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Things to do in Surfers Paradise with your family
Family holidays can be fun but they can also be challenging and provide a good test on your negotiation, time management and budgeting skills. It can be a juggle to try and keep everyone happy and stick to the holiday budget. A day out with the family in Surfers Paradise has so many things to do that there is sure to be an activity for everyone to enjoy, maybe even at the same time if you’re lucky. We have put together a list of seven great Surfers Paradise tours and activities and have taken the hassle out of planning with our timeline below including dining options for lunch and dinner.
With all activities being based in Surfers Paradise you won’t need to worry about the kids fighting over seats in the car either. Shotgun spending the day in Surfers Paradise.
A family fun day in Surfers Paradise:
- 7:00 am – Surfers Paradise Beach
Start the day with a takeaway coffee and smashed avo on toast and see why Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s most famous beach.
Watch the sunrise over spectacular Surfers Paradise Beach and enjoy an early morning swim with the family, perhaps try some cool body surfing manoeuvres. This beautiful beach is manned by our famous Gold Coast lifeguards 365 days each year, keeping everyone safe.
With over 3 km of pure golden sands, take a leisurely stroll along the water’s edge, chill with the locals, and watch the surfers catch some great waves and master their tricks. No visit to the Gold Coast is complete without snapping a selfie under the world famous Surfers Paradise arched sign, one you can share on Instagram to make your friends jealous!
Image: Destination Surfers Paradise
Ripleys Believe it or Not
- 9am – Prepare to have your mind blown.
Enter the incredible world of Robert Ripley. Explore 15 different galleries of weird and jaw dropping artifacts from around the globe that will leave you questioning whether you believe it or not? It has to be seen to be believed. Wonder at history as you view a Tibetan skull, or stand next to a wedding dress made from toilet paper (is that where it all went?). Explore the Ripley Collection featuring exhibits from both past and future, from pre-historic to futuristic, where you can see items invisible to the naked eye through to giant car parts and skeletons of dinosaurs. Challenge the family as you navigate your way around and through Laserace, a web of laser light. Make it more competitive by seeing who can beat the clock! An educational attraction of fun and adventure for all the family, and something to blow your mind.
During 2020, Ripley’s are adding a arrange of new attractions including a 7D Cinema and Lolly shop extravaganza, and will be re-opening and welcoming back guests from around mid-August.
Open Daily 9am – 10 pm
Pricing: Adult (12 & Up) $26.90, Student & Seniors $22.90. Child 3-11 yrs $17.90.
Price includes entry to Odditorium + Laserace
Image: https://www.facebook.com/RipleysSurfersParadise
Infinity
Travel into the future and go into sensory overload as you travel through mazes filled with special effects and optical illusions. Let your mind go wild as you experience lighting effects and futuristic sounds and music, transporting you to a new dimension. This is a great activity to do as a family and is suitable for everyone over 8 years. Combine education and fun as you embrace the unexpected and awaken your curiosity as you experience interactive activities in each room you enter. Bring your senses to life with this fun family experience.
Open Daily 10am – 10 pm
Prices: Adults $27.90. Child 4-13 yrs $18.90. Family 2 Ad, 2 Ch $78.90. Child 3 and under Free
Add a family photo for just $22.50.
Image: https://www.facebook.com/infinityattraction
Vapiano
The toughest decision of your day will be deciding where to dine for lunch and dinner, with so many cafes and restaurants within the Surfers Paradise precinct to choose from. If Italian is your cuisine of choice, Vapiano is highly recommended for lunch, featuring local Aussie produce and traditional Italian dishes. Little Bambinos will also enjoy the delicious selection of Vapiano’s pizzas and pastas. After all, what family doesn’t enjoy pizza!
After lunch, burn some energy as you explore Cavill Mall shops and buy a special souvenir or grab a cool beverage at Hard Rock Café Spend hours exploring the famous Cavill Mall, starting from the Surfers Paradise iconic sign, and stretching for several blocks past shops, restaurants, cafes and attractions. Be entertained by local buskers as you stroll the mall, and maybe purchase a souvenir from one of the many T-Shirt stores or a new bikini from a cute surf shop. You can’t miss the giant guitar marking the entrance to the Gold Coast’s very own Hard Rock Café, definitely a spot to visit to view the unique music memorabilia and enjoy a cold beverage or two.
Image: https://www.facebook.com/visitsurfersparadise
- 3pm Timezone – challenge your siblings to a friendly family 1 hour unlimited gaming competition.
Grab your Powercard and get ready for entertainment overload, keep the kids (and big kids) occupied for hours with some family friendly competition at the Surfers Paradise TimeZone, the largest of its kind in the world. Arcade games, mini bowling, air hockey, glow mini golf, laser skirmish, bumper cars … the list of things to do is endless, whatever your game of choice may be. Located indoors in the Paradise Centre on Cavill Avenue, this is an easy activity option to fit in-between touring, eating and shopping, and somewhere to show off your excellent gaming skills. Being open until late at night, the fun can continue well into the evening, for those serious gamers. For those looking at an adrenaline rush, why not challenge your friends to a game of Laser Tag, an exciting interactive arena filled with multi-coloured lasers, a fun activity for everyone.
