Playgrounds these days are more than your old-fashioned swing and slide. Children can experience a wonderland full of fun, adventures, and activities. If you are searching for the ultimate playground, here are some of the best playgrounds on the Gold Coast — there is sure to be one near you!
11 fun playgrounds on the Gold Coast
Central Park, Pacific Pines
The main park at Pacific Pines is top-notch for kids and one of the favourite playgrounds on the Gold Coast for those living at the northern end. You can easily spend most of the day at the Central Park playground with several areas dotted around the nearby lake.
There are swings, slides, a super flying fox, climbing nets and spinning wheels. The younger children have also been catered for with a separate gated area, including a swing, slide and cubby house — perfect to keep them safe and amused.
Parents will love the great picnic areas that are adjoining to the playground with lots of shady seating and free barbecue facilities. There are great paths for a scooter ride or stop by the lake and say hello to the local ducks.
Helensvale Shopping Centre, Helensvale
It may seem unusual for a shopping centre to be among the list of the best playgrounds on the Gold Coast, but the one at Helensvale is not to be missed!
The main focal point of the playground is the two-storey slide that you reach via an enclosed rope canopy. There is an array of fun features suitable for children from as young as 12 months old. You’ll also find a four-person seesaw, a mini play tower structure with three slides and lots of climbing options, colourful play panels, and a fun spinning carousel.
Located directly outside the food court area, there are many tables and chairs in an alfresco setting perfectly positioned next to the playground. For all those children who like to eat, play and then repeat, this is the ideal place.
Paradise Point Parklands, The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Once your young ones set their eyes on Paradise Point Parklands, you won’t be leaving in any kind of hurry. The main playground, with soft bark matting, is the perfect location for the young adventurers in the family.
A giant tangle net, slide, seesaws, spinning rotators, swings and a miniature horse merry-go-round all add to the attraction of this playground. With the recent upgrade to the parklands, you will find plenty of shady seats, picnic tables, and barbecue areas along with an abundance of cafes nearby to grab something to eat.
As a bonus, the playground is just across the road from a natural swimming enclosure. The calm waters are perfect for a dip or you can take buckets and spades to play in the soft sand. Parents can sit back under the shade and enjoy the Broadwater vista. Definitely one of our favourite playgrounds on the Gold Coast!
Harley Park, Labrador
Harley Park is located on the Broadwater in Labrador, close to Charis Seafood if you are feeling like some fish and chips by the water side. It’s in easy walking distance to other restaurants and cafes.
There are two playgrounds, a Broadwater lagoon if you fancy a swim, as well as flat pathways for those with bikes and scooters. The park has free barbecue facilities, too.
Both playgrounds are near each other, fully fenced and sheltered. Inspired by the location, one of the playgrounds has a nautical theme. Elements include ladders, a long bridge, a slide, sliding poles and, of course, a swing.
For those children who love to climb, the playground towards the north will be their paradise with a canopy of plastic ropes, and ladders for them to weave around. The climbing fort is all connected and leads kids to the feature slide and flying fox.
The fun doesn’t stop there in this area, adjacent to this park; you will find another larger flying fox.
Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens
Nestled in the heart of the Gold Coast is the serene botanical gardens. Green parklands, floral garden beds and sprawling lawns are bordered by pathways, an open lake, and large shady trees.
This is the perfect place for celebrating a birthday or special occasion. With a vast amount of space you will easily find an area to pitch a marquee or lay down a picnic rug.
On the western side of the gardens is a fully shaded playground. It incorporates lots of wooden features to blend in with the natural surroundings. The two showstoppers in the playground, suitable for the older children, are the large slide and wooden climbing fort. Catering to the younger children is a small treehouse structure and slide, a seesaw, wooden balance beams and the old favourite swings.
Take your ball or frisbee, or go for a bike or scooter ride along the meandering paths on the outside of the gardens.
With all that energy being exerted, chances are you may want a bite to eat or something to drink. Coffee at the Gardens is a café on the northern side of the parklands and can help with your coffee or ice cream fix.
Tip: Keep an eye out for local fun events and food trucks picnics that are hosted in the gardens.
Broadwater Parklands, Southport
Broadwater Parklands is one of the most popular playgrounds on the Gold Coast. So don’t expect to have it all to yourself, particularly on weekends! The Broadwater Parklands is a busy venue that has many great qualities. On the Gold Coast, it is known as one of the best playgrounds. Once you visit, you’ll see why it’s the site of many of the Gold Coast’s major events, and special attractions.
This playground is right across the road from Australia Fair shopping centre and only 6km from Surfers Paradise.
The Rockpool is a man-made creek that twists and turns with a current of flowing water at one end of the parklands. Wading pools, water fountains, pop jets, and a giant water bucket are surrounded by concrete steps, Astroturf, and giant umbrellas. Children love the rockpool for water play, which is a great place to cool off on a hot Gold Coast day.
