Banks and exchange Banks and ATMs are located right throughout Surfers, with most main branches around the Cavill Ave-highway intersection. There are also several bureaux de change in Cavill and Orchid avenues, giving pretty much the same rates.

Boat and jet-ski rental Tiki Village Boat Hire at the river end of Cavill Ave (tel 07/5538 0022), and Captain Barb-E, Ferny Ave (tel 07/5531 6176) - the latter has self-drive launches from $11 per hour (based on daily rental).

Bungee jumps Banzai Bungey, Palm Ave (tel 07/5526 7611); $85 for fourteen storeys of freefall and recoil.

Bookshops Hooked on Books, Paradise Centre, Cavill Ave.

Buses Coachtrans to Brisbane (tel 07/5588 8777); Greyhound Pioneer (tel 07/5531 6677); Kirkland's to Byron Bay and Lismore (free call tel 1300 367 077); McCafferty's (tel 07/5538 2700); Premier to all points between Sydney and Cairns (tel 13 3410).

Car rental Competition keeps prices low, but advertised prices are often for long rentals, and exclude insurance and mileage charges: Ariel (tel 07/5538 2111), from $29 a day; Betta Rent-a-Car, 108 Ferny Ave (tel 07/5538 5559), from $35 a day; Kanga Car and Moped (tel 07/5527 6088), old model cars from $19 a day; Red Back Rentals, inside the bus station, Beach Rd (tel 07/5592 1655), from $30 a day; Rent-a-Jeep (tel 07/5538 6900), 4WDs from $69; Thrifty (tel 07/5538 6511) from $39 a day.

Hospitals and medical centres Gold Coast Hospital, Nerang St, Southport (tel 07/5571 8211); Gold Coast Medical Centre, Paradise Centre, Hanlan St (tel 07/5538 8099)

Pharmacy Galleria Shopping Plaza, cnr Elkhorn Ave and Gold Coast Highway (7am-midnight).

Post office The main post office is in the Paradise Centre, Cavill Ave.

Surf rental Surfworld, Paradise Centre, off Cavill Ave (tel 07/5538 4825). Typical prices are $25 a day for board rental, plus credit-card deposit.

Taxis tel 13 1008.