Here's how to make the most of your time in the Gold Coast's famous theme parks.
DO check the Aussie term-table.
If it’s the schools hols for Australian kids, the theme parks are going to be chock-a-block. Where possible, visit when they’re back in school uniform.
DO get there early.
Many of the parks don’t open their gates — or rides — until 10am, but Movie World opens its doors at 9.30am. Since rides don't open until 10am, you'll have a half hour to check out the park and grab a sugary treat.
DON’T struggle to get there.
The majority of theme parks sit north of Surfers Paradise in Coomera and Oxenford. Local bus operator Surfside Buslines runs shuttles to all the parks from Surfers Paradise — these take about 35 minutes. Or skip the wait and let your House of Travel consultant organise private transfers or car hire.
DON’T wait in the admissions queue.
Your House of Travel consultant can arrange park tickets in advance. That means you skip the lengthy ticket lines. You might even score special add-ons like a VIP experience or queue-jumping passes!
DO make the day age-appropriate.
Almost every park accommodates toddlers to teens with rides varying in fright and delight. However, if you have under-5s in your brigade, Dreamworld is perfect. ABC Kids World is fully focused on children up to 5 years old — expect an extensive selection of merry-go-rounds, swings, tea cup rides and even a pirate ship.
DO set a meeting point.
Gold Coast theme parks are huge and it’s not hard to get lost. Find an initial meeting place, such as an easily recognisable building or park feature, and plan to reconvene there if you lose one another.
DO eat well.
Movie World and Dreamworld won’t allow you to bring any external food or drink into their parks, unless you have a specific dietary requirement or allergy. The only exceptions are water and fruit.
Wet’n’Wild won’t allow commercially prepared food (sorry, KFC!), but otherwise you’re good to go — picnics are welcome. There are also coin-operated barbecues for burger lunches.
WhiteWater World will also allow you to bring in your own food and drink. Being next door to Dreamworld, purchase a World Pass so you can go between both parks — allowing for picnics in WhiteWater World after a fun-filled morning in Dreamworld.
DO protect your valuables.
Every theme park offers rentable lockers, with varying costs listed on individual websites. At Wet’n’Wild use the lockers for your wallet but transfer some money onto a waterproof wristband first. It’s called Splash Cash, and you simply swipe it to pay for food and ride photos etc. If there’s any money left at day’s end, you’ll get it back.
DON’T get heat fatigue.
It might sound obvious, but a water bottle for every family member is a necessity. Water fountains dotted around the park let you to fill up regularly and avoid pricey on-site refreshments. Sun block and hats are fantastic too!
At the end of the day, your family is sure to have a ball...it's pretty hard to go wrong in these incredible theme parks!
