Full guide: The list of best Coast parks and recreation areas for your kids
The Gold Coast boasts well-known giant parks but there are some the City calls “hidden gems” waiting to be discovered by residents and tourists. Check out the list
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The Gold Coast boasts mega community parks which get regular publicity - but there are some others the City calls “hidden gems” waiting to be discovered by residents and tourists.
Among those stealing the media limelight are the Broadwater Parklands and Pimpama Sports Hub in the city’s north, and in the future the giant Greenheart at Robina.
The City’s recently released 2024-25 annual plan shows more than $207 million of ratepayer money will be spent managing the Gold Coast’s parks, recreational areas and natural public spaces.
More money has been allocated to ensure 10 weekly cuts of urban park land during summer.
Managing the City’s elite six major sports venues and aquatic centres will cost almost $35 million in the next 12 months.
But what is often missing from publicity are some suburban “green space” treasures. Here is the list of “hidden gems”:
* Sickle Park, Hope Island: Beautiful waterfront park. Great playground with a huge 12m net tunnel;
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* Bim’Bimba Park, Pimpama: Creative and fun playground design. Great sports facilities - caters for skateboarding and basketball;
* Pacific Pines Central Park, Pacific Pines: Beautiful green landscape with a lake. Spacious and fun playground, includes outdoor fitness facilities and huge swing attraction for kids;
* Eagle Tree Park, Coomera: ‘Birds nest’ playground design, creative play equipment for all ages. Includes basketball court;
* Pimpama Sports Hub, Pimpama: Plenty of recreational and sporting facilities. Spacious parkland and a kids splash zone;
* Celadon Park, Helensvale: New and fun playground with learn-to-ride bike track;
* Cascade Gardens, Broadbeach: Boasts a Sensory Garden including musical gong, wayfinding design and productive gardens which encourage you to interact with the gardens through sight, touch and smell. Playground with flying fox, rope bridge, rock climbing wall and carousel. Other attractions include the Rotary Kokoda Memorial Walk and Queensland Korean War Memorial;
* Schuster Park, Elanora: About 68 hectares in size including walking and bicycle tracks, BBQ and picnic areas, boardwalk and boat ramp A playground featuring two mega slides, rope climbing, swings and nature path where kids can explore;
* Frascott Park, Varsity Lakes: Two children’s playground for varying ages including fire fox, giant slide, rope climbing, BBQ and picnic areas fenced off-leash small and large dog areas. Large kick and play field, basketball courts and walking tracks;
* Country Paradise Parklands, Nerang; Large open space featuring adventure playground with 11.5m windmill and mega slide via a water tank tunnel and swing bridge, plus water play elements. Wide walking and bicycle paths;
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* Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Benowa: Interactive outdoor learning experiences for kids to understand biodiversity. A Sensory Garden with smell and touch plants and flowers. Butterfly garden, boardwalk around the lake, off-leash dog area and walking trails;
* Federation Walk Coastal Reserve, Main Beach: The Federation Walk Coastal Reserve includes 60 hectares of vegetation and nearly three kilometres of shoreline. Has a network of trails for bushwalking, birdwatching, running and bike riding The area is currently under a significant ecological restoration due for completion end of 2023.
* Pizzey Park, Miami: One of the biggest parks on the Coast with 25 sporting clubs, Miami Aquatic Centre, rugby league club, Queensland’s largest tennis facility and a world-class skate park. Fenced and unfenced off leash dog area including a lake. Numerous running and walking tracks;
Bochow Park, Natural Bridge: A new playground was recently completed There is a large open area and swimming hole where you may even spot a platypus. Includes an off leash dog area and BBQ and picnic areas;
*Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre, Palm Beach: Currently undergoing a redevelopment to include new facilities such as heated indoor pools, 25-metre outdoor pool, fitness centre, water play area, multi-purpose hall and café. The existing 50-metre outdoor pool will be retained and integrated into the redevelopment of the site.
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