Beyond the rides, kids can watch the polar bears, penguins and seals, with shows, presentations and feeding times through the day. Nickelodeon Land and a PAW Patrol show are on the program too. Through October it mostly opens 10.30am to 4pm, until 5pm on some weekends, and bus route 705 runs from Surfers Paradise.

Kenny & Belinda's Dreamland is a kids' area of Aussie TV characters, rides and live shows. Its Big Red Boat Coaster takes riders from 90cm tall, and dingoes, crocodiles and tigers live in the park's wildlife areas. The park calendar lists the character shows, including ABC Kids World.

The Kids' WB Fun Zone has the Road Runner Rollercoaster, a Looney Tunes carousel, a junior driving school and a splash zone. Justice League 3D is a dark ride with no minimum height, so the whole family rides together. Child tickets cover ages 3 to 13, and under-3s don't need one.

Lorikeet feeding at 8am and 4pm is free to watch and join, with no ticket needed. Inside, 27 hectares hold more than 1,000 animals, plus a splash zone with timed water jets, miniature trains and a Blinky Bill show. It opens 9am to 4pm daily, and youth tickets for ages 3 to 17 were $50 in October 2026.

At Broadwater Parklands, the Rockpools has fountains, a creek bed and tidal pools for splashing and dam-building, with lifeguards on duty. In September and October it opens 8am to 5pm, from 11am on Tuesdays. Older kids can try the flying fox and jumping pillow at the Washington Waters playground, opposite Australia Fair.

The Oceanview track curls 1.2km around Burleigh Head, about 30 minutes one way, and wheelchairs can manage it with help. Watch for dolphins, and for humpback whales during their winter and spring migration. Stay off the boulder fields, including Cannon Rock, where penalties apply.

Lifeguards patrol three spots along the beach from 8am to 5pm, every day of the year. Beachfront markets run on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights from 4pm to 9pm. The Oceanway behind the sand has toilets and beach showers, and the G:link light rail runs along the strip.

After dark, thousands of glow-worms light the cave on this 1km sealed circuit in Springbrook; allow about an hour, no tour needed. Walk it clockwise to make the long stairs easier. Keep torches off the glow-worms, or they stop glowing for up to an hour, and note the display is much smaller in winter.

The lift reaches level 77 of the Q1 building in 38 seconds, 230 metres above Surfers Paradise. It opens 7.30am to 9pm, with free undercover parking off Hamilton Avenue and a G:link stop out front. It's closed to the public on 13, 17 and 31 October 2026 for private events.

Greenmount, at the south-eastern end of Coolangatta Beach, is wide and sheltered by the headland. Lifeguards patrol near the surf club from 8am to 5pm all year. The parkland behind has barbecues, shade and beach showers, and the Oceanway path loops around the headland.