Fair dinkum: Half-price holidays

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but Kiwis can have half-price holidays in Queensland - with a few strings attached.

In return for filling in a form giving your opinion of one of a number of resorts, you can book in for as little as half the price of a normal stay at one of seven apartment resorts on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

The deal is offered by a company called Australian Quality Control Corporation (AQCC), which is hired by the resorts to run quality checks on their businesses.

In return, New Zealanders who sign up as assessors are required to complete a questionnaire at the end of their stay.

Questionnaires are analysed by computer to provide a rating out of 100 points, pointing out bouquets and brickbats and passing on any suggestions for better service.

The resorts at present contracting AQCC assessors include Neptune, Islander, Magic Mountain, Victoria Square and Grande Florida on the Gold Coast, Sun Lagoon at Noosa and Trafalgar Towers at Maroochydore.

Kiwis, the company believes, would make ideal assessors.

"New Zealanders are a good market for us as they won't normally fly this far just for a weekend," said managing director Trent Richards.

Vouchers, good for 12 months, are issued by AQCC after the payment of a deposit. Bookingst are made directly with the resort .

The balance of the resort charge is payable on arrival.

For further information: AQCC, (07) 5510 3052; website: wtww.aqcc.com.au.