Holidaying on the Gold Coast? Looking for fun things to do with your kids on the Gold Coast? Whilst the theme parks are lots of fun, there are so many other amazing attractions and entertainment options to enjoy on the Gold Coast too. We are here to help you plan a fun-filled visit the whole family will love.
If you’re planning a holiday on the Gold Coast, visiting the theme parks is probably high on your ‘to do’ list. But there’s so many other fabulous things to do with kids on the Gold Coast!
If you’re travelling off peak (that is, not during the QLD or NSW school holidays), then the theme parks are a lot of fun. The queues for the rides generally aren’t too long (you might have to wait a ride or two), and you’ll be able to spend your day exploring at leisure.
The theme parks are run by two main companies, so it’s best to choose one and get the multi-day passes for tourists:
- Village Roadshow Theme Parks – Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild & Paradise Country
- Dreamworld & WhiteWater World – these parks are next to each other, so you can go to both in the one day!
But be warned – if you’re visiting the Gold Coast during the school holidays, they can be incredibly overcrowded. You can spend 1-2 hours lining up for each ride, which can be very frustrating. With a family costing several hundred dollars per day, you might want to look at other things to do on the Gold Coast.
We visited one of the big theme parks during the Easter 2022 school holidays. After spending almost $800 on a 3-day pass for five people, we were very disappointed that we had to wait at least two hours for each ride, and only managed three rides each over the whole day. There was no limitations in place for attendees, and it was a huge waste of money. Needless to say, we decided to forgo the other two days, as we simply didn’t want to spend our much-needed holiday standing in queues.
Top tip? Take a look at how full the carpark is. If it’s near capacity (or in the overflow carpark), simply don’t go.
The good news is, there’s plenty of other brilliant things to do on the Gold Coast with kids.
- Best attractions for families on the Gold Coast
- Best shopping malls
- Amazing playgrounds on the Gold Coast
Things to do with kids on the Gold Coast
Attractions on the Gold Coast
AquaDuck
This is such a fun way to explore Surfer’s Paradise! AquaDuck is a bus that turns into a boat. You start your one-hour tour in the centre of Surfers Paradise and enjoy a slightly bumpy ride (there’s no suspension on this amphibious vehicle!) along the coastal road before splashing into the water for a scenic cruise of the spectacular river and Broadwater. The river cruise gives a completely different perspective to the city, and the kids even get a turn of steering the Aquaduck!
- Website: aquaduck.com.au
- Cost: $42 Adults | $32 Children (2-16 years) | Free Infants (Under 2) | $138 Family of 4
- Suitable for: All ages! Babies – grandparents
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- Aqua Duck leaves from Surfers Paradise
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- A great view of the Gold Coast from the water
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- Kids can have a turn of steering the AquaDuck!
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
The weird! The wacky! The wonderful! Located right in the heart of Surfers Paradise, on Caville Avenue, kids of all ages will love Ripley’s Odditorium. This is one of the best things to do with kids on the Gold Coast. You can marvel your way through 12 galleries and more than 300 exhibits, and enjoy a good couple of hours exploring the artefacts and interactive displays. You’ll stand next to the tallest man in the world, and the shortest man in the world. You’ll walk through a laser tunnel (and feel like your spinning, even though your standing straight). You’ll marvel at amazing portrait artwork (made out of buttons & liquorice). And you’ll dodge laser beams, Mission Impossible Style. They even have a 7D cinema!
- Address: Soul Boardwalk, Cavill Mall Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
- Website: ripleys.com
- Cost: $30.90 Adults | $25.90 Student (13-17) | $20.90 Children (5-12 years) | Free Infant (0-4 years)
- Suitable for: All ages! Babies – grandparents
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- Mind bending fun at Ripleys Believe it or not
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- Mind bending fun at Ripleys Believe it or not
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- Mind bending fun at Ripleys Believe it or not
Gold Coast Aqua Park
Gold Coast Aqua Park is an inflatable playground… on the water! Located at Broadwater Parklands in Southport (just a 5 minute drive from Surfer’s Paradise), the Gold Coast Aqua Park is a huge amount of fun. There are slides, swings, monkey bars, trampolines, as well as lots of obstacles to climb over and around. All guests wear a life jacket and have a safety briefing before the session starts. Children from as young as 5 years old can go on the Gold Coast Aqua Park (but 5-9 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult).
- Address: Broadwater Parklands (opposite Australia Fair Shopping Centre), Southport, QLD 4215
- Website: gcaquapark.com
- Cost: $25 for 50-min session | $35 for 2 x 50-min sessions
- Open: Monday to Sunday: 6am – 6pm (1st session 9am)
- Suitable for: 5+ years (you’ll need to be fit & strong!). Children aged 5-9 years must always be accompanied by a responsible person (over the age of 10) and/or an adult
Gold Coast Wake Park
Ever tried wake boarding? Or knee boarding? It’s a huge adrenaline rush! Book your session online (we did two hours, which gave us enough time on the water before we got too exhausted!). Once you’ve got your gear (helmet, lifejacket & board), you’ll head down to the jetty where a dock hand will give you the basic instructions. As we were all beginners, we opted for the kneeboards on the slower (25 km/hour) cable.
