Guide to Autumn School Holidays on the Gold Coast

If you’re headed for the Gold Coast these autumn school holidays, there are literally hundreds of things to see and do. So to make it easier for you and your family, our Autumn School Holiday Seasonal Guide lists things to do from Southport to Coolangatta.

Wherever you’re headed on the Gold Coast, The Strand Coolangatta makes a great home base, with everything you need for your holiday, from shopping and dining to great entertainment for the whole family.

While dad relaxes with something to eat at The Pancake Diner or the Cooly Hotel, mum can hit the boutique shops and the kids can head for Timezone, with 200 of the latest games and attractions. And the whole family can get together later for a night at the movies at Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks

Naturally, if you’re heading for the Gold Coast with the kids, a trip to at least one theme park is a must-do and there are plenty of great destinations to choose from. Autumn is a great time to hit the theme parks, with the cooler days providing a reprieve from the sun when standing in line, but you still need to slip, slop, slap.

There’s Dreamworld with its hectares of thrill rides, variety shows and animal attractions, Sea World where you can get up close with polar bears, seals, dolphins and sharks, Warner Brothers Movie World with thrilling rides and attractions from all your favourite movies and Australia's two best water parks, Wet N Wild and White Water World.

iFly Indoor Skydiving

It’s the latest sport that everyone’s raving about! Go skydiving in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel and enjoy the incredible sensation of flying! iFly’s flight chamber provides a stable, wall-to-wall cushion of air that makes the dream of flight a reality by giving you the sensation of free falling in a safe and reliable environment.

Known as Bodyflight, indoor skydiving is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sports in the world and iFLY also offers opportunities to get involved in local competitions including freestyle and formation flying. Open every day until late in Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Take the kids to the Gold Coast’s Number One wildlife attraction in Currumbin for a day of exciting animal encounters. Explore 27 hectares of lush bushland and enjoy must-do experiences from the Tree Top Challenge to Segway Safaris.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a heritage-listed zoological garden famous for its feeding of huge flocks of wild rainbow lorikeets and there is a multitude of other events, shows and attractions including dingo encounters, free-flight bird shows and saltwater crocodile feeding.

AquaSplash

AquaSplash is Australia’s first open water fun park, open every day on the Broadwater in Marine Parade Southport. A great place for the kids to cool off and make a splash in a fun, safe environment, featuring giant inflatable water slides, trampolines, bouncing pillows and more.

AquaSplash is a giant inflatable obstacle course that challenges the whole family and whether you’re an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, it’s sure to test your metal. There’s also a miniSplash for the little ones and all areas are patrolled by lifeguards to ensure a fun and fully safe experience.

Coolangatta Beachside Markets

Held on every second Sunday of the month, Coolangatta Beachside Markets are a great day out for the whole family, with market stalls, delicious food, street entertainers and face painting and crafts for the kids.

Whether you’re shopping for gifts, souvenirs or art and craft, it’s a great shopping experience abuzz with colour and atmosphere, with more than 150 stalls showcasing the best of Australian-made products. And set against the beautiful backdrop of the Coolangatta beachfront, it’s an amazing sight to see.

Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre

Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre in South Tweed Heads offers an educational experience like no other, with talks by Aboriginal guides on native plants and animals and stories of Aboriginal life before the coming of Europeans when the area was still a natural paradise.

The aim of the centre is to preserve the local cultural heritage and provide a facility where everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the coastal bushland environment. And cooking facilities and light refreshments are available so you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue lunch while relaxing in the tranquil bush setting.

Currumbin Rock Pools

A 20-minute drive inland from Coolangatta, these popular local water holes situated in the beautiful Currumbin Valley are a great place for the whole family to take a dip and relax by the water with a barbie and a game of cricket.  

The Currumbin Rock Pools are a secret swimming hole popular with locals and they conjure up images of idyllic childhood days lazing on sun-warmed boulders and swinging from ropes into icy creek water. There are picnic tables and toilets located nearby and hot coffee, cold drinks, snacks and ice-creams are available just across the road.  

Epic Skate Rink

Strap on your roller skates and start cutting some moves at this nostalgic family venue in Enterprise Ave, Tweed Heads South. Catering for all skill levels from beginners to pros, they offer skate and rollerblade hire, skating lessons and retro disco nights and put on awesome birthday parties for kids.

With coffee available in the cafe and lots of comfy couches for the parents to relax in, Epic Skate Rink is a great outing for the whole family and a great way to get some exercise while you’re having fun.

Tweed River

Spend a day in a dinghy or kayak meandering the natural waterways of the Tweed River. Explore the untouched mangroves and islands of the river and Terranora Inlet, which are a haven for birds and fish and for the resident Tweed River dolphins, which cruise around in the clear, calm waters.

Enjoy a day on the Tweed River and go snorkelling, fishing or dolphin spotting on this peaceful waterway just minutes from Coolangatta. Hire a boat for the day from Tweed River Boat Hire and for all your picnic and fishing supplies, make sure you call into The Strand Coolangatta.

Want to teach the kids to fish? Read more about where to set up your chair and rod with our top fishing spots in Coolangatta here.