Did you know that there are only 4 weekends left of this Summer!? Before we know it, we’ll be shivering through Winter (as mild as it gets, it’s still cold for Gold Coasters!!) so we are packing in family activities each week before the weather changes. To help you and family to make the most of the next few weekends, I’ve rounded up a list of activities to enjoy. Hopefully some of these are just as fun for you as they are for your little ones! Read on below for 7 end-of-summer family activity ideas to try out.
1. Spend the day at a splash park
There are plenty of splash parks around that offer a fun way to cool off if you’re not keen on hitting up the beaches. The Broadwater Rockpools and Westfield Coomera Backyard are both free options, or further afield there are great free water play areas at Flagstone, Logan Gardens and Darlington Parklands (Yarrabilba). If you’re happy to pay a little bit, most of the Council run swimming pools also have great splash pads for kids.
2. Plan a museum day
Make a day of it and head to Brisbane to check out the Queensland Museum. The epic Spiders exhibit is every kids dream for those obsessed with creepy crawlies! It’s on until May, but unfortunately the Lost World dinosaur’s exhibit is undergoing maintenance until early March. There is also the Science Centre, with SparkLab, an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) space, ideal for 6 to 13 year olds. A museum day is a great way to spend most of the day out of the house but in the air conditioning! Plus, it’s educational and I always walk away with more knowledge on a subject as well!
3. Burn off some energy at an indoor playground
Indoor play spaces or bounce centres are a great way for kids to get active! Chipmunks Robina, Big Top Coomera, Abrakidazzle Southport and Doodlebugs Miami cater for toddlers through to primary school aged kids and often have deals or extra activities going to entice the families over. For the bigger kids, why not check out BOUNCE Gold Coast at Burleigh or Jummps at Parkwood for plenty of trampoline fun! Westfield Coomera’s iPlay is also a huge hit for kids of all ages, with plenty of arcade games, ninja obstacle courses, rock climbing walls and bungee slings to try out.
4. Have a nature adventure
While they say never to work with animals or kids, really this is the best combination for entertainment! There are so many great nature experiences across the Gold Coast to check out. Head to Mount Tamborine and visit the Rainforest Skywalk or the Glow Worm Caves, both suitable for kids of all ages. Want to get up close and personal with wildlife? A day out at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is great fun, or try the lesser known David Fleay Wildlife Park.
5. Cool off at the library
Gold Coast City libraries are a hidden haven for families! With plenty of storytime sessions, after school activities or children’s sections designed for kids to play – you’re sure to find something to occupy the kids. Helensvale Library is definitely one of the more popular ones, with a slippery slide in the children’s section!! Don’t be afraid to take your loud or active kids to the libraries, with special children’s computers, drawing and colouring tables, toys and racks upon racks of books you’ll be surprised at how well they are catering for youth these days.
6. Grab a sweet treat
Everyone loves an ice cream –they’re a classic summer treat for a reason! There are some great options across the Gold Coast to satisfy those taste buds and spoil the kids, including Heven-Yah at Mermaid Beach (drool-worthy flavours from classic Belgian chocolate or, for vegans, the chocolate almond made with almond milk, to the popular salted caramel, house ricotta and rhubarb or house cultured creme fraiche swirled with buttery caramel apples) and Ti Amo Gelato at Southport (choose between their classics and mini pops (the vegan Cherry Ripe is a must do) or grab a scoop of their roasted almond gelato). If you’re looking to satisfy a sweet tooth who isn’t particularly in to ice cream, try Cowch Dessert Bar at Pacific Fair!
7. Head to the beach
You can pretty much get to the beach in 30 minutes from everywhere on the Gold Coast, so why not soak up the last days of summer by the water with your family!? Change things up and check out a different beach to your usual, or make the effort to wander a little further from your regular spot and find a new café to pick up a refreshing drink after your swim.
