Things To Do With Kids
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Free and low-cost ideas, places and little adventures for families.
36 places and 1 idea
Burleigh Heads · Free
Rockpools and coastal exploring for families near Burleigh Headland. Best at low tide. Bring reef shoes and check conditions.
Parent tip: Pair it with a beach walk and bakery stop.
Palm Beach · Free
A quieter Tallebudgera Creek option with a netted swimming enclosure, sandy edge and an easy picnic setup. There are toilets, showers, barbecues, shade structures, a small playground and free street parking.
Parent tip: Arrive early on hot weekends and bring a paddleboard or kayak for older kids.
Currumbin Valley · Free
A freshwater swimming and picnic spot in Currumbin Valley, only 10 to 15 minutes inland from the beach. Shelters, barbecues, picnic tables and toilets are provided, with a café directly across the road.
Parent tip: Go early, choose a shallow edge for little kids and save the deeper pools for confident swimmers.
Currumbin Valley · Free
A cool, shaded 1.6-kilometre Grade 2 rainforest walk beside Currumbin Creek to cascades and a historic sawmill. There are toilets and picnic tables at the trailhead, but the available water is not suitable for drinking.
Parent tip: Pair it with Currumbin Rock Pools on the drive back rather than trying to turn the national-park creek into a swim stop.
Springbrook · Free
A one-kilometre Grade 2 rainforest circuit to a waterfall dropping through a natural basalt arch and cave. The circuit includes stairs. Toilets and a sheltered picnic table are near the carpark, but drinking water is not supplied.
Parent tip: Visit by day with younger kids; save a quiet glow-worm visit after dark for older children with headlamps.
Palm Beach · Free
The classic family side of Tallebudgera Creek, with calm-looking water, a small playground, picnic lawns and showers. There are toilets, Changing Places facilities, barbecues and non-metered parking, but spaces fill quickly.
Parent tip: Go before 9am on a hot weekend or use the quieter Murlong enclosure nearby.
Palm Beach · Free
A pirate-ship playground beside Currumbin Lagoon, with picnic shelters, showers, toilets and a café. The on-site carpark is free, with a three-hour weekday limit between 8am and 4pm.
Parent tip: Start at the playground, swim before lunch and use the outdoor showers before heading home.
Coolangatta · Free
A sheltered southern beach day with two year-round patrolled swimming areas, a playground and a shady headland walk. Toilets, showers, barbecues and picnic shelters are available; parking is limited around the headland.
Parent tip: Swim first, then take the boardwalk and lookout loop when everyone needs a break from the sun.
Nerang · Free
An outback-themed adventure playground wrapped by a creek bed where kids pump, channel and redirect water. This is water-pump and channel play, not a splash pad or swimming pool. There are toilets, picnic shelters and paths for scooters.
Parent tip: Pack spare clothes and small gumboots or water shoes; the best fun involves getting muddy.
Surfers Paradise · Free
A free enclosed swimming lagoon, fenced shaded playground and picnic area tucked behind HOTA. There are showers, barbecues, drinking fountains and accessible paths. Public toilets close at night.
Parent tip: Do the lagoon in the morning, then cool down inside HOTA Gallery after lunch.
Southport · Free
A free marine-themed water playground with fountains, creek beds and tidal rockpools beside three very different play areas. Rockpools hours change by month and open later on Tuesdays. Paid parking applies from 9am to 7pm.
Parent tip: Use the water play first and save the nearby playgrounds for when swimmers are drying.
Labrador · Free
A wave-free Broadwater lagoon beside a fenced nautical playground, flying fox and ninja-style course. There are toilets, showers, picnic facilities, accessible paths and an on-site carpark; fish and chips are next door.
Parent tip: Bring a picnic rug but leave lunch flexible — Charis Seafood beside the lagoon is an easy parent win.
Paradise Point · Free
A calm netted Broadwater swim with shade sails over part of the sand and cafés just across the road. Playground and picnic upgrades are underway during 2026, so some sections may be fenced or changed.
Parent tip: Treat the swimming enclosure as the main event for now and check the City project page before planning around the playground.
Paradise Point · Free
A quiet island park with a swimming enclosure, shady picnic tables, small playground, jetty and mangrove boardwalks. There are accessible toilets, barbecues, a boat ramp and an on-site carpark; there is no café.
