Thanks very much for the advice - you've all collectively made it clear as mud
!
I've no doubt we'll enjoy wherever we choose, but I really appreciate the specific hotel recommendations as it's great to view their websites and get a feel for the nuances. Where I live in Brisbane is an hour north of "Surfers Paradise" where we lived for a few years and I can really take or leave (leave) the really commercial stuff - I personally am a bit more about serenity. But 6 year olds are not!