Looking for a Family Adventure? This 7D6N Gold Coast Roadtrip Itinerary is Just the Thing

Looking for a Family Adventure? This 7D6N Gold Coast Roadtrip Itinerary is Just the Thing

One unforgettable family holiday in Gold Coast, coming right up!

Thinking about taking your family on a holiday but don’t want it to end up being the usual boring experience? How about taking a road trip for a change! A road trip will allow you to be in complete control of your itinerary, right down to the nitty gritty details. If you’re looking for road trip destinations, look no further than Australia!

We know that planning any family trip involves a mountain of research, so why not save yourself the hassle with this 7D6N Great Sunshine Way Self-Drive that’ll bring you through Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast? If you’ve set your sights on Australia, this is a great route to start with! Equipped with things to do that’ll satisfy every member, this itinerary is perfect for any family looking to spend some extra quality time together while having loads of fun.

Read on for more details! Ready for a smashing family holiday?

Day 1: Brisbane – Sunshine Coast

The Big Pineapple

Once you touch down at Brisbane Airport, kickstart your time in Sunshine Coast with a visit to The Big Pineapple! A truly iconic landmark of Sunshine Coast, this is one spot you cannot miss. Originally opened in 1971, it is now a heritage-listed tourist attraction that welcomes tons of visitors all over the world each year. You may also want to take the Pineapple Heritage Train, that’ll bring you on a journey through the rainforest.

Image credit: The Big Pineapple

It’s going to take a little more than an hour to drive here from Brisbane Airport. If you’re concerned about the kids getting restless or hungry, there’s no need to worry! Any restlessness they felt in the car will go out the window once they get here and see the Pineapple for themselves. There’s also The Pineapple Café where you can fill up those grumbling tummies before heading to your next stop!

Address: 76 Nambour Connection Road, Woombye Sunshine Coast Queensland 4559, Australia
Opening hours: 9am – 4pm (Last train leaves at 3.30pm)
Admission fee: Free – The Big Pineapple; AUD 5 (~S$5.15) per train ride, children under 3 can ride for free

Kondalilla National Park

Image credit: Lenny K Photography

Get a little closer to nature by spending some time in Kondalilla National Park, which is home to the magnificent Kondalilla Falls. There are several walking tracks of varying difficulty here, so pick the one that is most suited to your family’s abilities. If you have young children with you, it is recommended that you use the easiest track, as safety always comes first!

Image credit: Andrii Slonchak

Some tracks may take longer to complete than the others, so it’ll be good to consider how much time you want to spend here before embarking on any track. Whichever track(s) you end up choosing, just make sure you don’t leave without seeing the Kondalilla Falls and the rock pools in person!

Address: Kondalilla Falls Rd, Flaxton Queensland 4560, Australia
Opening hours: 24 hours (It is recommended that you walk in the Park in daylight hours only)
Admission fee: Free

Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Image credit: sunriseOdyssey

Located just a three-minute drive from Kondalilla National Park sits the quaint little town of Montville, which is part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Walk down the Main Street and you’ll be able to find a variety of shops selling all sorts of things that range from hand blown glass art and apparel to handmade fudge. A stroll through Montville’s Main Street offers any traveller a shopping experience that’s a far cry from that at commercial shopping malls.

Image credit: sunriseOdyssey

Majority of the shops here do close pretty early (around 3-5pm), so we definitely recommend you to visit this lovely town earlier if you plan to slowly stroll the streets and (maybe) get some shopping done. There are also several restaurants offering full meals to pastries – feel free to make a pitstop in any of them to refuel your energy from all that hiking you’ve done earlier!

Address: Montville, Queensland 4560, Australia
Admission fee: Free

Day 2: Sunshine Coast

Australia Zoo

Your time in Sunshine Coast would not be complete without a visit to Australia Zoo, otherwise known as Home of The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Over a hundred of different species call the Australia Zoo their home, including crocodiles, Tasmanian Devils and koalas among many others. At this zoo, instead of just watching the zookeepers do their thing, you can also join in on the fun by volunteering to feed the animals – something that the little ones will certainly enjoy.

