Adulting is hard and the art of play is too often left to the kids. Well, we say it’s time for the grown ups to get with the program, lighten up and let loose too! Theme Parks are just the antidote for taking life so seriously. Forget about lunch boxes and life admin for a day and focus on pure, unadulterated fun at one of our action-packed, family friendly parks.
WARNER BROS. MOVIE WORLD
Excitement starts building as you walk under the gateway at Movie World. Stop here for a quick happy snap and then get started – there’s no time to waste! Movie World boasts a full day of adventure filled with all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, your favourite Looney Tunes Characters plus the Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Universe. Lock in your meet-up time to make the cheerful Street Parade at 3.30pm and then take on the Superman Escape early to avoid queues (the adrenalin rush straight up will replace your need for morning caffeine). Watching the littlies on a merry-go-round will also seem a lot more appealing when you’re catching your breath from going zero to 100km in two seconds flat. Hot tip: for the ultimate thrill, book your spot to ride the HyperCoaster backwards… just don’t eat lunch beforehand!
DREAMWORLD
With rides, water slides, wildlife and entertainment all in one place, Dreamworld is the perfect place for the whole family. If your adrenals are already shot then you’ll be more that happy to take the littlest of grommets to ABC KIDS World. If thrills are your thing, there are plenty of ways to get your adrenaline fix with rollercoasters a plenty and once you’ve done your dash, you can head to White Water World to cool off and hit the water slides. And stop past Tiger Island for an awesome encounter with the majestic big cats.
SEA WORLD
Edu-tainment at Sea World is a whole other kettle of fish. Kids will love getting up close to see penguins, polar bears, seals, sharks and the mesmerising Sea Jellies Illuminated exhibition. Get giddy about touching sea slugs and check out the sting rays in the shallow pools. Book in to play with fun-loving dolphins and get your heart racing on the Storm Coaster. You’ll work up an appetite and there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat… we suggest you hit the thrilling rides in The New Atlantis Precinct first! Pack a towel too because the kids are sure to want a splash at Castaway Bay.
WET ‘N’ WILD
Australia’s biggest water park is calling! A flurry of extreme slides throughout the parks ensure everyone is focused on holding on for dear life and screaming at the top of their lungs. There are wild rides for adults and fun splash parks for little kids. For a more relaxing pace, recline on sun lounge by the Giant Wave Pool or grab a tube and go with the flow as you float through Calypso Beach. Make sure you pack the sun screen!
CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
If you prefer to get your thrills from furry friends, large and small, then Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary needs to be on your list. Held dearly in the hearts of all who visit, the sanctuary gives you a chance to get up close with exotic beauties and native Australian wildlife – you can even cuddle a koala. Walk through the open aviary and wonder at the gorgeous plumage all around, or say hello to the fluffy red panda as he snoozes on a branch. Remember to take the phone out to capture the memories and be photobombed by hundreds of squawking lorikeets – feeding time is at 8am and 4pm daily and you’re invited to share some snacks.
PARADISE COUNTRY
Styled as an Australian homestead, Paradise Country offers an immersive experience of an Aussie farm. Visitors to the theme park can spend the day soaking up an authentic Australiana vibe while watching skilled stockmen round up sheep on their horses, cracking whips and boiling up some billy tea, or catch a sheep shearing demonstration. There are endless activities and encounters for the kids and they’ll get up close and cuddly with a variety of farm animals and even some native wildlife like koalas, emus and kangaroos.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.