Top Things To Do on the Gold Coast With Kids

Planning your next family holiday? Here’s how to play and have fun together.

One of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations, the Gold Coast has long been a family favourite — and for good reason, as it’s almost impossible to run out of things to do with kids. Whether your brood is counting down the days for sunny coast days, nature adventures, or adrenaline highs, there’s something for children big and small in this vibrant playground.

From animal encounters to theme park crawls, Indigenous culture tours, and hanging out on the city’s best beaches, here are our top spots to visit on your next family getaway to the Gold Coast.

Family-friendly beaches on the Gold Coast

Boasting around 300 days of sunshine per year, the Gold Coast’s entire persona was built around beach holidays for the obvious reason that its 52 kilometres of coastline is magnificent. Pile the kids into the hire car and splash around at one of the best beaches on the Gold Coast.

a family hanging out on the beach under a huge umbrella at Rainbow Bay, Gold Coast — Chill out beneath a beach umbrella at Rainbow Bay. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Need some inspiration? Tallebudgera Creek is a dream destination for families — it’s perfect to hunker down for the day. A sweeping ribbon of blue flanked by lush greenery, some might say. Those with young kids or less confident swimmers should set up camp on the Palm Beach side of the creek with its shallow banks and lifeguards on duty.

an aerial photo of Tallebudgera Creek — Take a dip in the refreshingly blue-green waters of Tallebudgera Creek.

And best of all, Custard Canteen is just a few yards away dishing out strong coffee, Portuguese custard tarts, and hot chips. If you’re looking for somewhere to lay your head, head to Tallebudgera Tourist Park just across the road and choose between a family budget room or waterfront cabins, along with a playground, swimming pools, go-karts, and a tennis court.

a father and child on a paddleboard at Currumbin Beach — Hop on a paddleboard with your kid. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Another popular kid-friendly beach is Rainbow Bay, a golden crescent of sand lapped by Tiffany Blue waters. Its protected location and typically low waves make this beach a safe spot to take the whole family. Moreover, it’s patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day, all year round.

a peaceful spot at Currumbin Rock Pools — Hop your way around Currumbin Rock Pools. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Lastly, you can’t go wrong with Currumbin Beach. Regularly voted as Queensland’s cleanest beach, here you’ll find sheltered calm waters for swimming and entertaining the kids. On that thread, a short drive away is Currumbin Rock Pools where kids can paddle by the rocks, leap off ledges and swing on rope swings. It’s as wholesome and idyllic as it sounds.

a scenic view of Currumbin Beach in Gold Coast — Soak up the sun at Currumbin Beach. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Of course, it’s not a family holiday to the Gold Coast without learning how to surf. Burleigh Beach is the perfect spot to do this as it has a relaxed vibe, the headland provides the beach with a gentle swell and there are a couple of surf schools there to choose from.

Gold Coast theme parks

Known as the ‘Theme park capital’ of Australia’, it would be remiss not to pencil in at least one day at the Gold Coast’s seven theme parks — and your travel companions would never forgive you either!

children enjoying the Spongebob Boating School Blast ride at Nickelodeon Land, Sea World, Gold Coast — Conquer the Spongebob Boating School Blast ride at Nickelodeon Land, Sea World. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Big kids with a need for speed should hit Warner Bros. Movie World , home to the superlative DC Rivals HyperCoaster. Littler ones might be better suited to Dreamworld , which has several family-friendly rides, plus a water park and animal enclosures.

Family seeing sharks at Sea World Gold Coast — Wow kids with the sealife at Sea World. (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)

Sea World is the other heavy hitter, known for its shows and animal presentations as much as it is for its rides. If you’re searching for somewhere to stay, Paradise Country offers a farm-stay experience where you can perch up at the onsite camp and van sites or stay in one of the beautifully decked-out Eco Tents. Either way, you’ll be surrounded by animals and spectacular scenery during your stay.

a family sitting on the grassy grounds of Paradise Country — Get a chance to live with farm animals at Paradise Country. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Indigenous cultural tours on the Gold Coast

The Goldie isn’t all sun, sand, sky rises, and glamour. Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre peels back the curtain on the history of the Yugambeh/Kombumerri people and the Burleigh area, offering kids and adults alike a very different take on what may seem a familiar destination. It’s the only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre on the Gold Coast, and it’s fully owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community.

an indigenous member of Yugambeh/Kombumerri people applying white face paint on a kid at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre — Immerse your kids in the vibrant culture of the Yugambeh/Kombumerri people at Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Meet a traditional custodian, hear Dreamtime stories associated with the creation of Jellurgal (Burleigh Headland), and learn about local bush foods and fishing and hunting practices on the two-hour Jellurgal Walkabout tour.

Animal encounters on the Gold Coast

Get up close to some of Australia’s most iconic creatures with a visit to one of the Gold Coast’s wildlife parks. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is hugely popular and is a wonderful family trip to learn more about Australia’s native wildlife. Little ones will love the Breakfast with the Koalas experience which includes a scenic brekkie in the company of koalas, plus a chat with keepers where you can learn all about these furry marsupials and even have a cuddle with one of them. Throughout your day there, the sanctuary has plenty of daily presentations about its resident animals and every dollar spent there goes towards funding its wildlife hospital.

