[Boris]

Whilst your laid back after chomping on the last remnance of the turkey dinner. Please turn your mind to golden beaches , long cool drinks and just chilling out for a week.

After a stressfull year we need we need to put our feet up for a week and do just that.

The other half has a hankereing for AUSTRALIA and I have thought about the Gold Coast having remembered it from somewhere. We have trips to UK in Mid Jan but thats not a holiday ( its too cold ).

Perhaps some of you out there could recommend a suitable relaxation destination in Australia. Sun, Sand and maybe a day of fishing for me ( as the other half doesn't like boats ) , some decent shopping for the other half ( I am the steretypical male with NO interest in looking at shoes all day ). Some nice nightlife with spectacular sunsets ( not the result of exotic pollution ). Good food and comfortable surroundings.
Clear blue sea, silver sand and a bar on the beach - A MUST HAVE.

Don't snorkle or dive .

Look forward to any feedback and the name of a decent travel specialist in HK to do it all. I will be end of Jan, Start of Feb

Happy ( Burp - pass another mince pie ) Xmas all.

[ontheroad]

Some ideas:
-Melbourne (shopping and cafés) and the great Ocean road (beautiful scenery, the 12 apostles)- if you're into wines, try the Murray river: wineries, activities on the river (fishing, rafting, houseboats, old paddleboats)
-Sydney (shopping, cafés, the bay, ferries, beaches), spend a day up at Palm Beach for the surf and scenery, and a couple of days down to the world's most beautiful beach: Jervis Bay. You can also spend a couple of days in the Blue Mountains, beautiful walks and scenery.
-Western Australia : Perth, Rotnest Island, the Margaret river (surf, fishing, wineries, tall trees)

Wherever you go, there's lots of stuff to do : National Parks and stuff like that. The tourist bureau has a godd site :
http://www.australia.com/home_us.aust?L=en&C=US
Try also this site for ideas :
http://www.theage.com.au/travel/australia/