Essential Info for Tourists

BANKING Opening hours - Monday to Thursday 9:30am to 4pm, Fridays only 9:30am to 5pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Banks and major hotels will cash travellers' cheques. Money exchange facilities operate slightly more flexible hours. Post Offices: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

CLOTHING For most of the year, light clothes are all you need. For some winter nights you may need a jumper or warm clothes. Comfortable shoes are a must for hiking through national parks.

CREDIT CARDS Most major credit cards are accepted in the shops.

CURRENCY Australian Dollar. How much is your money worth in Australian Dollars. Checkout the currency converter. Need to exchange your money, visit a money exchange

DISABLED SERVICES Most public areas, shopping centres, accommodation houses and hotels, attractions and restaurants have disabled facilities and services. For further information (07) 5597 5666 or Paraplegic & Quadraplegic Association Of Queensland Ph: (07) 3391-2044

EMERGENCY Emergency calls

• Emergency Ambulance, Fire and Police - Dial 000.
• Non-emergency Ambulance, call 13 12 33
• Broadbeach Police station on 5581 2800 or Surfers Pardise Police station on 5570 7888 or Nerang Police station on 5578 1311 or Beenleigh Police station on 3801 0777
• RACQ Road Service 13 1111 (must be a member to use RACQ service) or NRMA members - (07) 5598 1572.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue - 5591 2948 (Southport Seaway tower)
• Gold Coast City Council emergencies - 1800 637 000

MEDICAL SERVICES Overseas visitors should obtain their own medical insurance. Major public hospitals include:

• Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard Southport
  ph 1300 74 4284
• Robina Hospital 2 Bayberry Lane Robina QLD 4226 Phone (07) 5668 6000
• Tweed Heads Hospital, Tugun ph (07) 5536 1133.
• Pindara Private Hospital, Benowa ph (07) 5588 9888

PARKING ample parking is available at major parking areas in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Southport and Coolangatta. Most shopping centres offer free parking.

PHONE Local calls cost 40c from public phones. Prepaid phone cards can be used for local, interstate and overseas calls. Directory assistance: Local 12455 International 12455 Operator assistance 1234. To dial a Queensland phone number from interstate - prefix with 07. International callers prefix the Gold Coast or Queensland phone number with 617

RADIO & TV Tune in to SeaFM - 90.9, ABCFM - 91.7, GOLDFM - 92.5, HOTFM - 105.7. In some areas you can get up to nine TV channels from Brisbane, Gold Coast and Northern NSW.

SUN PROTECTION Slip slop slap - slip on a shirt, slop on some 30+ sun screen and slap on a hat. Try to avoid staying outdoors for long periods during the heat of the day.

SURF SAFETY The Gold Coast City Council employs full time lifeguards to patrol major beaches daily all year round - phone (07) 5581 6740 to fnd out which beaches are patrolled all year round. Always swim between the yellow and red flags. Volunteer Surf Life Saving Club members also patrol some beaches during the school holiday and weekends during summer months.

SPEED LIMIT A 50-60 kmh speed limit applies to most residential and commercial areas or other speed limits where otherwise indicated. A 100 kmh limit on the open highways.

TOURISM ADVICE

• Gold Coast Tourism Bureau 2/64 Ferny Avenue Surfers Paradise Ph: (07) 5592-2699
• Surfers Paradise Tourism Bureau Cavill Avenue Surfers Paradise Ph: (07) 5538-4419
• Coolangatta Info Service 14B Coolangatta Place Coolangatta. Ph: (07) 5536-7765

OVERSEAS VISITORS Overseas visitors should be aware of the following facts.

• Departure Tax: Every person 12 years and over must pay $A47 departure tax.  It is usually included in the cost of your airfare ticket.
• Driver's Licence: International driving permits are recommended.
• Electricity: 240/250 volts AC 50HZ Universal outlets for 110 volts (shavers only) are standard in most hotels, apartments and motels.
• Passports/Visas: Visas are required by all visitors travelling to Australia except for New Zealand passport holders.
• Telephone: The Gold Coast's (and Queensland) area code is (07). Use of the code is not required for local calls. When calling Brisbane from the Gold Coast, it is not necessary to use the (07) code before the Brisbane number.