QLD Tours

03/12/2024

Mauro Davanzo

03/12/2024

QLD Tours got to meet Gold Coasts very own magical living Legends Arthur and Helen Coghlan.
Arthur Coghlan was born in England and moved to Australia in 1948. He became interested in magic when he was 10 years old and after leaving school he became a demonstrator in a magic store.
A motor mechanic by trade, it was the tragic death of his friend in the mid-seventies that saw Arthur close his workshop and become a full-time magician. The only problem was that no-one knew who Arthur Coghlan was, so he needed to create media attention to get his career off the ground, which he did. And how he did it was priceless. Since then, he’s never looked back.
Thirty years later, he received national and international recognition after he performed a dangerous escape from a chained and locked steel drum in Australia’s famous Sydney Harbour, during filming of an ABC documentary on his life.
Arthur received an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) in 2021 for service to the performing arts as a magician and escapologist.
Arthur presented Australia’s largest magic and illusion show at The Magic Castle, Gold Coast, where he performed in over 6,500 shows.
Foremost among these outstanding feats was an escape he performed live on Channel 9’s, The Don Lane Show. He became a household name in Australia in 1979 when he escaped from a locked 44-gallon drum which had been tested by university engineers who claimed that an escape from this drum was impossible.
In 1994, Arthur received a special award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Queensland Society of Magicians acknowledging him as “a Pioneer of Modern Magic and the Greatest Escape Artist Australia has ever known."
At the 2007 5th Annual Cannon’s Great Escape Artists Convention, Arthur was the recipient of the coveted “Silver Cuffs Award”. The award was given to him “for his many mind-boggling death-defying stunts, TV appearances, lifetime contribution and support of the Art of Escape”. The convention was held in Ontario, California.
Helen shares a love of magic with her father, Arthur. She joined him in the show when she left school and quickly became a top entertainer in her own right.
She has won many awards, including Australia’s Junior Magician of the Year, a Queensland Variety Wallace Award (with Arthur) and several awards from the Australian Convention of Magicians. More recently, Helen has been voted the most popular female Wedding Celebrant on the Gold Coast (ABIA Awards).
Helen has appeared on many of the top national TV shows and has also performed overseas, including being invited to perform at Hollywood’s prestigious Magic Castle.
Since 2018 Helen has performed on every season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us and has been able to fool the magical duo on each of her appearances – that’s a record SIX times!
“Following in Dad’s footsteps”
She has now followed in her father’s footsteps to become Australia’s top escapologist. Helen has performed some amazing escapes including:
In 1987, she became the first woman in the world to perform Houdini’s last escape, “The Chinese Water Torture”, which was televised for national television.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0vFUEY1FuM

25/11/2024

Let QLD Tours guide you to the Gold Coast Historical Museum Christmas party, book launch function. Local pick up and return by QLD Tours Pty Ltd. Sunday 1st December from approx 9am pick up, return approx 3pm.

Cost is:
$25 pp.

More info:
Books for sale, raffle, mustang display, model T-Ford display, coffee cart and a sausage sizzle.
Come celebrate the museums Jubilee and Book Launch.
This is the second last of 2024, of the QLD Tours community series.

Contact Maro on 0405777217
Email [email protected]

Places will not last long. Book NOW!

18/11/2024

Loved catching up with Les at “The Country Rose Motel” Warwick. Well known for its Roses and Heritage buildings along with hosting one of the biggest Rodeos, Campdraft competitions in the country. I was impressed with the motel and how Les looks after his guests like family
Thanks Les, we truly enjoyed our stay and look forward to many more! Www.countryrosemotel.com.au

14/11/2024

QLD Tours is offering this very special Day Tour for 2024. Pick up from your door and return for those interested on the North Side Gold Coast. Approx time: 8am to 7.30pm. Limited seats available, so give me a call ASAP to book your seat. Cost $125pp (Ferry fee included).
Follow QLDTours for more exciting events on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/QLDTours
Maro, 0405777217
QLDTours Pty Ltd
ABN: 91663267945

12/11/2024

Iconic and world famous “The Polish Place"
Tamborine Mountain, Queensland, Australia.

