Rain-safe: free museums, galleries and libraries in Gold Coast
When the forecast turns, these are the places that are warm, dry, free and genuinely interesting for kids: museums with free entry, galleries that don't mind small people, and libraries with story time and a couch. Check the listing for the days things run, then go.
Our picks
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HOTA, Home of the Arts Surfers Paradise
HOTA, Home of the Arts, is an arts precinct at 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, with HOTA Gallery, theatres, a cinema, an outdoor stage, dining and 17 hectares of…
★ 4.6 (6,022)
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LEGO Drop-In at Nerang Nerang
Free LEGO building sessions at Nerang Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.7 (118)
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LEGO Drop-In at Southport Southport
Free LEGO building sessions at Southport Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.5 (387)
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Helensvale Library Helensvale
Helensvale Library is a City of Gold Coast public library.
★ 4.9 (70)
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Nerang Library Nerang
Nerang Library is a City of Gold Coast public library on the corner of White and Price Streets, opposite the Nerang Cineplex.
★ 4.7 (118)
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Southport Library Southport
Southport Library is a City of Gold Coast public library.
★ 4.5 (386)
Free museums, galleries and science
Permanent collections with free entry. Special exhibitions can be ticketed; the listing says so.
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HOTA, Home of the Arts Surfers Paradise
HOTA, Home of the Arts, is an arts precinct at 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise, with HOTA Gallery, theatres, a cinema, an outdoor stage, dining and 17 hectares of…
★ 4.6 (6,022)
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LEGO Drop-In at Nerang Nerang
Free LEGO building sessions at Nerang Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.7 (118)
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LEGO Drop-In at Southport Southport
Free LEGO building sessions at Southport Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.5 (387)
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Tweed Regional Museum - Murwillumbah Murwillumbah
Tweed Regional Museum at 2 Queensland Road, Murwillumbah, is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm (NSW time, which is an hour ahead of Queensland during daylight…
★ 4.6 (179)
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LEGO Drop-In at Burleigh Waters Burleigh Waters
Free LEGO building sessions at Burleigh Waters Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.6 (59)
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LEGO Saturdays at Runaway Bay Runaway Bay
Free Saturday morning LEGO building sessions at Runaway Bay Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.5 (113)
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LEGO Drop-In at Elanora Elanora
Free LEGO building sessions for children at Elanora Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries every Tuesday and Thursday during school term, 3:30 to 4:30 pm.
★ 4.3 (111)
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LEGO Drop-In at Robina Robina
Free LEGO building sessions at Robina Library, run by City of Gold Coast Libraries.
★ 4.3 (99)
Libraries, story time and rhyme time
Free sessions for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, usually in school term.
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Helensvale Library Helensvale
Helensvale Library is a City of Gold Coast public library.
★ 4.9 (70)
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Nerang Library Nerang
Nerang Library is a City of Gold Coast public library on the corner of White and Price Streets, opposite the Nerang Cineplex.
★ 4.7 (118)
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Southport Library Southport
Southport Library is a City of Gold Coast public library.
★ 4.5 (386)
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Upper Coomera Library Upper Coomera
Upper Coomera Library is a City of Gold Coast public library on the corner of Reserve and Abraham Roads, opposite Coles.
★ 4.6 (148)
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Robina Library Robina
Robina Library is a City of Gold Coast public library.
★ 4.5 (176)
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Broadbeach Library Mermaid Waters
Broadbeach Library is a City of Gold Coast public library on Sunshine Boulevard, Mermaid Waters, opposite Pacific Fair.
★ 4.4 (187)
Questions parents ask
- Are these places open on public holidays?
- Most free museums open on public holidays and close on a few named days a year; libraries usually close. The listing links to the venue page with the current hours.
Other kinds of free day in Gold Coast
- All free things to do with kids in Gold Coast
- Free beaches and rock pools
- Waterfalls, lookouts and national parks
- Free water play and splash pads
- Free playgrounds worth the drive
- Free skate parks and bike tracks
- Chilled days: gardens, parklands and picnics
- Free events and markets
- Free things to do with toddlers
- Free things to do with teenagers