Parent tip: Pack lunch and walk under the bridge into Phil Hill Environmental Park after the swim.
Surfers Paradise · Free
A small Nerang River beach and playground that feels surprisingly removed from nearby Surfers Paradise. The reserve has toilets, showers, barbecues, picnic tables and a playground; the swimming area is not patrolled.
Parent tip: Go around high tide for more usable water and stop at the local café before settling under a tree.
Surfers Paradise · Free
A genuinely good free air-conditioned escape with contemporary art, a Children's Gallery and family programs. General gallery entry is free; major exhibitions and some workshops may be ticketed. The gallery opens daily.
Parent tip: Check the current Children's Gallery exhibition, then combine it with Evandale Lake if the heat drops later.
Mermaid Waters · Free
A free, cool and low-pressure outing with children's books, Wi-Fi, quiet corners and regular family sessions. Time-limited free parking is outside, with overflow at Pacific Fair. The library is closed Sundays and public holidays.
Parent tip: Time the visit with free Storytime or Toddler Time, then let the kids choose one book each.
Benowa · Free
A spacious free garden with lake boardwalks, a sensory garden, native plants and an easy nature playground. The Mangroves to Mountains loop is about 1.5 km. The Friends Centre and cafe generally operate 9am–3pm, weather permitting. Dogs are restricted around the central lake and playground.
Parent tip: Start with the playground, then follow the lake boardwalk while everyone still has energy. The accessible loop is the easiest pram option.
Broadbeach · Free
A fenced all-abilities playground beside the beach, with a hill slide, flying fox, supported swing and imaginative play zones. There are toilets, showers, barbecues and shaded picnic areas. A Changing Places facility sits outside the playground, and a beach wheelchair may be available through the nearby surf club.
Parent tip: Use the northern carpark on a weekday for the longer three-hour limit, and pack a change of clothes if the beach is part of the plan.
Pimpama · Free
A destination playground with a mega slide, toddler zone, bike paths, basketball, music play and a relaxed teen hangout. The park has accessible toilets, ramps and parking, plus shelters and open lawns. Dogs must stay on leash outside the playground.
Parent tip: Bring wheels as well as playground gear—the connecting paths stretch the outing and give confident riders room to move.
Palm Beach · Free
A fully fenced pirate-themed playground with a pedal monorail, liberty swing, toddler equipment and shady picnic space. Barbecues, shelters and accessible toilets are available. A separate off-leash dog area sits outside the play space.
Parent tip: The pedal monorail is popular, so arrive earlier in the morning for shorter waits and cooler equipment.
Miami · Free
A major free action-sports hub with a 4,800-square-metre skate park and a large asphalt pump track for bikes, scooters and skates. The wider precinct has toilets, picnic shelters, four playgrounds and an off-leash dog area. The skate and pump facilities serve beginner through expert riders.
Parent tip: First-timers will feel more comfortable early in the day, before the faster after-school and weekend crowd arrives.
Coombabah · Free
A broad wetland reserve with flat shared trails, a bird hide, melaleuca boardwalk and good chances to notice wallabies and waterbirds. The reserve opens 6am–6pm. It has no toilets or drinking water, and dogs are prohibited. Options include an 800 m walk to the bird hide and a 1.2 km wallaby loop.
Parent tip: Choose one short loop rather than chasing the whole 16 km network, and pause quietly near the wetland edges for the best wildlife chance.
Main Beach · Free
A nearly 3 km coastal reserve trail through dune vegetation, suited to walking, birdwatching, jogging and family bike rides. There are no toilets inside the reserve; use facilities at either end. Dogs must stay on leash on reserve trails. The adjacent ocean beach is currently closed because of erosion hazards.
Parent tip: Treat this as an out-and-back and turn around when the youngest rider reaches half their comfortable distance.
Advancetown · Free
A free hinterland outing combining a high dam-wall walk, reservoir views, picnic lawns, visitor displays and an on-site cafe. Recreation areas open 5.30am–6.30pm September–April and 6am–5.30pm May–August. The cafe generally opens weekdays 9am–4pm and weekends 8am–5.30pm. Pocket Park barbecues are currently out of order.
