Let’s go shopping…

A couple of months ago I introduced you to Pacific Fair shopping centre, opened in 1977 it was known as the jewel in the crown of the Goldcoast.(click here to see photos of Pacific Fair) Now it is becoming a bit old and tired looking and a new kid on the block is attracting the tourists to spend their money in air-conditioned comfort.

So let me introduce you to (drum roll please…) Robina Town Centre….

Robina shopping centre

Robina shopping centre

Robina shopping centre

Robina is the new up-market shopping centre that is rapidly overtaking Pacific Fair as the place to shop .

The design is very different, where Pacific Fair is a village atmosphere, walkways, shrubs and gardens all open to the vagaries of the weather. Robina is all enclosed and air-conditioned. In an upgrade 6 years ago a major extension was added to double the number of shops. Now there are 350 retail outlets all under the one roof.Every thing you could need will be found here. They added the iconic Australian department store, David Jones, bringing competition to the already existing Myers. A large food hall and numerous other restaurants and cafes will satisfy the inner man or woman and a cinema complex is available for your entertainment.

The arrival of new exclusive, up-market and very expensive international fashion boutiques, all in one glitzy and glamorous arcade added a 5 star shopping experience. The atmosphere of Robina is relaxed, air-conditioned comfort for you to wander through two levels of temptation.

I had an early morning appointment in Robina so I took my camera and the opportunity to take pictures before the shops opened and the crowds arrived…

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The other difference is the location chosen to build the complexes. Where as Pacific Fair is in the tourist hub near holiday apartments, Casino, beach and on the main Goldcoast highway. Robina chose to locate the centre in the suburbs. In 1996 when it opened it stood alone in a great expanse of empty subdivisions, it had plenty of room to expand. Now it is a booming, desirable place to live. All the empty spaces are filled with houses or apartments. Business and commercial centres and a large modern hospital have grown here in the past 16 years. A railway runs from here direct to Brisbane, the capital of Queensland. Lakes wind along the outside and attractive, landscaped walkways provide biking and walking facilities.

Pacific Fair was built for the tourists. Robina is built for the locals, and by default the tourists have found it. So after a slow start when the pundits said  it wouldn’t take off, it now booms and has become a shopping mecca and more popular than Pacific Fair, that fading jewel in the crown.

Cinema complex

Landscaped lake and walkways

Apartments on the lake

Maybe you would prefer a lakeside home

So let the battle begin. Pacific Fair, with a budget of $55 million is now set to reclaim its status as the jewel in the crown in the next few years. Watch this space.

Which ever centre you prefer they are both worth visiting.