Keep the little ones (and big ones) entertained.
Keep the little ones (and big ones) entertained.
Looking for ways to keep the ankle biters entertained on the Gold Coast? Too easy!
Whether your little legends are bouncing off the walls (literally), exploring the great outdoors, or just looking for a bit of magic, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a rundown of kid-approved activities that’ll keep the young (and young at heart) entertained all day long. Plus, don’t forget to check out our discounts page, where you can score vouchers for a bunch of these fun-filled spots and save a few bucks while you’re at it!
Theme Parks
Let’s be real, the Coast’s theme parks are basically our crown jewels, and visitors can’t get enough of them. Movie World brings the magic with themed rides, roaming movie stars, and cartoon characters you’ll want a selfie with. Dreamworld? Big thrill energy with rides that’ll have you screaming your lungs out. Then there’s Sea World, where stunning sea creatures and jaw-dropping live shows steal the spotlight. Let’s not forget WhiteWater World – the ultimate water-filled oasis! Open seasonally, it’s a mix of chill and thrill, with something for everyone. Wet’n’Wild is all about epic waterslides and the massive wave pool that feels like summer in a nutshell.
For a side of Aussie charm, The Australian Outback Spectacular delivers with stunning special effects, a heartwarming outback tale, and some truly beautiful animals. And if you’re keen to be whisked into authentic Aussie farm life, head over to Paradise Country – Australia’s premier farm experience. It’s as hands-on as it gets, with interactive experiences like tasting traditional billy tea, learning to make damper, and soaking up the excitement of the Ram Parade and Sheep Shearing Display in a historic shearing shed.
Trampolines, adventure features, and airbags galore make BOUNCE an adrenaline playground where kids can perfect flips and unleash their inner acrobat.
A 30-minute sensory journey awaits at Infinity Attraction, with futuristic maze-like worlds full of illusions, mesmerizing soundscapes, and groovy vibes that are perfect for kids over eight and anyone seeking a touch of magic.
Packed with curiosity, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! offers 15 interactive galleries and over 300 fascinating artifacts, with the Impossible LaseRace adding an extra thrill as visitors shimmy through a maze of laser beams like spies.
History, fantasy, and a touch of fright combine at The Wax Museum, where wax celebrities, the eerie Chamber of Horrors, and replicas of the Crown Jewels make for a memorable visit.
For larger-than-life optical illusions, ArtVo in Robina Town Centre provides endless photo opportunities, letting kids step into wild scenarios and themed zones where the art seems to come alive.
Indoor skydiving at iFLY Gold Coast lets you soar like a bird in a 365-degree glass tunnel, offering packages for first-timers and seasoned flyers looking for an unforgettable rush.
Hair in need of a little extra sparkle? H&H Hair Braiding (at Pacific Fair and Surfers Paradise) and Surfers Paradise Hairwraps are the dream team for colorful wraps and braids – an absolute hit with little girls who want to channel their inner princess or mermaid vibes!
Animal Encounters
For wildlife enthusiasts, the Gold Coast has animal experiences that’ll make your heart melt.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a sprawling 27-hectare haven where kids can feed kangaroos, cuddle koalas, and catch incredible shows like the Wild Skies Free Flight Bird Show. Don’t miss the Lost Valley for encounters with exotic animals.
David Fleay’s Wildlife Park is a quieter gem in Burleigh Heads, offering intimate encounters with Queensland’s unique flora and fauna. Spot the platypus, meet nocturnal creatures, and chat with passionate rangers.
Arcade Adventures
The arcade offerings on the Coast are next-level, with Broadbeach’s Level Up Arcade offering a mix of classic games and virtual reality arenas, plus a prize redemption system that’s sure to win over the kids.
Bumper cars, laser tag, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and over 250 arcade games make Timezone in Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta a sensory overload of fun in the very best way.
High ropes, Clip ‘n Climb courses and an arcade combine at iPlay Adventure, delivering a mix of challenges and pure fun that has something for everyone to enjoy.
