Getting there and getting around
If you're flying into Gold Coast International Airport, you can take a public bus, shuttle, taxi or Uber to your hotel. Driving from Brisbane takes about an hour. Trains from Brisbane to the Gold Coast run approximately every half hour and stop at Helensvale Station. From there, the G:link tram takes you as far south as Broadbeach. Surfside Buslines travels the length and breadth of the Gold Coast. A Gold Coast go explore pass costs AUD10 per day for adults and AUD5 for children for unlimited bus and tram travel, including Theme Park Express buses and travel to and from Gold Coast Airport to your hotel. Face masks are compulsory on public transport.
Where to stay
Queensland, Australia, is a captivating destination known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant cities. If you're planning a trip to this beautiful region and looking for the perfect place to stay, consider the charming area of Hope Island and the family-friendly Paradise Resort in Gold Coast.
Hotels in Hope Island, Queensland:
Nestled along the northern Gold Coast, Hope Island offers a serene and picturesque escape. The area boasts an array of luxurious resorts and comfortable hotels to suit various preferences and budgets. Whether you seek a tranquil retreat or a fun-filled adventure, you'll find an ideal accommodation option in Hope Island. Explore the best Queensland hotels in Hope Island, and start planning your dream getaway.
Paradise Resort, Gold Coast:
For families seeking an unforgettable vacation, Paradise Resort in Gold Coast is a top choice. This award-winning resort is a paradise for kids and parents alike. With an abundance of activities, including a water park, kids' club, and adventure playground, children will have endless fun while adults relax and unwind. Discover the Paradise Resort in Gold Coast and create lasting memories with your loved ones.
There's much more to the Gold Coast than the glitz and glamour of Surfers Paradise, although this holiday hotspot is ideal if you're travelling with older children. Where you should stay depends on the type of holiday you're looking for and the age of your children.
It's hard to beat the view from the Q1 skyscraper in Gold Coast. Photo / Tourism and Events Queensland
The southern tip of the coast, near the NSW border, has a low-key barefoot beach vibe, kid-friendly beaches and stroller-friendly walks. Broadbeach has a thriving food scene and plenty of self-catering accommodation. Or head for the hills and explore the lush landscape, waterfalls and wilderness of Lamington National Park.
Head south with babies and toddlers
If you fly direct, you'll arrive at the southern tip of the Gold Coast, making it the ideal place for a getaway with toddlers minus the long transit to and from the airport. You can even base yourself at the airport at the brand new Rydges Gold Coast Airport Hotel, which is a short walk from the terminal and a five-minute walk from the beach.
Rooms are contemporary and attractive and the hotel hits the mark for quality and value for money. If you prefer self-catering accommodation, there are plenty of flats along Marine Parade in Coolangatta or you can stay in one of the affordable cabins at Kirra Beach Tourist Park.
Start your day with a coffee in a beachside café and stroll along the cobbled walkway along the beach. Start at the end of Coolangatta Beach at Greenmount Hill, a 30m high promontory covered in pine trees and lush green foliage, which forms a picturesque boundary between Coolangatta and tranquil Rainbow Bay.
The pushchair-friendly path winds around the headland towards Snapper Rocks, where you can watch the surfers, and continues to Froggy's Beach, where a large rock has been painted to look like a frog. Froggy's has been there for at least 30 years. Boogie surfers come to Froggy's for the tight, undulating waves, which they often share with a pod of playful dolphins.
If you want to stock up on supplies, The Strand shopping complex in Coolangatta has everything you need, including cinemas, day spas, numerous restaurants and several supermarkets. Coolangatta also has two supervised swimming areas, a superb children's play area and a shaded stretch of sand at the southern end of the beach where children can play in the paddling pools that form at low tide.
Meet furry friends at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo / Destination Gold Coast.
For a fun day out, head to the nearby Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which has been operating for more than 70 years and has the world's largest collection of native Australian wildlife. Feeding the colourful lorikeets is as popular today as it was in the 1950s, but the sanctuary has since added many new attractions. Get up close to kangaroos and koalas, watch the WildSkies bird show and admire rare animals such as lemurs, bald-headed tamarins, red pandas and iguanas. Founded in 1947, it is one of the Gold Coast's oldest attractions and considered so important that it is owned by the National Trust.
Lamington National Park with primary school children
The rugged appeal of Lamington National Park encourages people to step out of their comfort zone, which boosts children's confidence. The National Park has two sections - Green Mountains (also known as O'Reilly's) and Binna Burra - filled with beautiful bush walks, native animals and fun activities. The best way to experience this historic World Heritage Area is to stay overnight, either at one of the campsites, in a safari tent sleeping up to six, or at the historic O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Many families avoid O'Reilly's traditional guest house in favour of a detached villa with valley views and a hot tub on the balcony, the perfect place to relax after the kids have gone to bed.
