Winter fun

AT PARADISE RESORT GOLD COAST

Its warm, temperate climate means anytime is a good time to visit the Gold Coast, but there are plenty of drawcards that make a holiday here extra enticing in winter. From whale watching and WINTERFEST at Dreamworld to ice-skating at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, here are some great ideas for things to do with kids during the cooler months

Opening image: Kids ice skating at Plant Chill at Paradise Resort Gold Coast

WHALE WATCHING

Seeing a humungous humpback spy hopping beside your tour boat, or a cute calf making its first attempts at breaching, are moments the kids will be talking about for years to come. While Mother Nature offers no guarantees, that’s the kind of experience your family could be lucky enough to have during a whale watching cruise off the Gold Coast. And with an estimated 35,000 of the magnificent creatures passing by on the ‘Humpback Highway’ during their annual migration, between May and October, each year, your chances of an encounter are pretty good.

Images: A whale breaching in front of a Sea World Cruises boat, A Sea World Cruises whale watching cruise © The Tour Collective

Ice-skating

While Australia doesn’t get the below zero temperatures common in the northern hemisphere during winter, you can still experience the joy of ice skating here! Smack bang in the middle of Surfers Paradise, Paradise Resort Gold Coast’s Planet Chill Ice-Skating Rink is ideal for beginner skaters and families with kids aged three and up. Each session runs for up to 1.5 hours, with children five and under requiring a paying adult on the ice with them at all times. The Resort offers a range of other fun activities during winter, including penguin snow globe workshops, and has heated pools and spas and a water park. You can also hop aboard Dusty’s Safari Train Ride or the whimsical Cleo's Carousel, while kids won’t want to leave the fantastic kids club.

Image: Planet Chill ice-skating rink at Paradise Resort Gold Coast

WINTERFEST AT DREAMWORLD

Experience the magic of a European winter Down Under with Dreamworld’s annual WINTERFEST event. Kids can devour giant pretzels and other tasty treats, go tobogganing and ice-skating and get a taste of snow at the event, which runs from June 29 to July 14 in 2024. Pick up a Snowflake Scavenger Hunt Booklet and embark on an adventure around the theme park, including walking through Belinda's Arctic Adventure. There are loads of other attractions and experiences to enjoy while you’re there – from feeding big cats at Tiger Island and live shows to adrenaline-pumping rides like the Tower of Terror II.

Images: WINTERFEST at Dreamworld, The Cyclone rollercoaster © Tourism and Events Queensland

Challenge Rooms

For the ultimate family bonding experience, book a session in the Challenge Rooms at Surfers Paradise’s Hijinx Hotel. Groups of two to six players work together to complete challenges and solve puzzles to score points on the leaderboard. Unlike an escape room, a challenge room has a single objective, like shooting a basketball through a hoop, solving word scrambles, or remembering song patterns on a giant piano, which get harder and harder as the clock ticks. Teams are assigned to a set of five challenge rooms on arrival and have four minutes to score as many points as possible before moving to the next one.

Image: Challenge Rooms at Surfers Paradise

AQUADUCK

For the greatest novelty experience in town, book a voyage on the Aquaduck – a cross between a bus and a boat which is designed to operate on both land and water. The one-hour sightseeing tour begins in the heart of Surfers Paradise on Cavill Avenue before you head out along the famous beach towards the glamour and beauty of Main Beach before splashing into the water for a scenic cruise of the river and Broadwater. While on the water, children can drive the Aquaduck and receive a Captain’s certificate!

Image: Book a sightseeing tour of the Gold Coast with Aquaduck, A boy driving the boat © Tourism Australia-Tourism and Events Queensland

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Feed kangaroos, cuddle a koala and witness free flight bird shows at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in a beautiful rainforest setting on the southern Gold Coast. With a huge outdoor playground, Wild Island, and a miniature train, there is plenty to keep the kids entertained. The exotic Lost Valley precinct features 5 hectares rainforest, where visitors can explore a forgotten world. Get up close and personal with some of the world’s most unique and distinctive flora and wildlife including lemurs, cotton-top tamarins, red pandas and exotic reptiles.

Image: A girl with a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary © Tourism Australia-Tourism and Events Queensland

JELLURGAL WALKABOUT TOUR

Learn about bush tucker, hear Dreaming stories and discover culturally significant sites with the Jellurgal Walkabout tour. An Indigenous guide leads guests on the tour around Burleigh Headland, which is traditionally known as Jellurgal, which means ‘the Dreaming Mountain’. Hear stories related to the peak’s creation, practices such as fishing and hunting and the connection to the land the Yugambeh-speaking people have had for thousands of years. The two-hour tour is run through the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre — the region’s only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre that is owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community.

Images: Discover Indigenous culture with Jellurgal © Tourism and Events Queensland

WHERE TO STAY

Just 250 metres from the iconic Surfers Paradise Beach, Paradise Resort Gold Coast offers the ultimate in family-friendly accommodation, with an ice-skating rink, lagoon-style pool, water parks, a miniature train and daily activities and entertainment for children of all ages. There are several on-site restaurants to choose from, including themed restaurant Penguins (which even has a play corner), Jerry’s Burgers and Deb’s Pizza Shack. A range of accommodation options are available to fit different sized families and budgets in wings named after the Resort’s four animal mascots, who make regular appearances around the property. It’s also the only resort in Australia with a kids’ club available to children as young as six weeks up to 12 years old. Many of its packages also include one fully supervised session per child to enjoy complimentary during your stay when you book direct.

Check the Resort’s website for their latest offers.

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