How to spend three days on the
GOLD
COAST
We reveal the best way to fill a long weekend in Queensland’s holiday playground during a stay at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Opening image: A family at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast © Destination Gold Coast
Day 1
Afternoon
Arrive at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, which lies in the heart of Surfers Paradise. While you’re checking in, the kids can hit Dusty’s Jungle Gym in the hotel lobby. The Resort has four wings which are named after the gecko mascots that make regular appearances around the property – adventure-loving Dusty, princess Cleopatra, swashbuckling pirate Captain Dane and Astro the spaceman.
After you’ve settled into your room, there’s no doubt the kids will want to head straight to the pool and water parks! The resort has a large, lagoon-style pool with a gently sloping beach entry and two water parks catering to different ages. They include the three-level Z4K water park, which has a tipping bucket, water cannons and several waterslides.
Images: Dusty's Jungle Gym, Characters in front of the water park, A family in the pool
Evening
Enjoy dinner at Penguins Restaurant, which is open from 5pm and has a play area in the corner filled with toys which keeps the little ones happy while you’re waiting for your order to arrive.
Afterwards, join in whatever activity is scheduled for the night. It might be an outdoor movie you can watch while munching on popcorn, a circus show, or something more interactive, like musical bingo, a game show or karaoke.
Images: A family dining at Penguins restaurant, Movie night at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Day 2
Morning
After filling up on such delights as pancake stacks and eggs benedict at breakfast, begin the day with a walk along the beach at Surfers Paradise, which is just two blocks away, stopping for a swim or to check out the various playgrounds along the way, before returning for a fun-filled day at the resort. The kids will probably want more time playing in the pool or water park, but there are loads more things to keep them entertained.
The schedule changes regularly but is likely to include such activities as slime making or candle-making workshops, muffin decorating, line dancing classes, scavenger hunts, dunk tank sessions, trivia, jelly eating contests and belly flop competitions. Little girls will also love getting their hair braided and make-up done at the Pamper Parlour. Be sure to hop aboard Dusty’s Safari Train to take a trip around the resort on the miniature railway and enjoy a ride on Cleo’s Carousel.
Images: A family on Surfers Paradise Beach, The new Pamper Parlour, An aerial view of the water park
Afternoon
When tummies start to rumble, there are several on-site restaurants to satisfy those pangs. Choose between favourites like spaghetti Bolognese, chicken parmigiana and fish and chips at the Poolside Café & Bar, tacos, nachos and burritos at the on-site Mexican eatery, or Italian at Deb’s Pizza Shack. There’s also Jerry’s Burger Bar, where the menu includes souvlaki wraps, pulled beef burgers and crumbed calamari.
After lunch, head back to your room and rug up, because this afternoon you’re going ice-skating! Paradise Resort has its very own rink, Planet Chill, on the second floor above Penguins restaurant. Children as young as three can try it out, with the help of fibreglass penguins to help them balance. Each session runs for up to two hours.
Images: Indulge at Deb's Pizza Shack, Planet Chill at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Evening
Give the littlies an early dinner before dropping them off at the kids’ club, where you know they will be kept busy with such activities as discos and pyjama parties while you head out to enjoy a three-course dinner at the hilarious Dracula’s Cabaret at Broadbeach, which is filled with aerial acrobatics, singing, dancing and a bit of burlesque. The kids’ club, which has a Space Room, Captain’s Underwater World, Leonardo’s Painting Room, an Egyptian Room, Astro’s Space Station, Dusty’s Safari, Krazy 4 Kraft, Magic Garden and Junior Adventure Park, is open until 11.30pm on Saturday nights, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the show before picking them up.
Image: A performer at Dracula's Cabaret
Day 3
Morning
It’s time to head to one of the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks for the day! Sea World, which offers everything from educational talks about the marine animals on exhibit to family rides, thrilling rollercoasters and an epic water park, is the closest option at just seven minutes’ drive away. It’s around 25 minutes’ drive to Warner Bros. Movie World, where the kids can meet superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman, see a Hollywood stunt driver show and wave at their favourite characters as they march by in the daily parade.
At Dreamworld, which is around half an hour’s drive away, see the jungle’s most fearsome predator at Tiger Island, ride the Dreamworld Express train and lots of other fun rides or spend the afternoon splashing about in the WhiteWater World water park.
Images: Meet Batman at Warner Bros. Movie World, Battle boats at Castaway Bay at Sea World on the Gold Coast, An aerial view of Dreamworld
Evening
The whole family will no doubt be pooped after a big day out. If you like you can order take-away from one of the Resort’s in-house restaurants and take it to your room for a quiet night in. But as this is your last night at Paradise Resort, you may want to make the most of all the awesome activities on offer!