Escape Rooms + VR
Escape rooms and virtual reality adventures are the perfect mix of brain-teasing fun and high-stakes excitement. It’s like a race against time — and let’s be real, no one is ever quite as good at solving puzzles when there’s a countdown looming! But hey, whether you’re celebrating a victorious escape or drowning your sorrows in a glass of wine, it’s definitely a win for family fun. Who knew unlocking mysteries could come with so much drama?
Eclipse Escape Rooms, Escape Hunt, Padlock’d and Fox in a Box all offer themed challenges that’ll have your family working together to solve mysteries and escape in time.
Meanwhile, Sandbox VR and Other World HQ are redefining virtual reality experiences with cutting-edge tech and immersive fun. Sandbox VR takes things up a notch with a haptic vest, motion sensors, and VIVE Focus 3 headsets, putting you in the heart of the action like never before.It’s a thrilling, real-time group adventure that goes beyond what home VR systems can offer. At Otherworld HQ, prepare to step into realms of exciting, unconventional games. Featuring the Saboteurs Arena, you’ll need strategy and skill to outwit your friends and enemies in this high-stakes adventure.
Prepare to get wet
Cool off with these water-based adventures that’ll have the whole family splashing with joy.
Located in Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Aqua Park is an inflatable paradise packed with slides and obstacles.
For those looking to catch a wave, Hang Ten Surf Co provides surf coaching with friendly instructors who are passionate about helping the whole family ride the waves like pros.
If you’re after a unique adventure, Aquaduck offers a fun blend of city and river cruising on the Gold Coast’s amphibious icon. Kids even get the chance to take the wheel and feel like the captain!
For an adrenaline rush, Paradise Jet Boating and GC Jetboating and Parasailing both deliver thrilling spins and slides through the Broadwater.
Smack some golf balls
If your little ones love a good game of golf, the Gold Coast has no shortage of fun places to swing a club. Putt Putt Mermaid Beach is an iconic local spot with three awesome 18-hole courses, each offering its own unique challenge. Plus, they have neon glow balls to light up your night-time putting!
TopGolf is a year-round winner, with indoor bays and plenty of food options to keep your energy up while you perfect your swing.
Day Trip Fun
If you’re looking to explore a little further afield there are plenty of fun activities for the kids that are only a short drive away.
Dig It Mini Excavator Park at Thunderbird Park lets kids graduate from sandcastles to operating real excavators. With construction-inspired activities and safety-first operators, it’s the ultimate hands-on experience.
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk offers breathtaking views and a chance to stroll among the treetops. It’s an easy walk suitable for families, with photo ops aplenty.
Over at Mountview Alpacas, kids can hand-feed these fluffy friends while parents kick back with a coffee or wine in hand. It’s a win-win situation.
Words by Belinda Symons
Step one: save, screenshot, and plaster this list to every surface.
Ah, summer school holidays, our old foe.. we meet again. Six magical, memory-filled.. very long weeks of slogging it out keeping the mini-me’s entertained (and your sanity intact, ideally)… some days, it really do be feeling like an endless summer.
Never fear, parents, carers, ‘funcles’ and ‘faunties’ – we got you. But like, not like, in a ‘child minding’ way (soz), more in a ‘thoughts, prayers, and compiling the best school holiday activities on the Gold Coast into one handy list’ kind of way.. aka, this very bible of boredom busters you have clicked upon.
Screenshot it, send it on, stash it for safe keeping and stick it to all your most important surfaces (fridge door, namely). At some point (right around day three, lbh) your (mildly exhausted) future self will be eternally grateful.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a school holiday favourite for good reason. From hands-on holiday programs for kids aged 5–16 years to animal encounters, shows and the always-popular Feed the Rainbow Lorikeets at 8am and 4pm daily, there’s plenty to keep little wildlife lovers entertained. Add in the Treetop Challenge zipline, park train and Outback Adventure Precinct and you’ve got a full-day winner.
Until 24 December, the sanctuary also hosts Wild Christmas, transforming the park into a festive family escape. Expect Christmas photo ops without the shopping centre chaos, surprise elf sightings, and meet-and-greets with Blinky Bill, Nutsy the Koalas and the Christmas Fairy, all included with day tickets (and free for National Trust members).
