You don’t have to break the bank to have a fun day out with your kids on the Gold Coast. With so many incredible natural attractions and free activities on offer, it is the perfect place to spend time with your family, without reaching for your wallet. Chasing some ideas? We have put together a list below of some of our favourite ways to spend time with your family on the Gold Coast for FREE.
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Free Things to do on the Gold Coast with Kids
Visit a Gold Coast playground
Playgrounds are always a popular attraction for families, and at the Gold Coast there are a multitude of incredible ones to choose from. Beachside, themed, and even all-abilities, the many Gold Coast playgrounds you can visit are all pretty impressive – and, of course, free! Just click the link for a collection of playground reviews.
Spend the day on a Gold Coast beach
Its what the Gold Coast is most known for after all! Crystal-clear waters, surf waves, and long stretches of sandy beaches perfect for sandcastles and play. A day on one of the area’s fabulous beaches is always one of the best FREE ways you can spend time with your kids on the Gold Coast.
Some of our favourites for families with kids of all ages include Tallebudgera Beach and Creek and Currumbin Creek.
For older kids Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Main Beach.
Visit Springbrook National Park
Springbrook National Park is located within the lush, tropical Gold Coast Hinterland. With plenty of tranquil walks, vistas, and wildlife to encounter, it is a stunning natural playground for families to explore together. The Natural Bridge, a magical natural rock formation and waterfall, is found in the national park too.
Enjoy a beachside BBQ
Scattered along the coastline and tucked away in many of the surrounding parks are a slew of BBQs and picnic areas. Perfect for a morning, lunch, or evening gathering, bring your own snacks from home, chuck some snags on the BBQ and enjoy a picnic and some free grass sports with the family. With so many picturesque locations, nothing beats a summer BBQ by the beach!
Lorikeet Feeding at Currumbin Sanctuary
Regardless how old you are, taking part in the twice-daily lorikeet feeding sessions at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is an experience you won’t want to miss. Located right at the entrance to the park and completely FREE, the delightful spectacle of hundreds of coloured birds descending from the sky and landing happily on people to feed is a memory your kids will never forget.
Tip: When you arrive there is a carpark across the road from the Sanctuary. You walk through the gift store to reach the feeding area which is actually located outside the paid entry.
Lamington National Park Waterfalls
Explore the natural wonders of Lamington National Park as a family. With 160 kilometres of walking trails, more than 500 waterfalls and 250 species of unique wildlife, there is a full day of free fun and exploration to discover.
One of our favourite sections of Lamington National Park is O’Reilly’s, which is a bit of a drive up a mountain, but once there, pure paradise. Think ancient rainforest vibes with a free tree top walk surrounded by a myriad of bird life.
Go to HOTA – Home of the Arts
HOTA, the cultural hub of the Gold Coast, always has plenty of free activities for kids to enjoy. Stroll through the children’s gallery, explore the Sculpture Walk and Adventure Trail, and even cool down with a swim in Evandale lake.
Watch the Pelican Feeding
Ian Dipple Lagoon offers families a free protected swimming area and charming playground to enjoy. The real highlight for kids though is the daily pelican feeding, hosted by Charis Seafoods, that takes place there every day at 1:30pm.
Explore Mt Tamborine – Cedar Creek Falls
Cascading waterfalls, hidden creeks and rock pools, tropical rainforest walks, undulating green picnic hills, winding mountain drives, and a lively main street to wander. Mt Tamborine overflows with free activities you can enjoy with the kids.
The Rockpools at Broadwater Parklands
Not only does Broadwater Parklands have a monstrous playground complete with jumping pillow and peddle monorail, it also has a wonderful free rock pool and water play area. With tipping water bucket, fountains and sprays, you can cool down and enjoy a BBQ or picnic at the surrounding lawns after.
Go wildlife spotting at MacIntosh Island Park
A parkland oasis right in the heart of the Gold Coast, MacIntosh Island Park will gift you numerous free activities to share with the kids. There are multiple playgrounds, a cascading stream, and beautiful manicured lawns. It is also a well-known bird sanctuary, where peacocks roam freely around the grounds.
Swim and snorkel in Tallebudgera Creek
One of the most family-friendly locations on the Gold Coast, Tallebudgera Creek is a stunning natural playground for kids. With its calm waters, it is a safe space for even the smallest of kids to swim. Pack in some snorkels too and explore the colourful underwater world beneath the crystal waters.
Climb Elephant Rock
Currumbin Beach is one of the most stunning coastal stretches on the Gold Coast, with the view from the top of its infamous ‘Elephant Rock‘ gifting you breathtaking views out over it all. You can access the steep but easily navigable staircase from the surf club.
Explore Federation Walk Coastal Reserve
This 3.5km pedestrian walkway stretches from Philip Park near Sea World to the Seaway on The Spit. One of the few remaining areas with an established dune system on the Gold Coast, you can walk or ride through patches of rainforest filled with an abundance of wildlife.
Stroll through the markets – Carrara Markets
Kids love wandering through the markets, what with their eclectic mix of handmade goods, delicious treats, and colourful characters. Carrara Markets are one of our favourites, with over 300 stalls to visit.
Picnic on Burleigh Hill
If you are looking for one of the most picturesque spots on the Gold Coast for a picnic, you can’t go past Burleigh Hill. This elevated grassy park with breathtaking views is a popular spot for sunsets, picnics and gatherings. There are beaches, playgrounds, BBQs and plenty of facilities all nearby. If you are there on a Sunday evening, you can catch the musicians and fire-twirlers in Justin Park.
Swell Sculpture Festival
September is a gorgeous time of year to visit the Gold Coast with kids. The weather is divine and it is also when Currumbin Beach plays host to the annual Swell Sculpture Festival. With plenty of free activities for the kids, you can take in the impressive sculptures that line the shoreline, enjoy twilight walks, and discover a full schedule of free live entertainment and events.
Discover the Gold Coast bikeways
Whether you are a family of serious cyclists or just out for a leisurely ride, the Gold Coast is overflowing with some of the best cycling paths in Queensland. An ideal way to take in the area, the kids will love riding past beaches, through national parks and in bushland, soaking up the stunning and diverse landscapes found in the Gold Coast.
Swim in the Currumbin Rock Pools
The Currumbin Rock Pools, just 12km up the valley from Currumbin Beach, is a freshwater swimming hole filled with mountain fresh water. Kids will love clambering over the boulders, skipping along the pebbled pathways and floating along the shallow streams that flow from it.
Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Tucked into the base of Burleigh National Park, the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre will allow your whole family to immerse themselves in local Aboriginal culture in an engaging and active way. Browse the art gallery, see the traditional artefacts, and stroll through the informative boardwalk story board display.
Visit a Gold Coast library
Believe it or not, libraries offer an array of free workshops and activities for the kids. If the weather outside isn’t too favourable, find your local and pop inside for some quiet down time with the kids.
Go Fishing
With a coastline filled with sea life, fishing is a wonderful free activity you can enjoy with kids on the Gold Coast. Snapper Rocks, the Gold Coast Seaway and Tallebudgera Creek are all picturesque spots to cast in a line.
Nature Coombabah Lake Conservation Park
Home to over 270 animal species, Coombabah Lake Conservation Park is also an important coastal wetlands and migratory bird habitat. For an abundance of natural wildlife encounters, the kids can go bike riding, bird watching and in the open grasslands off Rain Tree Glen entrance watch kangaroos feeding and lazing around in the shade or out in the open areas.
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