The David Fleay Wildlife Park is also well worth a visit. Home to rainforest and bushland, this park is managed and run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Park Rangers who share their vast knowledge at daily wildlife shows, talks, and encounters. Expect to meet barn owls, pythons, platypuses, bilbies, tree kangaroos, emus, and more.

a family entering the David Fleay Wildlife Park — Step into the wilderness at David Fleay Wildlife Park. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

For something a little more ‘out-there’, drive to Mountview Alpaca Farm and take a resident alpaca out for a walk. Better still, the farm is located within a vineyard, so hard-working parents can enjoy a well-earned glass of estate red, white, rosé, or sparkling wine too.

a woman taking an alpaca for a walk at Mountview Alpaca Farm — Take one of the resident alpacas out for a walk. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

And if you’re on the Gold Coast between May and November for whale season, you’re in for a treat. An estimated 35,000 humpback whales visit the Gold Coast each year so the odds of seeing them are in your favour! The best way to see them is on a whale watching tour, with the Sea World Cruises being particularly family friendly.

Nature-based experiences on the Gold Coast

At first glance, the Gold Coast can appear to be all glittering high rises and foamy surf but venture towards the hinterland and there’s a whole world of nature out there filled with outdoor adventures.

Try the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk , made up of forest floor trails and a steel bridge that rises to 30 metres high, offering panoramic views of the upper canopies of the forest and lazy creek. Or for kids who have their eyes on more adrenaline-packed action, visit Tamborine Mountain’s Thunderbird Park , which has a high ropes course and rainforest ziplining, or you can even fossick for thundereggs, play mini-golf or go hunting for glow worms .

a rustic signage of the Thunderegg Crystal Mine inside Thunderbird Park — Unearth the hidden gems at the Thunderegg Crystal Mine. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Further up the mountain, nestled high above the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, filled with family-friendly activities including the free O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk which consists of nine suspension bridges up to 16-metres above ground. On this short walk, stroll through a canopy of trees and observe wildlife and birds in the rainforest at close range. Stay for the night at one of the rainforest villas or set up camp at O’Reilly’s campground.

a tree-top accommodation at O’Reilly’s — Stay for the night at O’Reilly’s. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Closer to the city lights is the stunning Burleigh Head National Park. Follow the 2.3-kilometre Rainforest Circuit that winds its way along the wild headland through rocky foreshore and rainforest.

Events and attractions for kids on the Gold Coast

On top of the incredible beaches, theme parks, and nature and wildlife experiences on the Gold Coast, the reason why this region is known as Australia’s largest playground is that there is just so much fun to be had around every corner.

See the movie and music stars at The Wax Museum , explore the multiple playgrounds at Broadwater Parklands, discover a hole world of fun with three themed 18-hole courses at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach , or check out the cinema, theatre and gallery events calendar at the iconic Home of the Arts (HOMA) .

Kids enjoying HOTA on the Gold Coast — Activate your kid’s imagination at Home of the Arts (HOTA). (Image: Tourism & Events Queensland)

Speaking of events, on the Gold Coast you’ll find a long list of world-class events at your fingertips. From joyful festivals and incredible art exhibitions to hearing the roar of the crowd at an action-packed sporting event, feel the compelling energy of the Gold Coast. Family favourites include Pacific Airshow, the largest Airshow to ever take place in Australia, and the Pho3nix Gold Coast Triathlon which has its very own kid race.

guests line up outside Ripley’s Believe It or Not! — Sign up for a totally immersive experience at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Looking for an experience that’s a little bit strange and unlike anything you’ve done before? Ripley’s Believe It or Not! attraction is for you. With illusions and exhibits from the worlds of science, as well as hands-on interactive displays and state-of-the-art special effects, prepared to feel overwhelmed but in the most amazing way. If you’ve got older kids to entertain, they’ll love the mind-blowing 30-minute journey into a futuristic maze-like world of wonder at Infinity Attraction filled with 20 multi-sensual play environments.

kids having a fun time inside Infinity Attraction — Get ready for a mind-blowing experience at Infinity Attraction. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

Family-friendly restaurants on the Gold Coast

Every family is on the lookout for a relaxed, no-rules restaurant with an easy food experience, and we know the one. With a cool, rustic vibe, Willow Dining mixes a feast of Mediterranean, European, Modern Australian, and Spanish cuisine, along with a fusion of Asian favourites together in Tapas style, so there’s something enticing for everyone sitting at the table.

The Collective is another excellent food option. Taking the concept of street markets and food trucks and amping them up with one joint menu and table service, allows you to conveniently choose what you want to eat from five kitchens. Offering the best of Mexican, Greek, Asian, American, and Italian cuisines, take your pick from pizzas, tacos to baos, and chicken ‘n’ waffles to margaritas and jugs of Pimm’s.

For an extra special on-the-go experience, head to the much-loved Miami Marketta night stalls and taste street food from the back streets of Thailand, Barcelona, or New York City. The mix of vendors can change nightly but expect a generous smattering of all your favourite cuisines from wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta to fried chicken, pad Thai, gyros, tacos, doughnuts, and more.

dining at The Collective, Gold Coast — Bon appétit at The Collective. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

What’s a family holiday without indulging in some sweet treats? Make sure to eat your way around some of the best desserts on the Gold Coast.

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

Incredible things to do with kids on the Gold Coast