Your Complete Guide to the Gold Coast Theme Parks

A Queensland holiday is practically synonymous with an epic family getaway and nowhere is that more evident than on the sun-soaked Gold Coast. Here you’ll find white-sand beaches, trendy shops, hotels and resorts to suit every budget and the Gold Coast Oceanway – a 36-kilometre scenic trail of walking and cycling paths. To cap it all off, many of Australia’s best theme parks call the region home, so you can slide off the country’s tallest water-park tower one day and have your picture taken with the Batmobile the next. Here’s your ultimate guide to the Gold Coast’s magical theme parks.

Warner Bros. Movie World

Movie-themed thrills come hard and fast at Warner Bros. Movie World, a half-hour drive north from Surfers Paradise. By the time the kids tumble out of the car, your little ones will be champing at the bit to hit up attractions such as the Yosemite Sam Railroad train ride or the flying Sylvester and Tweety Cages. Speed junkies will want to strap in for The Flash: Speed Force, a 30-metre-high half-pipe shuttle coaster that spins around within the rails of the Escape Coaster (which reaches speeds of 100 kilometres per hour). In December 2024, the new Wizard of Oz precinct is set to open, complete with two family-friendly coasters and a recreation of the spellbinding film’s iconic yellow brick road.

Our tips? Visit on a weekday and in non-school holiday periods when the crowds are smaller or splurge on a Fast Track Pass for expedited access to select rides. Theme park ticket bundles can also provide good value (while also earning you Qantas Points). The Gold Coast’s endless sunshine means that even in winter there’s still plenty of warmth to warrant ice-creams between rides and catching performances such as the Wonder Woman show. Kapow!

Wet'n'Wild

Next to Movie World, the giant multi-coloured tubes and slides are just the start of Wet'n'Wild’s splashy attractions. Apply sunscreen and stash your stuff in a locker – or reserve a lounge or cabana in advance – then dip your toes in the Giant Wave Pool (which alternates between rolling waves and flat conditions every ten minutes), zip down three slides that shoot off Australia’s tallest waterpark tower (Kaboom!, Double Barrel and Super Ripper), or gather the whole family and raft down the 40-metre Tornado tunnel. There’s also a Junior zone with mini versions of some of the larger slides, shallow pools and an interactive playground where the “when will it?” thrill of a tipping bucket will entertain your littles one for hours. Water temperatures hover around 25°C but bring an extra layer for after your aquatic adventures to protect you from the sun and breeze. At Wet'n'Wild it pays to check online ahead of time for ride height restrictions and an updated maintenance schedule.

Dreamworld

With more than 40 rides and attractions on offer – including the exciting new jungle-themed Rivertown precinct, set to open in late 2024 – a visit to Australia’s biggest theme park, Dreamworld, benefits from a little pre-planning. Rivertown is Dreamword’s newest and most immersive experience, boasting the brand-new family rollercoaster Jungle Rush, Murrissippi Motors and Jane’s Rivertown Restaurant. The Jungle Rush ’coaster features a world-first switchback element allowing it to explore different tracks with each ride so it’s a new adventure every time! You can save time queueing by purchasing a Ride Express pass, or arrive before the doors open at 10.30am (10am on weekends) for the shortest wait times on popular rides such as the giant The Claw swing (set to close in January 2025 before reopening later in the year as King Claw). There’s also a huge Lego store and Kenny and Belinda’s Dreamland – a junior zone with The Wiggles and Bananas in Pyjamas-themed rides, a maze and theatre shows, plus a Parents Centre for quiet times. Prebook a stroller or little wagon in anticipation of weary legs and if parents don’t want to miss out on the fun, ask about the “parent swap” service, in which one parent rides while the other watches the smaller kids, then other parent can skip straight to the front of the line for their own thrills.

WhiteWater World

Open only during the warmer months (check the website for dates and hours), WhiteWater World is four hectares of water-based fun right next to Dreamworld. You can buy separate tickets to each theme park or bundle them up with one-day or multi-day tickets to hop between both – they’re minutes apart by foot. Once you’re in, the best place to base the family is at the Pipeline Plunge, which caters to all ages with a water tipping bucket, surprise squirting fountains and slides. The play area of Wiggle Bay with its water cannons and slides is great for younger kids, with maximum height restrictions ensuring it’s little ones only (and as always, be sure to supervise your kids around water). The park has 22 different-sized cabanas for rent, which have deck chairs, couches, locker, coffee table and mini-fridge, as well as ample shady picnic spots.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Having opened its doors more than 77 years ago, the much-loved Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary lies 20 minutes south of Burleigh Heads and now serves as one of the busiest animal hospitals in the world, treating more than 10,000 patients annually. It’s conservation with fun – multiple daily events include lorikeet, pelican and eel feeding sessions, a Tasmanian devil keeper talk and the Ngari-Bah Aboriginal Culture Show, an immersive performance of traditional First Nations song, dance and storytelling. The iconic Blinky Bill even appears in the interactive Blinky Bill’s Rookie Ranger Station show.

Book in for extra activities including Breakfast with Koalas, a gourmet brekkie in the Koala Habitat precinct hosted by the sanctuary’s keepers, who’ll chat through the creatures’ habits and ways to help support these endangered species. Pan for gemstones and watch billy tea-making in Outback Springs or strap on a helmet for the TreeTop Challenge (kids must be aged eight and meet height requirements), with rope courses and ziplines that zoom over kangaroos and crocodiles.

SEE ALSO: 30 Queensland Resorts Where You Don’t Have to Lift a Finger