When the sun goes down, Astra Lumina Gold Coast lights up the sanctuary with a magical, after-dark walking trail through the bushland (ticketed separately).
Where: 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
Hold on to your HOTA’s, because the Gold Coast’s cultural hub is serving up a dreamy school holiday win for little creatives. This summer, the Children’s Gallery is home to Cloudy with a Chance of Art, a playful, imagination-fuelled exhibition that turns daydreaming into an art form. Running until 1st February, the sky’s the limit as kids explore cloud-inspired artworks by some of Australia’s most celebrated artists, alongside hands-on, interactive activities designed to spark creativity.
It’s not just about looking either, this immersive experience invites little visitors to imagine, create and play, with sky-themed activities that’ll keep tiny hands busy and minds buzzing (all in blissful air-conditioning, no less). Best of all, entry is completely free. No bookings, no tickets, just drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm.
While you’re there, make a day of it. Let the kids roam the outdoor play spaces, cool off by the lake, grab a bite at HOTA Café, or catch a family-friendly flick at HOTA Cinema. A summer must-do for curious kids and culture-loving parents alike.
Where: HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
Paradise Centre is making waves these school holidays with a summer lineup designed for maximum fun in the sun. From 3–11 January, spend $50 in one transaction and take on the Beach Locker Challenge, where you can unlock a locker packed with epic prizes including pool rings, sunnies, bags, vouchers and more (find it daily from 1pm–4pm near Newsextra).
There’s also Ping Pong Paradise, serving up free table tennis action daily from 9am–8pm in the beachfront precinct – paddles, balls and bragging rights all sorted. Keep an eye out for the lively lifeguard duo, making a splash daily from 1pm–4pm, and don’t forget to swing past the Pop-up Sunscreen Station for free sunscreen and neon zinc, open 11am–2pm from 3–11 January.
And if all else fails, the rag-tag entertainment gang – Timezone, Zone Bowling and Padlock’d, have never let us down yet.
Where: 2 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
Sanctuary Cove is turning up the summer vibes with five days of free(ish) family fun in the Marine Village from Monday 19 to Friday 23 January (10am–2pm daily). Expect inflatable chaos on the waterfront, with the Wipeout Challenge running 19, 21 & 23 January, and the Radical Run Race taking over on 20 & 22 January, perfect for kids who need to burn off that school holiday energy.
How to play? Simply spend $20+ at any Sanctuary Cove retailer and show your receipt to score a turn on the inflatables. Then stick around for waterfront dining, boutique shopping and all the breezy marina vibes.
Where: The Marine Village, Sanctuary Cove, Hope Island
Need a break from all that festive cheer (and obsessively vacuuming up tinsel that just. keeps. coming)? Might we suggest tinsel town for a refreshing change of pace. On select dates until 23 December, experience White Christmas, with the park’s biggest parade, festive characters, magical precincts and rides under the stars, Movie World style.
Then, as the school holidays roll on, Hooray For Hollywood returns to the streets of Warner Bros. Movie World from 28 December to 18 January. Expect their biggest-ever Movie Magic Parade, glitzy street entertainment and cameos from an all-star cast, including classic characters and all your (we mean… your kids’) favourites.
And if you needed one more excuse to visit, the SCOOBY-DOO! Spooky Coaster has just reopened open. Case closed.
Where: Warner Bros Movie World, Pacific Mwy, Oxenford
Get ready to roll into Rollerama, the GC’s roller-skating rink at Carrara Markets. This vibrant addition to the markets transformed the existing events arena into a permanent roller-skating haven.
Picture disco lights, graffiti walls, and a live DJ, creating an electric atmosphere with over 500 pairs of light-up roller skates available for hire. Lace-up for 2-hour skating sessions every Friday and Saturday night, plus daytime fun on Saturdays and Sundays alongside the regular markets.
Calling all parents: Rollerama is the ultimate school holiday destination with skate sessions every weekday. Plus, they’re open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm during school holidays.
