Paradise Resort – Gold Coast

I feel like a family holiday should be mandatory… at least once a year. I know, I know, not everyone is in the position (financially or otherwise) to jet-set all over the country BUT if holidaying with little ones has taught me one thing, it’s that happiness is contagious. Booking travel is a sure way to give your family that little spark of excitement, especially after the couple of years we’ve had with COVID and what not.

Now, in my opinion, holidays with kids are *always* a good idea, and often it’s the little touches that make a place so special. Queensland is and always will be our happy place and the Gold Coast is no exception. Surfers Paradise beckons families year-round with its sunny weather and gorgeous coastline, but with so many high rises and endless accommodation options, deciding where to stay can be a daunting exercise, or at least, it used to be.

I give you… Paradise Resort. Heaven for Kids – Paradise for Parents! An absolute mecca for pint-sized guests (and their paying adults), this large family-friendly property promises a trip here isn’t soon forgotten.

With a range of affordable rooms, Paradise Resort offers a comfortable night’s sleep, catering for families of all sizes. During our recent holiday, we chose to stay in a Captain’s Superior Bunkhouse. Why you ask? Quite simply because, the multi-coloured bunk beds were a hit with my kids (two and four years old) and the built-in gaming console (YUP – you read that right!) was a winner from day one, even if they had no idea how to play them. Larger families will love the interconnecting rooms, guaranteed for maximum space with an adjoining door between them. Or if you want to spread out, check out the newly renovated Dusty’s Deluxe Family Rooms, featuring two bedrooms and sleeping up to six guests. Most rooms are equipped with a small fridge, microwave and toaster; and each features an air conditioner, smart TV (or two) and daily housekeeping. Anyone else love a freshly made bed?

You’ll be able to experience all the city has to offer, being in close proximity to Cavil Ave, a short stroll to the glistening beaches and conveniently located nearby a tram stop, if you want to venture out a bit further.

That said, there are a tonne of action-packed activities right on the property. The kids will make themselves at home hitting the showstopping Z4K Water Park. Complete with multiple water slides and interactive hands-on water play features, this mega aqua zone is a highlight for many and is guaranteed to tire out the kiddos. It’s a bucket load of fun (quite literally) when the giant bucket holding 600 litres (give or take) of water comes crashing down every few minutes. Listen for the squeals of delight but just keep an eye on the younger kids, it can be a tad scary if you’re directly underneath the dumpings. Luckily, these guys have thought of everything and recreated a mini version of the splash park over the other side, exclusively for the smaller tots.

Smack bang in the centre of the resort grounds sits a rather inviting lagoon pool where families can cool off in style, swimming to their heart’s content, or at least until their fingers start to shrivel. Adjacent to that, is an outdoor spa.

“I’m bored!” are two words you won’t hear at this resort. There’s an adventure playground that is fenced off, a miniature train to ride, dunk tanks for some cheeky fun, and a couple of trampolines, just in case the kids don’t already have enough to do. Good luck pulling your kids away from the outdoor features, they’re spectacular. But never fear, there’s also plenty of lounge chairs to sit and relax poolside with a Mojito.

If you need some reprieve from the sunny rays there’s also an indoor play gym to keep the youngsters happy, an epic games room, a nine-metre rock climbing wall and even laser tag. Planet Chill presents more opportunities for family fun with an indoor ice-skating rink, perfect for ages 3 and up. Now, if you’ve ever cruised before, and I say this because this part reminds me so much of cruising (which let me add is awesome), you’ll be familiar with having a daily schedule. A tailored list of activities planned at certain times throughout the day. Well, the same goes for Paradise Resort. There are lots of activities on offer to entertain even the fussiest of families, including cooking classes, hair braiding, slime-making workshops, trivia, organised pool games and more. Feel free to check out the ‘Weekly What’s On’ guide here.

Hungry families will appreciate the onsite dining options. Start your day off right with a continental all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet at Penguins Restaurant. Our kids tasted Coco Pops for the first time, you should’ve seen their eyes light up. If you’d rather have a hot breakfast, you can. I’m a sucker for a good Eggs Benedict, and had to try it – it was delicious! Coffee is good! You can enjoy dinner here too and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality food. The kids’ menu is ample and well-priced, as you’d expect from a resort whose philosophy is family-friendliness. Now, aside from Penguins Restaurant there’s a Burger Bar, a Pizza Shack (do yourself a favour and try the pepperoni pizza) and a Poolside Cafe and Bar. I could list ALL my favourite cocktails enjoyed over the eight days we visited, but let’s keep the focus on the kids shall we?

Ready to book? Click here

The resorts Kids’ Club offers parents the chance to relax and unwind, as the youngsters are off making new friends and having the time of their lives. Whilst you’re probably not keen to pack the little ones off for an entrie week, you should totally take advantage of either a morning or afternoon session. There are two specifically designed play areas, one for babies and toddlers and the other for ages 3-12. My kids loved it so much, they ASKED to go Every. Single. Day – and no, I am not exaggerating!

Hats off to the staff, who are brilliant. We were on a first-name basis with most of them and you can tell they genuinely love being there. I mean can you blame them? What a cool place to work!

Our Tips:

• Pack your own towels. Pool/ beach towels aren’t supplied and trust me, you’ll need them.
• Find out what’s on while you’re there and underline the things you don’t want to miss.
• Take floaties or a rubber ring if your littles aren’t confident in the water, peace of mind.
• We hired a double pram from Baby by the Beach Hire (who partner with Paradise Resort). Delivered and Picked up to and from the resort, this was a lifesaver!

If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort, look no further. The kids may never want to leave, and to be honest, you may not either!

Keep an eye out on their website for special rates/ deals. Sometimes you can snag a package that includes breakfast or credit for Experience Oz, etc which is a great money saver! Click here to view their current deals.

122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers ParadiseQueensland, 4217, Australia
For Reservations – call: 1800 074 111 or you can email them here
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