If you are looking for a unique dining experience on the Gold Coast then a visit to Benihana Japanese Steakhouse is a must.

Located within the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, it is the largest specialist teppanyaki restaurant in Australia.

We visited on a Sunday night and we were first struck by the elegance and atmosphere of the waiting area and sake bar.

We were shown to our table, which we shared with one other couple, and soon after our ‘personal chef’ arrived.
The showmanship and tricks of our friendly chef had us all entertained and our 4 year old giggled with excitement as he hurled prawns and egg at us to catch in our mouths!

The food comes straight off the teppanyaki grill and onto your plate so you can guarantee it is always hot and flavoursome.

Suitable for the whole family, visit the Benihana Japanese Steakhouse link for menu’s and opening times http://www.benihanas.surfersparadisemarriott.com.au/restaurant/hotels/hotel-information/travel/benihanas-surfers-paradise-marriott-resort/

Come and relive the history of the Gold Coast this Saturday the 12th of May at Evandale Parklands, Surfers Paradise from 9:30am.

Drift back to the sounds of the 1940's with performances by the Andrews Sisters Back to Basics show and the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra. 

Plus you can view war memorabilia, vintage cars and caravans, explore vintage market stalls, and enjoy a variety of delicious food.

There will also be free antique evaluations (bookings for evaluations essential - 5582 8875).

Mother's Day is just around the corner and Surfers Paradise is the perfect location to bring mum for a day (or weekend) of spoiling!

Hit the designer boutiques of 'The High Street' to buy mum something special or why not take her to one of the many day spas for a few hours of pampering!

If a meal out is on the agenda then check out one of these great specials:

Benihana: Be entertained as you eat, while you watch your food freshly prepared on the table, by some of the best teppanyaki chefs Australia has to offer!
The Benihana are introducing special banquets just for mum this Mother's Day, so get in early and book a table. Reservations are recommended to ensure you get a table.

Lobby Lounge: Treat mum to High Tea at the Lobby Lounge this Mother's Day.Enjoy a selection fo gourmet finger sandwiches, fruit tartlets, macaroons, chocolate brownies, Opera slice, eclairs, scones and almond tea cakes. Served with tea, coffee and a glass of De Bortoli sparkling wine on arrival.

Hard Rock: Dine in at Surfers Paradise Hard Rock Cafe this Mother's Day, and get her in the draw to win five nights away at the Hard Rock Hotel Penang, plus $600 towards airfares with Air Asia. Every table receives an entry form, so dine in lunch or dinner to win your mum the perfect holiday getaway.

Visit http://www.surfersparadise.com/whats-on/food-_and_-wine for more details!

Sunday 6 May at 1pm, Cavill Mall Surfers Paradise.

The US Navy 7th Fleet Band will be visiting our shores with a special Gold Coast performance in Cavill Mall.

The professional Jazz ensemble has wowed thousands all over the world, include the likes of the talented James Morrison.

In one word the 7th Fleet Band is excitement! The band has a reputation for it's exhilarating performances - once you have seen them you will will understand why.

There lives a long and proud tradition of music in the naval service and today's US Navy 7th Fleet Band carries on that tradition with a modern, fast-paced beat. Created in 1943, the band has performed to literally millions throughout the Western Pacific.

Paradise Isles are now on Flickr!

Check out our online photo gallery -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paradiseisles

Looking for something just a little big spooky to do? Well the Gold Coast is your destination! Check out these ‘weird and whacky’ attractions and events for Friday the 13th (or any time of year!).

Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant (Broadbeach) – Visit Australia’s longest running and most successful dinner theatre! Now showing ‘Redrum Cabaret’, celebrating the B-Grade horror genre through fleshy music productions, deceased puppets, gory magic and acerbic tummy-clutching comedy. Enjoy a three course meal including ‘Death by Chocolate’ - a custom made chocolate coffin!

Drax 4 Kids (Broadbeach) - Drax 4 Kids transports little monsters into another dimension with all the fun of a gothic theme park. The new 'Spooky Coaster' animatronic ghost train provides a scream around every corner and delivers the children into the main auditorium. They enter another realm full of interactive games, hi-tech computer imagery and state-of the-art special FX designed especially for the kids, stimulating their imagination and getting their goosebumps popping. The Drax 4 Kids doors creaks open at midday every Saturday.

Dreamworld has recently added two brand new lands!

Shrek’s Faire Faire Away features four rides including Dronkey Flyers, Ogre-go-Round, Puss in Boots Sword Swing and Gingy’s Glider. There are plenty of photo spots for you to be snapped with your favourite fairy tale friends. Plus you might even see Princes Fiona or Shrek himself wandering around the land!

Madagascar Madness features the Mad Jungle Jam full of squidgy balls, air cannons, foam fountains and rope bridges to navigate, plus shows Madagascar Live and King Julien’s Theatre in the Wild!

Check it out! http://www.dreamworld.com.au

Surfers Paradise Festival is coming soon! A fun family friendly event spread across 4 weekends in June/ July.  Check it out ...  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-RUO6cOW5QY

The 2012 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships start today going through to the 1st April 2012 at Queensland's iconic Kurrawa Beach. The Aussies will bring together surf life saving clubs and members from across the country, with athletes of all ages contesting over 300 exhilarating surf lifesaving events, in what will be an action-packed week of competition.

The Aussies is the largest sporting event of its type in the world, with entries open to all Surf Life Saving members. It is a celebration of the Surf Life Saving movement and an opportunity for surf lifesavers from around Australia to display their talents.

Don’t miss the free family fun day on Saturday March 31st at Kurrawa Park with live entertainment, face painting, kids rides and more!

The state’s top beach volleyball talent will scorch the sands of Surfers Paradise at the Queensland Beach Volleyball Series Finals on March 24 and 25th.

As well as watching the elites put on a show, onlookers can also jump into the action in one of the competition’s other divisions; there’s a good game at each round for players of all levels.

The Queensland Beach Volleyball Series has already produced Olympian Lee Zahner and Natalie Cook, along with a crop of top Australian rep players.

So whether you’re there to spot the stars of the future or spike a point alongside them, the Queensland Beach Volleyball Series at Surfers Paradise Beach is the place to be!