Pioneers of Tamborine Mountain in the 80's, they helped to reshape the future of the mountain.

The story of Phil and Ania exemplify exactly what the mountain's about, kindness, beauty, a wonderful place to visit, its rich sense of history, its resilience and its enormous community spirit.

Phil Sowter came from Tasmania in 1979 and moved to Adelaide to work in the education system in the field of science. This is where he met Ania and fell in love. Ania, then studying Rehabilitation Therapy student, got engaged to Phil in 1982.

Phil & Ania then bought a small block of land on their honeymoon while visiting Phil's brother Robert Sowter (known for his donation of land now known as the Robert Sowter Park or Hang-Glides Look Out) back in 1982 and built the "Polish Gallery & Coffee Shop" in 1983. Phil, a teacher of Senior Science & Biology and Ania a Physical Therapist from Poland then had two daughters, Bella and Kathryn, who grew up in the family business.

The Restaurant was first built 40 years ago and closed on its 40th anniversary on the 3rd of September 2023. Forty years of making and serving authentic Polish cuisine from Ania's homeland, many of the recipes which hail from her own mother. The signature dish, Roast Duck for Two, was the envy of every other guest and was a famous staple to the menu, in addition to Pork Hock, Pierogi and Bigos (Sauerkraut). Not to mention Ania's Rum Chocolate Torte!

The Polish Place. Achievements include:
“The first Polish restaurant in Australia outside of the Polish clubs”
In 1990 the 3 cottages they built to become the first cottages on the mountain and only the third accommodation venue.
"Best Specialty Restaurant" in 2020 by Restaurant & Caterer's Association,
and "Best European Restaurant" on the Gold Coast in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Awarded "the Silver Cross of Poland" the equivalent of the Order of Australia medal which was bestowed on the couple by the Polish Government for their promotion of Polish culture outside of Poland in 2006.

The Polish Place meant a lot to many. Not just because of the Polish influence, but because they helped make our special Tamborine community a better place to live, and it's right to acknowledge their contributions.

I am sure that everyone on the Mountain and around Australia and the world, wish you both all the very best in your next chapter in life enjoying time with your grandchildren and time for yourselves living in Melbourne with your daughter Belinda.

07/11/2024

Phyllis O'Donnell, Inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.
The world's first female world surfing champion. She was an inspiration to generations of Australian and international surfers, part of our founding Pioneer Surf family. Australian Cultural Icon (Aug 1937- Nov 6, 2024, RIP) forever in our hearts!

PHOTO: Departing Coolangatta Airport to the first ISA World Titles in Manly 1964 was the Queensland team with Ken Adler, Bill Stafford Jr., Phyllis O’Donnell, Toni Evans and Team Manager Joe Larkin. (Bill Stafford was the very first President of the Australian Surfriders Association Queensland when it was established back in 1964. Bob Evans (founder of Australian Surfriders Association) had called both Mal Sutherland and Joe Larkin to create a Queensland state body for surfing so Evans could host the inaugural World Surfing Championships.

PHOTO: Bernard 'Midget' Farrelly AM and Phyllis O'Donnell, crowned world champions 1964, Manly, NSW Australia.

Phyllis O'Donnell was born in Sydney, Australia, on August 22, 1937.
The daughter of a stenographer mother and an auto mechanic father started surfing at the age of 23. O'Donnell taught herself the art of catching waves on a longboard when she moved with her parents to Tweed Heads, New South Wales, in 1960. The board belonged to her older sister's boyfriend, who had left it at their home in Drummoyne, New South Wales, when Phyllis was still a teenager. The siblings were already skilled bodysurfers, so they tried surfing for the first time at Harbord. O'Donnell's first surf instructor was the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame's first inductee, Snowy McAlister. McAlister was her mentor throughout her career, and their friendship lasted until he died in 1987. In 1960, the NSW young gun was already a seasoned surfer and a frequent rider at Kirra, Queensland.

