Attractions,  Free to do,  Indoors

Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery, Surfers Paradise

The HOTA Gallery is located in the HOTA Precinct at Surfers Paradise and is the largest art gallery outside of a capital city in Australia! While the HOTA Gallery may be designed to cater for international art exhibitions, families haven’t been forgotten.

The Children’s Gallery at HOTA Gallery lets little artists get hands on – you won’t find any “do not touch” signs here! The Children’s Gallery will change every few months, each time offering a variety of interactive exhibits that complement the main galleries. After visiting the Children’s Gallery, take a stroll through the other free Galleries where you’ll find a few installations that are interactive and the kids will love.

Be sure to ride the lift to the top floor and take in the Gold Coast skyline view! Fabulous 270 degree views await and there is even a guide you can use to work out what all the buildings are. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, there are a number of restaurants and cafes at the Gallery, or you can head over to the Performing Arts building and visit the Lawn Bar for casual dining.

Why not make a day of your visit and check out the rest of the HOTA Precinct – visit Evandale Lake for a swim, play in the playground, explore the Outdoor Stage and its rooftop gardens and walk over the Blue Bridge to Chevron Island. There is heaps to do on a family day out at HOTA!

Need to know:

  • Websitehttps://hota.com.au/
  • Cost: Children’s Gallery is free, some of the main exhibits may have an entry fee at times depending on what is on
  • Facilities: Exhibition Galleries, Children’s Gallery, Rooftop lookout, restaurants, HOTA precinct
  • Address: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise

Current Children’s Gallery exhibit: Kingdom of Kindness

9 March – 21 July, 2024

Artist Abdul Abdullah invites you to visit his Kingdom of Kindness. This is a special place where everyone belongs. You can make friends with the rock characters in his paintings and help to bring them to life with your creativity. Explore connections and emotions in friendly, fun and playful ways in HOTA’s Children’s Gallery.  

In this free experience, families are invited to explore the artist’s body of work about anthropomorphised rocks as they go on an immersive journey and experience a world of emotive connection, creativity and belonging. Kingdom of Kindness features immersive digital projections, multimedia interactives, and creative hands-on activities that explore the artist’s painted landscapes and the psychology of pet rocks in fun and unexpected ways.