Parent tip: Walk the wall before lunch; it is exposed and usually more comfortable earlier in the day.
Springbrook · Free
A 4 km rainforest circuit descending beneath a tall waterfall, with lookouts, creek crossings and a solid staircase workout. Queensland Parks grades it 3 and allows about two hours. There are roughly 265 steps; walking clockwise makes the descent gentler. Toilets and picnic facilities are near the trailhead.
Parent tip: Go clockwise, take a snack break at the base and allow extra time for children rather than using the official two-hour estimate as a target.
Springbrook · Free
A short 600 m return rainforest walk to a border-range lookout, passing ancient Antarctic beech trees on the way. Queensland Parks grades the walk 2 and suggests about 30 minutes. Cloud can completely hide the view, but the cool forest is still worthwhile.
Parent tip: Check the cloud forecast, but keep expectations loose—the mossy Antarctic beech section often becomes the children's favourite part.
Palm Beach · Free
A quiet 650 m creekside boardwalk with sheltered seats, fishing platforms, a kayak launch and mangrove views. The boardwalk links into longer shared paths around Tarrabora Reserve and Salk Oval. Picnic shelters and showers are available, but the reserve listing does not include toilets.
Parent tip: Time the visit away from the hottest part of the day, and pair the short boardwalk with nearby Tarrabora Reserve if everyone wants more walking.
Main Beach · Free
A broad waterfront park at the end of The Spit with lawns, a Seaway promenade, fishing spots and expansive Broadwater views. The park has toilets, showers, picnic facilities, a kiosk and a fish-cleaning station. The adjacent ocean beaches remain closed because of erosion, so plan a land-based visit only.
Parent tip: Walk the promenade first, then choose a picnic spot back from the exposed Seaway edge and afternoon wind.
Main Beach · Free
A shady island-style park with two playgrounds, streams, birdlife, walking paths and small sandy canal edges. Facilities include toilets, barbecues, shelters, drinking water and parking on both sides. Dogs may be on leash outside playground areas.
Parent tip: Bring a picnic and make the birdlife part of the game, but keep food packed away when peacocks approach.
Tallebudgera · Free
A spacious creekside reserve with a jungle climbing playground, big slides, nature paths, boardwalks and a kayak launch. Open 6am–6pm. Toilets, drinking water, picnic areas, accessible parking and concrete paths are available. The sandy creek edge is tidal and unpatrolled.
Parent tip: Do the playground first, then use the short peninsula trail as a cool-down before lunch.
Burleigh Waters · Free
A compact junior bike track with bridges, ramps, obstacles and speed bumps beside toddler play and flying foxes. The park has shelters, barbecues and accessible outer paths, but no toilets. A separate off-leash dog area is nearby.
Parent tip: Walk one lap together first so children know where the bridges and bumps are before they pick up speed.
Nerang · Free
A forest mountain-bike network with 20 designated trails and shared routes close to Nerang. Queensland Parks provides a dedicated mountain-bike trail map. There are no toilets, drinking water or cafe at the trailhead, and dogs are prohibited.
Parent tip: Download the official map before leaving home and choose one conservative loop; mobile reception and trail junctions are not the place to improvise with children.
Currumbin · Free
A free indoor bee and honey stop where families can see working hives, find the queen bee and taste Australian honey. Most families need 30–60 minutes. Entry is free, the shop is open daily, and the experience works without advance booking.
Parent tip: Pair it with Surf World upstairs for a low-cost mini museum morning, but check the different opening hours before travelling.
Southport · Free
A large central library with children's collections, kids' computers, free Wi-Fi, comfortable reading space and an on-site café. Entry and library use are free. Programs change through the year, so check the events calendar rather than relying on a particular session.
Parent tip: Arrive by tram if possible, then give each child a small mission—choose one book, one fact and one quiet activity.
Ormeau · Free
A small northern Gold Coast library with the Book Box early-years corner, designed around books, play-based learning and easy family use. It is open weekdays only. Entry, Wi-Fi and browsing are free; program times vary and should be checked on the library calendar.
Parent tip: This is best treated as a 30–60 minute local outing, not a destination day—bring a few books home to extend the value.
A simple morning adventure: check the tide, explore rockpools, then grab a treat nearby.