Cornubia Forest Park is actually a paved walking track hidden in the back streets of Shailer Park…read more The path runs for 2-3kms and is popular with joggers and families who live in the area. The bushland is just gorgeous. The trees provide plenty of shade and block out a lot of the street noise. There are a few charming wooden bridges to cross the small creek that follows the walking track most of the way. If you are quiet and lucky, you'll see some wildlife on your walk from water dragons and turtles to bush turkeys and koalas. Check it out if you are in the area.

The best Beach on the Gold Coast it is pet friendly. You can bring your dog for a walk hereread more

Curtis Falls is located on Tamborine Mountain near the Gold Coast. The hike is well marked and…read morepretty easy. There are no steep inclines, the path is wide and well manicured, and it wasn't crowded on the day we went. It was a bit chilly since it was at a higher elevation and in June. It's about 0.5km from the trail head and there is a sign that points you in the right direction. From the same starting point, you can also walk to the various shops and cafes that are nearby. There's a moderately sized parking lot that also has a small turn around area if you're being dropped off. The waterfall is far from the most impressive I've seen, but it's a nice walk if you want to go somewhere relaxing. 4 stars.

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.

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!

A beautiful creek and a must see from both sides. A lovely walk all around the creek as well. Great…read moreplace for a dip after a hot walk too.

Sun, sun, sun! Swim and enjoy the beautiful warm water. Fish are swimming up the river and people…read moreare paddling on a variety of boats. The sand is so white and the shaded area has picnic tables for the sun conscious. There are excellent change areas near the grass. Change areas just for changing and then a toilet area with showers. All the a entities are well looked after. This is a very popular area but very safe for young families. There is quite a pull in the river current to be aware of. However the beach area is patrolled by lifeguards and there flags indicating the conditions of the water.

This was a beautiful place for a weekend hike on a sunny day! Spoiler alert: we came here hoping…read moreto spot some koala but no koala were spotted. We had fun never the less. Various trails were well maintained - not a shred of trash anywhere. We walked to the Quarry (about 2km) with the 3 kids, a friend, and a dog. A few short steeper places but nothing too traumatic. There were a number of dogs out - all leashed until we got to the Quarry and then a few were off leash but generally well behaved. A number of people also biked and the trails were wide enough to accommodate families and bikers comfortably with some awareness. We chose not to swim but watched some cliff jumping with a lot of awe from our kids.

With a name like 'Palm Beach' one would probably expect to find it a lot rowdier than it actually…read moreis. In fact, this particular beach, for its location, turn out to be rather quiet and unassuming, which is probably a good thing if you are actually looking for such a beach. Then again, I did happen to turn up here in winter so there is that. Still, compared with the other beaches along this stretch of coast, this would be one to preference if you don't particularly appreciate the crowds.

In a pocket just past Burleigh Heads is a stretch of beach that appeals to dog lovers (and owners)…read moreand families alike. Palm Beach is a dog-friendly beach and a prime spot for off-leash beach frivolity for your canine. Similarly, there's an inlet with relatively calm water for kids to swim in. Pack a picnic, shade-giving umbrella, a good book and while the day away at the water's edge. Oh, and if you're a keen plane spotter, this beach is prime position for seeing many of the jets landing and taking off from Cooloongatta Airport.