10 of the top family accommodation on the Gold Coast

Make it a (mostly) tantrum-free holiday they’ll remember forever with the best family accommodation on the Gold Coast.

Laid-back locals, lashings of sunshine and more activities than you can poke a selfie stick at – there’s plenty of reasons why this city has become synonymous with kid-friendly getaways. The secret to all-round success, in our experience? Finding family accommodation on the Gold Coast that offers supreme comfort when emotions run high, a mixed bag of things to do when boredom creeps in, and dining options for the most demanding of taste buds when hanger is on the horizon. Our edit of the most outstanding in the region should get you on your way.

1. Paradise Resort Gold Coast

Showered with plenty of accolades over the years, this reliable property knows precisely what families need, making it very difficult for smart mums and dads to consider booking anywhere else.

The Kids’ Club at Paradise Resort Gold Coast is like a day-care centre on steroids, offering themed experiences like the Space Room, Egyptian Room, Astro’s Space Station, Dusty’s Safari and Underwater World, plus arts and crafts, disco nights and pyjama parties.

Best of all, they take babies as little as six weeks, so new mamas are invited to take a well-deserved break. There’s also a Pamper Parlour for big kids obsessing over mermaid braids and stick on nails. But wait, there’s more: an ice-skating rink, waterpark and miniature train can also be found at this family accommodation on the Gold Coast.

Lodging-wise, there’s 360 rooms and the biggest of them sleeps up to eight people. No matter which way you go, they’re all unapologetically splashed with rainbow paintwork, plus the TVs and PlayStation in the Junior Bunkhouse Rooms, housing one-to-four guests, are the icing on the cake. Expect balconies, small refrigerators, daily housekeeping, plus minor kitchen facilities in certain rooms.

There are also five eateries to visit, dishing up all the usual crowd pleasers including pizza, burgers, and Mexican cuisine, as well as cocktails and light meals by the pool. Rates start from approximately $249 per night.

Address: 122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

2. Sea World Resort

We needn’t explain the major drawcard for booking Sea World Resort – but we will. This low-rise, family accommodation on the Gold Coast puts you smack bang in the middle of Main Beach, and at the foot of one of Australia’s most iconic theme parks. Enjoy unlimited access to the park itself, plus the accommodation’s water park set amongst lush tropical gardens.

Families can choose from an incredible 11 room styles, ranging from the Resort Double Room and Studio Room, which offer clean, comfortable spaces with bar fridges, double beds, and garden views, to the Broadwater Executive Spa Room and Broadwater Executive View Room, equipped with king beds, lounge areas, LCD TVs, balconies and Broadwater beach views.

When tummies rumble, there are six restaurants to keep everyone sane. Hatsuhana is a celebrated Japanese restaurant, Shoreline Restaurant serves up an extensive buffet, Waterfall Cafe is located right by the heart of the resort, the lagoon pool, The Boatshed is in prime position for grown-up sundowners, Melrose Italian cooks up bellissimo fare every evening, and the Lobby Lounge rounds out the offering with coffee and snacks. But it’s always about the kids and this place knows it.

Every evening, the SpongeBob SplashBash’s LED light show offers a singalong and musical water fountain, plus Nickelodeon characters greet fans at the resort in the mornings. There’s also an unsupervised kids’ zone open on the weekends and during the evenings on weeknights. Rates including park access start from around $349 per night.

Address: Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

3. Turtle Beach Resort

With four swimming pools, a cinema, and a water park of its own, your children may think they’ve stumbled right into kiddy heaven. Turtle Beach Resort, an awesome family accommodation on the Gold Coast located close to Pacific Fair shopping centre and Surfers Paradise, offers one, two or three-bedroom self-contained apartments.

Featuring fully equipped kitchens, private balconies or patios, TVs and laundries, the spaces are basic but cater to a family’s every need. If you’ve got really little ones with you, the team can even organise bed rails, cots and prams to keep them sorted. And to get them smiling, that water park is fitted with four water slides, two toddler slides and genius water cannons, plus there’s mini golf, a tennis court, and a games room on top of the Turtle Kids Club featuring daily itineraries of fun-filled activities for children aged four to 12.

The Deck Restaurant and Bar is the place to be for lunch as it overlooks the water park so it’s in the thick of the action, plus there’s four spas scattered around the grounds and two saunas to help you sweat out post-indulgence toxins. Rates start from approximately $225 per night.

