Family Holiday During Schoolies Week

by Nazura
(Selangor, Malaysia)

Family holiday during schoolies week

I have been following your updates since we decided to have a family holiday in Gold Coast. We'll be joining a tour group and the dates are not that flexible.

I just found out that schoolies week has already started and we are flying tonight to reach Brisbane tomorrow morning before proceeding to Moreton Island for a night stay.

We'll be in Gold coast from Saturday till Wednesday and will be staying at Grand Chancellor Surfers Paradise.

Our itinerary includes the theme parks, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Harbour Town shopping.

I am now worried that schoolies week will affect our holiday. Will it be that bad, all the hype about schoolies week?


Okay, here's the low down. There's not alot you can do about it right now and worrying won't help. So take a big deep breath and decide that you won't let it affect you.

The Grand Chancellor is right in the heart of Surfers Paradise and I just phoned them to find out their policy on schoolies. They do have schoolies bookings, but they also have very specific rules and will evict badly behaved patrons - schoolies or not.

Schoolies have "functions" to attend to, there is special entertainment put on for them, and only them. You will see them around and about during the day at theme parks etc. By and large it is a few badly behaved ones that give the event a bad name.

You will find that most establishments will not tolerate any bad behaviour and in reality it will likely only be a few that are badly behaved the rest are just there to have some fun, like most people on holiday.

Your itinerary gets you out and about quite a bit. You are not likely to have much issues with that.

I would probably suggest you try to go to places outside Surfers Paradise at night, so maybe find other places to go to eat, such as Labrador or Broadbeach etc. This is especially true if you have children with you, I would avoid taking my children to places where the schoolies hang out because they really don't need to see partying going on.

I did make some other suggestions after being asked the question: Will Schoolies week affect our holiday?. The people are a couple travelling without children and are staying in different venues to you, but the suggestions still hold true.

I hope that helps answer your question. I cannot promise you an event free time - you will most likely only notice that there younger people enjoying the party atmosphere more so than usual. Be sensible in where and when you go to places and if you have any problems in the hotel, make sure you let the management know so they can deal with it or move you to a quieter part of the hotel. I suspect they will try to keep the schoolies and other visitors on separate floors, but perhaps you can request that.

I wish you a great holiday and hope that you don't worry about this too much. You have to look for the positives and enjoy our wonderful location.

Cheers

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Nov 26, 2014
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East Coast Trip & Schoolie Hotspots
by: Annie

Ed,
Looks like you have a great trip planned.

Surfers should be okay if visiting during day or early evening, would still avoid later at night. After the Qld week, the other schoolies are just teens on holidays without parents! They are mostly old enough to go to the night clubs and so you find them out partying at night (best avoided!).

Not too familiar with Byron at schoolies time, but they will definitely be there. Same rules apply, stay away from pubs and clubs at night, to avoid drunken teens!

If you want to contact me to discuss anything off-line use the contact page and I will reply to your email.
Cheers and have a GREAT trip
Annie

Nov 22, 2014
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Arriving right after schoolies week
by: Ed Koo

Hi Annie,

I read your articles and it's been most informative. Very grateful for them!

Wonder if you can help me with my plan.

I will be arriving in Gold Coast on the 30th November so the official schoolies week is over for QLD, as I understand it.

However, I understand that the schoolie week for NSW and VIC will be on right after QLD.

We are a 3-generation family of 5 and will be renting a car. The plan is to be in Gold Coast from 30th to 3rd Dec and then drive down to Sydney. Will stay a night each at Coffs Harbour, Pokolbin before reaching Sydney on the 5th Dec. We stay in Sydney till 7th and will drive down to Melbourne. We'll spend a night each at Batemans Bay, Eden and Metung - reaching Sydney on the 10th.

Spent a lot of research for the itinerary but would really appreciate any tips and advice and if there's any area to avoid.

Want to know if I should still avoid Surfer's Paradise during the time I'm in GOld Coat (30th Nov to 3rd Dec)?

And should I also avoid Byron Bay? Heard there's a schoolie going on there as well?

Many thanks in Advance!


Oct 17, 2012
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Schoolies in Gold Coast before official Schoolies Week
by: Annie

To answer your question about whether there are schoolies in Gold Coast before the official start of the schoolies week here I go...

Usually the "schoolies" we refer to do not descend upon the Gold Coast until the Friday/Saturday when the official schoolies starts.

There may be a few school age children on trips in the theme parks during the week days, but this is not likely to affect you any more than normal.

Any others would only be the local Gold Coasters who should still be at school as they don't officially leave until the Thursday or Friday before the official celebrations start.

I don't think it will be anything to worry about.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Annie

Oct 17, 2012
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Family Holidays few days before the official schoolies week
by: Anonymous

Hi,

We are planning to be in Gold Coast from 13th to 17th November 2012, on 15th and 16th November we are planning to visit Theme parks with our young kids, we would appreciate it if you can let us know whether there will be schoolies in theme parks during this period. If this is not a good time to visit theme parks we are planning to postpone our holiday!!

Regards
SS

Nov 18, 2010
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RE:Enjoying Your Family Holiday During Schoolies Week
by: Annie

Glad to hear you got this information before you left. Nothing worse than worrying about things. Have a wonderful and safe trip. If you don't mind perhaps you can let us know any extra tips you have when you get back.
Cheers
Annie from Gold Coast Australia Travel Tips

Nov 18, 2010
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Making the best out of our family holiday
by: Nazura Jalil

Hi Annie,
Thank you so much for your explanation. Really appreciate your help. Agree with you that we should not worry too much. My family and I are looking forward to a wonderful (and hopefully many more) holiday in Gold Coast!

Cheers!

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