The 1964 World Surfing Title
Even though Isabel Letham opened the way for women to paddle out in the mid-1910s when O'Donnell rode her first waves, surfing was still a predominantly male-dominated, Hawaiian-Californian sport. Nevertheless, the intrepid youngster followed her passion and started competing nationally. The Sydney-born regular footer kicked off her winning streak with a victory at the 1964 Australian national surfing titles. And, just a few weeks later, Phyllis O'Donnell made history after defeating American champion Linda Benson at the International Surfing Federation (ISF) World Surfing Championships at Manly Beach. The Australian had conquered the first-ever world surfing title alongside Bernard "Midget" Farrelly in front of 50,000 people. She was the oldest athlete in the event.
"Phyllis was completely at ease," the Australian magazine Surfing World wrote at the time. "Her placement in the wave was ideal, and her trimming and arching through the hollow sections were pretty to watch. O'Donnell was a decisive winner."
According to Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing, "The newly-crowned world champion caught better waves than Linda Benson and rode with easy confidence, at one time speeding through a section with her heels together and her back arched, then neatly cut back when the wave flattened."
"O'Donnell won easily. Benson hotdogged with her usual flair but came up two or three spinners short."
The 1964 women's world surfing champion attributed her victory to the "really bouncy music" that was playing over the PA during the final that helped her relax. The Australian later revealed that she bought her first surfboard from Nock and Kirby, "the equivalent of getting one from a supermarket. But it was a Joe Larkin board that I won the event with." Up until the iconic event, O'Donnell worked as a barmaid at Twin Towns Services Club in Tweed Heads.

Titles and Competitive Achievements
Phyllis' spectacular surfing performances continued and were backed up by additional trophies and accolades:
First at the 1963, 1964, and 1965 Australian National Surfing Titles;
First at the 1964 ISF World Surfing Championships;
Sixth at the 1966 ISF World Surfing Championships;
Third at the 1966 Makaha International Surfing Championships;
Third at the 1966 and 1967 Australian National Surfing Titles;
Third at the 1968 ISF World Surfing Championships;
Second at the 1969 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach;
Third in the 1970 Australian National Surfing Titles;
Fourth at the 1971 Australian National Surfing Titles;

From 1968 onward, Phyllis O'Donell embraced shortboards.
Despite her short stature - 5'2" - and always-smiling, cheerful personality, the Sydney-born surfer was a fierce and combative opponent in the water. "I was horribly aggressive, and I swore like a trooper," O'Donnell recalled in 2001.

A Stellar Career
The pioneer female champion surfer lived for a few months in Redondo Beach, California, in 1968.
She worked in the showroom at Dewey Weber Surfboards in nearby Hermosa Beach before returning to Australia and winning the last of her eight Queensland state surfing titles. Phyllis eventually started writing for the Sunday Mail before hanging the leash.
In 1974, the bob-haired wave-riding star retired from competitive surfing. "Back in the day, we'd often get ci******es and a trophy for winning an event," she recalled. "Occasionally, we'd also get money, but you could guarantee you'd take home a pack of Craven 'A.'"
Then, she was a judge at the Australian Women's Surfing Association's 1980 national championships. Phyllis O'Donnell was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1996 and Huntington Beach's Surfing Walk of Fame in 2014.
The talented Australian appeared in the surf movies "Surfing the Southern Cross" (1963) and "The Young Wave Hunters" (1964).
She is one of the seven co-founders of the Australian Surfriders Association Queensland (ASAQ), later renamed Surfing Australia.
- ORIGINAL SURFERTODAY.COM ARTICLE HERE
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com

06/11/2024

QLD Tours is excited to attend this special cultural event.

01/11/2024

QLDTOURSGC and the Polish Association of Queensland, “Polonia,” warmly invites you to join us in celebrating “Polish Independence Day” on Sunday 10 November 2024. Our tour duration will be from approx 11am-5pm.

Festivities will begin with the Famous Kransky. BBQ, available from 11 AM to 1 PM. At 1:30 PM, enjoy a special concert showcasing talented performers from Polish organisations including Polish scouts and dance groups. Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to celebrating together. Then we take a visit to Tom’s Confectionery and DFO Brisbane shopping. For more tours contact Maro on 0405777217 or email [email protected] Limited seats available- get in ASAP. See you all there!

