The Best Gold Coast Family-Friendly Accommodation To Book

Make it a (mostly) tantrum-free holiday they’ll remember forever with the best family accommodation on the Gold Coast.

Laid-back locals, lashings of sunshine and more activities than you can poke a selfie stick at – there are plenty of reasons why this city has become synonymous with kid-friendly getaways. The secret to all-round success, in our experience? Finding family accommodation on the Gold Coast that offers supreme comfort when emotions run high, a mixed bag of things to do when boredom creeps in, and dining options for the most demanding of taste buds when the hanger is on the horizon. Our edit of the most outstanding in the region should get you on your way.

1. Paradise Resort Gold Coast

an outdoor pool with sun lounges at Paradise Resort Gold Coast — The idyllic resort comes with a pool to laze by.

Showered with plenty of accolades over the years, this reliable property knows precisely what families need, making it very difficult for smart mums and dads to consider booking anywhere else.

The Kids’ Club at Paradise Resort Gold Coast is like a day-care centre on steroids, offering themed experiences like the Space Room, Egyptian Room, The Hangout and Underwater World, plus arts and crafts, disco nights and pyjama parties.

Best of all, they take babies as little as six weeks, so new mamas are invited to take a well-deserved break. There’s also a Pamper Parlour for big kids obsessing over mermaid braids, airbrush tattoos and stick-on nails. But wait, there’s more: an ice-skating rink, waterpark and miniature train can also be found at this family accommodation on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise.

Lodging-wise, there are 360 rooms and the biggest of them sleeps up to eight people. No matter which way you go, they’re all unapologetically splashed with rainbow paintwork, plus the TVs and PlayStation in the Junior Bunkhouse Rooms, housing one to four guests, are the icing on the cake. Expect balconies, small refrigerators, daily housekeeping, plus minor kitchen facilities in certain rooms.

There are also five eateries to visit, dishing up all the usual crowd-pleasers including pizza, burgers, and Mexican cuisine, as well as cocktails and light meals by the pool. Rates start from approximately $296 per night.

Address: 122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

2. Turtle Beach Resort

an aerial shot of Turtle Beach Resort — Turtle Beach Resort gives the Gold Coast theme parks a run for their money.

With four swimming pools, a cinema, and a water park of its own, your children may think they’ve stumbled right into kiddy heaven. Turtle Beach Resort , an awesome family accommodation on the Gold Coast located close to Pacific Fair shopping centre and Surfers Paradise, offers one, two or three-bedroom self-contained apartments.

Featuring fully equipped kitchens, private balconies or patios, TVs and laundries, the spaces are basic but cater to a family’s every need. If you’ve got really little ones with you, the team can even organise bed rails, cots and prams to keep them sorted. And to get them smiling, that water park is fitted with four water slides, two toddler slides and genius water cannons, plus there’s mini golf, a tennis court, and a games room on top of the Turtle Kids Club featuring daily itineraries of fun-filled activities for children aged four to 12.

The Deck Restaurant and Bar is the place to be for lunch as it overlooks the water park so it’s in the thick of the action, plus there are four spas scattered around the grounds and two saunas to help you sweat out post-indulgence toxins. Rates start from approximately $332 per night.

Address: 2346 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

3. JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

an aerial view of JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa with a lagoon pool — The property has a lagoon pool and a fun waterslide. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Nabbing the crown for the best family-friendly resort pool in the entire region, the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa blends luxurious rooms and amenities with extremely considered attractions tailored entirely for tots.

The star of the show at this family accommodation on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise is its spectacular saltwater lagoon, decorated with a grotto, waterfalls, more than 200 tropical fish, and a private beach with cabanas. Drop your snorkel off before stepping over to a freshwater pool featuring a waterslide, or perhaps one of the scattered jacuzzis including one particularly cool design built within a cave.

Kids are king in this outdoor mecca as an aquatic recreation centre offering sea scooters (which are ridiculous fun), snorkelling equipment and pool toys is also on hand, plus they’re invited to watch a daily fish feeding or take part in a scavenger hunt. Inside, the fun and games continue as pizza, sushi and chocolate-making classes are staged and juniors are also invited to a mixology class where they’ll learn how to shake and stir healthy juice concoctions.

The hotel’s 223 rooms offer a magical mix of ocean or hinterland views, each exquisitely appointed with marble bathrooms, bathtubs, light-up make-up mirrors, balconies, mini-fridges, LCD TVs, touchscreen control and super plush bedding.

Dining options are similarly next level. Citrique Restaurant is an international masterstroke, offering a seafood buffet that stuns, plus buffet breakfast complete with an ice cream station, five-course degustation, and seasonal set menus. In addition, there’s the elegant Misoni teppanyaki restaurant, Chapter & Verse muddling up killer cocktails, and The Pool Pavilion dishing up Asian fusion and other flavour-crammed lunch options. Rates start from about $522 per night.