No need to book. Just roll up on the day or secure your spot online. Let the good times roll!
Where: Carrara Markets, 2 Market Street, Carrara
Oh, how we (and by association, our eternally ‘bored’ offspring) love the City of Gold Coast’s array of free and low-cost activities on offer thanks to the Gold Coast Active & Healthy Program. There’s stacks of stuff going down daily for all ages, so jump on their website and compare calendars stat (pro tip, filter by ‘school holidays’). Get amongst everything from junior park runs, colour blast obstacle courses and summer dance parties to hip hop workshops (one our own kidlets can attest to).
Where: Various locations across the Gold Coast
Gold Coast Recreation Precinct is shaking up school holiday fun with half-day sessions of outdoor adventure activities for kids aged 8+. This isn’t the usual holiday entertainment – it’s an opportunity to ditch the couch, step out of the comfort zone, and dive into activities like Canoeing, Kayaking and Abseiling with Quick Jumps, all in supportive and fun environment. Bookings are essential, and at just $37.45 per child, spots won’t last long. Give your kids a holiday experience they’ll never forget! Dates from 5th January.
Where: 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
The NaturallyGC Kids school holiday program gives your intrepid adventurers the chance to explore.. and dare we say… learn (shhh).. about the Gold Coast’s natural environment, with a range of range of nature-based activities on offer. Book them in for heaps of free workshops, and switch screen time for green time with deep dive sessions such as ‘Mini marine biologists’, ‘Little Twitches’, ’Koala Kids’ and ‘Scaly Reptiles’ all on offer. It’s giving Totally Wild (#iykyk, 90’s kids).
Where: Various locations across the Gold Coast
As always, there’s action packed adventure days a plenty happening at KDV Sport School Holiday Camps. Kiddos aged 5–13 are catered for, with more options than you can poke a tennis racquet at – mini golf, tennis, dodge-ball, swimming, basketball, table tennis, padel tennis, arts & crafts, talent shows, rock climbing aaaand *pauses dramatically to inhale* cricket all on offer. We’re exhausted just reading all that. The kids will be begging to go back and try them all.
Where: 221 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara
Celebrate the Christmas season, Coolangatta-style, at The Strand, with festive fun for the whole family (yes, even your four-legged besties). This December, the centre is turning up the holiday cheer with a calendar of free, family-friendly experiences designed to make Christmas shopping a little more magical.
For the first time ever, Santa will be visiting The Strand until 24 December, giving families the chance to snap a festive photo while ticking off the Christmas list. There are also special Paws & Santa Claus sessions on 11, 13, 19 and 21 December, so your furry friends don’t miss out on the fun.
Kids can get hands-on at Santa’s Bake House from 20–24 December, with a free in-centre Christmas cookie decorating workshop popping up on the ground floor, the perfect sweet treat to keep little elves entertained.
Where: The Strand at Coolangatta, Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Unil 24 December, Broadbeach Mall transforms into a magical Gingerbread Village, serving up free family fun and festive cheer beside The Oasis Shopping Centre.
By day (10am–3pm daily), book into festive workshops featuring gingerbread cookie decorating, Christmas crafts and storytime theatre. At night (5pm–8pm daily), meet Santa and his elves, snap a free Santa selfie and post your wish list at Santa’s Post Office.
Don’t miss Movies Under the Stars at Kurrawa Park on Friday 19 December, with a free screening of Arthur Christmas from 7pm.
Where: Broadbeach Mall, Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach
Although our city is known for sunshine, the weather gods have been known to frown upon us with iffy conditions in summer. Although including this in our list makes sunshine inevitable, so you’re welcome. In the event of rain, to prevent your kiddos from suffering dreary weather moods #theworst, check out our list of things to do indoors when it’s raining on the Coast.
Words by Belinda Symons
When the weather doesn't want to play nice.
The Gold Coast might be famous for its sunshine, but she sure knows how to put on a moody thunderstorm (and don’t get us started on the humidity hair drama). So, when the skies decide to open up, don’t stress, we’ve rounded up 14 fun things to do on the GC that are totally rain-proof.