Open Daily. 10 am – late
Prices: ‘Time Play’ is a great value for money option with 60 minutes at just $26pp and includes standard, prize and ticket games plus 1 feature game. Laser Tag is just $12 per person for one game.
Image: https://www.facebook.com/TimezoneSurfersParadise
- 4:15 pm Enjoy a spectacular afternoon tour and cruise on the amphibious Aquaduck
Of course, our favourite thing to do in Surfers Paradise as a family is to take a ride on the Aquaduck. After an energetic fun day of exploring Surfers Paradise, relax onboard Aquaduck departing from Cavill Avenue. The ultimate family experience, enjoy fun commentary onboard as you drive past key landmarks in the city before entering the water past Seaworld where you will witness the beauty of the Gold Coast on the Broadwater. Taking a late afternoon tour allows you to enjoy the changing colours of the skyline on-board your Gold Coast River cruise as the sun slowly sets in the west, and the city turns golden. As you cruise along the waterways, you can move around onboard to get those special sunset photos, and kids have the chance to drive the Aquaduck, and even get a Captain Aquaduck Certificate to take home and show all their friends. Aquaduck is a great family activity, and offers something for everyone, from babies to grandparents.
Departs Daily: 10am, 11.15 am, 12.30 pm, 1.45 pm, 3.00 pm, 4.15 pm and 5.30 pm
Prices: Family tickets: 2 Adults & 2 Children $132, Adults $40 Children $30.
Take home memories with a family photo for just $10, and every child has to have a duck whistle for just $5 each.
- 5:30pm – Explore the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets (Every Fri/Sat)
followed by dinner and drinks at the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club and dessert at Gelatissimo.
At the end of a great day exploring, the Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets are a great way to unwind. Meet the locals, sift through treasures, unique fashion and jewellery pieces and homewares in cute market stalls and treat yourself to a memory to take home from your holiday. Choose from a special piece of artwork, crafts, locally made goodies, as you enjoy delicious dinner options and snacks, as you wander along the shorefront. Markets are open every Fri and Sat from 4pm – 9 pm. (times may change depending on the season).
Image: https://www.facebook.com/SurfersParadiseBeachfrontMarkets
boasts the very best location in Surfers Paradise, situated right opposite the beach. These wonderful Surfers Paradise life savers take care of one of the busiest beaches in Australia. The 5 star beachfront view from the bistro is not reflected in the price tag with a value for money menu available complete with a good selection of kids’ meals for the little ones. The relaxed atmosphere at Surfers Paradise Life Saving Club is perfect for families, and parents can sit back, relax with a beverage, and enjoy the view while the kids enjoy their kid’s meal that even comes with a free paddle pop ice cream. The Bistro menu is available from 5pm until late, with a large selection of dishes from delicious entrees to a range of speciality seafood dishes, or maybe choose the Surf n Turf from the Grill, or perhaps tuck into one of their famous chicken Parmigianas.
If you still have room left, the perfect dessert can be found at Gelatissimo in Cavill Avenue mall. You can indulge in award winning authentic Gelato and sorbets made fresh in-store, offering over 50 delectable flavour from classics like boysenberry swirl through to the deluxe chunky new York cheesecake. If you’re having trouble deciding you can even take home a tub of Gelato for a late-night snack!
- 7:30pm iFLY – Fly high with iFLY an evening indoor skydiving experience
Perfect for all ages from 3 to 103, and a unique and fun way to experience Skydiving within the safety of the iFLY Wind Tunnel. No experience is necessary, so bring the entire family to fly, as is suitable for all abilities, and is not weather reliant. If not feeling adventurous, you can watch all the fun from the free viewing gallery. Being open in the evenings, this will definitely be the perfect way to end your day in Surfers Paradise. Lasting approximately one hour for the whole experience, you can easily add this to your itinerary after dinner, and you even get to fly twice!
There is also an iFLY and Aquaduck combo available which includes your Aquaduck tour and the iFLY intro 2 flight package from $90.
Open Daily: Mon-Fri 11am to 9pm, Sat 8.30 am to 9pm, Sun & Public Holidays 8.30 am to 7pm
Prices: Book the basic iFly experience from $73 pp, or the all-inclusive First-time flyer package starting at $109 pp. For those looking for even more adventure and an exhilarating rush of excitement, why not upgrade to a virtual skydive or virtual base jump for only $111 pp. Adrenaline junkies will love the iFLY Virtual Reality Ultimate package where you can experience 3 reality flights with 2 skydives in Hawaii and Swiss Alps and then a crazy wingsuit BASE jump for $199 pp.
Image: iFLY Indoor Skydive
With so many things to do in Surfers Paradise you can see how easy it is to keep the family entertained. Ensure you allow a day or two as part of your Gold Coast holiday to be spent exploring the beaches, cafes, shops and activities all located within walking distance in Surfers Paradise.
Original Blog written by Aquaduck Gold Coast
