How I Earned Hundreds of $$$ from My Holiday

Let’s be real - holidays can be expensive. Between flights, accommodation, food, and activities, the costs add up fast. But what if I told you that you could actually earn money while booking your trip? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, I did exactly that, and I currently have a balance of $910 in my ShopBack account to prove it!

My Secret to Earning While Booking a Holiday

When I was planning our European adventure for this June, I knew we’d be spending a decent chunk on accommodation. For us it ends up being the biggest cost so I try to save money where I can. I have always used booking.com, I just find it easy and convenient to have all my bookings in one place. I then discovered that they were on ShopBack… so I decided to make every dollar count by booking through ShopBack and getting cashback on my bookings.

Here’s how it worked: I researched the hotels we wanted to stay at, kept an eye on ShopBack’s offers, and when their super deals popped up (offering 10% cashback on Booking.com), I jumped on them! So simple, and only a few extra clicks.
And just like that, I was getting real cash back from bookings I would’ve made anyway.

I wish I’d known about ShopBack when booing our flights as you can even earn cashback on those too. ShopBack partners with Flight Centre, Expedia, Qatar Airways, Trip.com, and more, meaning you can get money back on your airfare as well. They also have car rental companies, so if you're hiring a vehicle on your trip, you can save there too.

If you check their website under the travel section, you’ll also find a handy calendar showing when deals are coming up, so you can plan your booking dates accordingly and maximize your cashback! You will also get their emails a few days in advance of the super deals – definitely opt in for these.

What Exactly is ShopBack?

For those unfamiliar, ShopBack is Asia-Pacific’s leading shopping and rewards platform that allows you to earn cashback whenever you shop online. It partners with thousands of brands - think Booking.com, The Iconic, Sephora, Cotton On, Adidas (and loads more) - so you can get a percentage of your money back every time you shop through their platform.

Currently, ShopBack serves over 45 million shoppers across 13 markets, including New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and is now currently expanding globally, including Europe and North America.

How You Can Start Earning with ShopBack

If you want to start making money while you book your next trip (or even just your online shopping), here’s how – and I’ve even got a little kickstarter for you. ShopBack has given me an exclusive $5 bonus code for you. Use code "JUSTINE5" or THIS LINK when you download the app to get started with $5 in your wallet!

Download the ShopBack app on your mobile phone for easy purchases or
Use ShopBack on your web browser https://app.shopback.com/nzl/partner/JUSTINE5
Sign up and log in
Click through to your preferred retailer from ShopBack’s platform before making a purchase (e.g., Booking.com, The Iconic, Cotton On, Sephora, etc.).
Shop as usual!
Your cashback will be tracked within 2 days and confirmed once verified by the partner brand (usually between 45 to 120 days).
Once you hit $10 in confirmed cashback, you can withdraw it straight to your PayPal or bank account.

What I’ll Use the Cashback For

The BEST PART! One of the best things about earning cashback while booking a trip is that it frees up money for extra experiences we might not have been able to justify otherwise. The $910 cash back means we were able to book tickets to Disneyland Paris for a day which Aiden is SO EXCITED about! Our shopback money covers our day passes AND accommodation (which I will earn more cashback on… are you seeing the pattern here?!). It’s such a great feeling knowing that by being a little savvy, we get to enjoy more special experiences on our trip that I’m sure will be a highlight.

The Verdict?

Earning cashback is such an easy way to make your holiday budget go further. Whether you’re booking a trip or doing everyday online shopping, why not get paid for it? A few extra steps could mean hundreds of extra dollars in your pocket - just like I did with my European trip!

If you haven’t already, give ShopBack a go and start turning your purchases into actual cash.

Happy saving (and spending)!

Justine x

Planning a family trip to the Gold Coast? We recently returned from a trip to the GC in order to do the theme parks with Aiden. We opted to go to Movie World & Wet n Wild, and had an awesome time. We had the three day pass and were intending to also hit up SeaWorld, but Aiden loved Wet N Wild so much we went two days in a row. Depending on when you’re visiting, the parks can get very busy and there are no caps on how many people they let in - so to help you navigate your visit like a pro, I've compiled essential hacks for each park, along with ticket pricing information. If you can avoid going in any of the Australia or NZ school holidays that would be ideal, but for many of us that is not an option, so these hacks will come in handy if like us you plan on visiting during the holidays.

