'This Aussie family destination is better (and cheaper) than Fiji.'

A quick scroll through Instagram and it seems every second person is in Fiji, jetting to Japan, or boarding a plane to Bali. But buzzy overseas family-friendly destinations be damned. I just got back from Queensland's Gold Coast with my family of five (three boys under seven) and, yep, I'm already re-booking.

The thing about the Gold Coast is it can offer multi-paced holidays. There are beaches for relaxing, sandcastle building, or even surf lessons. Restaurants catering to lovers of fine dining, as well as Millennial parents who still want to feel like they're "part of the scene" but need to be home for 7pm bedtimes. There are also attractions: theme parks, a wildlife sanctuary, and countless other activities that can suit just about everyone's vacation mode.

We stayed for three nights, the first two in Burleigh Heads and the last in Broadbeach. Here's exactly where to stay, where to eat, and what to do on the Gold Coast. 

Where to stay in the Gold Coast.

Our Gold Coast getaway began with a clever travel hack. We caught an evening flight from Sydney, landing at around 9pm. This strategy worked wonders. The kids were pretty chill on the flight and then dozed off easily once we arrived, ready for a full day of adventure the next morning. No daylight hours wasted on travel.

Falling asleep on the plane then waking up the next day in Qld for the win. Image: Supplied.

After picking up our hire car from the airport (an absolute must for exploring the Gold Coast), we checked into our accommodation at Bujerum Apartments, Burleigh Heads. An ideal home base, the apartments are just a 16-minute drive from the airport, directly opposite the beach, and a stone's throw from Burleigh Heads National Park. We were in a two-bedroom apartment with a spacious lounge room, laundry and well-equipped kitchen. 

Side note: An apartment with a laundry is a really underrated perk, especially when travelling with kids.

Burleigh Heads quickly became our favourite spot. The proximity to the beach, parks and nature walks made it perfect for impromptu swims, beach walks and shell collecting, while our youngest napped. We loved being within walking distance of shops and restaurants as well. With a variety of things to do at our fingertips, we never felt trapped by our kids' nap and bedtime schedules.

Inside the two-bedroom Bujerum Apartments. Image: Supplied.

We spent the last night at The Dorsett in Broadbeach. Located in The Star Gold Coast, The Dorsett is a more glitzy way to do the Gold Coast. It has all the trimmings: chocolates on arrival, cloud-like hotel beds and incredible staff. 

About a 10-minute walk to the beach and the bustling strip of Broadbeach, this hotel made our kids go "wow" at every turn. There's an infinity pool that overlooks the city. I was able to sip an Aperol as the boys swam while the sun went down. 

We also had access to the Executive Lounge, which allowed us to have a buffet breakfast in the morning, and canapés and drinks from 5pm. Despite being a premium offering, the evening canapés were perfect for the kids. The staff were so friendly, and the boys were able to eat enough that we didn't even need to get them dinner (which is a win). 

We had two adjoining rooms, allowing us to put the youngest to sleep while the rest of us sat in the other room watching movies. My husband and I also ordered takeaway from one of The Star's restaurants, which was a great way to still fine dine while the kids slept.

The Dorsett Gold Coast. Image: Supplied. 

What to do with kids on the Gold Coast

Take a surf lesson.

Our first morning at Burleigh Heads, the older boys and I did a surf lesson with Godfathers of the Ocean Surf School, which offers a range of different classes starting at about $60 per person.

Created by Krista Barry and her husband, former World Professional Surfer Michael 'Munga' Barry, the surf school has been running for more than two decades. Our lesson was just the three of us, and the instructor was incredibly helpful in building our confidence and teaching us how to, well... surf. He took us to the water, helped us catch waves, and then critiqued what we needed to do to improve. 

By the end, all three of us were able to stand up and ride waves. Also, it's super easy to plan — all you do is book a time and turn up in swimmers and towel, they provide everything else.

