Best things to do on the Gold Coast during the Easter holidays

With the Easter school holidays fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking of how to keep your kids entertained for the duration of their sunny staycation on the Gold Coast. Luckily, when you live on this stunning Queensland coastline, it’s an easy task. From all the outdoor adventures to be had, the stunning scenery just begging to be explored, and the amazing selection of organised activities to choose from, you won’t have to listen to another uttering of “I’m bored” ever again! 

And even on those days when you just want a quiet day, your kids will love chilling at home in our latest Mater Prize Home lottery No. 306. There’s the separate living room on the first floor where they can watch what they want in peace, the sparkling swimming pool for hours of fun, and the 2022 Sea-Doo FishPro Scout jet ski and 2023 Sea Fox 248 Commander Boat included in the home lottery should you feel like treating them to a day out on the water.

Buy Tickets

For those days when you feel like venturing outside of your stunning prize home, these are the best kid-friendly activities on the Gold Coast during the Easter school holidays.

Art enthusiasts

Rather than succumbing to their pleas for screen time, encourage their creativity and art exploration with a visit to Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts. The iconic HOTA transforms into an extra kid-friendly zone over the Easter holidays with an array of activities and exhibits to capture their attention and imagination. As part of the ‘Kids Take Over’ program, there’s a Wheel of Play that features 7 art-inspired activities; the Sea of Lights lets kids turn their torch into a paintbrush for an interactive art installation; or if it’s cooking that gets their creative juices flowing, then the Mini Master Chefs will inspire them to create a dish that could feature on HOTA’s Palette Restaurant menu. Working alongside HOTA’s Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law, the kids will get to select ingredients and concoct their own culinary creation to present to a team of judges.  

While the air con inside the HOTA will be a welcome bonus on those hot April days, when you want your little ones to get some fresh air, the self-guided Art Roll trail around town is the perfect balance of exercise and culture - all for free. Download the free map and pick your preferred patch of path between Southport and Coolangatta. The trail features over 100 colourful and contemplative street art murals created by local artists and can be explored on bikes, scooters, skates, or however you please.

If your kids prefer to get creative with their hands there are also many Easter-themed craft activities happening on the Gold Coast. The Craft Parlour in Miami is a great place to go for kid and teen-specific workshops, including full day workshops over the school holidays. Expect an array of craft activities like animal pottery, beading, and textured art on the agenda.

Film buffs

Let’s face it - movie nights with friends are what school holidays are all about! And this Easter break there are plenty of great opportunities for the kids to grab their pals and catch their favourite flicks. The Yatala Drive-In is an experience in itself, with an old-school cafe for stocking up on popcorn and choc tops (because what’s a trip to the movies without these delicious icons), and the novelty of watching a movie together as a family inside your car. Or, to take advantage of the balmy April evenings, head along to Broadwater Parklands’ free city event on Saturday April 15 to watch ‘Space Jam – A New Legacy’ at the open-air cinema.

If their interest in film expands simply watching them, then the Gold Coast Libraries program of Lights, Camera, Action! events is for them. Kids can create their own paper movies with Flip Book Animation; draw their own movie storyboard just like the pros; craft their own puppet theatre and movie characters in Shadow Puppet theatre; test their movie knowledge with trivia; and enjoy a free screening of ‘Bad Guys’. 

Animal lovers

If being a Ranger For A Day isn’t enough to get them out of bed and eager to make the most of their school holidays, we don’t know what is! Paradise Country offers kids aged 6-13yrs the chance to learn what it’s like to be a Wildlife Keeper as they help out with duties such as animal feeding and handling, and park preparation for animals including kangaroos, wombats, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, koalas, marmosets and meerkats.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary also has a wonderful holiday program for animal lovers, where they can learn about animal training techniques, experience what it’s like to be a keeper for a day, and gain insights from a trained vet about the importance of rehab, rescue and treatment techniques. 

Nature explorers

Between the green behind the gold (aka the Gold Coast Hinterland) and the 70 kilometres of spectacular beaches along the coastline, you won’t run out of beautiful natural scenery to explore for many years to come. But if you want to send the kids off on a planned outdoor activity these school holidays where they can connect with nature, learn about Indigenous culture and walk away with valuable eco lessons like recycling - all while making lifelong friends - then check out the City of Gold Coast’s NaturallyGC Kids School Holidays Program, which runs from April 1-15. These workshops cover a range of nature-based activities from guided bushwalks, wildlife shows, coastal education and more. Highlights include the Discover Dolphin workshop that introduces kids to the natural lives of dolphins and whales through a mix interactive play activities include sensory experiences; and the Jarjums-Dreamtime Stories and Rock Art workshop where children are told local Dreamtime stories and will try their hand at dot paintings on rocks while learning different art symbols of the Aboriginal culture.

Ready to take the hard work out of entertaining the kids during the school holidays? Buy your tickets today to win this waterfront Mater Prize Home lottery and take advantage of all the amazing family-friendly things to do year-round on the Gold Coast. Plus, for every ticket you purchase you’re helping support the life-changing medical research and patient care at Mater.

Buy Tickets