Summer isn’t far away and it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming summer holidays. With the kids on school holidays you may consider going away this summer for a well-earned break and to keep the kids entertained. Surfers Paradise is the perfect spot for just this, being in a good central location for exploring all that the Gold Coast has to offer. There are lots of excellent hotels in Surfers Paradise, along with plenty of places to eat and shop. Most importantly, the Gold Coast is full of amazing kid-friendly activities, so you’ll never have a problem with keeping them entertained. Here are some fun things to do with the kids in Surfers Paradise.
Hit the beach
The biggest draw card to Surfers Paradise is, of course, the beach. This beach is aptly named as it is a great surf beach, however the wide stretch of sand, patrolled swimming area and good facilities makes the beach at Surfers Paradise excellent for families. The kids will love running around on the beach, building sand castles or perhaps playing some beach cricket or kicking the footy around, while Mum and Dad can relax on the sand. There is always a flagged area on the beach where it is safe to swim, with lifeguards keeping watch. The beach is directly across the road from the main strip of shops, cafes and restaurants in Surfers Paradise, so you can easily grab a bite to eat, or pack a picnic to enjoy on the sand or along the picturesque foreshore parklands.
AquaSplash
Broadbeach is another wonderful beach spot, located north along the beach from Surfers Paradise. Every summer Broadbeach is home to AquaSplash – a floating fun filled kid’s paradise. Imagine a bouncy castle style obstacle course floating on the water just off the beach. Kids (and big kids) will have a blast navigating the inflatable obstacle course. There are inflatable slides, climbing walls, bouncing pillows and more, all in the picturesque setting of Broadbeach.
Theme Parks
The Gold Coast is the theme park capital of Australia and Surfers Paradise is the perfect location to use as a base for exploring them. The closest of the theme parks is Sea World, located just minutes away to the North of Broadbeach. This park is all about marine life, with lots of amazing sea animal experiences to enjoy, plus rides, live shows and a water park.
Further north up the main highway you will arrive at Warner Brothers Movie World, where the kids can ride rollercoasters and other movie themed rides, along with live action shows, parades and movie set tours. Next door to Movie World is the fun filled water park known as Wet n Wild, where you can enjoy a day of waterslides and swimming pools, perfect for cooling off in the hot summer weather.
Head further north and you will arrive at another fantastic water park – White Water World, attached to the ever-popular Dream World, which has some of the most thrilling rides on the Gold Coast, along with tons of animal habitats.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin, located not far to the south of Surfers Paradise, is home to an amazing wildlife sanctuary. This beautiful, forest filled park is full of native Australian wildlife, including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, birds, reptiles and everything in between. The kids will love getting to feed and pat the kangaroos and watch the free flight bird show. They will be wowed by the saltwater crocodile feedings, and the amazing playground here will keep them entertained for hours. The park can be explored by foot, by Segway or by hopping on and off the mini train that circles the park. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to an awesome tree top ropes course where the family can swing and climb amongst the trees.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not!
If you’re wandering down Cavill Mall in the heart of Surfers Paradise, there is no doubt that you will notice the entrance to the weird and wacky Ripley’s Believe it or Not! This is like a science museum filled with strange and fascinating artefacts and interactive activities. The kids will have a ball exploring this odd museum and taking part in the interactive displays and illusions.
Attached to the museum is the cool laser game known as Ripley’s LaseRace. This is a bright, music and laser filled maze where participants must race through the maze to beat each other’s times, without touching any of the lasers. You will almost feel like you’re in an action sci-fi movie.
Broadwater Parklands
The Gold Coast Broadwater is a beautiful, sheltered area of water where you can swim safely and watch the boats go by. The parklands here have been redeveloped into a fantastic public area, making it the perfect spot for a family picnic or barbecue. There is a splash and play waterpark here for the kids, along with playgrounds and a huge jumping pillow. Plus, the beach and water here is nice and calm and sheltered for swimming.
Tallebudgera Creek
Tallebudgera Creek, at the point where it meets the ocean at Burleigh Heads, is one of those picture-perfect spots with white sand and crystal clear water. You will often find people swimming, kayaking or stand up paddle boarding here, and the water is nice and calm and sheltered, perfect for the kids to swim and play in. The crystal-clear water and abundance of fish and sea life also makes it a great place to go snorkelling.
Ice Age Mini Golf
Robina Town Centre has been developed into one of the Gold Coast’s best shopping and dining precincts, and now it is home to an amazing 18-hole mini golf course, built in the theme of the hit kid’s movie franchise, Ice Age. The kids will love this interactive mini golf course which takes them back through time, with moving robotic ice age animals which ends with the dinosaurs. They can have fun playing mini golf while also learning about the history of the ice age.
Aquaduck Safari
This unique tour gives the family the chance to explore Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast by road and on water, without ever changing vehicles. The Aquaduck is a boat on wheels, and the safari takes you on a tour of Surfers Paradise before plunging into the calm waters of the Broadwater, taking you on a cruise through the Broadwater and the surrounding canals. It’s like a bus tour and a cruise in one.
This destination is an absolute must for Australian families to tick off the list, and overseas families on their down under adventure. These are just a few of the fantastic activities that you and the family can enjoy while staying in Surfers Paradise. This really is the perfect spot for a family summer holiday. In fact the Gold Coast has fantastic weather all year round so any time is a great time to visit.
Images by gags9999, Christy Gallois and Raelene Gutierrez under Creative Commons licenses