FAMILY FUN FOR EVERYONE

Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is a perfect holiday playground - where kids find endless entertainment, and grown-ups let loose and rediscover life’s ‘fun factor’.

As Australia’s theme park capital, the Gold Coast offers an exciting line-up of thrilling rides and water slides to entertain everyone – from the very young to the ‘young at heart’.

Lights, cameras, action! – it’s all here at Warner Brothers MovieWorld – where movie magic comes to life! Launch into your own adrenaline-charged adventure on a host of scream-worthy thrill rides such as the DC Rivals Hypercoaster or Superman Escape. Or enjoy plenty of family-friendly attractions and a soundtrack of excited squeals of delight in the Warner Brothers Kid’s Fun Zone.

Get a happy snap with your family’s favourite Looney Tunes character or strike a pose with the superheroes and villains of the DC Universe. And don’t miss the star-studded Street Parade, where the wafting scent of buttered popcorn and the energy of the crowd sets the scene for a truly memorable family day out.

Or dive into a watery world of family-friendly entertainment at Sea World. Engaging and educating presentations and shows help visitors connect with a host of incredible ocean animals, while animal encounters allow up-close interaction with some of the park’s magnificent marine creatures. Feel the leathery skins of stingrays at Ray Bay, or listen for the whistles and clicks of bottlenose dolphins at play in Sandy Bay Lagoon. If you’re ready to make your own noise, head over to take your place among legends by braving the thrilling attractions of Sea World’s New Atlantis Precinct.

More Epic Rides and Slides

Slide into family fun at Wet’n’Wild, Australia’s biggest water park! Extreme slides will get your heart pumping as fast as the raging water. Enjoy endless summer vibes at the family friendly H2Oasis Splash Zone, cool off in the Giant Wave Pool, or chill out in a tube around Calypso Beach. The littlest adventurers even have their own fun zone to enjoy, where they can splash, slide and play the day away, while parents catch a break in surrounding sun lounges.

The epic combined attractions of Dreamworld and WhiteWater World are sure to ignite and excite your senses. With rides, water slides, wildlife and entertainment all in one place, it’s like a fantasy land of family fun for everyone! Little adventurers will love the wiggly wonders of ABC Kids World, while the daring strap in for some of the tallest and fastest thrill rides around. Nature-lovers can get up close to majestic big cats at Tiger Island, or meet the locals at the Native Wildlife Walkthrough area. If you need to cool off after the day’s excitement, slide on over and make a splash at WhiteWater World, where some of the world’s best water attractions await, and private poolside cabanas offer a relaxing reprieve from all the action.

Come and explore exciting worlds of wonder at the Gold Coast’s family-friendly theme parks!

Animal Encounters

Take a walk on the wild side with unforgettable animal encounters the whole family can enjoy.

Meet and greet all manner of cute creatures. Cuddle a koala, swim with dolphins or meander with alpacas by cooling mountain streams.

At the iconic Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, hand feed gentle kangaroos or rowdy rainbow lorikeets. Or for those seeking something extra special, book a Behind the Scenes Tour or breakfast date with cute koalas.

Learn about a local legend long regarded as ‘Australia’s Father of Conservation’ at David Fleay Wildlife Park. Stroll along boardwalks past local wildlife in their natural habitat. The park also hosts popular holiday programs where kids can become Junior Rangers for the day, gaining behind the scenes, hands-on experience with some of the wildlife.

Or head to Lamington National Park to meet a host of furred and feathered friends at eco-accredited O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Meet Russ the friendly resident carpet snake, or get a scratchy scalp massage from Crimson Rosellas and King Parrots as they perch on your head at feeding time. Send the kids on a guided Eco Ranger Adventure. Or take the family on a quiet wander through surrounding World Heritage Listed rainforest to listen for furry foragers or be serenaded by beautiful birdsong.

For farm animal fun, head to Paradise Country. Get your fill of cuddly animal cuteness at the Farmyard Nursery, and let the family get a feel for an authentic Aussie farm experience.

From the bush to the beach, wildlife wonders abound. From late May to early November, migrating humpback whales grace the warmer waters of the Gold Coast. Whale-watching tours offer an incredible opportunity to get up close to these remarkable marine mammals. Listen in awe to the mighty splashes of their surface breaches and tail slaps, occasionally accompanied by the magical sound of whale song.

Part-Day Adventures

If you’re short on time but eager for family-friendly activities, there’s endless entertainment options that don’t need to consume your whole day.

