Family-Friendly Activities for the Winter School Holidays

Wondering how to spend the winter school holidays on the Gold Coast? Our city has a packed schedule of events, activities and family-friendly adventures to ensure kids (and parents) have the best holidays ever! From whale watching and a winter wonderland, to inspiring street festivals and theme park fun, here’s where to go and what to do on the Gold Coast these school holidays.

School Holidays at HOTA

There’s heaps of holiday fun to be had at HOTA from interactive exhibitions in the Children’s Gallery, to creative workshops, a hilarious stage show and a K-POP party!

 Aka Sorbie: Saltwater Heart is an interactive exhibition where kids can learn engage with First Nations culture - learn about the reef, play cubby in the island hut, discover patterns in nature and art, and get creative at the craft table. Artist Lisa Sorbie Martin shares her Torres Strait culture and coastal upbringing, as memories and moments of her childhood are brought to life and infused with vibrant colours and patterns of her art practice.  

From Monday June 29 - Friday July 3, there will be drop-in creative activities for kids in the HOTA Gallery Foyer between 10am - 2pm with a new crafty activity to explore each day.

Calling all K-Pop fans! Get ready to sing, dance and party to your fave K-Pop songs with this unique concert, featuring virtual K-Pop Icons on the big screen, along with a sensational live dance crew. This high-energy, family-friendly show is packed with hits from K-POP Demon Hunters, Blackpink, BTS, Katseye and more. Don’t miss it if your kids are K-Pop fans! K-Pop Icons is on Saturday July 4 at 7pm.

Take the kids on a holiday excursion to see Signor Baffo - a delightful and laugh-out-loud theatre experience for kids age 3+. Signor Baffo is about to open his restaurant but nothing is going to plan!  Expect plenty of giggles, unexpected twists and even a rock and roll concert in this supremely silly, interactive adventure. Friday July 3, and Saturday July 4.

Whale Watching

Winter is whale season on the Gold Coast and more than 40,000 of the magnificent marine mammals travel past our city on their way to warmer waters up north. Some of the largest humpbacks are up to 16m long and seeing them breach is literally awe-inspiring. Mother humpbacks use the protected Gold Coast waters as a nursery to rest and play with their babies seeing newborn calves flop about as they learn to swim and breach will have children entranced. There’s a variety of whale watching tours to choose from  - take your pick for an amazing school holiday experience. 

SURFACE Festival

SURFACE Festival brings together artists of all forms to transform Miami into a street art paradise. Running from July 1 - 19 (and across the school hols) the event features all kinds of creative workshops, large-scale live murals, outdoor art exhibitions, gallery nights, live music, laneway concerts, kids activities and more. The HQ is Miami Marketta but the event spreads across the whole suburb.

See artists painting large-scale murals on walls ,warehouses, buildings and shopfronts in real time. Ride, roll or stroll the streets of Miami for the Fenceline Exhibition, which showcases hundreds of artworks over 5km of residential front yards. On July 5th, head to Miami Marketta for Santa Cruz Overspray - a family-friendly event celebrating art, music and skating for the ultimate Sunday session. 

Winterfest at Dreamworld

Embrace the magic of winter at Dreamworld’s much-loved Winterfest, returning these school holidays with even more icy adventures. This year’s celebration promises plenty of frosty fun, from gliding across the full-size ice skating rink to racing down the Ice Slide aboard a tube toboggan. Refuel with a delicious European-inspired menu featuring comforting winter favourites, then set the kids loose on the Winterfest Quest, where they can follow clues, solve puzzles and collect a special prize. Best of all, Winterfest is included with your Dreamworld ticket or Annual Pass, with festivities running from June 27 to July 12.

DC Superheroes and Super-Villains at Warner Bros Movie World

From June 27 - July 19 you can witness the battle of Goodies vs Baddies at Warner Bros Movie World when the DC Superheroes and Super-Villains pack the park with action and entertainment. Enjoy an epic line-up of entertainment including dramatic street shows and character meet and greets from icons like Batman, Cat Woman, The Joker, Harley Quinn and The Flash. Grab your cape and mask and dress up as your favourite DC character. At 5pm, Main Street will come alive with the daily parade featuring light and laser shows - keep an eye out for Krypto the Superdog! This is alongside all the regular rides, rollercoasters and incredible experiences at Movie World.

David Fleay Wildlife Park - 1/2 Price Admission!

Tucked away on the banks of Tallebudgera Creek, this tranquil conservation sanctuary is a magical spot for the next generation of nature lovers to wonder at wildlife. Spend a fascinating few hours exploring strolling along bshady boardwalks that weave through natural habitats where you’ll see Aussie icons like koalas, emus, tree kangaroos, crocs, dingoes, reptiles, wallabies and even a platypus. 

The staff here are all Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Park Rangers and you’ll learn lots about the animals they care for at daily wildlife presentations. When it’s time for a breather, relax on an elevated deck surrounded by greenery and enjoy coffee, snacks or a lovely lunch at the Fleay’s Café. Until October, admission price is 50% off which means a visit to Fleay's costs $6.15 for kids and $13.50 for adults. Bargain!

Astra Lumina

Get bundled up for a night time winter adventure at Astra Lumina. This enchanting experience is a new offering from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.  Once night has fallen, set out on a winding 1.5km trail through the rainforested gardens, illuminated by  magical lanterns, lasers and light installations. The immersive adventure includes soundscapes that echo through the bush and projections that dance across the canopy and floor, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

The self-led walk means you can stroll through the experience in your own time, linger longer at favourite installations, or hustle if you need to get hungry kids to dinner. The experience takes around an hour and is suitable for all ages. Astra Lumina is open on Fridays & Saturdays from 5.45 - 9pm (and Wednesdays during winter school holidays)

Illusions Magic Show with Matt Hollywood

For an unforgettable family-friendly holiday activity take the kids to witness the wonder and spectacle of the Illusions Magic Show with Matt Hollywood. After 30 years in the business, Matt is a master entertainer and performs the only full time magic show in Australia at his custom-built theatre in Cavill Lane, Surfers Paradise. The show features stunning Las Vegas style magic tricks and illusions including death-defying escapes, grand illusions, comedy and of course audience participation. 

Holiday Program at Gold Coast Recreation Precinct