Address: 2346 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

4. JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

Nabbing the crown for the best family-friendly resort pool in the entire region, the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa blends luxurious rooms and amenities with extremely considered attractions tailored entirely for tots.

The star of the show at this family accommodation on the Gold Coast is its spectacular saltwater lagoon, decorated with a grotto, waterfalls, more than 200 tropical fish, and a private beach with cabanas. Drop your snorkel off before stepping over to a freshwater pool featuring a waterslide, or perhaps one of the scattered jacuzzis including one particularly cool design built within a cave.

Kids are king in this outdoor mecca as an aquatic recreation centre offering sea scooters (which are ridiculous fun), snorkelling equipment and pool toys is also on hand, plus they’re invited to watch a daily fish feeding or take part in a scavenger hunt.

Inside, the fun and games continue as pizza, sushi and chocolate-making classes are staged and juniors are also invited to a mixology class where they’ll learn how to shake and stir healthy juice concoctions.

The hotel’s 223 rooms offer a magical mix of ocean or hinterland views, each exquisitely appointed with marble bathrooms, bathtubs, light-up make-up mirrors, balconies, mini fridges, LCD TVs, touchscreen control and super plush bedding.

Dining options are similarly next level. Citrique Restaurant is an international masterstroke, offering a seafood buffet that stuns, plus buffet breakfast complete with an ice cream station, five-course degustation, and seasonal set menus. In addition, there’s the elegant Misoni teppanyaki restaurant, Chapter & Verse muddling up killer cocktails, and The Pool Pavilion dishing up Asian fusion and other flavour-crammed lunch options. Rates start from about $500 per night.

Address: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

5. Treasure Island Holiday Resort

A list of the most action-packed family accommodation on the Gold Coast isn’t complete without a nod to Treasure Island Holiday Resort, particularly if you’re travelling with very young kids.

They’ll be kept busy at this Biggera Waters property, thanks to a kids’ club, swimming in four pools and cutting loose amid a splash zone, riding the hireable go-karts, tumbling all over a puffy bouncing pillow, teeing off in a round of mini golf, playing tennis, getting lost in the action of a games room, and even more. Yes, really, even more.

The park runs a Kids Vs Wild survival program, from the team behind the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, where youngsters are taught handy life skills like crafting shelters and navigating challenging terrain, all in the great outdoors.

Galleons Bistro is a great option when it’s chow time, offering hearty pub-style meals, and there’s a smorgasbord of rooms within the resort including some of the city’s most rocking glamping tents priced from $137 per night. Self-contained villas start from $199 per night, and tent sites start from $56 per night.

Address: 117 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters

6. Big4 Gold Coast

Here for the theme parks? They’re a bit of a drive from the surf, so lock-down Gold Coast family accommodation right around the corner from the big guns. Less than two minute’s drive from Wet‘n’Wild, Topgolf Gold Coast, Movie World, and the Australian Outback Spectacular, plus a few doors down from Game Over Gold Coast go-karting (if it isn’t a scorcher out there, you could comfortably walk the flat distance to all of these spots) Big4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is also loaded with its own kid-friendly attractions.

From a waterslide and splash zone big enough to rival the ones in Wet‘n’Wild and a lagoon pool with shaded cabanas to a remote-controlled car track, frisbee golf (you’re aiming to hurl frisbees into tiny holes), bocce, a kids’ club and basketball courts, there’s an activity for every hour of the day.

Kids can ride go-karts around BIG 4 Gold Coast Holiday Park. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)Famished guests should head straight to Nibbles Cafe where burgers, pizzas, salads, and snacks are dished up, or Nibbles Terrace where beer, wine and cocktails are served.

When it’s time to recharge, rooms come by the truckload. Self-contained motel rooms, cabins, cottages, and bungalows, plus a range of powered and unpowered camp sites, are all available. The style is basic, but the price tags make everything worth it. Rates for rooms with four walls start from $196 per night, while camping starts from $39 per night.

Address: 66-86 Siganto Drive, Helensvale

7. RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast

A week, a month, a year – who knows how long you’ll want to park the family at the RACV Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast once you get a gander at it. Featuring its own kids’ waterpark, playground facilities, multiple swimming pools, in-house movies and a menu filled with child-friendly dishes, this Gold Coast family accommodation, located just a short drive from Surfers Paradise, offers creature comforts in luxurious surroundings.