The Gold Coast offers it all, from classic family fun like mini-golf and movies, to modern virtual reality and gaming thrills. For tiny tots and teens to big kids at heart, there’s action aplenty to ensure the only type of ‘bored’ you’re likely to feel here is a surfboard!

Serve up sky-high adventures with flight training in the state-of-the-art wind tunnel at iFly, or soar through the forest canopy on an exhilarating Treetops Challenge at Mount Tamborine.

Back on solid ground, take the troops ten pin bowling, crack into some karaoke, or amp up the surprise-factor with a cheeky round of multi-sensory mini golf at Holey Moley. Test your tribe’s teamwork in a selection of escape rooms. Or dare to enter the challenge rooms of the Hijinx Hotel, an immersive interactive game experience that allows you to show off your family’s problem-solving prowess.

Embrace the unknown as you lead your loved ones on a journey into Infinity, a futuristic maze filled with intriguing illusions. This mind-blowing multi-sensory experience features sounds, smells and special effects that can be explored at your own pace, and are sure to create unforgettable experiences. For the creative spirit or for fun family photos with a difference, pay a visit to ArtVo Gold Coast, in the Robina Shopping Centre. This ingenious ‘trick gallery’ of touchable artworks features magical murals and interactive displays that literally put you in the picture, creating dramatic and Insta-worthy images to enhance your holiday albums.

For those seeking something distinctly different, check out Ripley’s Believe It Or Not interactive museum of mystery. This collection of quirky and queer curiosities is sure to intrigue and create a lasting impression on the entire family.

Water Babies

The family fun continues well beyond the water’s edge.

Experience the unadulterated joy of jumping the waves and splashing in the shallows along the Gold Coast’s glistening coastline. Or take the plunge and feel the rush of riding the waves with the kids. Surfboards and bodyboards are available for hire at rental outlets across the coast, or enlist some expert help with super-fun and supportive learn to surf lessons the whole family can enjoy.

There’s also plenty of exciting options for families eager to get wet without the waves. The expansive Gold Coast Broadwater, lakes, creeks and canals offer calmer conditions for families, with a host of wonderful water-based experiences that are sure to float your boat.

Wind your way along crystal-clear waterways on a cruise, or hire your own boat to keep your family afloat as you go your own way on aquatic adventures. Splash about in the Broadwater’s Rockpool water playground, or go quacking mad over the bus to boat transformation aboard a guided amphibious vehicle adventure.

Get the whole family aqua active in kayaks or on stand up paddleboards, or test out your pedal power on entertaining water bikes. These fun-filled activities are sure to help burn up that extra energy and may even mean you can all enjoy a sleep-in the next morning! For the big kids, jet skiing, flyboarding and parasailing are sure to satisfy the need for speed!

Further south, pick up a kayak or paddle board from Currumbin Boatshed and explore the creek and estuaries at your own leisurely pace. Or enter the clear, calm waters of Tallebudgerra Creek – a nostalgic family favourite for swimming, fishing and water sports.

Accessibility

Please contact operators directly to discuss any special accessibility needs, and to receive the latest updates.

The Gold Coast boasts an extensive public transport network to make getting about easier. For further information please refer to ‘Getting To and Around the Gold Coast’. Shuttles, private tour operators, taxis and ride share services are also widely available.

Companion cards are accepted at a wide range of tourism experiences on the Gold Coast, offering free carer entry to people with lifelong disabilities in possession of a Companion Card.

All the major theme parks offer accessible parking and toilet facilities. The main pathways throughout the theme parks are generally step-free and designed to be accessible for guests with limited mobility. Guests with disabilities are encouraged to visit the Park Health Facility (at Dreamworld and WhiteWater World) or Guest Services (at Sea World, Movie World and Wet’n’Wild) to learn about accessible attractions. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for use from Guest Services, including beach wheelchairs at WhiteWater World and Wet’n’Wild.

Accredited assistance animals are welcome at almost all attractions and venues throughout the Gold Coast. However, please note rare exceptions do apply, including some access restrictions to enclosures and endangered animal encounters at the David Fleay Wildlife Park and Dreamworld, and one-on-one animal encounters at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. These limited restrictions are necessary for the safety and wellbeing of visitors, animals and staff.

Broadwater Parklands offers designated disabled parking and an enclosed swimming area with accessible beach matting. A Changing Places adult changing facility can be found just south of the Aquatic Centre, with direct car park access.

The sheltered inlet beach of Tallebudgerra Creek is an accessible option for people of all abilities. Beach matting and beach wheelchairs are available on Saturdays from September to May, and accessible parking, toilets and beach showers are available onsite.