In addition, a visit to the Australia Zoo will inject some educational fun into your family holiday. The zoo, owned by the Irwin family, is an advocate for animal conservation and wildlife protection. Its staff are extremely passionate about the cause and will be more than willing to share with you anything you would want to know. Don’t hesitate to ask away – after all, it’s always good to gain additional knowledge!

Address: 1638 Steve Irwin Way Beerwah, Queensland 4519, Australia
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily
Admission fee: AUD 59 / ~S$60.50 per adult ticket, AUD 35 / ~S$35.90 per child ticket (aged 3 to 14 years old)

Kings Beach Beachfront Salt Water Pool

Get out your swimsuits because it’s time to take a dip right by the sea! Take your time to lay back, relax and laze in the wading area while you allow the younger ones play with water in the children’s pool. You can even go for a few laps in the sea-water lap pool if you’d like!

If you’ve had enough of being in the water, there are also shade sails for you to lounge under and have a little snack or read a book. BBQ facilities are available here if your family fancies a barbecue dinner. Just remember to bring your own food, because only the facilities are provided! End your time here with a beautiful golden sunset while you chomp on those yummy grilled meats with the rest of your family.

Address: Esplanade, Kings Beach Queensland 4551, Australia
Opening hours: 24 hours
Admission fee: Free

Night Vision Tours

Image credit: Xperiences

You can pretty much call it a day after Kings Beach Beachfront Salt Water Pool, but if your family isn’t ready to head back to the hotel just yet… You can go on the Night Vision Tours by Xperiences! A 90-minute guided tour led by highly experienced Tour Guide Ray Carson, it will take you through the forest surrounding the Novotel Twin Waters Resort.

Image credit: Xperiences Facebook

All participants of the tour will be equipped with an infrared torch, professional high-definition night goggles and head gear during the tour – all to ensure you get the best experience on the tour. Look out for what animals you can spot because there’s going to be plenty! If you think that there’s absolutely nothing to do in Sunshine Coast after the sun goes down, think again!

Address: Ocean Drive Twin Waters, Ocean Dr, Sunshine Coast QLD 4564, Australia
Admission fee: AUD 85 (~S$87.20) per person, bookings have to be made in advance

Day 3: Sunshine Coast

Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours

What’s a visit to Sunshine Coast without exploring the beach? Instead of navigating the sandy beaches yourselves, why not get someone else to drive while you sit back and enjoy the ride? Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours specialises in beach drive tours that allow you to see the best of Sunshine Coast – all at incredibly affordable prices.

You can pick from three kinds of tours: Full Day, Overnight Trip and Private Tour. We recommend dedicating an entire day for this experience and going on the Full Day tour, because it will give you more than enough time at each of the stops without being too rushed. On this tour, you’ll be driven around in a four-wheel drive by a personal driver who will double up as your tour guide. And if you’re worried about having to be around a complete stranger during the tour, don’t be! Many customers have given good reviews about the drivers, saying that they’re all extremely friendly and the experience wasn’t a single bit awkward.

The Full Day tour will take eight hours in total, covering attractions like Honeymoon Bay, Red Canyon and the famous Double Island Point Lighthouse. You’ll even be able to play with sand of many different colours at Coloured Sands!

Admission fee (for Full Day tours):
Adults – AUD 165 (~S$169.10)
Children under 14 years old – AUD 95 (~S$97.40)
Family (2 adults and 2 children) – AUD 475 (~S$486.85)

Day 4: Sunshine Coast – Gold Coast

Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

Let your first stop in Gold Coast be the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens! Begin your morning by getting some fresh air – take a whiff of the roses in the Rose Garden, go bird-watching or marvel at butterflies in the Butterfly Garden. There are a plethora of things to see and do at the Gardens, and spending just a morning here might not be able to suffice!

