Accessible Vans Come To Australia's Gold Coast

Gold Coast, Southport - The Broadwater
Photo credit Tourism Queensland

Australia's Gold Coast has a little bit of something for everybody. It's a great place to explore on your own; a place where you can be footloose and fancy free and just go wherever your spirit takes you. Obviously this isn't possible on an organized tour. Moreover, it's extremely difficult or downright impossible for wheelchair-users to enjoy this freewheeling type of holiday without the appropriate (accessible) transportation. Dave Davis came to this conclusion too; and that's exactly the reason he founded Freedom Wheels Rentals, the first accessible van rental company on Australia's Gold Coast.

Says Davis about his motivation to start Freedom Wheels, "As a visitor to Australia in 1997 I noticed a glaring hole (or should that be, canyon?) in the lack of accessible transportation, both public and otherwise. It was a great strain on me and the fellow who was doing the transfers, to be constantly transferring me in and out of unsuitable vehicles while I was taking in the sights. After returning home, it literally took me months to recover from the constant manhandling, discomfort and often, pain, endured by this procedure."

After migrating to Australia in 2000, Davis decided to do something about the lack of accessible transportation in his new home, so in June 2001 he founded Freedom Wheels Rentals. Says Davis about his new company, "We offer a raised roof Toyota HiAce van with air conditioning, power steering and brakes and equipped with a rear power lift by Ricon and a powered side step. We also offer the lowest rates, personal service, no hidden charges, free local transfers and unlimited kilometers." So if you want to explore the Gold Coast on your own, visit Freedom Wheels Rentals at www.freedomwheelsrentals.com or contact Davis at dddavis@bigpond.net.au or phone/fax: 61 (7) 5554 5987.

Tropical North Queensland - Millaa Millaa Falls
Photo credit Tourism Queensland

And there are certainly plenty of sites to explore on Australia's Gold coast; from the wide sandy beaches of Surfers Paradise to the hills and raninforests of the Hinterland. For a truly unique experience, visit O'Reilly's Raniforest guesthouse in Lamington National Park. O'Reilly's has two wheelchair-accessible rooms and boasts a "wheelchair friendly" tree top walk (or roll) on suspension bridges located high up in the rainforest canopy. Visit O'Reilly's on-line at www.oreillys.com.au for more information about their lodging options and activities.

For more information about accessible tourism options on Australia's Gold Coast, read Dave Davis' informative article, "Australia's Gold Coast; The Coast With The Most" in the Fall 2001 issue of Emerging Horizons.