The pool at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Gold Coast. Photo / Destination Gold Coast
Nearby, there's a children's wading pool and infinity pool, or adults can lose themselves in the Lost World Spa for an hour or two while the kids learn to be Eco Rangers. This popular school holiday programme for children aged 5 to 12 runs from 9am to 12pm and 5.30pm to 8pm and includes activities such as creating rainforest art and a campfire barbecue.
The surrounding bush is filled with the vibrant colours of crimson rosellas and beautiful green and red king parrots, which fly in to be hand-fed, or you can wander through the rainforest one night to spot glow worms. It's free to bounce along the tree canopy walk and - if you're up for it - climb to the top of the 30m-high observation platform, where you can gaze out over the verdant valleys and treetops that seem to stretch on forever.
But nothing beats the thrill of soaring through the air on a zip-line tour surrounded by a national park. Once everyone has donned their safety harnesses, it's a race to the top of Happy Hill, so named because of all the excited shouts that echo around it during the tour. Depending on how busy the tour is (and how fast you can get to the top of Happy Hill), it's possible to do up to five zips on this tour, which combines epic views of Moran Creek with an adrenaline rush. Finish your day with a hearty dinner at O'Reilly's. If you're lucky, you'll get a table next to the outdoor possum perch, where nocturnal marsupials of all shapes and sizes climb the branches to feast on cut fruit.
Tyrolean traverse at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Gold Coast. Photo / Destination Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise with teenagers
The old adage 'don't knock it until you've tried it' has never been truer when visiting Surfers Paradise with teenagers. While you might not be as excited as your kids about visiting the world's largest time zone filled with 5,000 square metres of games, rides and things that go 'bing', you'll probably be surprised by how much fun you have.
For something more peaceful, flying over the Gold Coast hinterland in a hot air balloon at sunrise is a memorable experience (as is getting a teenager up at 4am). If you don't want to start that early, the Gold Coast's whale-watching season runs from June to November. Whales in Paradise tours depart from a jetty in the heart of Surfers Paradise and offer free coffee and cakes and a whale watching guarantee. If you don't see any whales, you can take another cruise for free.
The Gold Coast whale watching season runs from June to November. Photo / Tourism & Events Queensland
Go indoor skydiving at iFLY Gold Coast, take stunning selfies at ArtVo Illusions or swap the beach for the clouds on Australia's tallest outdoor walk atop Gold Coast's Q1 skyscraper. If you're not feeling so adventurous, the much quieter glass viewing area is a great place to watch the sunset. Surfers Paradise is home to one of Queensland's most famous beaches where you can swim, learn to surf or take a family photo under the Surfers Paradise sign.
Surfers Paradise markets, Gold Coast. Photo / Destination Gold Coast
Many non-beach activities can be found around Cavill Avenue and Cavill Mall, a pedestrianised area lined with restaurants, fast food outlets, shops and entertainment options. Whether you're on a budget or not, it's hard to beat enjoying takeaway food at a picnic table overlooking the beach. Surfers Paradise's beachside markets take place along the seafront on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4pm. Live entertainment and the market's central location create an upbeat atmosphere and great people-watching opportunities.
With a dazzling range of accommodation available in Surfers Paradise, you'll find the perfect place for your family to relax. The Oaks Gold Coast Hotel is located between Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise and offers spacious refurbished flats that will impress budget conscious parents and their teenagers. The two bedroom ocean view flats offer stunning views of the twinkling lights of Surfers Paradise and not one, but three balconies. Two have ocean views while the third overlooks the Gold Coast Broadwater.
The JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is one of the region's most stylish accommodation options. Photo / Tourism and Events Queensland
If you're looking for an upscale resort-style stay, the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa has a waterfall that falls into the pool, several spas, a regular pool and its own saltwater lagoon where you can dive with tropical fish and soak up the sun.
Gold Coast theme park survival guide
The Gold Coast is Australia's theme park capital with four different 'worlds' to explore - Dreamworld, Sea World, WhiteWater World (currently closed but reopening on September 17) and Warner Bros. Movie World - plus Wet'n'Wild which is Australia's largest water park. Before you decide which theme park to visit, check out the maps, rides and show times online and ask everyone in the family what they'd like to do.
Get out your tape measure too. Now is the best time to tell younger (or smaller) children that they won't be able to go on the rides. Bring your swimming costume along even if you're visiting in winter, but leave any with rivets, studs or zips at home which can damage the waterslides or you might not be allowed on. Buying tickets online in advance saves money and a mid-week visit avoids crowds, especially during school holidays.