Images: Disco fun at the Paradise Resort Gold Coast Kids' Club, A Deluxe Resort Room
Day 1
Afternoon
Arrive at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, which lies in the heart of Surfers Paradise. While you’re checking in, the kids can hit Dusty’s Jungle Gym in the hotel lobby. The Resort has four wings which are named after the gecko mascots that make regular appearances around the property – adventure-loving Dusty, princess Cleopatra, swashbuckling pirate Captain Dane and Astro the spaceman.
After you’ve settled into your room, there’s no doubt the kids will want to head straight to the pool and water parks! The resort has a large, lagoon-style pool with a gently sloping beach entry and two water parks catering to different ages. They include the three-level Z4K water park, which has a tipping bucket, water cannons and several waterslides.
Images: Dusty's Jungle Gym, Characters in front of the water park, A family in the pool
Evening
Enjoy dinner at Penguins Restaurant, which is open from 5pm and has a play area in the corner filled with toys which keeps the little ones happy while you’re waiting for your order to arrive.
Afterwards, join in whatever activity is scheduled for the night. It might be an outdoor movie you can watch while munching on popcorn, a circus show, or something more interactive, like musical bingo, a game show or karaoke.
Images: A family dining at Penguins restaurant, Movie night at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Day 2
Morning
After filling up on such delights as pancake stacks and eggs benedict at breakfast, begin the day with a walk along the beach at Surfers Paradise, which is just two blocks away, stopping for a swim or to check out the various playgrounds along the way, before returning for a fun-filled day at the resort. The kids will probably want more time playing in the pool or water park, but there are loads more things to keep them entertained.
The schedule changes regularly but is likely to include such activities as slime making or candle-making workshops, muffin decorating, line dancing classes, scavenger hunts, dunk tank sessions, trivia, jelly eating contests and belly flop competitions. Little girls will also love getting their hair braided and make-up done at the Pamper Parlour. Be sure to hop aboard Dusty’s Safari Train to take a trip around the resort on the miniature railway and enjoy a ride on Cleo’s Carousel.
Images: A family on Surfers Paradise Beach, The new Pamper Parlour, An aerial view of the water park
Afternoon
When tummies start to rumble, there are several on-site restaurants to satisfy those pangs. Choose between favourites like spaghetti Bolognese, chicken parmigiana and fish and chips at the Poolside Café & Bar, tacos, nachos and burritos at the on-site Mexican eatery, or Italian at Deb’s Pizza Shack. There’s also Jerry’s Burger Bar, where the menu includes souvlaki wraps, pulled beef burgers and crumbed calamari.
After lunch, head back to your room and rug up, because this afternoon you’re going ice-skating! Paradise Resort has its very own rink, Planet Chill, on the second floor above Penguins restaurant. Children as young as three can try it out, with the help of fibreglass penguins to help them balance. Each session runs for up to two hours.
Images: Indulge at Deb's Pizza Shack, Planet Chill at Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Evening
Give the littlies an early dinner before dropping them off at the kids’ club, where you know they will be kept busy with such activities as discos and pyjama parties while you head out to enjoy a three-course dinner at the hilarious Dracula’s Cabaret at Broadbeach, which is filled with aerial acrobatics, singing, dancing and a bit of burlesque. The kids’ club, which has a Space Room, Captain’s Underwater World, Leonardo’s Painting Room, an Egyptian Room, Astro’s Space Station, Dusty’s Safari, Krazy 4 Kraft, Magic Garden and Junior Adventure Park, is open until 11.30pm on Saturday nights, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the show before picking them up.
Image: A performer at Dracula's Cabaret
Day 3
Morning
It’s time to head to one of the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks for the day! Sea World, which offers everything from educational talks about the marine animals on exhibit to family rides, thrilling rollercoasters and an epic water park, is the closest option at just seven minutes’ drive away. It’s around 25 minutes’ drive to Warner Bros. Movie World, where the kids can meet superheroes like Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman, see a Hollywood stunt driver show and wave at their favourite characters as they march by in the daily parade.
At Dreamworld, which is around half an hour’s drive away, see the jungle’s most fearsome predator at Tiger Island, ride the Dreamworld Express train and lots of other fun rides or spend the afternoon splashing about in the WhiteWater World water park.
Images: Meet Batman at Warner Bros. Movie World, Ride the virtual reality rollercoaster, An aerial view of Dreamworld
Evening
The whole family will no doubt be pooped after a big day out. If you like you can order take-away from one of the Resort’s in-house restaurants and take it to your room for a quiet night in. But as this is your last night at Paradise Resort, you may want to make the most of all the awesome activities on offer!
Image: Disco fun at the Paradise Resort Gold Coast Kids' Club, A Deluxe Resort Room