6 Tips for a Weekend on the Gold Coast with Kids

Packed with stunning beaches, world-class attractions, and fun activities for all ages, the Gold Coast is one of Australia's most family-friendly destinations.

Apparently, the region welcomes upwards of 12 million visitors throughout the year, many of whom go there for a short weekend getaway.

But for them, the prospect of so much to see and do in so little time is a real conundrum. So therefore, it definitely pays to be organised.

With that in mind, here are six tips you can employ to make the most of your weekend on the Gold Coast with kids.

Hopefully, you will find them useful.

1. Choose Family-Friendly Accommodation

There are over 42,000 hotel rooms on the Gold Coast, as well as thousands of short-term holiday rentals.

Many of these are family-friendly and come with amenities like kids' pools, playground equipment, and games rooms you can use. So, to really make the most of your visit, it is a good idea to find accommodation that has these added extras, as it will give the kids something to do when you want to relax.

If your budget allows, you should consider staying somewhere like the Sea World Resort, which provides you with onsite access to the attraction's water play areas. The great thing about doing this is that it will save you a lot of time in otherwise getting there and queuing up to enter it - which is something you wouldn't have a lot to spare.

Elsewhere, the Paradise Resort is known as the ultimate kids' paradise because it has a water park, ice rink, and kids' club, while the NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort is another great option for families, boasting mini-golf, jumping pillows, and pools among its amenities.

2. Plan Your Meals

You'll need to eat when you visit the Gold Coast, but if you are planning to do a lot of activities it can be expensive to dine at restaurants every meal.

While some venues do offer cheaper rates for families during happy hours, these tend to finish around 5.30 pm, which might be a bit early for some.

Therefore, self-catering is an option you might want to consider, particularly if you have brought meals with you from home that you have already made and you know the kids will love.

That said, mums are on holiday too when they visit the Gold Coast!

So, if you like the idea of being able to eat a home-cooked meal without slaving away at your oven for hours before or during your trip, FoodSt Gold Coast Meal Delivery is a great option.

They drop off convenient, nutritious, ready-to-heat-up-and-eat meals directly to your accommodation.

3. Visit a Theme Park

The Gold Coast is famous for its theme parks, and they're a must-visit if your kids love thrill-seeking rides and attractions. Overall, there are four main ones you can visit, including Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, and Wet'n'Wild.

You can easily spend a day at all of these theme parks, so it is a good idea to stick to one per day and really make the most of your time at it.

If you have younger kids, Dreamworld has some age-appropriate rides and the wonderful Wiggles World, while Sea World has some gentle rides and fabulous marine animal encounters.

All kids should enjoy the fantastic water slides, pools, and splash zones at Wet'n'Wild, and Warner Bros. Movie World is ideal for those who enjoy films and want the opportunity to meet superheroes and their silver screen characters.

4. Hit The Beach

We all know Ryde has some wonderful beaches, and so does the Gold Coast. So, no trip to the region would be complete without visiting some of the best of them.

Surfer's Paradise is, of course, the most famous and iconic of them. However, others you should check out are Burleigh Heads Beach, Tallebudgera Creek, and Broadbeach, which are all very family-friendly.

When you do go to the beach, just make sure to take slip, slap, slop, seek, and slide measures that will protect you from the sun.

5. Check Out the Wildlife at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

If your kids love animals, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a fantastic place to spend a few hours, particularly during the hottest part of the day.

Whilst here, they can feed kangaroos, hold a koala, and watch interactive rainbow lorikeet presentations. Additionally, there is also a mini train ride and outdoor play areas to keep them entertained.

It is open every day but closes at 4 pm, so you might want to prioritise visiting here just after lunchtime to give yourself enough time to experience it properly.

6. Visit a Local Market

The Gold Coast has some great local markets, which you should try to visit if you have time.

One of the best is the Miami Marketta, which is a fun night market that has live music, food stalls, and an overall great vibe. It is open until 10 pm and provides a good dinner and evening experience.

Elsewhere, the Carrara Market is a huge weekend market with over 300 stalls, as well as kids' activities, pony rides, and mini-golf. You may also want to check out The Village Markets, which is a trendy Sunday market in Burleigh Heads that has boutique shopping and food trucks.

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