Family Trip to the Gold Coast

Andrew had a week off between rotations and we decided to go to the Gold Coast for a night and use up all my airbnb money!  We stayed at the same place we had stayed when my parents came in Burleigh Heads because the pool was so nice!  We headed out and stopped at IKEA on the way and discovered that Charlie was old enough to get dropped off at the play place and he was so excited and loved it, he didn't want to leave!  It was too bad we discovered it towards the end of our time at IKEA...  

We headed down to the Gold Coast and checked in, we spent some time at the beach but it was so windy and therefore kinda cold and the waves were huge!  Not good for swimming at all, I really thought Charlie was going to get washed away! Charlie and Andrew dug holes for a while and Elly and I went to the park for a bit then we all went and got fish and chips, and ate them down at the pool.  You wouldn't think you'd need a heated pool and hot tub in Australia but it was SO NICE!  The kids love swimming, especially doing chop chop timber!

The next morning we didn't have to check out until 12, so we went swimming and then went and got delicious smoothies (with fresh fruit through the straw on the top) and wraps, then drove over to Springbrook National Park, where we let the kids nap in the car for a but before heading on a hike down to Springbrook Falls.  I thought the kids were going to be better hikers than they were, but to be fair it had already been a long day and the sun was getting low!  Andrew was amazing and carried Elly on his back in the carrier and then he had Charlie on his shoulders!  The hike was really neat, with lots of things to see.  Down at the falls with no sun and the falls spray it was chilly!!  We ate a quick snack and played for a bit, then headed back up pretty much in the dark!  We stopped at IKEA again on the way home so Charlie could play (so we could eat dinner - it was gross!  I do not recommend Ikea food lol)  

It was a good little break away!  And it was nice Andrew could see where we had been since he didn't get to come with us when my parents were here.

Ikea is so fun for kids!

As much as I loved the place we were staying, I was a little nervous that we were on the
4th floor and Elly could climb over the edge if she wanted!

Poor Elly - not a very good view! 

Not much water in the falls right now!