Enjoy unique family fun on the Gold Coast all year round
Australia’s premier holiday destination has something for everyone. While the Gold Coast is best known for its fine beaches, gentle surf and vibrant nightlife, it is also known as Australia’s theme park capital because of the fine offerings available that will provide enjoyable and informative days out for the entire family and most of which can be enjoyed any time of the year.
When you take a Gold Coast holiday you can choose between a wide range of options – many of which can be bundled into tickets that provide access to more than one attraction (see table and map below). The Gold Coast has a wide variety of indoor and outdoor holiday attractions scattered up and down the Coast. Let’s start with the main ones – the theme parks. Others we will talk about later.
If you are holidaying on the Gold Coast and want to have as much fun as possible in a limited time then you may want to consider one (or more) of the combo options that provide entry to the various theme parks. In all cases, pre-purchasing tickets online before you go is a cheaper option than buying on the day at the gate.
To make it easy for you we have outlined the various ‘combo options’ available in the table below. Option 3 is the Currumbin Wild Life Sanctuary on the southern Gold Coast at Currumbin and, while generally regarded nowadays as a ‘theme park’ it started life many years ago as an animal sanctuary and remains very popular with locals and visitors alike. It is independent and not part of a combo offer but is the original ‘theme park’ and remains very popular.
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Combo Option 1 |
Combo Option 2 |
Option 3 |
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Warner Bros Movie World |
DreamWorld |
Currumbin Wild Life Sanctuary |
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Wet’n’Wild Water World |
WhiteWaterWorld |
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SeaWorld |
SkyPoint Tower |
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Paradise Country |
See also map below for locations
Combo Option 1
The first stop for many first-time visitors to the Gold Coast is DreamWorld in Coomera. Opened in 1981, DreamWorld is Australia’s largest and probably best known theme park sprawling over 85 ha with over 40 rides and attractions including five roller-coasters. It is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, every day of the week.
Adjacent to DreamWorld and part of the same complex is WhiteWaterWorld. This is a fun water park for the entire family boasting four of the largest waterslides on the planet. You can buy your tickets upon arrival but to save time (and money) people are encouraged to buy online.
A one-day entry to DreamWorld costs $59.99 online or for WhiteWaterWorld it is $34.99. A one-day world pass that gives you access to both DreamWorld and White Water World costs $69.99; or for a 21-day pass it will set you back $79.99. Other options are available too including passes that will also provide access to the SkyPoint Tower in Surfers Paradise.
Combo Option 2
A second popular and unique holiday experience that you will not find anywhere else in Australia is Warner Bros. MovieWorld. Come along and mingle with your favourite cartoon characters, watch the stunt men perform, walk around the sound stage or choose from a myriad of other attractions, Again you can purchase combination tickets that give you access to other superb Gold Coast theme parks including another waterpark – this time Wet’n’Wild – as well as another famous theme park, SeaWorld, which is located near the Spit near Southport. MovieWorld as well as Wet’n’Wild are in Coomera.
Again you can choose your entry options. A one-day ticket to MovieWorld will cost you $89.99. Much better value is the VIP pass which is (at present) valid for unlimited entry until June 30 to MovieWorld. SeaWorld and Wet’n’Wild for $109.99. A further option, especially popular with holidaymakers, is the Super Pass which provides unlimited entry to the three resorts for a 28-day period for $99.99. You can also purchase an Ultimate Theme Park Pass which for only $179.99 for adults and $99.99 for children, provides 21 days of unlimited entry to Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and the hidden gem, Paradise Country (an Aussie Farm on the Gold Coast where you can feed kangaroos, cuddle a koala and even shear a sheep). Plus, you’ll also get one ticket per pass to experience an unforgettable night out at Australian Outback Spectacular. So you have a range of options from which to choose.
Currumbin Wild Life Sanctuary
Located in the Southern Gold Coast area you will need a car to get to the Sanctuary from Surfers Paradise. Currumbin Sanctuary is owned by the National Trust of Queensland and operates as a not-for-profit organisation with all ticket sales going into the upkeep of the sanctuary and with any surplus being reinvested into the care of our environment and the wild animals. The Sanctuary is open every day from 8am onwards and is an ideal family day out with fun and education bundled together. It provides visitors with opportunities for wild Lorikeet bird feeding and to watch a Free-Flight Bird Show. Other experiences include the Wild Island Adventure Playground, Adventure Parc High Ropes, Surf World and Honey World as well as one of the busiest wildlife hospitals in Australia.
General admission tickets start at $49 for an adult and $33 for children (aged 4─14 inclusive) with family passes (2-adults, 2-children) available online only for $131 per group. General admission does not include the Adventure Parc High Ropes or entry to Surf and Honey Worlds. Combination tickets include the More Fun 4 in 1ass which does include the Adventure Park, Surf World and Honey World. The family ticket in this instance costs $161 per family (with other options available); there is also the Experience Pass which provides access to the Sanctuary and the Adventure Parc only and costs $146 per family.
So what are you waiting for? Theme parks are open throughout the year and provide the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled day out for the entire family. So whenever you decide to visit the Gold Coast there is always something to see and do. So start planning your Gold Coast adventure now and give the entire family a holiday they will never forget. In coming posts we will explore more of these holiday options that will add to your Gold Coast holiday experience.
Go onto the HRSP website and start your planning. Better still, involve the whole family in your selection! It will get them into the holiday mood straight away and give them something to look forward to. And remember, with HRSP you get to choose exactly the apartment that is right for you. This means at the end of the day, after your theme park adventure, you will be able to return and relax in your holiday home away from home. We look forward to seeing you.
Theme Park Location Map
