Trams are back, but not in Brisbane; instead, the Gold Coast now has a 13 km light rail route with 16 stations. The tram route starts in the north at the University Hospital and terminates at Broadbeach South.
So what do 2 'tram tragics' do when there are trams running an hour or so's drive away? You ask 2 close relatives if they would like to join you on a tram ride, of course! And that's what DH, myself, BiL and SiL did a few Mondays ago. We parked the car near the University Hospital and went to the station. Our Brisbane 'Go Cards' work on the Gold Coast light rail network, so that made it a very simple process.
My SiL and I in the lift...
I was rather taken with the beautiful show of clivias beside the bus platform...
Here comes the tram...
Ready to set off on our tram ride...
Not far from the University Hospital stop, we saw some activity in a huge site near the tram line...construction of the Commonwealth Games Village for 2018...
The tram goes through the centre of Southport, somewhere I haven't been to for many years as the newer roads skirt around and away from the localities...
Going over the bridge
The tram route also goes into the shopping district of Surfers Paradise...
We are almost at Broadbeach now; our destination...
I'm checking the read out on the the 'touch point' for the GoCard...the ride cost me just a bit over $3...very good value.
DH had decided that we would all walk around to the the Kurrawa Surf Club for lunch...the views are lovely but I always find the food there pretty ordinary...but we keep going back? :-/ lol
After lunch we walked around the Oasis shopping centre and then used the walkway to make our way back to the tram stop.
The Gold Coast monorail no longer runs but the infrastructure is still there at the moment...Jupiters Casino is in the middle of the photo...
We missed that tram of course but it wasn't long before another one came along...
Some more pics taken on the return journey...
The Southport Croquet Club...
Trundling over the Motorway ...
Back at the University Hospital stop I noticed the sign on the side of the carriage...
So to finish off this post, one more photo. DH wanted a photo of himself taken beside the train...how could I refuse such a request! I took several, but I'll just include one :-).
We had had a most enjoyable time on the tram ride...the trams are modern, comfortable and offer a great way to travel on the GC...the same journey by car would have taken much longer...a real novelty to 'tram deprived' Brisbanites! lol
So what do 2 'tram tragics' do when there are trams running an hour or so's drive away? You ask 2 close relatives if they would like to join you on a tram ride, of course! And that's what DH, myself, BiL and SiL did a few Mondays ago. We parked the car near the University Hospital and went to the station. Our Brisbane 'Go Cards' work on the Gold Coast light rail network, so that made it a very simple process.
My SiL and I in the lift...
I was rather taken with the beautiful show of clivias beside the bus platform...
Here comes the tram...
Ready to set off on our tram ride...
Not far from the University Hospital stop, we saw some activity in a huge site near the tram line...construction of the Commonwealth Games Village for 2018...
The tram goes through the centre of Southport, somewhere I haven't been to for many years as the newer roads skirt around and away from the localities...
Going over the bridge
The tram route also goes into the shopping district of Surfers Paradise...
We are almost at Broadbeach now; our destination...
I'm checking the read out on the the 'touch point' for the GoCard...the ride cost me just a bit over $3...very good value.
DH had decided that we would all walk around to the the Kurrawa Surf Club for lunch...the views are lovely but I always find the food there pretty ordinary...but we keep going back? :-/ lol
The Gold Coast monorail no longer runs but the infrastructure is still there at the moment...Jupiters Casino is in the middle of the photo...
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DH waited on the elevated walkway to get a photo of the tram coming north from Broadbeach South... |
We missed that tram of course but it wasn't long before another one came along...
The Southport Croquet Club...
8 comments:
That looks like a fun outing! Something to remember if I'm ever up that way.
What a lovely way to spend a day out Maria. Brisbane is certainly speeding ahead. I wish ole Adelaide would follow suit. We don't seem to be able to keep up with other states.I remember camping a Southport a few years ago.
I love trams. We have swish trams like yours in Bordeaux but I have very fond memories of rickety trams in 80's Rome going past the Coliseum. We are off to Rome in October and I hope they are still there but I suspect they will be swish modern ones now. xx
Beautiful new trams, looks like lots of fun :) Barb.
That tram is the same as the light rail which goes from Central Railway station to Lilyfield in Sydney. I didn't know they had built one on the Gold Coast. My step-mum (late Dad's 2nd wife) lives at Miami and goes everywhere by bus but she hasn't mentioned the tram. I'm trying to recall whether Miami is south of Broadbeach or not? If so, I guess the tram may not be an option for her. Thanks for the interesting post Maria. xox
good to see they are not the Melbourne trams but lovely modern ones!
I love trams!! That is a beautiful new tram and looks like you had a lovely day :)
-Soma
Sounds like a lovely day!!! Very relaxing and full of interesting things to see and do :)
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