My family including 3 kids (aged 1,4,5) will spend a week at the Gold coast - we are basing ourselves out of an apartment in Broadbeach.

Our tentative itinery includes:

- Sea world + one other (Dream or Movie)
- Tropical Fruit World
- O'reilly
- Mount Tamborine

Appreciate advice on:

1. Which of the 2 theme parks (movie or dream) are more suitable for 4-5 year olds? (We think doing 2 might be overkill!) Also, is the outback theme park worth while?

2. Would O'reilly's tree top walk be too strenuous for young children (and poor Dad who will have to carry our 1 yr old daughter)? Can we combine any other side trips (on way there or back?)

3. What would you recommend to do at Mt Tamborine? Can we combine any other side trips (on way there or back?)

4. Any side trips to combine with Tropical fruit world?

5. Is it worthwhile going to Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort? Can it be a day trip? Can we see dolphins/whales thru other excursions?

Finally did we miss any major attractions out??

Many thanks in advance for your help

O'reilly's is a hard drive just for a tree walk. On the way is a store that has some llama that they let you pet. Otherwise it is a scary ride, a lot of thr road is one way but with two way traffic!

Movie World in my view is a big rip off and boring too and would go over the heads of your children. Dreamworld has an Australian theme to it and has extras like swimming pool/s and animal shows etc BUT having said that I would think that most of the rides are out of the question for the age of your children. Sea World is the best of the lot but perhaps you would be better to go to the Outback Extravaganza which is on at night and includes dinner and the show OR go to Currumbin Bird Sanctuary where the littlies can play with the kangaroos and see other animals close at hand and ride the little train etc etc which is much better for their ages. O'Reilly's is a bit of a trip from the Gold Coast and to do it justice you really need to do some of the walks which will be out of the question for your children. You can go to any of the 7 National Parks at Tamborine Mountain and do the same as you can at O'Reilly's and then drive to say Natural Arch and take the short walk down to the fresh natural pool there and swim under the waterfall. If you go late in the day you can stay till night fall and watch the glow worms come out and light up the cave. If you don't want to do that there is a man made cave on Tamborine Mountain that has Gloworms. From Tamborine Mountain you can go to Thunderbird Park and see the animals and cutting of Agates etc. Its a nice place for little ones. If you go to Tamborine Mt on either the last Sunday of the month or the second Sunday of the month there are markets which are really nice for the kids and yourselves too. There is a lot to do on Tamborine Mountain so just go to the Tourist Office and pick up a brochure and set off from there full of all the local knowledge.
Tropical Fruit World is on the southern side of the Tweed River over looking the valley and is a great spot if you like Tropical Fruit. You can get them to put whatever kind of fruit you like into either iced yoghurt or icecream - my favourites being Black Sapote and Soursop. Around that area is what used to be called Griffiths Timbercraft or Tablecraft ( but the name has been changed now and it is off from Condong ) everyone should know it though and can point you in that direction. For lunch in that area I always go to the Pub at Tumgulbum - and so does everyone else - where you can have a great Pub lunch beside the river. Either that or on your way back to Broadbeach take the Kennedy Drive Road just over Terranora Lakes, drive west till you get to one of the two fresh fish outlets and get the best fresh fish and chip lunch ever. Just ask someone where these are as they are on the way to Seagulls League Club ( which also has cheap meals and gaming and a place which looks after the kids)
I would perhaps "do"that area on a day when you could do Northern New South Wales including Byron Bay, Nimbin, The Shannon, Dunnoon etc etc. It will be a beautiful drive and a lovely day's outing.

Thank you both for your very helpful advice.

LizF, are there are any excursions that we can do to see dolphins/whales from the Gold Coast? I don't think we will have time to go to Tangalooma.

Also, your recommendations on food sound really good to us! Wonder whether you could give us your Top 5 list of places to eat -we like to try all sorts - seafood, pub food, cafes, steaks!

Finally are there any craft places that are "not to be missed"? We tend to stock up for Xmas when we travel.

Thanks again. Really appreciate your advice.

I live on Tamborine Mountain and therefore do not get out very often to the restaurants on the Gold Coast. However when I do I go to George's Paragon Restaurant at Sanctuary Cove for LUNCH as its half price and very good always. I also can recommend the Albert River Winery for lunch but thats about it really.
Carrara Markets are NOT to be missed and are on Saturday and Sunday but get there very early for breakfast otherwise it is far too busy. There are lots and lots of things to buy at reduced prices and also craft things. There is also a craft market held at a different location on the Gold Coast each Sunday or Saturday ( cannot remember) and that is usually advertised in either the tourist brochures or the local paper on a Saturday. It really depends on what time of year you are coming as to whether there will be whales or not - last year they could be seen from about any vantage point on the coast and from Byron Bay's lighthouse. As for dolphins, you can be lucky and see lots or see none. To be sure of seeing them go to Sea World and perhaps pay the extra to swim with the dolphins as well. There are so many restaurants on the Coast to choose from it would be hard to suggest any that are exceptional - the chefs seem to move as soon as I find one that is really good and then its back to the same old, same old.

Hi Hoong,

We are from New Zealand and have holidayed on the Gold Coast more times than I care to remember - and with our children who were pre-schoolers at the time.

In our opinion, Sea World (1) and Movie World (2) were the best theme parks for this age - and Currumbin a definate must for the wildlife. Dreamworld is good for older kids & it does have the wildlife part, but you will see this at Currumbin.

O'rielly's is a LONG, LONG windy drive - not worth it unless you have been to lots of other places. Tamborine Mountain has really great walks which kids can enjoy, and the views are spectacular.

We had one of our best "day out" over at Couran Cove Eco Resort - on South Stradbroke Island. It was a completely different experience to the hussle and bussle of the theme parks, city, driving etc. We hired bikes with trailers for the kids and explored, we used their kayaks & lazed by their pool. All for a nominal charge. It also included a scenic 'cruise' past all the fancy houses enroute. Might be an idea for you to check out.

Have fun!

nzers

I think definitely include the Sea World as you have planned but I would suggest Dreamworld as your second choice. Admittedly I haven't been to the others in years but Dreamworld had a bit of everything in it. Certainly there are the scary rides which your kids will be too little for, but one section is just for small children. There is also a small water park which they will enjoy and there is another section with just wildlife. My kids spent hours there petting the kangaroos etc. Obciously it is not very big, but if you are pushed for times in term of day trips, it means you don't have to allow another day to do the native animal bit.

If I may suggest the Omeros Brothers for a seafood restaurant - I've got a link to the menu for you. It is really great food. We've eaten there a number of times and have never been disappointed.

http://www.omerosbros.com/menu.html

I have to say that I think your kids would really love Dreamworld - I think they are the perfect age for it. Even the one year old will get a kick out of seeing Kenny Koala walking around and saying hi. I don't believe that two theme parks is overkill at all. I feel that you will be happy enough with the dolphins and seals etc at Seaworld and I wouldn't make a special day trip to Tangalooma.

I haven't been to Tropical Fruit World for a while now but when I did go it was quite good.

Definitely go to the Tumbulgum Pub after Tropical Fruit World. I was there recently with some friends and we all had sensational meals.

In so much as I really love the tree top walk at O'Reilly's (and the drive!)I guess I have to agree with LizF regarding her suggestions of Tamborine and Natural Arch etc - probably more there to keep the kids occupied.

But what about the beach? Don't forget to leave some time for that