Visit Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

This heritage-listed zoo was a treasure trove of Australian fauna. I didn't realise how big and expansive the place would be. It's literally a full-day adventure that is a hands-down must-do for families with primary- and preschool-aged kids. The boys got to feed and pat kangaroos, saw crocodiles, cassowaries, dingoes, Tasmanian devils, lemurs... The list is extensive. There's also a mini train that takes you around the park, which is great for tired legs. 

The highlight, though? Cuddling a two-year-old koala named Bubbles.

Surf lessons and koala cuddles. Image: Supplied.

Go to the theme parks.

The Gold Coast is home to Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild — and we visited the latter. I was worried it mightn't be age appropriate, but I was completely wrong. There's a Wet'n'Wild Junior that caters to younger kids, which allowed August, our two-year-old, to play in the water and go on slides. Theodore, who is seven and a daredevil, was also able to go on quite a lot of fast-paced slides despite not being taller than 110cm. Oskar, who is five, found his happy place in the wave pool and water play splash areas. 

As for me? I snuck in some relaxation time in the hot tubs. 

The place is also set up so you feel safe, which is always reassuring, especially with young kids around water. Note though: you aren't able to hire towels, so BYO or, like us, you'll need to hit the gift shop's limited, and slightly expensive, towel range.

Visit the beaches.

The beaches, of course, are a main attraction on the Gold Coast. Wide, clean stretches of sand mean plenty of space for kids to run wild. We spent most of our time at Burleigh Heads beach, Broadbeach and then Surfers Paradise Main Beach. But honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with whichever beach you decide to visit. 

And where there are beaches, there's also an abundance of parks and playgrounds in close proximity, which offer endless opportunities for energy-burning.

Where to eat on the Gold Coast.

For our days at Wet'n'Wild and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, we stocked up on lunch supplies from the local Coles — but when we did eat out, the food was good.

When in Burleigh, we started our day at Social Brew, a trendy cafe known for wholesome breakfasts, brunches and good coffee. Our recommendations? The kids would say the banana bread, I'd say the vegan savoury muffin, while my husband would go for a big breakfast of bacon, eggs and hash browns.

For a refreshing pick-me-up, grab a juice from The Fruit Shop in Burleigh or an açai bowl from OakBerry. We also enjoyed the coffee and croissants from Burleigh Heads Pavilion.

Dinner at Justin Lane (left) is a must, while brekkie at Burleigh Heads' Social Brew is delightful. Image: Supplied. 

We had one night out at Justin Lane, Burleigh Heads. A must-visit for pizza and pasta lovers. The vibe is cool but not too cool that you feel out of place with kids — and it was still buzzing, even with our 5:30pm reservation start time.

The food was incredible. Think: antipasto, pizzas, homemade pasta. The menu caters for kids but also adults who want a quality meal. The staff also gave the boys colouring pencils and paper, which allowed us to truly relax and enjoy the meal (and wine) without worrying about entertaining three kids. I would recommend this place a thousand times over.

Our evening at The Dorsett, my husband and I picked up takeaway from Mei Wei Dumplings at The Star and paired it with a bottle of wine. We ordered lots of dumplings, greens and garlic shrimp rice. It was perfect. I'm pescatarian, so I don't eat meat, but there was still a lot on the menu I could eat. We then ate the food on our hotel balcony, overlooking the Gold Coast skyline. The kids were asleep or watching a movie at this point, so for that short but sweet moment, we felt like it was just the two of us.

Helpful hints.

Timing is everything: Autumn and winter are excellent times to visit Wet'n'Wild and the Gold Coast in general. Thanks to Queensland's climate, it's still warm, but the crowds are thinner.

Hire a car: Having wheels gives you the flexibility to explore all the Gold Coast has to offer. From theme parks to hidden beaches, you'll want the freedom to roam.

Evening arrival: Consider taking an evening flight if possible. It worked wonders for us, plus there's nothing better than waking up ready for a full day of adventure.

Eliza and her family travelled to the Gold Coast as a guest of Queensland Tourism. All opinions in this article are the author's own.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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