There are also free guided walks for visitors conducted by The Friends Centre, run by a group of volunteers who are extremely passionate about caring for the Gardens. If your family hasn’t had breakfast, you can head over to Coffee at the Gardens. Serving up coffee, tea and delicious goodies, it’s the perfect perk-me-up to start a day of exploring.

Address: 230 Ashmore Rd, Benowa Queensland 4217, Australia
Opening hours: 5am – 7pm daily
Admission fee: Free

Air Factory Trampoline Park

This is one place that will have the children bubbling over with excitement. Let the kids have some fun with a few hours at Air Factory Trampoline Park. The park is divided into various zones for the kids to bounce about, including a Mini Air Factory for the little ones to ensure that they don’t miss out on the fun!

For parents who don’t want to be jumping around with a bunch of kids, you can savour a cup of coffee in the Air Café. Apart from coffee, you can also indulge in some snacks while waiting for the kids to finish their hour of bouncing. The café provides free Wi-Fi and is air-conditioned, so parents can take a good breather from attending to the kids and spend some alone time to rejuvenate.

Address: 5 Sunlight Drive, Burleigh Waters, QLD 4220, Australia
Opening hours: (Wednesday & Thursday) 1pm – 8pm, (Friday & Saturday) 10am – 9pm, (Sunday) 10am – 6pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission fee: AUD 11 – AUD 21 (~S$11.30 – S$21.55)

Day 5: Gold Coast

Movie World

Image credit: Chensiyuan

Gold Coast is known for its many theme parks, so there definitely has to be one on this itinerary! Get all geared up for a whole day of family fun at Movie World as you ride rollercoasters with the Superheroes. There are also plenty of photo-opportunities with these superheroes all around the park – just ask the kids to keep a lookout for them!

Image credit: catnthehat

Here’s a pro tip: Make the most out of your day at Movie World by arriving slightly earlier than the park’s opening time to avoid the crowd! Then, stay all the way until closing time to go on the last few rides after the crowd starts to thin out.

Address: Pacific Motorway, Oxenford Gold Coast Queensland 4210, Australia
Opening hours: 9:30am – 5pm (Rides open at 10am)
Admission fee: (One day pass) Child – AUD 69.99 (~S$71.75), Adult – AUD 74.99 (~S$76.90)

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Surfers Paradise

Experience fun with a twist at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Surfers Paradise. Explore the Odditorium at your own pace and discover bizarre artefacts from all around the world! Some of them might make you go “wow”, while others might be so strange that make you question whether they’re really real or not. Well, it’s all up to you to believe it or not!

If your family is up for even more fun, you can give the Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace a go. It is a timed event whereby the faster you complete the race, the better your score. The objective of the game is to navigate a room full of lasers without breaking any of the lasers. Any single laser broken will add more time to your score, hence lowering it. Are you up for the challenge?

Address: Soul Boardwalk Cavill Mall Surfers Paradise Queensland 4217, Australia
Opening hours: 9am – 10pm (Off peak, last admission by 9pm), 9am – 11pm (Peak and weekends, last admission by 10pm)
Admission fee: AUD 14.90 – AUD 24.90 (~S$15.30 – S$25.55)

Day 6: Gold Coast

Aqua Splash Gold Coast

Wake up bright and early for a splashing good time at Aqua Splash Gold Coast! A giant inflatable obstacle course on the Gold Coast Broadwater, this is another place that your kids will absolutely love. With slides, trampolines, swings and many other features, adults can feel free to reconnect with your inner child and join in on the fun.

There are always lifeguards on duty, so you can rest assured that your safety is taken care of. Safety is a priority at Aqua Splash and all visitors are also required to wear a lifejacket at all times, meaning that there’s really nothing you have to worry about during your time here. Just let go, relax and allow yourself to have fun with your family!