Our youngest was 6 years old at the time, and a strong swimmer. She had a few tries with the kneeboarding and managed to travel a couple of hundred metres before letting go! She was fine treading water in her life jacket and kicking to the side, though one of us (me or hubby) needed to jump in to help her get to the side. Our 10 and 12 year old girls absolutely LOVED it. They’d never done anything quite like it before, and found the whole experiencing quite thrilling.
- Address: 34 Maudsland Road Oxenford QLD 4210 (approx. 35 mins drive from Surfers Paradise)
- Website: gcwakepark.com
- Cost: $45 for 1-hour pass | $60 for 2-hour pass | $95 for 4-hour pass
- Open: Varies. Click here.
- Suitable for: 6+ years. Children 6-16 years need to be accompanied to the park by an adult and be able to ride independently.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Meet native Australian animals in a beautiful rainforest environment. Immerse yourself into the natural beauty of 27 hectares of Currumbin rainforest, wandering through open animal enclosures, feeding kangaroos and cuddling koalas along the way. Experience the wild lorikeet feeding, free-flight bird shows and Aboriginal performances. See the wonderful vets in action within the Wildlife Hospital precinct. There’s also a huge outdoor themed playground, Wild Island, and plenty of entertainment for kids to enjoy as they tour the sanctuary on a miniature train.
- Address: 27 Millers Drive, Currumbin QLD 4223
- Website: currumbinsanctuary.com.au
- Cost: $39.95 Child | $49.95 Adult | $149.95 Family (2 adults, 2 kids) | Under 3 FREE
- Open: 9am – 4pm Daily (except Anzac Day & Christmas Day)
Shopping
Fancy a spot of shopping? You’re spoilt for choice on the Gold Coast!
- Pacific Fair (Broadbeach Waters) – Pacific Fair is the largest regional shopping centre in Queensland! It’s easy to get to on the tram too.
- Robina Town Centre (Robina) – Robina Town Centre is the second-largest Shopping Centre in Gold Coast
- Australia Fair (Southport) – north of Surfers Paradise, lots of familiar retailers, cinema, food court.
- Harbour Town Premium Outlets – Australia’s largest Outlet Shopping Center, home to more than 240 iconic Australian and international brands.
Best playgrounds on the Gold Coast
When it comes to things to do with kids on the Gold Coast, you can’t look past the parks. We visited some incredible playgrounds on the Gold Coast.
Broadwater Parklands, Southport
Broadwater Parklands, Southport
Broadwater Parklands is a world-class community and cultural parkland, loved by Gold Coast residents and tourists alike. At the heart of the parklands is a vast expanse of green that is ideal for family picnics and fun. Highlights include a huge jumping pillow, and a large playground that is surrounded by pedal-powered cars on a rail! The Gold Coast Aqua Park (mentioned above) is also located here. More info.
Pratten Park, Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach
Pratten Park, Kurrawa Beach
Located just south of the Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, Pratten Park is the perfect spot for a day out on the Gold Coast. This foreshore park offers a large shaded playground including a pedal powered monorail and pirate ship for hours of entertainment. It’s right by the beach, and super close to the shops and cafes of Broadbeach.
Pirate Park playground at Palm Beach Parklands
Artist impression of the new playground
Palm Beach Parklands is just one of the many signature parks on the Gold Coast. It provides multiple recreational opportunities, making it a favourite destination for Gold Coast residents and visitors. It’s currently being upgraded and due for completion mid 2022! The new design will maintain the popular pirate ship theme and provide a variety of different play opportunities and experiences for a range of ages. More info.
Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes
Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes
Frascott Park has two playgrounds on site, a fenced dog park with agility equipment, fitness stations, kick and play fields and a pathway perfect for biking.
The most popular section of the park is the Mattocks Road entrance safari-themed playground. Here you’ll find two play structures, one for the bigger kids and one for the toddlers. A huge slide and flying fox are keen favourites, while little ones will love driving the safari jeep. The second playground is located by Yodelay Street and is well suited for younger children. There is lots of natural shade, and easy climbing opportunities on the playground. The playground includes bridges, a slide, merry-go-round, swing set and spider net. More info.
Bim’bimba Park, Pimpama
Bim’bimba Park, Pimpama
Bim’bimba Park is truly a destination in itself. It was awarded the ‘2020 Best Park and Playground Design’ for all of Queensland, so it’s definitely worth a visit!
Set up as a community space, this park has:
- a large outdoor amphitheatre
- toddler play space
- playground
- teen hangout
- and a basketball court – all connected by a series of entwining paths, perfect for bike riding.
Some other highlights of the park include the metal music gong, animal sculptures, and the spinning wheel. More info.
Deodar Park, Burleigh Waters
Deodar Park, Burleigh Waters
Deodar Park features a playground with 7 slides… including a mega slide. So if your kids love to slip slide, then this is worth checking out. The playground features equipment for kids of all ages – climbing opportunities, a flying fox, interactive panels, swings, a see saw, balance rope and tunnels. Next to the playground is a fenced BMX pump track, which is lots of fun if you’re taking your bikes! More info.
