Lunch sponsored by Jetstar

Retirement rules can be challenging. Garry and I are still getting used to booking activities without scheduling them around weekends, public holidays and commercial obligations. In other words, we can book an activity any day of the week, at any time that suits us, or that secures the best deal. Yesterday I did just that.

A few weeks ago, while visiting my brothers in New Zealand, I decided to join my brother Matt for a birthday lunch while he and Shelley were holidaying on the Gold Coast. I booked flights there and back for $112.00 via Jetstar. You read that correctly: $56.00 each way. I subsidised this price a little by cashing in the frequent flyer points I’d clocked up flying to New Zealand. I was also travelling with nothing more than carry-on luggage.

My flight landed on the Gold Coast shortly after 9:00am. By 10:00am I was pulling up outside the entrance to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Matt, Shelley and I then spent the morning checking out some of Australia’s iconic native animals. Avid followers of this blog may recall that I visited this attraction in November 2024 as part of a business networking event.

At the time, I got to hold a koala. The park has since stopped this practice. These days, visitors can only book a photo standing next to a koala on a tree branch. Yesterday we decided to forgo the photo opportunity. However, we weren’t disappointed. The koalas were out in full force, especially in the nursery section. The baby koalas delighted us with their antics.

We did enjoy one close encounter. In the Kangaroo zone, we were invited to stroke a few of the friendly marsupials. Matt was delighted. We also spotted a very young joey nervously popping its head out of its mother’s pouch. Super cute!

Once we’d had our fill of marsupials, snakes and birdlife, it was a short five-minute walk to the coast. The Swell festival was in full swing. This is the Gold Coast’s equivalent of Sydney’s Sculpture by the Sea event. We spent an hour exploring the artwork installed along the coastal boardwalk. We then retired to the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club for a leisurely lunch overlooking the beach, with the iconic Surfers Paradise skyline in the distance.

We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying Happy Hour at the Burleigh Pavilion. Queue more white sand beaches and pounding surf as we sat by the window drinking cocktails. We finished my day trip with wine and nibbles at Matt and Shelley's holiday accommodation, just across the road from the Pavilion. I then took an Uber back to the airport and was back home shortly after 10:30pm.

It was awesome fun hanging out with my little bro and his wife. I'm glad I took the opportunity to celebrate his Double Five birthday. That’s $112 well spent if you ask me. I could get used to retirement.