The best things to do on the Gold Coast in winter

With its sun-drenched skies, hinterland hikes and family friendly attractions, the Gold Coast promises plenty of winter fun. 

Claiming the Gold Coast is only for summer surf and theme parks isn’t just rude – it’s a flat-out fib. In fact, there are boundless activities awaiting Aussie families on the Gold Coast in wintertime, from exciting festivals and exhibitions to alpaca meet and greets en route to stunning national parks. With fewer crowds in the cooler months and 300 days of sunshine each year, the Gold Coast sure packs a punch… it might just be the perfect place to remedy those winter blues. Keep reading to discover the best things to do on the Gold Coast for families this winter, as well as our top kid-friendly accommodation picks.

Get creative on the Gold Coast

Prepare to hear some serious ‘wows’ and ‘woahs’. The newly opened Imaginator experience in Surfers Paradise is an immersive futuristic playground. You’ll embark on an hour-long multisensory journey, winding your way through shimmering parachute canopies, digital mazes, sensor-triggered LED waves and electronic soundscapes. It’s tech and art all in one – the perfect way to nurture creative young minds.

But there’s much more for creative kids to explore. A hub of art, entertainment and culture, the HOTA (Home of the Arts) precinct has activities as cheery as its rainbow mosaic exterior. Kids can lean into their imaginations at the interactive ArtLab workshops, children’s gallery and theatre, where live dance productions are on show. Or maybe they’d prefer to sit back and watch the latest movie at the centre’s cinema. Sunday mornings are an especially great time to visit HOTA for the added bonus of artisan markets abundant in farm-fresh produce, food trucks and boutique fashion. For more market fun, you can also visit the Village Markets at Burleigh Heads on the first and third Sunday of each month.

Gold Coast theme parks

Returning to the Gold Coast this year is Dreamworld’s awesome Winterfest. Kids can burn off energy at the pop-up ice skating rink, solve puzzles during the Snowflake Scavenger Hunt, or toboggan down the Ice Slide. Then hit crowd-favourite rides from the Sky Voyager, the Southern Hemisphere’s first flying theatre, to the Dreamworld Dodgems and the park’s nine epic thrill rides, including the twisted Serpent Slayer, the Motocoaster, Tail Spin, and the heart-thumping Steel Taipan.

Ready for more thrills? Hop over to Warner Bros. Movie World, which has loads of new and exciting rides opening soon. Get set for The Flash: Speed Force, a high-speed, 30-metre-high ride, that will reach 70km/h as you twist, spin, and race The Reverse-Flash. Two brand-new The Wizard of Oz-themed rides are also in the works as part of a world-first Wizard of Oz precinct set to open this year: the Kansas Twister and the Flight of the Wicked Witch. What could be more fun than skipping down the Yellow Brick Road?

Best outdoor activities on the Gold Coast

There’s plenty of sunshine on the Gold Coast for families in need of some vitamin D (yes, even in winter), so why not get the crew outdoors? Cycle along Tugun Beach, play at Palm Beach Parklands, or picnic at Main Beach. Even better, take a Jellurgal Walkabout Tour of Burleigh Headland for a memorable cultural experience in the fresh air. You’ll get to discover the beautiful headland with a local First Nations guide, who will introduce your family to traditional bush tucker and tell stories of the Yugambeh people. Everyone knows that learning outdoors is way more fun than in a classroom.

Tarzan, who? Little adventurers can run wild in Springbrook and Lamington National Parks, both less than an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast. Get lost in a world of magnificent canopies, winding tree roots, and cascading falls. The Warrie Circuit is a terrific beginner-level trail in Springbrook, while Pat’s Bluff is a half-day hike with sweeping views all the way to the Great Dividing Range. As far as waterfalls go, Curtis Falls, Elabana Falls, and Twin Falls never fail to deliver on the wow factor.

Wildlife to see on the Gold Coast

If you’re looking to satisfy little animal lovers, you’re in luck, as the Gold Coast boasts a range of remarkable wildlife experiences. Hone your horse-riding skills at Thunderbird Park or treat the kids to an alpaca encounter in the vineyards of Mountview Alpaca Farm, just 45 minutes from Surfers Paradise.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is another terrific place to see exciting creatures without having to venture too far. Cuddly koalas, resident red pandas, and lovely lorikeets – what more could kids want? The sanctuary’s wide diversity of animals makes it one of the best wildlife activities on the Gold Coast for families.

Of course, on the coast, you can also watch whales breaching from the safety of Burleigh Hill as they embark on their annual trek south from May through to November. There are also plenty of whale watching tours if you prefer to witness these marvellous creatures doing their migration thing from the water.

Whether you’re looking for a swish hotel suite or an adventure-filled holiday park, we’ve found the best family friendly accommodation on the Gold Coast.

Keep reading:

• 74 things to do on the Gold Coast with kids
• 17 best Gold Coast restaurants and pubs with playgrounds
• The best theme parks in the world for kids and teens

This article originally appeared in Volume 75 of Holidays with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.