Closer towards Surfers Paradise is the playground of all playgrounds. As well as your everyday fun equipment there are also lots of main attractions to be found here.
The huge fully fenced bouncy pillow, the pedal monorail that runs around the edge of the main playground, and an epic flying fox are all playground features here. The playground has been created with accessibility in mind as there is also a special liberty swing for children of all abilities.
The Broadwater Parklands are designed with the Gold Coast weather in mind and are set on the beautiful Broadwater. You can access the natural enclosed swimming lagoon and sandy beach, directly across from the playground.
Broadwater Parklands parking area is paid parking seven days a week, so keep that in mind for your trip.
Macintosh Island, Surfers Paradise
Macintosh Island is a gem of a Gold Coast playground. It’s tucked away amidst the high rises in Surfers Paradise and can sometimes be forgotten.
Located over Sundale Bridge on the Gold Coast 600 track it’s separated from the Surfers Paradise beaches by the broadwater. There are pathways around the island, perfect for kids to take their bikes and scooters. Macintosh Island has a serene atmosphere with the running streams, natural elements, and lush greenery. Take a wander along the pathways and there’s a good chance you will meet the peacocks, ducks, and birdlife that have come to call this place home.
You’ll find two play areas: north of the island is the main playground with swings, a few slides, monkey bars and a seesaw. One of the favourite kids’ zones is the nearby cave. Cross the wooden bridges surrounded by trickling streams to visit the home of ‘Big Foot’.
Towards Surfers Paradise, near the barbecue facilities and picnic tables, is another sand-based playground featuring a climbing fort with two slides. Both playgrounds offer full shade. They are perfect places to escape the elements and still enjoy the outdoors in the middle of summer.
As a bonus, the large building on Macintosh Island is where they hold the Queensland Theatre of Puppetry show during the school holidays.
Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach
Just south of the Kurrawa Surf Club is Kurrawa Park. This is an extremely popular playground and provides fun and entertainment in a large open area. It’s also fully fenced.
This ‘all abilities playground’ has been separated into three zones. There’s a sandcastle, large green hill and undersea area. All which incorporate physical, imaginative and educational elements of play.
There’s never a dull moment in this playground! There is a flying fox, hillside slides to climb up and slide down and climbing nets. All which provide additional entertainment for older children.
There are numerous swings, a sand castle fort, imaginative play areas, bouncing and spinning contraptions. Due to the array of features and the prime location of this park, it is one of the favourites on the Gold Coast, especially with young children.
When it’s time to leave you are a short walk to the beach. And there are lots of cafes and restaurants nearby for something to eat.
Justins Park, Burleigh Heads
Stop off on your family cycle, scooter ride or walk along the Esplanade for a play at Justins Park. Known to many as the playground with one of the best views! Located beside one of the finest beaches on the Gold Coast Justins Park is a popular family-friendly area. Despite its size, the location is its major drawcard for this playground. Children can be playing on the swings, slide, and monkey bars while you enjoy the picturesque views.
Justins Park is one of the areas where you can easily stay for the day. With many surrounding cafes in walking distance to dine-in or grab a takeaway and roll out your picnic rug on the lawns.
Palm Beach Parklands
Ahoy there! This Gold Coast playground is a hit with young pirates. The centrepiece is shaped like a pirate ship and a large adventure wonderland.
The large pirate ship has hit a sand bunker and is a place to have fun through imaginative play. Children can pretend to be pirates as they ‘walk the plank’. Or they can escape down the slides, scuttle across the rope bridges, and climb the fort or hideaway in the nearby cave.
This playground is located just off the Gold Coast Highway on large open, grassy parklands overlooking Palm Beach. With a swimming area that is shallow and calm and a sandy beach, it’s perfect for young children.
If your pirates are searching for a drink, something to eat or an ice-cream, The Dune Café is located north of the parklands. Dine on the alfresco seating or grab a treat and take it back to the playground.
Hinze Dam, Advancetown
There is more to the Gold Coast water supply than you may know! The Hinze Dam has pathways for a walk or bike ride. It also has barbecue facilities, along with brilliant views.
Stop at The View Café to tantalise your taste buds. And of course, there’s the children’s playground. Fully shaded with soft rubber matting underfoot, the main play attraction is a ship-like fort with slides, tunnels and lots of climbing features. Also included under the sizeable shade sail is a large round swing, bouncy rocker, and spinning seat.
There is no shortage of great playgrounds on the Gold Coast. As parents, we know that kids love playgrounds and they are a great form of screen-free amusement, so the next time you’re looking for something to do, head to one of the Gold Coast’s best playgrounds.
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Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids events, attractions & things to do with kids, schools and education, school holiday guides, health & wellbeing for families, parenting and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.