melbourne to the Gold Coast

Airline

Virgin Australia

Departs

Mon 14 Sep, 7:45am
Melbourne

Arrives

Mon 14 Sep, 11:40am
Gold Coast

Duration

3 hrs 55 min, 1 stop

Booking reference

SSNYMP

Home: Sydney to Melbourne

Airline

Virgin Australia

Departs

Wed 23 Sep, 8:30pm
Sydney

Arrives

Wed 23 Sep, 10:05pm
Melbourne

Duration

1 hr 35 min, non-stop

Booking reference

KSHPDR

MTMatthew Taylor

STSusan Taylor

XTXavier Taylor

CTChelsea Taylor

Gold Coast: Where We're Staying

Four nights in a three-bedroom apartment in the Diamond Beach Resort, a short walk from Kurrawa Beach, Pacific Fair and Broadbeach.

Kurrawa Beach at Broadbeach, near the resort

Diamond Beach Resort, Apt 158

Mermaid Beach, Queensland

Check-in

Mon 14 Sep 2026

Check-out

Fri 18 Sep 2026

Sleeps

3 bedrooms, 5 beds, 2 baths

Booked via

Airbnb, hosted by Dean

Check-in method

Self check-in with key safe

On site

Lagoon pool, spa, BBQ area, free parking

Open in Google Maps

The resort sits just off Alexandra Avenue between Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach, about 100 m from patrolled Kurrawa Beach and a short stroll to Pacific Fair.

The Road Trip South

Gold Coast to Sydney down the Pacific coast, four stops over six days.

Fri 18 Sep, 1 night

Yamba

A laid-back fishing town at the mouth of the Clarence River, with great beaches, the ocean pool and the lighthouse walk.

Drive: about 2 hrs 20

Aston Motel YambaBooked

Family Room, Coldstream Street, Yamba. Booked via Booking.com, AUD 264 payable at the motel.

Check-in Fri 18 Sep from 2:00pm, check-out Sat 19 Sep by 10:00am. Free parking, air con, balcony, no breakfast included.

Open in Google Maps

Down the coast on the Pacific Highway

Sat 19 Sep, 1 night

Coffs Harbour

Home of the jetty, the marina, Muttonbird Island and, of course, the Big Banana.

Drive: about 1 hr 30

The big driving day

Sun 20 Sep, 1 night

Gosford

Overnight on the Central Coast at the top of Brisbane Water, an easy run into Sydney the next morning.

Drive: about 4 hrs

Last leg over the Hawkesbury

Mon 21 to Wed 23 Sep, 2 nights

Sydney

Two nights to finish the trip before dropping the car at the airport and flying home on Wednesday evening.

Drive: about 1 hr 15

Accommodation for Coffs Harbour, Gosford and Sydney will be added here once the bookings are in.

Car Hire

One-way hire from Gold Coast Airport to Sydney Airport with EastCoast Car Rentals, booked through Discover Cars.

The Car

VehicleMG HS or similar SUV

SpecAutomatic, 5 seats, 5 doors, air con, petrol

MileageUnlimited

Booking numberD014784054

ConfirmationR4036W

SupplierEastCoast Car Rentals

Pick-up and Drop-off

Pick-upGold Coast Airport (OOL)
3 Kerana Street, Tugun
Mon 14 Sep, 11:30am

Drop-offSydney Airport (SYD)
Wed 23 Sep, 7:00pm

Duration10 days, one-way

Money

Total for 10 daysA$1,030.06

Already prepaidA$177.56 (includes Full Protection cover)

Balance at pick-upA$852.50

Security depositAbout A$1,000, held on Matt's credit card

Bring to the Counter

CardsPhysical credit card in Matt's name, with room for the deposit

Not acceptedVirtual wallets, cash, online-only bank cards

DocumentsDriver's licence and passport or photo ID

Online check-inDone, confirmation R4036W

Heads up: the flight lands at 11:40am but the car pick-up is booked for 11:30am. Discover Cars has flagged this, so we may push the pick-up time later or expect a short wait at the desk.

Gold Coast2026