Things to Do on the Gold Coast with Kids: Theme Parks, Beaches and Wildlife

The Gold Coast is one of Australia's most family-focused destinations, with a concentration of theme parks and family attractions matched nowhere else in the country. The major theme parks (Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet 'n' Wild, WhiteWater World) are clustered in the Coomera-Helensvale corridor of the northern Gold Coast and each merits a separate full day. Sea World has a strong marine animal education focus that resonates with children. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, run by the National Trust, is a more affordable wildlife experience with free-flight lorikeet feeding, native wildlife encounters and a surf museum. The patrolled surf beaches from Surfers Paradise south to Coolangatta are safe family swimming destinations, and Kurrawa Beach at Broadbeach and Palm Beach are particularly popular for families seeking less crowded conditions. The Nerang State Forest offers kid-friendly walking and cycling trails within 30 minutes of the coast.