Visiting Gold Coast with kids

The Gold Coast with kids is beaches, creeks and theme parks, with a growing set of indoor options for wet days. These plans group stops by stretch of coast so a day stays local, from the Broadwater to Burleigh and Currumbin.

Pick a day

Each plan is five or six stops in a sensible order, with the photo, price, ages and hours pulled from the listing itself. Mix and match: a rainy-day stop fits any day.

  • Sea World

    Your first day

    Your first day on the Gold Coast with kids

    A first day on the Gold Coast with kids: Sea World, Broadwater Parklands, GC Aqua Park, Jetboat Extreme and the SkyPoint Observation Deck.

    5 stops · starts at Sea World

  • HOTA, Home of the Arts

    A rainy day

    A rainy day on the Gold Coast with kids

    A wet day on the Gold Coast with kids: HOTA, Lost Locks Escape Rooms, Infinity Attraction, The Wax Museum and Timezone Surfers Paradise.

    5 stops · starts at HOTA, Home of the Arts

  • Burleigh Heads Beach

    A beach day

    A beach day on the Gold Coast with kids

    A beach day on the Gold Coast with kids at Burleigh Heads: Burleigh Heads Beach, North Burleigh, Tallebudgera Creek and the Tumgun Lookout walk.

    5 stops · starts at Burleigh Heads Beach

  • Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

    A free day out

    A free day out on the Gold Coast with kids

    A free day on the Gold Coast with kids: the Botanic Gardens, HOTA, the HOTA Parklands lagoon, Broadwater Parklands and the beachfront markets.

    5 stops · starts at Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

  • Sea World

    With toddlers

    The Gold Coast with toddlers and under-5s

    Gold Coast with toddlers: Macintosh Island Park, The Messy Place, Surfers Paradise Beach and Sea World, where under-3s are free.

    4 stops · starts at Sea World

  • Jetboat Extreme

    With teenagers

    The Gold Coast with teenagers

    Gold Coast with teenagers: Jetboat Extreme, GC Aqua Park, Padlockd Escape Rooms, Timezone Surfers Paradise and Zero Latency VR.

    5 stops · starts at Jetboat Extreme

Gold Coast with kids at a glance

Best forBeach-first families with kids 4 to 16; teens for the theme parks
How long4 to 5 days (one theme park day, two beach days, one hinterland day, one slow day)
Best timeAutumn (March to May) for warm water and thinner crowds; winter for the hinterland
Budget tipBeaches, parklands, HOTA and the hinterland walks are free; budget one theme park day and buy tickets online ahead
Rainy day backupAn escape room or trampoline park, then HOTA or a library; the theme parks run in light rain
Getting aroundA car is easiest for the hinterland and the northern parks; the light rail links Helensvale, Southport, Surfers and Broadbeach with prams aboard

When to go: seasons and busy times in Gold Coast

The next school holidays run 12 Dec 2026 to 26 Jan 2027 (Queensland Department of Education); that is when the big-name places are busiest and accommodation costs most.

SeasonMonthsBest forHow busyParent tip
SummerDec–FebPatrolled surf beaches, splash parks, early-morning rock poolsPackedHumid, stormy afternoons and school-holiday crowds. Be on the sand by 8am and in the shade by noon.
AutumnMar–MayBeaches still warm, headland walks, Burleigh and Currumbin at their bestSteadyThe water stays swimmable into May and the crowds thin after Easter. The sweet spot.
WinterJun–AugHinterland waterfalls, rainforest circuits, whale watching from the headlandsQuietClear, mild and dry. The best walking season by a mile; take a jumper for Springbrook.
SpringSep–NovBotanic gardens, parklands, beach days before the heatSteadySeptember holidays fill the main beaches; the hinterland is still quiet and green.

Worth the trip: what families rate highest in Gold Coast

  • Sea World Sea World Main Beach

    Sea World is a marine park on Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, run by Village Roadshow Theme Parks.

    ★ 4.4 (112,775)

  • GC Aqua Park GC Aqua Park Southport

    GC Aqua Park is an inflatable water park on the Broadwater at Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade, Southport, with slides, climbers, wobbly bridges and obstacles…

    ★ 4.9 (12,519)

  • Jetboat Extreme Jetboat Extreme Surfers Paradise

    Jetboat Extreme runs 55-minute jet boat rides from 23 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, out the front of the Mantra Towers of Chevron Renaissance.

    ★ 5.0 (8,468)

  • Pacific Fair Shopping Centre Pacific Fair Shopping Centre Broadbeach Waters

    Pacific Fair is a shopping centre on Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach, with several free play areas for children.