Address: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

4. Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort room — Relax in gorgeous rooms. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

A perfect spot to host special occasion getaways, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast is a must-consider (even if you’re not tangled up in kid life). The spectacular resort, located just a few minutes’ away from Sea World Resort, is endlessly chic while providing all the activities your little ones could crave.

There’s the colossal resort pool, arguably the star of the show at this family accommodation on the Gold Coast, with a swim-up bar (hello, parent time) and children’s section, plus a second smaller pool and private access to the beach—so water play is sorted. Additionally, the resort’s excellent eateries offer kids’ menus and the rooms themselves are spacious, multi-bedroom configured and thoroughly luxe. Family-friendly room rates start from about $380 per night.

Address: 71 Sea World Drive, Main Beach

5. Treasure Island Holiday Resort

a family sitting together at the outdoor cinema of Treasure Island Holiday Resort, Gold Coast — Watch movies with your family at the resort’s outdoor cinema. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

A list of the most action-packed family accommodation on the Gold Coast isn’t complete without a nod to Treasure Island Holiday Resort , particularly if you’re travelling with very young kids.

They’ll be kept busy at this Biggera Waters property, thanks to a kids’ club, swimming in four pools and cutting loose amid a splash zone, riding the hireable go-karts, tumbling all over a puffy bouncing pillow, teeing off in a round of mini golf, playing tennis, getting lost in the action of a games room, and even more. Yes, really, even more.

The park runs a kids vs. wild survival program, from the team behind the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, where youngsters are taught handy life skills like crafting shelters and navigating challenging terrain, all in the great outdoors.

Galleons Bistro is a great option when it’s chow time, offering hearty pub-style meals, and there’s a smorgasbord of rooms within the resort including one of the city’s most rocking glamping tents. Self-contained units start from around $194 per night, and tent sites start from about $62 per night.

Address: 117 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

6. Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park

an old couple sitting by a bonfire with their dog outside their campervan at Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park — Pets are also welcome at BIG 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Here for the theme parks? They’re a bit of a drive from the surf, so lock-down Gold Coast family accommodation right around the corner from the big guns. Less than two minutes’ drive from Wet‘n’Wild, Topgolf Gold Coast, Movie World, and the Australian Outback Spectacular, plus a few doors down from Game Over Gold Coast go-karting (if it isn’t a scorcher out there, you could comfortably walk the flat distance to all of these spots) Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is also loaded with its own kid-friendly attractions.

From a waterslide and splash zone big enough to rival the ones in Wet‘n’Wild and a lagoon pool with shaded cabanas to a remote-controlled car track, frisbee golf (you’re aiming to hurl frisbees into tiny holes), bocce, a kids’ club and basketball courts, there’s an activity for every hour of the day at this cheap family accommodation on the Gold Coast.

Famished guests should head straight to Nibbles Cafe where burgers, pizzas, salads, and snacks are dished up, or Nibbles Terrace where beer, wine and cocktails are served.

When it’s time to recharge, rooms come by the truckload. Self-contained motel rooms, cabins, cottages, and bungalows, plus a range of powered and unpowered campsites, are all available. The style is basic, but the price tags make everything worth it. Rates for rooms with four walls start from about $200 per night, while camping starts from about $40 per night.

Address: 66-86 Siganto Drive, Helensvale

7. RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast

two women walking in robes at the spa, RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast — Revitalise and rejuvenate at the resort’s spa. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

A week, a month, a year – who knows how long you’ll want to park the family at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast once you get a gander at it. Featuring its own kids’ waterpark, playground facilities, multiple swimming pools, in-house movies and a menu filled with child-friendly dishes, this family accommodation on the Gold Coast, located just a short drive from Surfers Paradise, offers creature comforts in luxurious surroundings.

Come school holidays, send your mini-mes off to the resort’s kids’ club, while adults can sit back and enjoy the amenities, including a 27-hole golf course, tennis court, day spa, and an executive lounge with glorious regional views.

The rooms range from a Superior King Room, styled with a modern mix of furnishings, to a collection of Executive Suites, some with marble bathrooms and spas and others with spacious entertaining areas. Plus, you won’t go hungry for long given there are eight eateries on-site including Videre, a gorgeous space popular for its high tea, Trattoria Amici, serving authentic Italian cuisine, and Arakawa, a stand-out Japanese restaurant. Rates start from approximately $228 per night.

Address: Ross Street, Benowa

8. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

a couple admiring the sunrise atop a mountain at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Gold Coast — Take in breathtaking views across the mountains. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Get your clan into the fresh outdoors with a stay amid the stunning Gold Coast Hinterland. A 90-minute drive from Surfers Paradise, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat embraces every element of its spectacular natural environment, offering 48 self-contained villas and a range of daily activities for the whole family.

Wildlife encounters, a fascinating bird show, a tree top walk, glow-worm exploration, flying fox adventures, Segway safari, historical tours and 4WD tours are just of the experiences on offer at this Gold Coast Hinterland family accommodation.

The Mountain View Room is the retreat’s most basic family-friendly lodging, featuring a queen bed and a single bed, a verandah and a bar fridge, but no TV. Afternoon tea and a bird tour are included, however, and rates start from about $238 per night.