Movie World Hacks

1. Arrive Early and Know Your Map

Get to Movie World at least 15 minutes before opening & familiarize yourself with the park map ahead of time so you can head straight to the most popular rides. This will help you beat the crowds and enjoy shorter wait times! The lines can get VERY long with over an hour and a half at some of the popular ones.

2. Invest in Fast Track Passes

Consider purchasing Fast Track passes for Movie World. While regular lines can be an hour or longer, Fast Track holders often wait just 5 minutes for rides. We really wished we had invested after chatting to other people there that had them. We ended up last min buying a fast track for Aiden and I on the log ride as we had been waiting almost an hour and it wasn’t moving! Doing this cost us $60! So although it’s an additional cost, the time saved is well worth it for a smoother experience and having time to do all the rides.

3. Download the Village Roadshow App

Before you go, download the Village Roadshow app, which covers both Movie World and Wet'n'Wild. This handy tool provides real-time ride wait times, park maps, and schedules, ensuring you stay informed throughout the day, I found it super handy.

4. Prioritize the Big Rides

Once you’re in the park, make a beeline for the most popular attractions, such as the Superman Escape, Green Lantern Coaster and DC Rivals Hypercoaster (longest line). These rides tend to get long lines quickly, so tackling them first maximizes your fun.

5. Plan for Shows and Meet-and-Greets

Check the schedule for live shows and character meet-and-greet opportunities. These are not only fun for kids but often have shorter wait times compared to rides. Make sure to catch the parade, too—it's a highlight for little ones!

Notable Mention: The Food at Movie World was actually really good! We were expecting really overpriced junk food, but had yummy tacos for lunch that would have rivalled a nice little cafe both in taste and price. Eat either early or late to avoid lines at peak times.

Wet'n'Wild Hacks

1. Claim Your Spot Right Away

Once you enter Wet'n'Wild, head straight to your desired area to secure a good spot. If you have little ones, grab chairs near the Wave Pool for a fun, lively atmosphere. For a more relaxed vibe, check out Calypso Beach, where you can lounge by the lazy river. We spent both days here in between going on slides and really loved it. They do also have Cabana’s for hire, but for cost personally I wouldn’t go this route, though many people do and love it.

2. Skip the Fast Track

Based on our experience, Fast Track passes at Wet'n'Wild would not be worth the extra cost. The layout and ride capacity often mean shorter wait times compared to Movie World, so you can enjoy a full day without the extra expense. The longest ride we waited for was the Constictor for about 40 mins.

3. Arrive Early for the Best Experience

Just like at Movie World, arriving early is key. Get in line before the gates open to secure your spot and enjoy the park with fewer crowds. On the first day we went I think we wasted too much time getting our spot and figuring out the park, but on Day 2 we were better prepared - dumped our stuff quick smart and headed straight for Kaboom (our fave!!) and enjoyed several rounds with no lining up. Kaboom, Mammoth Falls & Constrictor tend to have the longest lines.

*Ice cream at the end of a fun day at Wet n Wild*

4. Bring Sunscreen, Water & Snacks

Don't forget to pack sunscreen and refillable water bottles! Staying hydrated, fed and protected from the sun will keep everyone happy all day. There are places to get food, but we packed our own lunches for Wet N Wild and enjoyed at our little beachy spot and got ice cream in the afternoon.

5. Leave your self consciousness at home!

I was really happy to see a lot of ages, shapes, sizes and abilities at Wet n Wild - its not the place for feeling self conscious about your body, it’s the place for enjoying the water and fun with your kids!

Ticket Pricing and Where to Buy

You can purchase your tickets online for the best deals:

- Get Movie World tickets here

- Get Wet'n'Wild tickets here

Pricing Overview

- 3-Day Pass: This is the option we went for - Approximately AUD 129.99 per adult, AUD 99.99 per child for access to both parks. I purchased through the Village Roadshow website HERE

- Fast Track Pass: Approximately AUD 89.99 per person for Movie World.

With these hacks, your family's visit to Movie World and Wet'n'Wild will be smooth, enjoyable, and packed with fun! Remember to plan ahead, arrive early, and make the most of your time in these fantastic theme parks. Happy adventuring!