Come school holidays, send your mini mes off to the resort’s kids’ club, while adults can sit back and enjoy the amenities, including a 27-hole golf course, tennis court, day spa, and an executive lounge with glorious regional views.

The rooms range from a Superior King Room, styled with a modern mix of furnishings, to a collection of Executive Suites, some with marble bathrooms and spas and others with spacious entertaining areas. Plus, you won’t go hungry for long given there’s eight eateries on-site including Videre, a gorgeous space popular for its high tea, Trattoria Amici, serving authentic Italian cuisine, and Arakawa, a stand-out Japanese restaurant. Rates starts from approximately $349 per night.

Address: Ross Street, Benowa

8. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Get your clan into the fresh outdoors with a stay amid the stunning Gold Coast Hinterland. A 90-minute drive from Surfers Paradise, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat embraces every element of its spectacular natural environment, offering 48 self-contained villas and a range of daily activities for the whole family.

Wildlife encounters, a fascinating bird show, tree top walk, glow worm exploration, flying fox adventures, Segway safari, historical tours and 4WD tours are just of the experiences on offer at this Gold Coast family accommodation.

The Mountain View Room is the retreat’s most basic family-friendly lodging, featuring a queen bed and a single bed, a verandah and bar fridge, but no TV. Afternoon tea and a bird tour are included, however, and rates start from $290 per night.

If you’re keen to splash out, go the Three Bedroom Valley View Villa, a wonderful self-contained option that sleeps up to nine guests and offers ensuites with each bedroom, a giant deck with a dreamy outdoor spa bath, fireplace, and breathtaking views across the mountains. Interiors are pared back, with the occasional block colour adding warmth while allowing the scenery to shine. Rates start from $599 per night.

There are three dining areas to choose from, including The Rainforest Bar, a great spot for sunset drinks, in addition to The Dining Room cooking up modern Australian cuisine, and O’Reilly’s Mountain Café, serving light meals and an a la carte menu at lunch. There’s also a great day spa to really unwind in, featuring a cedar hot tub and even more magical views.

Address: 3582 Lamington National Park Road, Canungra

9. Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise

If holiday bliss amounts to being right in the heart of the action, then Mantra Crown Towers Surfers Paradise has your name written all over it. Located within spitting distance from bustling Cavill Avenue, and about 100 metres from the beach, the Gold Coast family accommodation’s self-contained apartments are prime Surfers real estate.

Featuring one, two or three-bedroom stays, the spaces feel coastal and roomy, complete with private balconies, dining areas, laundry facilities and lounge areas. And when it comes to keeping boredom at bay, there’s a fun-filled pirate shipwrecked in the middle of a lagoon pool, complete with a water slide, fountains, and white sand, plus two further swimming pools and a games room.

There’s also a theatrical onsite restaurant, Chang Mai Thai, which dishes up quality Southeast Asian dishes prepared with love, and adults will appreciate the spa, sauna and gym located within the hotel.

Venture offsite to explore the shops, restaurants, and entertainment at your doorstep – you name it, and you can probably walk there. Rates start from approximately $468 per night.

Address: 5-19 Palm Avenue, Surfers Paradise

10. Paradise Country Farmstay

Does it get any better than staying in a family attraction itself? Paradise Country Farmstay is the charming accommodation offering from Paradise Country, the much-loved farm experience on the Gold Coast, providing unique opportunities to live your best farm life.

Little ones are invited to collect eggs from the chooks, feed and milk the cows, cuddle up to native wildlife and toast marshmallows on the campfire. They’re experiences are exclusive to guests, who are obviously also able to access the park itself.

Stays are catered for in the way of luxury glamping, with two family-friendly styles providing super soft beds, balconies, and refrigerators. An ensuite bathroom, as opposed to a shared shower and toilet block, is the main difference between the two, but all facilities are clean and comfortable.

Food is sorted too as the Farmhouse Restaurant is on hand with a gourmet buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, and there’s also Burrow Cafe for more casual dining. Rates start from around $315 per night.

Address: Production Drive, Oxenford

For more reviews and insider tips, we’ve created the ultimate Gold Coast accommodation guide.