If you’re keen to splash out, go the Three Bedroom Valley View Villa, a wonderful self-contained option that sleeps up to nine guests and offers ensuites with each bedroom, a giant deck with a dreamy outdoor spa bath, fireplace, and breathtaking views across the mountains. Interiors are pared back, with the occasional block colour adding warmth while allowing the scenery to shine.

There are three dining areas to choose from, including The Rainforest Bar, a great spot for sunset drinks, in addition to The Dining Room cooking up modern Australian cuisine, and O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe, serving light meals and an a la carte menu at lunch. There’s also a great day spa to really unwind in, featuring a cedar hot tub and even more magical views.

Address: 3582 Lamington National Park Road, Canungra

9. Paradise Country Farmstay

a couple stepping into one of the glamping tents at Paradise Country Farmstay — Opt for a lush farm stay at Paradise Country. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Does it get any better than staying in a family attraction itself? Paradise Country Farmstay is the charming accommodation offering from Paradise Country, the much-loved farm experience on the Gold Coast, providing unique opportunities to live your best farm life.

Little ones are invited to collect eggs from the chooks, feed and milk the cows, cuddle up to native wildlife and toast marshmallows on the campfire. Their experiences are exclusive to guests, who are obviously also able to access the park itself.

Stays are catered for in the way of luxury glamping, with two family-friendly styles providing super soft beds, balconies, and refrigerators. An ensuite bathroom, as opposed to a shared shower and toilet block, is the main difference between the two, but all facilities are clean and comfortable.

Food is sorted too as the Farmhouse Restaurant is on hand with a gourmet buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, and there’s also Burrow Cafe for more casual dining. Rates start from around $240 per night.

Address: Production Drive, Oxenford

10. Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise

children swimming in the lagoon pool at Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise — The lagoon pool beckons children to dive in and play. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

If holiday bliss amounts to being right in the heart of the action, then Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise has your name written all over it. Located within spitting distance from bustling Cavill Avenue, and about 100 metres from the beach, the Gold Coast family accommodation’s self-contained apartments are prime Surfers real estate.

Featuring one-, two- or three-bedroom stays, the spaces feel coastal and roomy, complete with private balconies, dining areas, laundry facilities and lounge areas. And when it comes to keeping boredom at bay, there’s a fun-filled pirate shipwrecked in the middle of a lagoon pool, complete with a water slide, fountains, and white sand, plus two further swimming pools and a games room.

There’s also a theatrical onsite restaurant, Chang Mai Thai, which dishes up quality Southeast Asian dishes prepared with love, and adults will appreciate the spa, sauna and gym located within the hotel.

Venture offsite to explore the shops, restaurants, and entertainment at your doorstep – you name it, and you can probably walk there. Rates start from approximately $350 per night.

Address: 5-19 Palm Avenue, Surfers Paradise

11. Ashmore Palms Holiday Village

an aerial view of the pool at Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Gold Coast — The sun-splashed family resort features two lagoon-style pools.

A winner for groups on the hunt for cheap family accommodation on the Gold Coast, Ashmore Palms Holiday Village is located about 15 minutes from Surfers Paradise. Home to a range of camping options, plus two and three-bedroom self-contained cabins, the standout stay is positioned on a 15-acre property with Australia’s largest private collection of South American Macaw Parrots — so that’s the nature expedition sorted.

Elsewhere, there are two lagoon-style swimming pools, two children’s playgrounds, a tennis court, barbecue facilities and an activity centre that puts on things like kids’ discos, arts and crafts and laser tag (during school holidays mostly).

There are plenty of choices in the way of rooms too, spanning two-bedroom cottages with fully equipped kitchens to two-story houses. Rates start from around $224 per night.

Address: 71 Hinde Street, Ashmore

12. Tamborine Mountain Glades

the living room interior at Tamborine Mountain Glades, Gold Coast — The self-contained lodges are equipped with fantastic amenities.

The long-loved Cedar Creek Lodges has transitioned into Tamborine Mountain Glades , offering beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland family accommodation. Less than an hour’s drive from the beaches, the hideaway is enveloped in spectacular subtropical rainforest and encompasses Thunderbird Park which is a total kid’s wonderland. From Dig IT, a park filled with mini excavators they can jump on and control, to the TreeTop Challenge and a zipline, it’s a ridiculously handy memory-making machine.

Choose from luxurious glamping tents, contemporary hotel rooms and self-contained lodges filled with plush amenities while The Rainforest Restaurant and Lounge Bar is your go-to for buffet breakfast and hearty meals. If you’re after a quick bite and much-needed caffeine (we’re parents, after all), head to the Terrace Cafe for a delicious fix. Rates start from about $249 per night.

Address: Tamborine Mountain Road and Cedar Creek Falls Road, Tamborine Mountain

Discover the best hotels in Surfer’s Paradise.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

12 of the top family accommodation picks on the Gold Coast