8 HOTTEST GOLD COAST
Theme Parks
Whether you want to hit the rides and rollercoasters of Dreamworld, meet friendly marine life at Sea World or be transported into rural Australia at the Outback Spectacular, here are eight Gold Coast theme parks to add to your itinerary.
A trip to the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks is a bucket list experience for many Aussie families. Create lifetime memories splashing about in their epic water parks, meeting your favourite movie characters and getting your adrenaline pumping on the thrilling rides.
If you want to start the fun the moment you arrive, book a stay at BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park. As well as being the closest holiday park to Dreamworld, it’s like a theme park in itself, with a huge water park, a resort-style pool, eco-friendly playground and loads of fun activities to keep the whole family happy.
Read on to discover our top tips!
Opening image: DC Rivals Hypercoaster at Warner Bros. Movie World
1. DREAMWORLD
As Australia’s biggest theme park, Dreamworld is the first port of call for many families visiting the Gold Coast. It’s designed around several themed lands that include Tiger Island, the Ocean Parade and Gold Rush Country. Enjoy a scenic ride on the Dreamworld Express before getting up close to Australian wildlife at the Native Wildlife Walkthrough. Dreamworld is also home to Kenny & Belinda’s Dreamland, where young visitors can meet some of their favourite TV characters and enjoy rides inspired by The Wiggles, Play School and Bananas in Pyjamas. You can brave the thrilling inversion of the Buzzsaw rollercoaster or the Steel Taipan triple-launch coaster. The Giant Drop is an oldie but a goldie, with unbeatable views of the Gold Coast from the top.
Images: Mother and son on Gingys Glider, Rollercoaster at Dreamworld © Tourism and Events Queensland
2. WhiteWater World
Just next to Dreamworld, you’ll find WhiteWater World, which celebrates Australia’s enviable beach culture across 11 themed attractions. All the beaches and pools are patrolled by lifeguards and there are luxury cabanas dotted throughout the park where you can kick back for the day. While the Park is closed during the cooler months, it reopens in time for the September school holidays.
Kids of all ages will love the Cave of Waves, where the wave pool’s gentle swell is accompanied by the guttural groans of Huey the Surf God, while young punters can get active at the water-themed fort of Pipeline Plunge. There are plenty of waterslides appealing to all adrenaline levels, ranging from the two-person Little Rippers raft ride to the Fully 6 body slides and the Green Room dropout funnel.
Image: The Pipeline Plunge water park at Whitewater World
3. WARNER BROS. MOVIE WORLD
Inspired by Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Movie World is located beside the Village Roadshow Studios and is Australia's only film-related theme park. While there are thrill rides and coasters here, the experience is more about live shows featuring your family’s favourite movie characters. Littlies will love the rides in the Kids' WB! Fun Zone and dancing along as the Looney Tunes characters make their way down Main Street. The Tom and Jerry 4D Experience will delight the whole family with moving seats and water effects. Movie World packs some great thrill rides such as the DC Rivals Hypercoaster, The Flash: Speed Force, the Batwing Spaceshot and the Wild West Falls flume. Go behind the scenes with a stunt driver in the park’s iconic show and visit the WB Studio Showcase to see the largest exhibition of Warner Bros’ costumes, cars and props in the Southern Hemisphere.
Images: Batman Night Parade, Doomsday Destroyer
4. Sea World
Encompassing an impressive array of rides, shows and animal encounters, Sea World immerses you in our marine environment. It’s home to Antarctic penguins, polar bears and seals, as well as Shark Bay, the world’s largest artificial shark lagoon. The Nickelodeon character meet-and-greets will appeal to younger kids, as well as the Castaway Bay splash zone. Bring the whole family to learn about the park’s conservation and breeding programs at the Dolphin Nursery Pool and Seabird Rehabilitation Aviary, then see its talented mammals in action during live shows. Older kids will be in awe watching the Thunder Lake stunt show, while teens will make a beeline for The New Atlantis precinct featuring thrill rides like Vortex and Leviathan, a classic wooden coaster. Sea World’s add-on experiences are great value for older kids, ranging from reef snorkelling to the Marine Rescue Ranger Program.
