Surfers Paradise – Great Destination for Parents with Children of All Ages!

Surfers Paradise is the commercial heart and the “main attraction” of the Australian Gold Coast. In Surfers Paradise you will find excellent shopping strips, night clubs, and lots of live entertainment. This is a loved holiday destination for families, teens and even over 40s alike.

Families traveling with children of different ages often find it hard to work out which activities are best for their children, whether it is young toddlers or even teenagers. I know as I have children two very young children myself. The question is, which activities in Surfers Paradise will keep the children happy? Below you will find a number of activities your kids will absolutely love!!

Activities for Children under 7 years of age

Beach Activities - Probably the top activity has to be time on the beach at Surfers. This can be a great place to build sand castles, boogie board, swim between the flags and teach the little ones some surf safety in the warm ocean waters off the Gold Coast. If you plan to spend time on the beach with the younger ones, I recommend you look for accommodation very close to the beach so that you can walk there. Trying to park can be expensive and you will still have to walk! Remember - make sure you supervise your children at all times when in the water!

Theme Parks – Make sure you visit the theme parks on the Gold Coast, which are an attraction for kids of all ages (including adults).  You will find Sea World, Wet ‘n Wild, Movie World and even Dream World in the Gold Coast, along with a number of smaller theme parks.  I suggest you reserve a day when you visit one of these parks and you can often get discounted entry with “mega” passes, which would give you access to 3 theme parks.

Timezone is a suitable for kids and adults, but is it good for the little ones? Timezone is in the Centro Surfers Paradise on Cavill Mall and there is certainly plenty for the very little ones to enjoy, from a variety of arcade games practicing hand eye co-ordination, mini basketball, bowling, mini golf and dance style games. 2 hours would be the limit of attention for a little one here, the bigger kids and adults can spend much more time! Even local families include Timezone on their list of Surfers Paradise things to do every school holidays! The kids just love it!

Aquaduck is a tour on an amphibious bus that drives into the water and takes you around on a quick tour through the canals and broadwater. Young kids, in particular, enjoy the duck quackers! This is a rather unusual cruise where the kids will be entertained on one level, whilst Mum and Dad can get to see a bit of the area! The tour picks you up from either your Surfers Paradise accommodation or meeting points in central Surfers.  

King Tutt's Putt Putt is a mini golf centre that has 3 theme courses African Jungle, Egyptian or Jurassic Dinosaurs. With two indoor courses this activity is suitable in any type of weather. There aren't many young children who don't love the opportunity to try mini golf. There is another mini golf course near Adrenalin Park, but that one is totally outside, so King Tutt's can be useful to know about for those rainy or really hot days. Plus the kids love the themed courses!

Resort Accommodation Facilities – Most resorts offer great facilities on-site, whether it is a lagoon swimming pool, indoor pool, gym, pool room and even internet access.  Make sure you investigate what facilities are available to you from your place of accommodation and enjoy an afternoon or two utilizing them with your kids!

Activities for Teenage Children

We all love the beach, however teens aren't all that interested in making sandcastles. Hire a surf board, borrow a boogie board or book them in to learn to surf on the lovely surf beach at Surfers Paradise. Bring a skim board and have hours of fun especially when the tide is out.

Timezone - is Timezone is in the Centro Surfers Paradise on Cavill Mall and has a variety of video games and activities including several simulators, many racing car games, Laser Skirmish and bumper cars. There is always a cross section of age groups and everyone seems to enjoy it. Children young and old will find something to keep them engaged. Teens seem to be able to spend longer than the younger kids, so a 3 hour super combo package could be the way to go for great value.

Adrenalin Park - Teens seem to enjoy the thrill of adrenalin rides and attractions. Adrenalin Park contains the aptly named Vomatron and the Bungee Slingshot. So if you are finding your older kids a bit insufferable, give them a big meal, lots of fizzy drinks and then send them on these rides!

Theme Parks – As mentioned above, the Theme Parks are essential even for the younger children, as all theme parks have attractions targeting our younger citizens.  I suggest you reserve a day when you visit one of these parks and you can often get discounted entry with “mega” passes, which would give you access to 3 theme parks.

Jet Boat Ride - And finally, another activity in Surfers Paradise that the teens seem to enjoy is the Jet Boat ride. This ride isn't strictly in Surfers, but you can board the boat at the wharf on Nerang River at the far end of Cavill Avenue. The teens seem to enjoy the smaller boat, as the smaller the boat the bigger the thrill.

Something for Mum and Dad

Cavill Mall - Cavill Mall is the recognized centre of Surfers, new up market shopping precinct Circle on Cavill is the new heart of Surfers Paradise and can be found bounded by cavil Ave, Surfers Paradise Blvd and Ferny Ave. Japanese tourists will be pleased to find that most street signs are written in both English and Japanese, a reflection of the strong attraction the Gold Coast has for Japan. Surfers Paradise has many sights worth visiting apart from the beach. Infinity is a walk-through maze cleverly disguised by an elaborate sound and light show which is a winner for the children. At 230 meters high, you won’t miss the Q1 building. The Observation deck at the top has 360 degree panorama of the Gold Coast and its hinterland. On a clear day you can see north to Brisbane and south to Byron Bay. Wander around the glass-enclosed deck and you’ll learn other interesting facts about the building .There are also a cafe and comfy lounge chairs available so there is no need to hurry back down to the ground floor.

Action Packed Activities - All along the beach you can find kayaking and surfing schools. These schools cater to beginners as well as intermediates. The cost is anywhere from $40 to $50 for a two hour lesson. For a more adrenaline pumping experience, try the Jetboat Extreme. This turbo charged twin jet powered custom jet boat propels you across the water at high speeds. Bungee jumping is another heart pounding experience. Adrenaline park offers many bungee type experiences for the brave at heart.

Whale Watching - For something a bit less crazy, don't forget to go whale watching between June and November or go on a three hour horse riding trek through beautiful rain forest and river scenery in the Numinbah Valley, 230 kms south of Nerang.

Restaurants – There are many lovely restaurants available in Surfers Paradise, so make sure you reserve a night to spend some time with your loved one, while enjoying a lovely meal!

Beaches - The beaches are best in the morning as the high rise buildings shade the beach in the afternoon sun. The beaches are not the main attraction in Surfers any more. If you are looking for a nice quiet beach, this is not the place, head a bit further north.

Casino – Its worth paying Jupiters Casino a visit while in Surfers Paradise and try out your luck! It offer a great atmosphere, nice drinks, great restaurants and free parking.

Shopping – There are MANY shops and shopping centers available in Surfers Paradise for all your shopping needs, whether you are shopping for clothes, souvenirs, arts & crafts and anything else you may desire!

Enjoy Your Holidays!