A rainy day on the Gold Coast with kids
This is a wet-weather day on the Gold Coast with kids, using five indoor stops that make a short, simple plan. All of them are in Surfers Paradise, between 2.3 and 3.4 km from the centre, so there is little driving. HOTA, Home of the Arts has a free gallery and Children's Gallery. Lost Locks, Infinity Attraction, The Wax Museum and Timezone all charge.
Start at HOTA, then work through the escape rooms, the illusion maze and the wax museum, and finish at the arcade. Hours differ, so check them: Lost Locks opens at 11am on weekdays, and The Wax Museum closes at 6pm. Check each listing for current prices.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: HOTA, Home of the Arts
- Late morning: Lost Locks Escape Rooms
- Afternoon: Infinity Attraction
- Late afternoon: The Wax Museum
- Evening: Timezone Surfers Paradise
Morning
HOTA, Home of the Arts
HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise · Museums & Science Centres · Ages 2-17 · Free · 4.6 stars (6022 reviews)
An arts precinct in Surfers Paradise with a free gallery and Children's Gallery, family shows, a sculpture walk and a lakeside playground. It is 2.3 km from the centre. The gallery and Children's Gallery are the indoor part, and the playground is for when the rain stops.
Tip: Open 9am to 7:30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm Monday, and 10am to 7:30pm Sunday.
Late morning
Escape rooms at Lost Locks
Lost Locks Escape Rooms, Surfers Paradise · Escape Rooms · Ages 2-14 · From $0 · 5.0 stars (3288 reviews)
Escape rooms and a Floor is Lava game on Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise, 3.2 km from the centre. An escape room is $30 per child and $50 per adult, and children 4 and under are free. The Floor is Lava is $15 per player. The listing gives ages 2 to 14.
Tip: Escape room $30 per child, $50 per adult; opens 11am Monday to Friday.
Afternoon
Illusion maze at Infinity Attraction
Infinity Attraction, Surfers Paradise · Arcade & Entertainment · Ages 4-13 · From $21 · 4.3 stars (2748 reviews)
An indoor 30-minute illusion maze in Surfers Paradise, recommended for ages 8 and up. Child entry (4-13) is $23.90 and a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) is $92.90. It is 3.3 km from the centre and open 10am to 10pm daily.
Tip: Recommended for ages 8 and up; open 10am to 10pm.
Late afternoon
The Wax Museum
The Wax Museum, Surfers Paradise · Museum · Ages 3-12 · From $32 · 3.9 stars (845 reviews)
A wax figure museum at 56 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, open daily 10am to 6pm. Child tickets are $32, adults $39 and a family of four $128. It is 3.4 km from the centre. The listing gives ages 3 to 12.
Tip: Open daily 10am to 6pm; family ticket $128.
Evening
Arcade and bowling at Timezone
Timezone Surfers Paradise, Surfers Paradise · Bowling & Arcade · Ages 3-16 · From $6 · 4.6 stars (5431 reviews)
An arcade and Zone Bowling centre in the Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise, with laser tag, glow golf and bumper cars. Laser tag is from $12 per person, glow golf from $12 and bumper cars from $6. It is open 9am to midnight every day.
Tip: Laser tag from $12; open until midnight daily.
Where to eat
Harvest Buffet (The Star), Broadbeach. Harvest Buffet at The Star, Broadbeach Island, 3.2 km from the centre, lets children 0 to 4 eat free at every session. On Friday dinners one child aged 5 to 12 eats free with each paying adult. Check the listing for conditions.
Kids Eat Free deals change. See every current deal in Gold Coast.
Before you go
- HOTA's gallery is free; opening hours are shorter on Mondays.
- Lost Locks opens at 11am on weekdays and 9:30am on weekends.
- Infinity Attraction is recommended for ages 8 and up.
- The Wax Museum is open daily 10am to 6pm.
- All five stops are open every day, so the plan works any day.
Questions parents ask
What can you do on the Gold Coast with kids when it rains?
Try HOTA, Home of the Arts, then escape rooms at Lost Locks, the illusion maze at Infinity Attraction, The Wax Museum and arcade games at Timezone Surfers Paradise. All five are indoors and all are in Surfers Paradise, between 2.3 and 3.4 km from the centre.
Is there anything free indoors for kids on the Gold Coast?
HOTA, Home of the Arts in Surfers Paradise has a free gallery and a Children's Gallery, plus family shows and a sculpture walk. It is open most days until 7:30pm. The other stops in this plan are ticketed. Check the HOTA listing for current family shows.
Are there escape rooms on the Gold Coast for young kids?
Lost Locks Escape Rooms on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise charges $30 per child and $50 per adult, and children 4 and under are free. The listing gives ages 2 to 14. Padlockd Escape Rooms & Bar is recommended for ages 10 and up. Check each listing for rules.
More days in Gold Coast with kids
- Your first day on the Gold Coast with kids - The places to start with when you have one day and want the best of the city.
- A beach day on the Gold Coast with kids - Patrolled beaches, calm water and what is near the sand.
- A free day out on the Gold Coast with kids - A full day where every stop has free entry.
- The Gold Coast with toddlers and under-5s - Short distances, space to run and places built for under-5s.
- The Gold Coast with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Gold Coast with kids: all guides