A good activity for kids under the age of 5 with a few caveats. Nice water features with spray…read moreelements, little wading pools, a waterfall, and more. Lots of shade and benches. Cafe nearby within the park as well. It's also near the Australia Fair Shopping Centre (which is very poorly laid out but at least it is close) if you need to combine a trip with shopping. My quibbles: 1. Parking isn't free - it's $AUS 1.90 an hour. Not a huge deal - worth it to help cover the expenses of the space. 2. There isn't a changing area directly by the play area. Most of these sorts of playspaces that are water-specific seem to have changing areas surrounding the pools, but this one you had to walk a bit too. When you are schlepping kids and gear, you really want it closer. 3. This pool is definitely geared towards little ones, but there's a lot of undulation in the ground surface and thus makes it prone to falls. We witnessed several kids injure themselves in the 45 minutes we were there. 4. It's a bit difficult to see exactly where this is from the road because it is hidden by trees. Go into the main broadwater parklands entrance and park. 5. There are also two playgrounds in this location: one close to the water area that's fine but in a bit of a wooded area and thus prone to bugs, and other that's a really big walk away. It's a pretty walk along the shore and there's a little beach en route past the large intervening field area, but with little kids, it's a bit too far. There's also no parking at that end of the park, so you can't start at the playground without some difficulty. The larger playground has some really cool elements for bigger kids and some nice elements for little ones, but not a whole lot in between for kids between the ages of 4-7 or so. It also has very limited shade in the zone above the slides and climbing structures, though good shade in other areas. All in all, we won't be going back while we are on the Gold Coast, but if you've got small kids and they need a break from the beach, you could do worse than a visit to the Rockpools.

Great little FREE water park best suited for kids under 5/6. Plenty of shaded and seating area with…read morea lifeguard on duty. A must see activity for families with young kids. There is parking and a drink kiosk right next to the rock pools. Plenty of fun to be had by the kids.

The name is self explanatory. The main beach covering the suburbs of Labrador, Southport and…read moreSurfers Paradise. Flagged patrolled and un patrolled sections. A large sandy shoreline and a footpath lining the length of it. Close to ample eateries, shopping and accommodation. A beautiful tourist destination. I am somewhat biased though. This beach will forever hold a special place in my heart as my partner proposed here only days ago. A picturesque setting for such a momentous occasion.

Main beach is a great beach to surf and catch some rays. It's clean, there's a lifeguard on duty,…read morefree parking, and a cafe a short walk away if you get hungry. You'll also get an iconic Surfer's Paradise picture as posted with the high rises and long stretch of beach in the distance.

I can see why they call this area Surfers Paradise: the waves are HUGE! It was quite fun walking…read morealong the beach and watching the waves. There are also lifeguards dotted along the beach as well as places to rinse off. The beach is quite clean and the water is warm and clear. There's also flags next to the beach signaling safe places to go swimming and surfing, which I think is a great system! If you're at the Gold Coast, definitely make sure to come check out this area! It's easy to access as the tram goes right to it.

Such a fantastic playground in an ideal location in Broadbeach. Regular swings, a merry-go-round…read moreswing, super fun slides, sand pits, sway tables, imaginative play areas, little water components and lots of soft areas to run around and be a kid. Good shade, seating, good bathroom facilities, right by the beach and the Oasis Shopping Centre, not far from good coffee at No Name Lane and there's even street parking and a grilling area nearby. Heaven for a parent of kids under the age of 6 or 7. Very happy to have discovered this excellent free resource in Broadbeach.

I used to go to this park as a kid and it's just overwhelming how many things you can do there…read more Even to this day I go there all the time after the beach. The massive swing is wicked and there's massive slides with it. If your going to go have fun at a park and don't like crowds or having to pay then this is the best choice for all ages.

On holiday from the US I decided I wanted to try a surf lesson here. The water and beach were…read morelooking too good to miss out. I looked through the options online and ended up with these guys. They had a time that worked for me, good pricing, and good reviews. I've tried to teach myself how to surf a time or two and never really gotten anywhere. The instruction they gave was great and after practicing my form a bit I was up over and over. Much more than I've ever been up on my own. The steps all made sense and I was really happy with my progress. Bring sandals, bring water. I was so thirsty at the end of the lesson I had to go find some water and missed out on some valuable surf time. We also got a discount on an umbrella and would have got more discounts if we had stayed longer and rented a board. Great time overall.

There seems to be this perception that growing up in Australia means that as a native of this sun…read morekissed land by the sand that we should be experts in all things beachy and surf related. I, on the other hand, whilst always enjoyed being outdoors and active, as a pale red head, I don't come natural to all things beach and that includes hanging 10 and looking gnarly on a surfboard. Today I faced that fear with a couple of ladies and really felt supported by the staff at the Go Catch a Wave crew, plus the big soft floating surfboard was also a bonus safety blanket. We went through basic ocean safety within the lesion to make sure we didn't get carried out to see to swim with the sharks as well as learning how to pop up on that board in three easy steps which we all promptly forgot once we were actually out on the waves. All credit given to our instructor though he persisted with getting us on the right waves to make sure we got standing up by the lesson and looking (pretty) cool to boot! Just gotta how to keep my ninja stance in tact! Never too old, nor unco to start surfing, give it a go kids, these guys will help you sort it.

Awesome beach access to the inner Gold Coast canal system. A boardwalk offers very nice water views…read moreand views to the houses bordering this stretch of water. Adjacent to the Marriott Hotel and near to a number of water craft hire activities. Day tripping in fishing boats, BBQ pontoon boats, jet ski hire and jet boat rides or even para-sailing options available. A must do experience is the hydro-foiling activity with instructor led sessions for riders 12 and over - fly above the water!