The 16 child-friendly spots that Gold Coast locals and regulars swear by.

Most of us visited the Gold Coast for a family holiday during one point or another in our childhoods. It was the go-to for my parents because of the mix of activities available: sand, sun, nature, restaurants, cafes, and of course, the theme parks.

It’s as child-friendly as it gets. That’s why so many mums and dads still choose to holiday on the Gold Coast – it’s the quintessential Aussie family escape.

But while there are some iconic places to visit (or revisit, if you’re like me and you went as a child), there are also a bunch of unexpected spots to see too.

If you’re doing it with kids in tow, you want to know what to best spend your precious time on to make sure it’s actually a holiday for not just them, but for you too.

So we asked our Mamamia audience to share the places that they take their kids for a good time on the Gold Coast. Whether it be a nature walk, the perfect place to swim, a special private place for a family picnic, or the best attractions at the theme parks, we have you covered:

1. Beachfront Markets, Surfers Paradise

“Surfers Paradise is full of families in the evenings and the markets that are on certain nights are great fun. There’s also lots of child-friendly cafes and restaurants all over the place!” – Marie

2. Wiggle Bay, WhiteWater World, Coomera

"We LOVE this water area for my two-year-old. Also, the daily Wiggles Show at Dreamworld is great. Perfect if you have the annual pass, it’s a nice morning out for little ones." - Erin

3. Robina Town Centre, Gold Coast

"The kids' play area here is great and keeps them entertained for ages." - Shani

4. Giant Wave Pool, Wet'n'Wild, Oxenford

"I can never get my two kids out of the Giant Wave Pool at Wet'n'Wild. It's a pleaser for everyone in the family."- Daniela

5. Sunlight Drive Cafe, Burleigh

"This is an amazing new cafe and it has two play areas for toddlers. One of them is fully enclosed which comes in handy if you have a wanderer!" - Shani

6. Broadwater Parklands, Southport

"It has a fantastic park, bike track, bouncy pillow, picnic spot and a splash park. We love it!" - Danielle

7. Kids' WB Fun Zone, Warner Bros. Movie World, Oxenford

"This area is aimed at the younger kids. It's pretty good there for them. The parade is great too!" - Marie

8. ABC KIDS World, Dreamworld, Coomera

"This is the best for toddlers without a doubt! We only have eyes for The Wiggles in our household so it's perfect for them." - Erin

9. The Pirate Island Park, Currumbin

"It's awesome! The nature walks, mangroves and park itself are amazing. There's a treasure map for the kids to follow to find treasure which is lots of fun." - Jem

10. O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Canungra

"It's lovely as there are short walking tracks, bird feeding, a cafe and a museum of sorts with creatures in jars." - Louise

11. Beach at Labrador, Harley Park

"We love the beach here. At low tide it creates what we call 'the island'. There are no waves there either. There are fish and chip shops there and fenced a playground. It’s just beautiful." - Majella

12. Greenmount Beach, Coolangatta

"It is very calm and excellent for small or not-so-confident swimmers." - Louise

13. Tallebudgera Beach, Palm Beach

"It's great for swimming with littlies as the water is calm (no waves!)." - Marie

14. Tallebudgera Creek, Palm Beach

"This is one of our favourite spots for a picnic, a swim and play in the sand." - Shani

15. Cedar Creek Falls, Tamborine National Park

"It is a great spot for older kids as they can swim in the rock pools." - Louise

16. Botanical Gardens, Benowa

"It's nice and not too busy. There's a good bike and scooter track as well. There's a little cafe in there for a treat or ice cream. The playground is also a hit. It's shaded too!" - Stephanie

So no matter what kind of experience you are after, there are an endless number of spots you can enjoy on the Gold Coast. We think these 16 are the perfect place to start.

Here are more, and a whole lot of awesome deals too, to get you inspired for your next trip to the Gold Coast.

What are your favourite child friendly spots on the Gold Coast? Tell us in the comments section below. 

This content was brought to you with thanks by our brand partner, Tourism & Events Queensland, Destination Gold Coast, Ardent Leisure, Village Roadshow Theme Parks.