Address: Marine Parade, Southport Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Queenland 4215, Australia
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm daily during Open Season
Admission fee: AUD 7 – AUD 39 (~S$7.20 – S$40)

SkyPoint Observation Deck

Image credit: SkyPoint

Located on the 77th floor of the Q1 Building on Surfers Paradise, the SkyPoint Observation Deck promises spectacular 360º views of Gold Coast. Once you’re up here, you may find it difficult to leave because of how beautiful the views are. Remember to charge your phones or cameras, because you surely won’t stop snapping away!

Image credit: SkyPoint Instagram

Catch the golden sun set from 77 floors up, then have a scrumptious dinner at Seventy7 Café + Bar. Watch the last of daylight fade away and the city lights light up while you indulge in your dinner with a view before calling it an early night. Retreat back to your hotel to pack your luggages and prepare to head back home!

Address: 9 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise Queensland 4217, Australia
Opening hours: (Sunday – Thursday) 7:30am – 7pm, (Friday & Saturday) 7:30am – 9pm
Admission fee: (General Admission) From AUD 24 (~S$24.60)

Day 7: Gold Coast – Brisbane

Direct Factory Outlets (DFO) Brisbane

Image credit: DFO Brisbane Facebook

It’s almost time to head back home, but not before you do some shopping! DFO Brisbane houses over 130 retail and dining shops, making it the ideal place to have a shopping spree. Over here, you’ll be able to find familiar brands like 2XU, Adidas, Cotton On, Vans, Nike and many others – all of which are factory outlets. That means: Whatever you purchase here will be cheaper than what you can get at regular retail outlets!

DFO Brisbane is also located really near to Brisbane Airport, so it’s perfect for squeezing in some last-minute shopping right before you get on that plane. Go on, splurge a little and reward yourself for doing such a good job of taking care of the kids the entire trip!

Address: Corner and The Circuit, Skygate, 18th Avenue, Brisbane Airport Queensland 4008, Australia
Opening hours: 10am – 6pm daily

Bonus: Eat Street Northshore

Image credit: Eat Street Instagram

If your flight back happens to be at a later time during the weekends, you’re in luck! Make your way to Eat Street Northshore – basically every food lover’s dream come true. With over 70 stores featuring food from all over the world, make sure you come with an empty stomach so you can try as many stalls as possible!

And for those of you shopaholics who just aren’t satisfied with their loots from DFO Brisbane, there’s more shopping to be done here! Though the shopping directory isn’t as extensive as the one at DFO Brisbane, it’s better than nothing… Right?

Address: 221D Macarthur Avenue Hamilton, Queensland 4007, Australia
Opening hours: (Friday & Saturday) 4pm – 10pm, (Sunday) 11am – 8pm

Inspired by this itinerary and feeling excited to go already? Why not check out this package by Farmosa Holidays to make your trip planning a WHOLE LOT easier? Going from just S$1,158 per pax, this package includes car rental and certain attraction tickets bundled in.

Why book your holiday with Farmosa Holidays?

Opened in 1982, Farmosa Holidays has been offering stellar tour planning services and packages for a whopping 35 years. They don’t just roll out cookie-cutter itineraries that travellers “buy into”, they go the extra mile and take special effort to ensure that all needs are met. They pride themselves on being the one-stop portal for anyone looking to plan a trip – on top of booking your 7D6N Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast package, you can also look to Farmosa Holidays to settle your Travel Insurance, or even Visas for foreign travellers.

With Farmosa Holidays, you can sit back, relax, and say hello to a hassle-free holiday in the Down Under. Bon voyage!


Brought to you by Farmosa Holidays.

About Author

Brenda Poh
Brenda Poh

Brenda loves to travel and explore. She wishes to travel the world and experience living like a local as much as she can. New experiences and unfamiliar places excite her, and writing about them gives her great joy. When she’s not going on an adventure or daydreaming about exploring the world, she enjoys binge-watching Taiwan dramas, reading, going to gigs and jamming out to punk rock music.

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