Water play and swimming for kids in Gold Coast

Things to doRainy dayPlaygroundsToiletsEat with kids
49 places to cool off across the region: water parks, pools, beaches, lakes and swimming spots, nearest first from Surfers Paradise. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.

Everything on the map

Over the border

Brisbane Bayside & the Redlands →Logan →NSW North Coast →
Nearest first, from Surfers Paradise

Beaches and islands

Surfers Paradise Beach
Beach
Surfers Paradise Beach
2 km walk
Two kilometres of sand watched by three lifeguard towers; swim between the flags.
under 5 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Northcliffe Beach
Surfers Paradise
under 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Broadbeach Beach
Broadbeach
under 5 min
Main Beach
Beach
Main Beach
Patrolled in front of lifeguard towers 39 and 40; beachfront parklands with playgrounds and barbecues.
under 5 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Kurrawa Beach
Broadbeach
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Broadwater Beach
Southport
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Mermaid Beach Beach
Mermaid Beach
about 5 min
Beach illustration
Beach
The Spit Beach
Main Beach
about 10 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Nobby Beach Beach
Mermaid Beach
about 10 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Miami Beach
Miami
about 10 min
Beach illustration
Beach
North Burleigh Beach
Miami
about 10 min
Burleigh Beach
Beach
Burleigh Beach
Sheltered by the headland and patrolled daily 8am-5pm; beachfront park with playgrounds and barbecues.
about 15 min
Photo: Herry Lawford, CC BY 2.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Tallebudgera Creek
Palm Beach
about 15 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Tallebudgera Beach
Palm Beach
about 15 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Pacific Beach
Palm Beach
about 20 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Palm Beach
Palm Beach
about 20 min
Currumbin Alley
Beach
Currumbin Alley
Gentle break for novice surfers and a calm creek estuary around the corner for little ones to splash.
about 20 min
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Flat Rock Beach
Currumbin
about 25 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Tugun Beach
Tugun
about 25 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Bilinga Beach
Bilinga
about 25 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Sandy Beach
Coomera
about 25 min
Beach illustration
Beach
North Kirra Beach
Bilinga
about 25 min
Coolangatta Beach
Beach
Coolangatta Beach
Protected beach with grassy parklands, barbecues, playgrounds and toilets.
about 30 min
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kirra Beach
Beach
Kirra Beach
Rocks and tidal pools to explore at low tide; heritage shelter shed lookout on the point.
about 30 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Rainbow Bay
Beach
Rainbow Bay
North-facing, calm and protected; playground, barbecues and beach showers in the parkland.
about 30 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Greenmount Beach
Beach
Greenmount Beach
Good swimming spot; an oceanfront path loops around Greenmount Point to Rainbow Bay.
about 30 min
Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0

Waterfalls, lakes and swimming

Pool illustration
Pool
Rackley Swimming
Southport
under 5 min
Broadwater Parklands
Swimming spot
Broadwater Parklands
Rockpools water playground, a netted swimming enclosure with pontoon, and three adventure playgrounds.
about 5 min
Photo: Shiftchange, CC0
Water park illustration
Water park
GC Aqua Park
Southport
about 5 min
Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Southport
Pool
Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Southport
about 5 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Miami Aquatic Centre
Miami
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Rackley Swimming Robina
Robina
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Bond Aquatic Centre
Robina
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Nerang Aquatic Centre
Nerang
about 15 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Mudgeeraba Aquatic Centre
Mudgeeraba
about 15 min
Tallebudgera Creek
Swimming spot
Tallebudgera Creek
Calm creek mouth beside Burleigh Head National Park for swimming and picnics; barbecues, toilets and parking.
about 15 min
Photo: Shiftchange, Public domain
Pool illustration
Pool
Helensvale Aquatic Centre
Helensvale
about 20 min
Hinze Dam
Lake
Hinze Dam
Advancetown Lake behind the dam has walking and horse-riding trails; paddle craft and electric motors only.
about 20 min
Photo: The original uploader was Triki-wiki at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Superfish swimcenter
Maudsland
about 20 min
Wet 'n' Wild Gold Coast
Water park
Wet 'n' Wild Gold Coast
Oxenford
about 20 min
Photo: Thunderbolts101, CC BY 4.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Upper Coomera Aquatic Centre
Upper Coomera
about 25 min
WhiteWater World
Water park
WhiteWater World
Coomera
about 25 min
Photo: Jordan Messenger from Gold Coast, AU, CC BY-SA 2.0
Currumbin Rock Pools
Swimming spot
Currumbin Rock Pools
Creek rock pools with shallow sections for little ones; shelters, barbecues and toilets.
about 30 min
Photo: mihitha, CC BY 3.0
Over 30 minutes
from Surfers Paradise
Swimming spot illustration
Swimming spot
Jacobs Well swimming enclosure
about 35 min

Big playgrounds

Big playground illustration
Big playground
Broadwater Parklands playground
Southport
Three adventure playgrounds (spiral tower, monorail, pirate ship, flying fox, jumping pillow) plus the Rockpools water playground and a netted swimming enclosure.
about 5 min
Big playground illustration
Big playground
Lorikeet Park playground
Worongary
Dedicated water play area, double flying fox, multi-level climbing tower, trampolines and an inclusive sensory zone for little ones.
about 15 min
Big playground illustration
Big playground
Buckler Park playground
Helensvale
Large central climbing structure reached only by rope nets, flying fox, trampolines, rope swing and a sand and water play area.
about 15 min
Big playground illustration
Big playground
Country Paradise Parklands playground
Nerang
Adventure playground wrapped by a creek bed with water play (pumps, troughs, ramps), toddler and primary zones and a scooter loop.
about 15 min
Over 30 minutes
from Surfers Paradise
Big playground illustration
Big playground
F-SFPIMP playground
Pimpama
Large tower and mega slide with plenty of climbing, next to the aquatic centre's kids' splash zone.
about 30 min

Also in this region, more than 4 hours from Surfers Paradise

South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park (by private or hire boat, water taxi, seaplane or cruise boat across the Broadwater (200 m north of The Spit)): South Stradbroke Island
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.