Image: The Vortex ride at Sea World
5. WET’N’WILD
The Gold Coast’s original water park, Wet’n’Wild, is bigger and better than ever. Families will love the side-by-side Super Ripper body slides and Mammoth Falls, a four-person tube slide the whole family can ride together. The Wet’n’Wild Junior zone features scaled-down versions of the park’s slides for under-10s. There’s also the Calypso Beach lazy river, wave pool and the all-ages H2Oasis splash zone. Take holiday thrills to new heights when you scale the tallest tower slide in Australia, standing at 23 metres. The KABOOM! is a Southern Hemisphere trailblazer as the first Master Blaster and Tailspin slide, sending guests down a heart-stopping 10-metre drop and spiralling down a 360-degree corkscrew at up to 41 kilometres an hour.
Image: Constrictor, River Rapids
6. Paradise Country
Set on a sprawling Australian homestead, Paradise Country brings together wildlife encounters and farm-themed demonstrations, with a bit of Shaun the Sheep thrown in. Jump aboard Shaun’s Tractor for a scenic ride around the property, then head to the Farmyard Play Paddock and Nursery, where you can meet domesticated animals as well as see exhibits featuring Tasmanian devils and marmosets. It’s time to get hands-on as kids try their hand at opal mining and gold panning or see what it takes to shear a sheep and herd a flock. Under-13s can let loose in the interactive Pig’s Playground and discover the crazy contraptions of the Scraps & Taps water play area.
Image: A Shaun the Sheep meet and greet at Paradise Country © Village Roadshow Theme Parks
7. TOPGOLF
If you’ve got keen golfers in the family, then you won’t want to miss a visit to this golfing playground. That being said, Topgolf is ideal for novices and naysayers too, with live music and a chef-inspired menu to accompany your game of golf. From your private bay, the idea is to hit micro-chipped golf balls into giant outfield targets, with greater accuracy and distance earning you more points. Kids will love the Toptracer games, where every swing lets you interact with a virtual world—instead of golf balls, you can send Angry Birds characters flying! When it’s not your turn, you can feast on American-inspired dishes, such as buffalo wings and burgers. Want to develop your golf skills with a certified pro? Topgolf is also staffed by coaches who can work with everyone, from absolute beginners to seasoned players.
Images: Topgolf Celebration, Golf lessons at Topgolf
8. Australian Outback Spectacular
In this technologically impressive show, journey into Australia’s heartland to experience the life of struggling farmers Reg and Marge. The Australian Outback Spectacular takes place in a large arena where you’ll meet some of Australia’s most endearing animals and unlikely characters as you discover the evocative, yet often unforgiving, nature of life on the land. Accompanied by a three-course meal that supports local farmers, it’s a fascinating glimpse into rural life for city-dwelling families, showcasing the courage, bravery and generosity of outback communities. Plenty of great photo ops are available before and after the show, from the rustic cattle station to pics with the show dogs.
Image: Australian Outback Spectacular Heartland pre show photo
WHERE TO STAY
BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is THE place to stay when you're hitting the nearby theme parks. It's just an eight-minute drive to Dreamworld and has plenty of its own theme park-like attractions, including a water park with several slides, a large splash pad and a resort-style pool. There’s also an eco-friendly playground, a jumping pillow and a kids’ activity centre offering arts and crafts, hair braiding and special guests such as the Reptile Man.
The pet-friendly Park also hosts outdoor movie screenings and has a recreation room with arcade machines, pedal karts available for hire, a basketball court and goal posts for all types of ball sports. You can try catching a fish to cook up on one of the barbecues or in the modern camp kitchen, or dine at the on-site café. A variety of lodging options are available, from powered campsites to luxury cabins.
BIG4 Gold Coast’s theme park holiday package offers outstanding value for money—with three, five or seven nights of accommodation, theme park tickets and bonus perks the kids will love.
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