Rainy Day Activities on the Gold Coast with Kids
Don’t let the rain get you down. There are plenty of fun, family-friendly rainy-day activities on the Gold Coast.
It rarely rains all day, so hopefully you can enjoy the beach or the pool while the sun is out and swap over to a fun activity while it rains.
From arcades to escape rooms, indoor go-karting to indoor mini golf, museums to nightly entertainment, there are lots of fun indoor activities to do with kids when it is raining on the Gold Coast.
Map of Rainy Day Activities on the Gold Coast
Adventures
iFly
Kids as young as 3 years old can participate in indoor skydiving at iFly.
This is another rainy day activity that is as much fun for the adults as it is for the kids (or at least I hear, I am the only one in my family who refused to try it).
Slideways Go Karting
You can even go go-karting indoors on the Gold Coast.
Slideways Go Karting has 3 stories of tracks. Kids 4+ can ride along with an adult, while those 7+ can drive on their own during family sessions.
Game Over
The kids won’t even care that it is raining when they are enjoying indoor go-karting, laser tag, rock wall climbing, mini golf, and arcade games at Game Over.
Maniax
Kids 11+ can throw an axe at Maniax, and if you have younger kids, they are welcome to watch.
Maniax has food and drinks available.
Gold Coast Indoor Paint Ball
For those of you looking for a fun indoor activity with teens on the Gold Coast, teens 15+ can participate in indoor paintball.
Spectators can be any age.
Unique Experiences
Ripley’s Believe it or Not
Ripley’s Believe It or Not has a museum in Surfers Paradise.
Learn unusual facts, play in the mirror maze, and enjoy a show in the moving theatre.
Infinity
The experience is just 30 minutes, but Infinity is another indoor option that is fun for all ages.
Wander through the light-filled mazes in this interactive exhibit for as long as you’d like, with the average time being half an hour.
Gold Coast Wax Museum
Check out the largest number of wax figures in the Southern Hemisphere at the Gold Coast Wax Museum.
You will probably want to skip the Chamber of Horrors section with the kids, but they’ll enjoy the famous faces section.
Artvo
If you have kids who love to be in the picture and enjoy interactive experiences, check out Artvo at Robina Centre.
Your ticket ensures all-day entry to the 8 rooms at Artvo.
Arcades
Time Zone Surfers Paradise
Located in Cavill Mall in Surfers Paradise, Time Zone is a fun place to play indoors on a rainy day.
With interactive games, Time Zone isn’t an arcade where kids will sit all day. There are more than 300 games to play at Time Zone Surfers Paradise, which means there is something fun for everyone.
In addition to the arcade games, Time Zone offers laser tag, mini bowling, and bumper cars.
Time Zone also has a cafe for those who don’t want to leave to get a meal or a snack.
Archie Bros Cirque Electriq
Another option for an arcade in Surfers Paradise is Archie Bros Cirque Electriq.
Besides the arcade games, Archie Bros offers bowling, bumper cars, mini-golf, and challenge rooms. They also have a full-service bar and restaurant.
Level Up Arcade
Level Up Arcade in Broadbeach has a wide range of arcade games and a virtual reality arena that includes an escape room.
Escape Rooms
Escape Hunt
For the most kid-friendly escape rooms, Escape Hunt’s Gold Coast location has kid-friendly rooms for those 7+.
One option is Alice in Puzzleland, which I completed with my kids at the Brisbane location. Other family-friendly options include The Rising Alchemist and Timely Escape.
Fox in a Box
Though their escape rooms are recommended for kids 10+, all ages are welcome, and those under 7 can play for free.
Fox in a Box has some rooms that are better suited for children, and with notice, they can modify some of the adult escape room options.
Padlock’d
Some of the escape rooms at Padlock’d are recommended for those 10+, while others are better suited for teens 15+.
Padlock’d has 2 locations on the Gold Coast, both in Surfers Paradise.
Mini Golf
Holey Moley
Of course, Holey Moley is fun on its own, but it can easily be combined with bowling, an escape room, karaoke, or interactive darts.
Holey Moley is known for its uniquely themed indoor putt-putt courses, and their Surfers Paradise location is no exception.
