Things To Do With Kids in Queensland

The Gold Coast parks are the big-ticket option. A Queensland family-friendly travel guide rates them among the best in the country and promises kids will be completely tuckered out afterwards. Reviewers separate them clearly: Sea World Gold Coast is anchored by a dolphin show at the far end of the park, Dreamworld splits gentle Dreamland from the thrill zones with Tiger Island as the highlight, and the two water parks differ by scale. WhiteWater World is compact enough that nobody gets lost, which suits three to twelve year olds, while teens may run out of rides by late morning. Wet n Wild Gold Coast offers more variety but longer queues, and food prices there and at Sea World come up in review after review.

Wildlife is where Queensland spreads out. Australia Zoo at Beerwah runs keeper shows that fill fast on weekends, with the Crocoseum feeding show singled out by the Queensland Family Bucket List. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary adds a wildlife hospital viewing area included with entry, and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has a free-roam kangaroo paddock that works for toddlers and grandparents alike. Further north, Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is built around a lagoon boat cruise, Rainforestation Nature Park pairs Army Duck tours with Aboriginal cultural demonstrations, and Billabong Sanctuary near Townsville schedules an encounter every 30 minutes. Rockhampton Zoo is free, with chimp talks the crowd favourite.

For days without an entry fee, The Ginger Factory at Yandina has free entry plus train and boat rides, Settlement Cove Lagoon and Orion Lagoon offer lifeguarded swimming with BBQs, and Wynnum Wading Pool is natural saltwater with a coastal path alongside. New Farm Park connects to the CityCat and peaks for roses in September and October; Rocks Riverside Park has a main playground skewed to over-fives and a shaded one for toddlers. On wet days, BOUNCE Inc Tingalpa runs a miniBOUNCE zone for under-fives, Kingpin Chermside handles hosted birthday parties inside the shopping centre, and Cineplex South Bank keeps ticket prices low with Cinema 5, the former IMAX screen.