    ★ 4.6 (17,908)

  • Padlockd Escape Rooms & Bar Padlockd Escape Rooms & Bar Surfers Paradise

    Padlock'd runs escape rooms at three Surfers Paradise venues: 3177 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, the Paradise Centre (2 Cavill Avenue) and Cavill Beachfront (3 Cavill…

    ★ 4.9 (8,612)

  • Dreamworld Dreamworld Coomera

    Dreamworld is a theme park on Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera, with rides for a range of ages, from coasters to gentler rides, plus wildlife encounters.

    ★ 4.4 (21,589)

  • Fox in a Box Gold Coast Escape Rooms Fox in a Box Gold Coast Escape Rooms Surfers Paradise

    Fox in a Box Gold Coast at Level 1, 3173 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise runs live escape rooms where a team has 60 minutes to solve puzzles and find clues to…

    ★ 5.0 (6,309)

  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Currumbin

    Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a not-for-profit wildlife park and wildlife hospital at 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin.

    ★ 4.6 (13,200)

The free days

Six free places parents rate highest. All free things to do in Gold Coast.

If it rains

All rainy day activities in Gold Coast

Where families stay

Holiday parks and resorts listed on this site, with the pools, playgrounds and jumping pillows that matter to kids.

PlaceKindWhere
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday ParkHoliday parkHelensvale
Q1 Resort & SpaResort / hotelSurfers Paradise
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & SpaResort / hotelSurfers Paradise
Tallebudgera Creek Tourist ParkHoliday parkPalm Beach
Broadwater Tourist ParkHoliday parkSouthport
Nobby Beach Holiday VillageStayMiami

Kids eat free in Gold Coast: which night, where

35 pubs, clubs and restaurants in Gold Coast give kids a free meal on set nights, each checked on the venue's own page. The full list is on the kids eat free in Gold Coast page.

NightWhereWhen and whoDeals
MondayThe Local Tavern (Surfers Paradise)
Ashmore Tavern (Ashmore)
Beenleigh Tavern (Beenleigh)		with an adult main
see listing
with an adult main		21
TuesdayThe Local Tavern (Surfers Paradise)
BMD Northcliffe (Surfers Paradise)
Cora Restaurant (Broadbeach)		with an adult main
with an adult main, school term only
12 and under · with an adult main		15
WednesdayCora Restaurant (Broadbeach)
Parkwood Village (Parkwood)
Salt Bar (Kingscliff)		12 and under · with an adult main
5:30pm-8:30pm · with an adult main, dine in
Lunch and dinner · school term only		6
ThursdayClub Broadbeach (Broadbeach Bowls Club) (Broadbeach)
Surfers Paradise Golf Club (Clear Island Waters)
Cora Restaurant (Broadbeach)		dinner
from 5pm · with $20+ adult spend
12 and under · with an adult main		6
FridayClub Burleigh (Burleigh Heads)
Harvest Buffet (The Star) (Broadbeach)
Parkwood Village (Parkwood)		11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-8:30pm · 12 and under
Dinner · 5–12 yrs · dine in
5:30pm-8:30pm · with an adult main, dine in		4
SaturdayClub Burleigh (Burleigh Heads)
Frenzys Southport Sharks (Southport)
Parkwood Village (Parkwood)		12 and under
Breakfast buffet · 12 and under
5:30pm-8:30pm · with an adult main, dine in		3
SundayClub Mudgeeraba (Mudgeeraba)
Beach House Bar and Grill (Coomera)
Farmhouse Restaurant Paradise Country (Oxenford)		from 5:30pm
From 11am · Under 13
7am-9:30am · Under 14		7
Every dayKickin' Inn (Broadbeach, Southport, Surfers Paradise)All day · 8 and under · dine in1

Questions parents ask

Which part of the Gold Coast should a family stay in?
Broadbeach and Burleigh for walkable beach, cafes and the light rail; Coolangatta for quieter patrolled beaches at the southern end; the Broadwater (Southport, Main Beach) for calm water with little ones. The theme parks are a 20 to 30 minute drive from all of them.
How many theme park days do we need?
One is plenty for most families; two if you have teenagers who want both coasters and the water park. A multi-park pass only pays off over three or more days.
Is the Gold Coast good with a toddler?
Yes, if you stay near calm water: the Broadwater parklands, Tallebudgera Creek and Burleigh's sheltered corner, with splash parks and playgrounds beside them. See the toddler day plan.
What should we skip?
Surfers Paradise at night with small kids, and a hinterland drive on a wet day: the roads are slow and the waterfalls are better the day after rain, not during it.

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