21/10/2024

Mauro Davanzo

Curating the History of the Bikini … 80’s

Local Gold Coast girl Shona, promoting the Gold Coast healthy lifestyle with a fruit mocktail on Surfers Paradise Beach.

A fabulous dancer, choreographer and fitness model, Shona was a well known local personality in the town.

The 80’s saw the high cut leglines and skimpier sides emerge after the hipster styles of the 60’s and early 70’s.
Anmas owner and designer John believed the higher you wore you bikinis the longer your legs looked. He was absolutely right !

He forged ahead with this trend he created, personally fitting and adjusting bikini sides on most customers. Custom orders were in high demand where you could select colours, patterns, stripes, names or flowers all knitted on machines instore and delivered to you either on a push bike, original scooter or the red Truimph Stag he drove around town.

John’s stores moved around from early 70’s in Cavill Ave, then the new Dolphin Arcade then across to The Mark in Orchid Ave.

Wearing her custom made red French silk cotton high cut knitted bikini from Anmas in The Mark Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise.

Photo Len Drummond
Model Shona
Bikini Anmas
Location Surfers Paradise Beach

25/09/2024

QLD Tours had a magical afternoon visiting Bill’s home where he not only showed us his car collection and memorabilia, but also dressed up and put on a special performance with music. The event was held on Wed 18 Sept and was a collaboration with Bill and the Gold Coast Historical Museum. A huge thank you to Bill, Allan (Australian race boat champion1974), Lorraine and all the volunteers and committee members from the Gold Coast Historical Museum . If you are interested in helping out the museum, please contact them by emailing: [email protected]
Address: 8 Elliott Street Surfers Paradise. Any support would be greatly appreciate. (QLD Tours volunteered their time and bus to assist with the event).

10/09/2024

QLD Tours specialise in Cultural Heritage, Sightseeing and Adventure Tours, lifestyles, food and wine from beach to bush environments. We can tailor a private tour for any types of sporting, art or special group events for all ages and abilities. Airport and Port transfers also available.

QLD Tours is offering limited day tours to Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers 2024
Details: Full Day Tour, Time: 8am-8pm
Cost: $90pp
Pick up: Coomera Train Station
Visit the most stunning gardens in
Toowoomba! With a range of tours on offer below, you can discover the beauty of the Garden City’s public parks and marvel at the breathtaking floral displays.

Tour dates:
Fri 20 Sept (+sideshow ally)
Sat 21 Sept (+street parade)
Fri 27 Sept (+open gardens comp)
Mob: 0405 777 217 to book your seat or
Email: [email protected]
Conditions apply
Some locations we visit are:
Grand Central Floral Parade, Japanese Gardens, Competition Gardens
Chronicle Garden Competition and so much more!

QLD Tours specialise in private charter services for small groups. Contact Maro on 0405 777 217 for more info.

17/08/2024

This week qldtours made a “bakers dozen” of new friends in the Aussie culinary world. The humble Bakery to the multicultural patisserie experience. Some of our new friends. .bake_ bakery
Making these new relationships is important in our business creating partnerships to support each other’s businesses.
Join me on a personalised cultural tour of the Gold Coast region. From food and beverage, farm gate visits, from the beaches and islands to the mountains. Qldtours can customise a tour for you.Mob 0405 777 217
Did you know?
The Historic Gundagai NSW Bakery is believed to be the oldest working bakery in Australia. In 1864 German immigrant and baker, William Bibo, built and opened the bakery and became a successful businessman and citizen who later became Mayor of the town.

Australia’s Famous Yatala Pie shop

Yatala Pies is an iconic pie shop which has been a landmark in Yatala, Northern Gold Coast for more than 130 years.
They have appeared on numerous “best of pie shop” lists and is one of Queenslands top 15 icon Landmarks.

The Big Pie on top of a post outside the shop is listed as one of Australia’s Big Things

16/07/2024

Awesome weekend of NAIDOC celebrations. I was fortunate enough to attend some events. From Coolangatta to Tamborine mountain. Thank you to all those that attended and made all the events a great success.