When you live on the Gold Coast it’s easy to take for granted all of the amazing places and activities we have on offer.

From the well-known and much-loved theme parks like Dreamworld and Warner Bros. Movie World, to secret beautiful nature spots like Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek, we’re spoiled for choice.

So, to help you make yours, I’ve taken it upon myself as a local of 37 years, to craft a five-day itinerary for your next Gold Coast stay.

Why? Because as a parent I know how hard it is to plan a holiday that’s at the right pace with the right mix of fun, exploration and relaxation.

I recently put this to the test over five days during the school holidays. I made it my mission to take my kids in and around our hometown to truly appreciate what we’ve got.

I knew it was going to be a challenge keeping each of us happy, but my plan was to spend one day being super active and one day being chilled to ensure we all managed to keep our cool.

If you’re coming up to the Gold Coast with kids, try this:

Day 1

Kick it off with a little adventure! I took my kids to two of my favourite theme parks: Dreamworld and WhiteWater World.

You get the best of both worlds with plenty of rides for kids of all ages, plus amazingly cute and cuddly animals you can get up close and personal with. The beauty of these two is they are right next door so you can go between them easily, and included in the one ticket.

At Dreamworld, we couldn’t go past Tiger Island to see these beautiful animals in real life. We also loved Corroboree, an Indigenous space that brings to life Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through interactive exhibitions, while also letting you get up close and personal with Australian wildlife.

Over in the DreamWorks Experience, the newly opened Trolls Village is super-cute for the little ones with an awesome live show to get them dancing.

Hair-raising fun. Image: DreamWorks Trolls Village: DreamWorks Trolls © 2019 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All rights reserved.

We spent the morning here enjoying rides like the Wipeout, Giant Drop and Buzzsaw. When I say "we" I mean my kids...I was more interested in cuddling a koala in the Corroboree wildlife area!

That moment I got to hug a koala. Image: Katie Jones

After we worked up a sweat at Dreamworld, we wandered over to WhiteWater World and I pulled up a sun lounge while the kids ran off to their favourite rides like The Green Room, a huge tunnel with a splashdown that's worth taking a photo of!

The little kids can enjoy the Cave of Waves and Wiggle Bay, which are much calmer and definitely more my style. After a few hours, we were exhausted and ready to head home, our first adventure day a success.

WhiteWater World: The biggest water theme park in Australia. Image: Destination Gold Coast

Hot tip: Currently there's a three-day pass for the price of a one-day ticket. There's also Dreamworld, Dreamworld Corroboree and WhiteWater World tickets for $85 for kids, and $95 for adults. Details here.

Day 2

After our huge day at Dreamworld we were all keen to take it a little slower on our second day so we decided to head to Burleigh, where you can chill on the beach or, if you're feeling a little energetic you can walk through the Burleigh Head National Park which can be done by people of all ages as it's only a 40-minute hike.

Once I bribed the kids with a smoothie from Nook Espresso, we set off for the hike and headed over the hill to Tallebudgera Creek, which has to be the best beach for kids on the Coast. Along the walk you can stop and take in the breathtaking views north towards Surfers Paradise and on the other side looking south down over the creek toward Coolangatta. When the tide is low you can walk from one side to the other and the blue of the water will take your breath away.

Burleigh Point, one of my favourite local spots. Image: Katie Jones.

After our walk we cooled down in the Creek and then headed back around the hill to our car in Burleigh. I was ready for a cocktail and I knew exactly where to find one with a view: A 20-minute drive back up toward Surfers Paradise and to the Q1 Resort & Spa, which is the tallest building on the Coast.

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