Thinking about an easy holiday at one of the great family resorts on the Gold Coast? Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’ve stayed at quite a few of them over the years. Here are the best Gold Coast family resorts for a sure-fire easy family holiday.
Paradise Resort Gold Coast
Paradise Resort is my top choice when it comes to family resorts on the Gold Coast. Particularly for families with younger kids. It really does have everything and there is a great range of indoor activities for bad weather days. The ice-skating rink is a huge winner with the kids!
The resort has an amazing range of activities and a kids club that the kids actually asked to go back to. As a parent though, I really enjoyed how family-friendly the rooms were and the varied dining choices.
Our room even boasted fun bunk beds for the kids with an Xbox. This kept them occupied an extra hour in the morning so I could sleep in. After all, it’s my holiday too!
Read all about our experience at Paradise Resort on the Gold Coast here.
From fun in the pool and on the waterslides to kids club through to ice-skating, evening outdoor movies, dance parties and more, Paradise Resort is probably the most easiest family holiday resort on the Gold Coast in terms of keeping the kids occupied and happy.
NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort
When looking at Gold Coast family resorts, NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort is a very close second. I love the outdoor style activities here which I think are really important for the kids. They get enough screen time during the school term! The only reason it didn’t make the top spot is that there are a lot more food choices at Paradise Resort.
Read all about our experience at NRMA Treasure Island Family Holiday Resort here.
From the awesome Bear Grylls ‘Kids vs Wild’ survival missions to pedal carts through to a splash park, jumping pillow and no less than four pools, it’s virtually guaranteed that the kids get a good dose of exercise and Vitamin D every day. Yourself? You can either join in the fun or relax poolside while the kids are off having fun.
The range of accommodation on offer is fantastic from camping to glamping through to cabins and villas.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
If you’re looking to escape the city to the Hinterlands, O’Reilly’s in the Lamington National Park is our top choice. There are plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family here and the accommodation options are varied. Choose from the brand-new campground to rooms, villas and studios.
Read all about our experience at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat here.
Families will love the Tree Top Walk and feeding the birds. Don’t miss the Birds of Prey and the Wildlife Encounters shows where you can expect to get finger-licked by a squirrel glider, cuddle a snake, and get up close and personal with birds of prey.
For those with kids over 12 years of age, jump on a segway tour but if not, all ages can head out on a glow worm tour. Hiking is great here with some tracks leading to waterfalls.
Binna Burra Lodge
Binna Burra Lodge is a nice, and more affordable alternative to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterlands. Camp, stay in a safari tent or splurge at the Sky Lodge, but either way, you’ll love the rainforest surroundings, wildlife and great family hiking trips.
Read all about our experience at Binna Burra Lodge here.
Go on the family-friendly after-dark walking tour to spot nocturnal animals, get your steps up on a great day hike with epic views or just chill around your accommodation. We recommend the safari tents for an affordable stay!
If you won’t feel like cooking, the onsite restaurant cooks up some great meals.
Swell Resort
Swell Resort in the beautiful Burleigh Heads area of the Gold Coast makes for a great place to base yourself while you enjoy the Gold Coast’s beaches. Wedged between Surfers Paradise to the north and Coolangatta to the South, Burleigh Heads is the best of both worlds.
Swell Resort is just a short stroll to the beach and 300 metres to Burleigh Head National Park and Headland.
Read all about our experience at Swell Resort here.
Accommodation at Swell Resort consists of modern, fully self-contained apartments, making it easy to have a holiday with the comforts of home. Also, with a fully stocked kitchen, you can save money by not having to eat out for every meal.
Spend lazy days at the beach, enjoy the nearby night markets and just enjoy the Gold Coast for everything that it is.
The Star
Although the well-known Star doesn’t really market itself as a family-friendly resort, it’s surprisingly family-friendly. Providing, of course, that you don’t expect that your kids will be allowed in the 18+ casino downstairs.
Casino aside, the Star has pools, more restaurants than you can poke a stick at and is located in a sought-after area.
Read all about our experience at The Star here.
Chill out at the brand-new Isoletto Pool Club area that’s exclusive to guests of The Star. Located on the level 6 leisure deck, enjoy skyline views from the pool and eating area while the kids splash in the pool.
Families can stroll to Kurrawa Beach only 800 metres away and hit up the shops at Pacific Fair only 400 metres across the road. Those with older kids might like to book into Dracula’s Cabaret Restaurant which is only 300 metres away.
All of these are great places to stay either on the Gold Coast or in the Hinterlands. Of course, there are plenty of other family resorts on the Gold Coast but I’m loathe to recommend the ones we all haven’t enjoyed. Or worse yet, those that charge top dollars for little to no value.
Whichever family resort you choose for your Gold Coast getaway, I’m sure you’ll have a great time at either of these options.
Looking for more Gold Coast family holiday inspiration?
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