Aside from our iconic beaches, the Gold Coast is famous for our theme parks! A visit to a theme park is a highlight of every child’s Gold Coast holiday. Sea World is just a 10-minute drive down the road, while Movie World, Dreamworld and Wet n Wild are about a half hour away. Each park has its own unique features, the hardest part will be choosing which one to visit – or where to go first!
If your kids are into animals, South-East Queensland has got you well and truly covered. Just 30 minutes away at Burleigh Heads, is the David Fleay Wildlife Park. It features animals native to Queensland, particularly those that are threatened or rare to see in the world, as well as iconic koalas, kangaroos and emus. Stroll through natural habitats, check out the platypus display and see a shy bridled nailtail wallaby, thought to be extinct for over 30 years. A further 10 minutes’ drive south and you’ll hit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. With more than 75 years of history in the area, the iconic wild lorikeet feeding sessions are a must for visitors. Onsite, the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital also provides a fascinating insight into the amazing work our local veterinarians are doing. And, finally, if you’re from interstate and want to go BIG and memorable with your wildlife-inspired holiday, Australia Zoo is hard to beat. There’s a host of wildlife shows on every day in and around the Crocoseum and so many animals to see. It’s about two hours’ drive from our resort so it’s a big day out. But it’s well worth the effort. And remember, you’ll get to order room service and fall into your comfy Paradise Resort beds at the end of your day’s adventure. Easy.
Recharge your batteries (and wear out the kids!) by spending a day immersed in nature at Springbrook National Park. Pack a picnic or fire up one of the electric barbecues before heading out on one of the many walking trails. There are spectacular views, beautiful waterfalls and you get to fill your lungs with fresh, forest air. Springbrook covers more than 6500ha and is part of the ancient Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. It’s about an hour’s drive from Paradise Resort. Check it out.
Spend a day up in the mountains – Tamborine is the perfect destination for a relaxed day out. It’s lush and gorgeous with a relaxed village vibe. There are spectacular views, gorgeous gardens and bushwalks too. The short walk to Curtis Falls is a good introduction to bush walking for young kids. It’s not far to the waterfall and - if you need to bribe them to keep going - there’s an ice-cream shop nearby. The man-made Glow Worm caves are also worth a visit and are set in stunning gardens that you can stroll afterwards. Try one of the cute cafes for lunch or take a picnic and head to Rotary Lookout for picture-perfect views. Tamborine Mountain is about a 45-minute drive from Paradise Resort.
Drive about an hour north to Brisbane and spend the day at South Bank where there are so many free activities to keep the kids entertained. The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and the Queensland Museum are right on the river, jam-packed with art and curiosities. They often have special activities for kids too. There’s a great space for toddlers at The Corner at the State Library. You can catch a free cross-river ferry over to the city and check out the Museum of Brisbane and ride the historic elevator up to the clock tower. Or just hang out at South Bank and watch the boats glide past while the kids play on the playgrounds.
Local Area
29/08/2023
