The Gold Coast is home to a fantastic range of family-friendly activities. While a traditional trip to beach with hot fish and chips for lunch is always a winner, the region’s wide variety of attractions will keep any family member from getting bored! Whether you have a love of adventure or prefer more laidback outings, here are some great ideas to choose from.
Thrill-seekers
Families looking for excitement have a lot to choose from on the Gold Coast. Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum showcases the weird and wonderful, and is located just a short walk from Surfers Paradise Boulevard. Marvel at incredible collections, odd hobbies and improbable proportions. For theme park lovers, drop by the Vomatron and Slingshot, two of the Gold Coast’s most intense rides. As the name suggests, be sure not to go with a full stomach! For families that love a mystery, head to Escape Hunt at Southport. With cases such as ‘Kidnapped on the Beach’ and ‘Murder in the Cellar’, try and solve the mystery before time runs out! Up to five people can play and the more that join in, the cheaper it is individually.
Something fun
For a fascinating half hour of illusions and special effects unlike anything else, make sure to visit Infinity. This giant maze attraction is one of the Gold Coast’s most famous tourist destinations and makes for a dazzling experience. They also offer a family discount for two adults and two children. Ever wanted to try skydiving, but don’t have the money needed? iFly uses a ground-level wind tunnel to simulate the feeling of freefall, while under the guidance of a certified flight instructor. Finally, for a family into videogames, the Gold Coast TimeZone is the largest entertainment complex in Australia. Whether you like air hockey, laser skirmish, or racing games, TimeZone has something for everyone.
Rest and relax
For a laidback family trip, Tropical Fruit World is a farm with 500 different varieties of fresh fruit, which makes for a delicious outing. You can tour the park with a guide or take a wildlife boat cruise to the fauna park. Situated halfway between Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay, the scenic drive to get there is a great part of the experience. Currumbin Wildlife Santuary is the last Gold Coast must-see, where Blinky Bill makes appearances for daily shows and hundreds of native Australian animals are on display.
Travelling to the Gold Coast with a family becomes that much easier when you have lots of attractions to choose from, but this is only a snapshot. For more information on what’s on offer in this delightful city – from roller coasters to mini golf – Gold Coast guides such as Inside Gold Coast are great resources to check out.