Kids are allowed at Holey Moley until 8 pm on Friday and Saturday nights, and until 9 pm the rest of the week.
Time Zone
There are 12 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini-golf at Time Zone Surfers Paradise in addition to more than 300 arcade games, bumper games, mini bowling, and lots of fun activities for kids and teens.
Bowling
Strike
There is always a discount for kids at Strike Bowling Surfers Paradise.
You can opt for a round of bowling or purchase an activity pass for multiple rainy day activities, including arcade games, mini golf, and challenge rooms.
Zone Bowling
Zone Bowling has 2 Gold Coast locations: one in Surfers Paradise and one in Robina.
The Surfers location has the largest range of games in the Southern Hemisphere, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, darts, and lots more.
Challenge Rooms
Hijinx Hotel
Oftentimes, when we are looking for something fun to do with kids, we don’t think about the adults enjoying themselves as well.
If you are looking for something that is just as much fun for the adults as it is for the kids, check out Hijinx Hotel.
You can opt for 5 challenge rooms or 10, and either way, it’s a fun way to spend a rainy day with kids on the Gold Coast.
Don’t know what to expect? Read our review.
Learn/Make
Craft Parlour
If rain is on the radar, check out the kid-friendly art workshops at Craft Parlour.
Options include drawing, painting, and clay workshops.
The Messy Place
Kids up to 6 years old can participate in messy play at The Messy Place.
Workshops are available for those 0-3 and 1-6. Each session is 90 minutes long, and 2 parents can attend for free with each paid child.
Class Bento
Class Bento always has a list of classes and workshops available, and there are often kid-friendly Gold Coast options.
Indoor Play
Pacific Fair
Pacific Fair shopping centre has multiple play areas for kids.
EMF Junior has a giant indoor play area with childminding services. This indoor playground is geared towards kids 6 months to 12 years.
Bounce
Let the kids jump out their energy at Bounce, a trampoline park on the Gold Coast.
This is the largest Bounce location and includes Minibounce for kids up to 6 years old.
CSi Club Southport
Enjoy a meal while the kids play at CSi Club Southport. Not only do they have an indoor playground, but they also have an indoor splash area.
Find more Gold Coast restaurants with playgrounds and playrooms for kids.
Area 51
Area 51, known for its large and unique indoor play areas, has a location in Helensvale on the Gold Coast.
Geared towards kids up to 12 years old, this Area 51 location is 1500 square meters of fun.
They are also open late, so this is a great thing to do on a rainy evening. Sometimes, they have special evening events like Neon Night that include a DJ and dancing.
Bella’s Wonderland
The Gold Coast’s largest indoor play centre, Bella’s Wonderland, is both an indoor play area and a cafe.
Bella’s is for kids up to 12 years old, and adults enter for free.
Doodlebugs
A family-owned and operated indoor playground in Miami on the Gold Coast, Doodlebugs was designed for safe and active kids.
Note that Doodlebug closes early daily and is best for morning play.
Chipmunks
An indoor playground for kids 0-11, Chipmunks has a location in Robina.
Chipmunks is open daily and offers kids lots of fun areas to play and explore.
Inflatable World
What’s more fun than a bounce house? An entire space dedicated to inflatables.
Kids can climb and slide at Inflatable World in Arundel during a 2-hour-long session.
Shows
HOTA
See what is playing at HOTA, Home of the Arts.
They offer a wide variety of entertainment, including family-friendly shows. My kids loved the production of The Play That Goes Wrong that we watched at HOTA.
HOTA also offers family-friendly workshops.
Australian Outback Spectacular
For a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else, check out the Australian Outback Spectacular.
Eat a 3-course dinner and enjoy a show on a one-of-a-kind set.
Illusions Magic Show
Prefer magic? Head to Cavill Lane in Surfers Paradise for the Illusions Magic Show.
Rainy Day on the Gold Coast Wrap Up
While we all love sunny days on the Gold Coast, if it happens to rain, don’t worry, there are plenty of fun, kid-friendly activities.
From indoor play centres to indoor go-karting, indoor rock wall climbing to indoor mini-golf, there are fun things to do with kids of all ages on the Gold Coast.