Yep, Surfers Paradise is home to the big one, and it’s basically an indoor theme park disguised as an arcade. Think bumper cars on a 200sqm track, laser tag to get the adrenaline pumping, a prize shop stuffed with more lollies and collectibles than your childhood dreams could handle, and the brand-new Colour Grid – Queensland’s first glowing digital playground where you can jump, step and race your way through walls and floors that literally light up. Add an onsite café to keep the troops fuelled and Zone Bowling right next door, and you’ve got hours of rainy-day fun sorted.
If you’ve got teens who claim they’re “too cool” for arcade games, MANIAX Axe Throwing (also inside Paradise Centre) is the ultimate trump card – supervised, safe, and wildly satisfying. Rain? What rain?
The ultimate triple threat, Hijinx Hotel, Archie Brothers and Holey Moley in Surfers offer the perfect opportunity to while away a rainy day. With immersive game rooms, all your fave arcade games, bumper cars and mini golf, this epic entertainment precinct is a game-changer for fun-seekers.
Where: Paradise Centre, 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise and 3197 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Level 1 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Infinity Attraction in Surfers Paradise is a crowd pleaser, a super fun activity to do with your friends! Infinity’s maze is both challenging and mind blowing. It’s an extraordinary series of 20 multi- sensory environments filled with unique special effects, emotive atmospheric sound fields, sensuous aromas, ultra-groovy music and spectacular illusions that appear to go all the way to infinity! Get 10% off entry with our coupon code INSIDEGC.
Where: Shop 31, Chevron Renaissance, Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
When the weather’s wet, let the kids bounce, climb and play their hearts out indoors! The Gold Coast is packed with epic indoor play centres: The brand new Area 51 at Westfield Helensvale delivers 1,500sqm of all-ages fun.
BOUNCE in Burleigh Waters is a 3,000sqm trampoline paradise complete with adventure courses, Big Bags, and the adrenaline-pumping X-Park Challenge, and iPlay offers high ropes, Clip n’Climb courses, arcades, redemption stores and heaps of party space. Rainy days never looked so action-packed, or so exhausting!
Where: Area 51, 1-29 Millaroo Dr, Helensvale, Bounce, 5 Sunlight Drive, Burleigh Waters, iPlay Adventure, Westfield Coomera, 103 Foxwell Rd, Coomera and iPlay, Harbour Town Shopping Centre, Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
Keen to channel your inner movie buff and catch the latest blockbuster? Maybe you’re more into the arty side of things with indie flicks and foreign films. Or perhaps you just need somewhere to plonk the kids so they’ll sit still (and quiet!) for a couple of hours these school holidays. Rainy day solved – the GC has you covered with many options, including Event Cinemas at Pacific Fair and Australia Fair and Reading Cinemas at Harbour Town. Popcorn mandatory, choc top highly recommended.
Where: Australia Fair Shopping Centre, Level 1/42 Marine Parade, Southport, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre,1571 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach and Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Gold Coast Hwy & Harbour Town Dr, Biggera Waters
Rain putting a dampener on your dinner plans? Not here. From Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm, Miami Marketta transforms into a buzzing undercover wonderland of street eats, live music and good vibes. Wander through the alley of food stalls serving up flavours from every corner of the globe, sip something delicious, shop the eclectic stalls, and soak up the atmosphere that made Marketta the GC’s original creative precinct. It’s the ultimate rainy-day date night (or mates’ night), and the best part? Entry is free.
Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
Feeling a little trigger-happy? Swap the beach for the Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre, where you can try everything from pistols and rifles to shotguns and tactical weapons – no licence or experience needed (the hardest part is choosing what to shoot!). Check out our experience here. Discount offer available here.
Or head to The Shooting Centre Gold Coast, a custom-built facility just minutes from Surfers, with expert instructors, top-notch safety, and an arsenal ranging from beginner-friendly pistols to beastly .50 calibre hand cannons. Rainy days don’t stand a chance when you’ve got this much firepower. Discount offer available here.
