September School Holiday Survival Guide

School’s out for Spring and kids all over the country are celebrating their freedom… while their parents wonder how to keep them entertained for two weeks. Here on the Gold Coast we’ve got it covered with a huge range of attractions, entertainment and holiday activities.

There are cool arts and culture experiences, wildlife encounters, theme park fun, free activities and lots, lots more! Show the kids this blog and let them choose their own Gold Coast adventure these school holidays.

Kids Take Over at HOTA: 22 September - 4 October

HOTA’s holiday program for kids aged 3 - 11 is going to be out of this world! Kids Take Over is a creative play festival for little people where they can explore, express and unleash their imaginations in an intergalactic festival bursting with free and ticketed workshops, creative experiences, performances, and everything in between.

From DJ Skool to Lego battles, theatre productions, improv classes, a space-themed circus, creative writing, pizza making, drawing and extended reality storytelling the options for fun are endless. 

There’s also Solar Cinema, featuring daily screenings of space-themed movies like E.T. and Wall-E.  Movie tickets are just $5 and you score free popcorn to munch on too! For carers and kids, HOTA is the place to be these September school holidays.

Location: HOTA (Home of the Arts) 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise

Dreamworld Country Fair: Sept 21 - Oct 6

Round up the family for a day at the Dreamworld Country Fair. Dreamworld’s annual celebration of all things country is back for the September school hols!

Along with the regular rides, slides, wildlife and entertainment there’s a whole lot of extra fun on offer including a petting zoo with adorable farmyard animals, hilarious hobby horse demonstrations, a scarecrow patch, roving entertainment and a smorgasbord of country eats. It’s going to be a toe-tapping, lip smacking good time, all included in your regular Dreamworld entry.

Location: Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera

Swell Sculpture Festival: 12 - 21 September

This annual sculpture festival comes to Currumbin each year and transforms the beachfront into an outdoor art gallery. A natural hit for families with young kids, it makes art accessible to all, and they are free to run around to their hearts content while they interact with the artworks.

SWELL Kids Elements is a vibrant hub where school children can explore their artistic side  in free and ticketed creative workshops. This year they can play with clay, create a bird sculpture or decorate flower pots with recycled materials and choose a seedling to grow. Find the art classes in Len Wort Park.

Location: Pacific Parade, Currumbin

Holiday Programs at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: 25 September - 3 October

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers dynamic school holiday programs tailored for different age groups, providing immersive, animal-packed experiences in wildlife, conservation, and nature. Young wildlife enthusiasts (5–8 years) can join Junior Sanctuary Rangers, a half-day adventure exploring native and exotic animals. Older children (9–12 years) can step into the shoes of a keeper with Sanctuary Rangers, creating animal enrichment, designing habitats, and learning about nature through First Nations perspectives. Teens (13–16 years) can gain hands-on experience in Insight into Zookeeping, caring for Australia’s unique mammals. Across all ages, kids can also enjoy Bee Workshops, discovering the life of native stingless bees, tasting honey, and exploring their cultural significance. Spaces are limited and bookings are essential.

Location: 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin

Free School Holiday Activities on the Gold Coast

IIn good news for parents, City of Gold Coast provides awesome free holiday programs to keep kids entertained. Over the Septmeber school holidays they include a huge range of NaturallyGC workshops about different kinds of creatures, reptiles and marine life. There are also Indigenous art and culture experiences, junior ranger days at David Fleay Wildlife Park, circus classes and tie dye workshops… just to name a few!

Many of these activities are completely free but you do need to register online. And while there are different activities for different ages, most of them are suitable for kids between 5 - 12. Check out the extensive program here. 

September School Holidays at Paradise Centre: Sept 13 - 29

Spring into Paradise these school holidays at Paradise Centre  with heaps of free activities to keep the kids happy.  Open from 9am until late daily, you’ll holiday entertainment like axe throwing, escape rooms, Time Zone and bowling. Keep the crew well fed at family-friendly dining options like Hero Sushi, Wahlburgers, El Camino Cantina, TGI Fridays and Gelato Messina. 

On Fridays and Saturdays between 5 - 8pm Paradise Centre there’s fire twirlers putting on jaw dropping performances, a live DJ spinning tunes in the beachfront dining precinct and neon body painters that can transform kids into a glow-in-the-dark work of art. With the beautiful Surfers Paradise beach right across the road, the family will be all set for a great day out.

Location: 2 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise

Visit People’s Esplanade Pop-Up in Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise People’s Esplanade Pop-Up is transforming the heart of the Gold Coast. This vibrant and exciting space runs along the beachfront at the end of Cavill Mall and it’s a place to connect, explore, and experience together. With 5 different hubs to enjoy, there’s plenty to do – free live entertainment, TikTok inspired dance classes, skate workshops, DJ school and outdoor movies on Sunday evenings at 6pm. Stroll through, grab a bite, or just see what’s on.

Location: Esplanade Beachfront, Surfers Paradise

Whale Watching

The September school holidays are during whale watching season, so all aboard for an activity that will make a lasting impression. There are numerous operators providing whale watching tours and an up close encounter with these magnificent aquatic mammals is awe-inspiring, humbling and exhilarating. 

One major advantage of Gold Coast whale watching is that there’s very little travel time involved - once you leave the dock you’ll be out in the ocean within 15 minutes. This is great news for parents with little people impatient to see all the action. It also means you can go for an early morning whale watching tour and be back on land before lunch with the rest of your day to spend at your leisure, relaxing, shopping or exploring Gold Coast’s other attractions.

Family Holiday Programme at The Langham: 25 September - 12 October

This spring, The Langham, Gold Coast invites guests to make the most of the September school holidays with a line-up of unforgettable activities for kids of all ages. From pizza-making masterclasses with Executive Chef Mark Marshall and hands-on Junior Picasso art workshops, to poolside Colour Carnivals and Kids Club Disco Parties, little guests will be entertained from morning to evening. Families can also enjoy complimentary yoga sessions, embark on a pirate-themed Great Lolly Chase, or simply relax together in the resort’s luxury surrounds. It's family fun in 5-star style! See the full school holiday program here.

Need more ideas for the school holidays? Check out our Family Friendly Guide to the Gold Coast Hinterland.