Reviewed By:
Brett, Cambridge, NZ
Travel Date:
July 2005
I just returned from spending one week at
Diamond Sands Resort with my wife and two children (4 and 7) sharing a three
bedroom apartment with a two friends and their 8 year old daughter. We loved it.
Prices were main stream without being
expensive. Most small shops including convenience stores, small eateries,
Subway, Wine and Liqour, Blockbuster Video, etc were within a two block walk. If
you belong to the AA, AAA, NRMA RACQ etc, then discounted theme park tickets can
be purchased nearby at the RACQ office in neighbourng Miami beach.
The complex is large, and made up primarily of
3 story apartment blocks surrounding a fabulous huge tepid freeform pool. The
pool is fringed with palms and tropical plants and large rocks and even comes
with its own sandy beach. Max depth is 180cm. On one side of the pool is a clean
area with two undercover barbeques. Our kids absolutely loved the pool, and
virtually grew gills swimming in it, even in July. It wasn't really warm, but
was a very comfortable temperature for swimming. Disappointingly though, their
large rock spa pool on the side of the main pool was not heated, but was the
same temperature as the main pool.
The apartments are spacious, and almost all
completely renovated to a high standard. Each unit is individually owned and
decorated inside, giving an element of individuality. Ours came complete with
DVD player, modern appliances and furniture, dishwasher, wastemaster, optional
aircon, etc. Cupboards were surprisingly full of equipment - including a full
plastic picnic set! We had two queen bedrooms, and one bedroom with twin beds,
which suited us fine. We paid for an extra rollaway at $24 per night. Floors
were tiled. The apartment came with two bathrooms, both of which ingeniously
doubled as ensuites for the two queen bedrooms (although one could also be
entered from the hall without going through a bedroom). The laundry had washer
and dryer and tub, and was suprisingly sound proofed.
The apartment had two great balconies, one
large one facing the pool, and another on the side of the building off the
master bedroom, which in our case caught the sunset. Both had quality outdoor
furniture, but that appeared to differ from apartment to apartment. The complex is completely gated, with room keys
needed to drive in and out. Parking is all underground, with internal access
into all stairwells.
When the adults wanted to go out Diamond Sands
were able to provide us with a babysitter for AUD$15 per hour. We were on the top floor of three, which we
liked, but none of the apartments have elevators. There are also no ramps and
the complex has a number of pool security gates on main paths, so this is not a
resort for anyone in a wheelchair. It is also not appropriate for families with
very young but mobile children, as there is really no outdoor recreational space
that is not the pool, so young children playing in the complex must be
supervised. There is no children's play area.
We really enjoyed it, thought it stylish and a
bit upmarket, and the kids adored the pool. We would happily go back. When we
visited in July, days were warm but nights were cool, and we were happy to have
a third floor apartment to get all the sun we could. In the hotter months I
would recommend requesting a ground floor poolside apartment with as much cool
tropical shade as possible.
Location wise, this facility suits families
with a car, as it is on the "wrong" side of the Gold Coast Highway, with the
highway between you and the beach about 5 blocks away. It is a 3-5 minute drive
from Broadbeach, and about 15 minutes from Surfers Main Beach. Still a very easy
location for anyone that is primarily intending to get around Surfers by car.
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