Where: Gold Coast Indoor Shooting Centre, 1/76 Ferry Road, Southport and The Shooting Centre Gold Coast, Unit 5, 41 Ferry Road, Southport
Believe it or not, but Ripley’s is a great indoor attraction for you, your family and yes, even your friends. It’s a museum full of odd, unique and incredible artefacts, art, photographs and stories of the 200+ countries Mr Ripley has visited over the years. Discount offer available here.
Where: Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise
The Wax Museum is one of the longest-standing attractions on the Gold Coast. Head in for a guided tour and discover some of the more gruesome torture methods that were used in ancient times. Or prepare to be starstruck, get up close and personal with some of Hollywood’s biggest names and grab a photo with royalty. Discount offer available here.
Where: 56 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Rain = the perfect excuse to go shopping undercover. The Gold Coast is a haven for indoor shopping centres, so if you’re in Broadbeach hit up Pacific Fair Shopping Centre or The Oasis Shopping Centre, if you’re in Surfers Paradise, the Paradise Centre or Australia Fair Shopping Centre in Southport.
Round up your crew, stash the phones, and dive headfirst into some brain-bending fun! Surfers Paradise is stacked with escape room action: test your wits at Fox in a Box Escape Rooms, Eclipse Escape Rooms, or Padlock’d, where you’ve got just 60 minutes to follow the clues, crack the codes, and make your grand escape. Feeling extra adventurous? Other World HQ takes it up a notch with immersive, pulse-racing scenarios that’ll have you questioning reality (in a good way). Rainy day? More like game day – click here for discount vouchers and get ready to see who really is the mastermind of your squad.
Where: Various locations in Surfers Paradise
Car lovers, start your engines – Muscle Car Museum in Bundall is a full-throttle Aussie muscle car heaven, rain or shine. Get up close to jaw-dropping Monaros, Toranas, SL/R5000s, and even a spot-on replica of the legendary Mad Max Interceptor. It’s not just for grown-up gearheads – kids (and big kids) can demolish pinball machines, battle on the Scalextric track, or explore the mega retro arcade. Throw in free soft drinks from a vintage machine and you’ve got a perfect rainy-day pit stop for the whole family. Discount offer available here.
Where: 76 Bundall Rd, Bundall
Slideways Go Karting Centre, just 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise, is your ultimate rain-proof adrenaline fix. Their indoor track is specially designed to let karts drift and slide for max fun, no matter the weather – rain, hail or shine! Take the wheel of one of 20 state-of-the-art European Sodi karts, powered by 9hp four-stroke Honda engines, and see if you’ve got the skills to nail a perfect lap. Feeling competitive? Discount offer available here.
Where: 10 Spencer Road, Nerang
Dracula’s and Australian Outback Spectacular both offer nights of total entertainment! The Australian Outback Spectacular is dinner and a show with a true-blue twist – think incredible arena effects, Aussie animals, and whip-cracking action, all served up alongside a hearty three-course meal and drinks. It’s family-friendly, wow-worthy, and guaranteed to have you yee-hawing in your seat.
Leave the kids at home for this one – Dracula’s is strictly MA15+ and unapologetically outrageous. Think a wild mash-up of comedy, live music, burlesque and jaw-dropping aerials, all wrapped up in a cabaret where fantasy and reality collide. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, you’ll probably blush… and you’ll definitely have a bloody good night out. Bonus: you can even sink your fangs into a discount offer right here.
Where: Dracula’s, Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach and Australian Outback Spectacular, Pacific Motorway, Oxenford
Sometimes a little self-love is exactly what the doctor ordered, especially when the rain is tapping on the windows and all you want to do is stay snug inside. Treat yourself to a day of bliss at one of the Gold Coast’s top spas: think soothing massages, indulgent facials, hot saunas, and maybe even a dip in a heated pool while the storm does its thing outside. From luxe day spas to boutique wellness havens, there’s a perfect spot for every kind of pampering. Check out our hand-picked favourites here and make it a rainy-day retreat to remember.
Words by Belinda Symons
