Park Life: 10 of Gold Coast's Best Public Parks

The Gold Coast is known for it's outdoor lifestyle and it's easy to see why. Gorgeous weather year round, a stunning natural environment with plenty of green spaces, pristine beaches, sparkling waterways and so many beautiful parks. 

While the foreshore parks along the coastline are lovely, it's worth exploring inland a little where it's not as busy and there are some beautiful spaces to spread out a picnic blanket, stretch your legs and soak up some Gold Coast sunshine surrounded by nature. The best bit? It doesn't cost a cent.

1. Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area - Coombabah

Perfect for the wildlife lover 

If you want to spot a kangaroo while snacking on a sandwich then pack your picnic and blanket and head to Coombabah Lakelands. This hidden gem is part of an estuarine corridor extending from Lake Coombabah to the Broadwater and Southern Moreton Bay. It has an impressive array of walking tracks and while it’s not a spot you’ll find a gas barbecue or sheltered picnic tables, it’s well worth a visit.

There is abundant wildlife and birdlife here. Marsupials like wallabies and kangaroos like to graze in the scrubby grassland, while the elevated boardwalk through the mangroves provies plenty of opportunities for bird spotting. Keep your eyes in the canopy and if you're lucky, you might spot a koala. Just be mindful that there are no amenities and you’ll have to take your rubbish with you.

Location: Rain Tree Glen via Pine Ridge Road and Shelter Road off the Gold Coast Highway, Coombabah.

2. Budds Beach Reserve - Surfers Paradise

Perfect for paddleboarding in the sun

This pretty park on a sheltered inlet of the Nerang River is tucked away in a secluded spot just minutes from the heart of Surfers Paradise. Budds Beach is loved by locals and those wanting a ramp for jet skis and boats. It’s also becoming popular with stand-up paddle boarders who don’t want to trek down to the southern Gold Coast to have a paddle. It’s a family-friendly spot with a playground, a jetty where you can throw a line in and enjoy great coffee from across the road at Bumbles Café.

There are showers to wash the sand off, an amenities block with taps and an abundance of picnic tables. Kids can also climb trees, make sandcastles and go swimming without having to worry about large waves. This is the kind of park where you can spend an entire delightful day.

Location: River Drive/Cypress Avenue, off the Gold Coast Highway in Surfers Paradise.

2. Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens, Benowa

Perfect for a lazy day surrounded by beautiful lush gardens

A beautiful shady expanse of green sserves up delicious treats such as ice-creams, organic coffee and gluten-free fare. Birds, ducks and kookaburras also call this peaceful place home and parents and kids alike will get a kick out of smelling roses or visiting the native butterfly garden. Pack your picnic chairs and table and wander around until you find a shady spot that takes your fancy. There’s a toilet block and the display garden and lake boardwalks are flat so are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. A great place to let the kids roam among the gardens and be reminded of all the beauty nature has to offer.

Location: 258 Ashmore Road, Benowa, opposite Benowa State High School.

3. Robert Sowter Park Lookout - Mount Tamborine

Perfect for a romantic sunset picnic or for early morning risers who can watch hang gliders take off

Robert Sowter Park Lookout is one of the most spectacular places on the Gold Coast to take in a sunset. It's also known as Hang Gliders Lookout and is a popular take off spot -  watching them hover and soar over the beautiful vistas only adds to the magic. Bring a picnic and soak upan unforgettable sunset experience.

You can’t miss the spot; it’s on a cleared patch of the western escarpment (a.k.a steep-slope) accessed via Main Western Road and is equipped with benches and binoculars. You can either pack a picnic or get some local fare from a nearby restaurant or eatery. Even if it’s cloudy the scenery will still blow your mind. Take your rubbish with you as there are no bins; long drop toilets are located nearby.

Location: Main Western Road, Mt Tamborine.

4. Hinze Dam - Advancetown

Perfect for a family picnic or birthday BBQ

It’s a picturesque drive to Hinze Dam and its associated picnic areas; so why not make a day of it and pack the kids scooters and bikes and take advantage of being able to ride around the dam. Located about 20 minutes inland from the M1, it has a café as well as a picnic area so you can either bring your own food or buy it.

Kids love clambering atop the rocks at the foreshore of the lake and finding all sorts of treasures in nature. The circular bike track is perfect for small ones just learning to ride a bike or scooter. Below the spillway gates, there’s a picnic area that offers some shade, plenty of green space and a playground for kids. It has decent toilets, barbecues, a drinking fountain and plenty of parking.

Location: Hinze Dam Rd, Advancetown, 15 kilometres south-west of Nerang.

 

5. Salk Oval - Currumbin

Perfect for a quiet picnic and play in the water

Popular with swimmers and stand-up paddleboarders (SUP), Currumbin Creek is a sheltered spot to relax and watch the world float by. Most people go to the south side of the creek but this secluded spot on the north side is tucked between the Thrower Drive and Pacific Motorway bridges, beside Salk Oval.

There are no amenities on this side but it’s a short walk across the bridge to get a great coffee, give the kids a whirl on the playground or visit the loo. Better still why not swim or paddle over? Being tidal, it’s wise to set up your picnic further up the embankment. For those with older kids, the skate park at Salk Oval is worth checking out.

Location: Salk Oval, off Thrower Road, Currumbin.

6. Central Park - Pacific Pines

Perfect for a day of fun with the kids

With sheltered picnic tables and a large playground for kids of all ages, Pacific Pines Central Park is located beside a lake packed with ducks, fish and eels. If you miss out on a covered spot there’s heaps of space to put down your picnic blanket, gazebo or camp chairs and table and watch the kids on the flying fox, spider web or swings. There’s a designated toddler area that is fenced which is great for parents with ‘runners’.

Older children can bike around the lake, play a game of footy at the adjacent games field or get active on the various fitness stations located near the water. On the weekends in summer it’s a popular place for birthday parties, so don’t be surprised to find parents securing spots as early as 7am. It has electrical outlets, plenty of picnic tables, and is conveniently located opposite a restaurant, a supermarket and other speciality shops.

Location: 149 Pacific Pines Boulevard, Pacific Pines

7. Parklake Park - Maudsland

Perfect for larger gatherings

Hidden from the road and just minutes from the M1 at Helensvale, Parklake Park is adored by people of all ages; from toddlers learning the ropes, teenagers looking for an oval to kick a ball and grandparents wanting a nice cuppa in a picturesque rotunda. There’s a massive slide that kids either love or loathe, a toddler’s pirate boat playground that will keep parents busy and for more independent children there’s five swings, a flying fox and a sand filling station.

It’s close to a swim school with a café and a skate park, and there’s adult exercise equipment if you’re really keen. This spot is fabulous for large gatherings because of the huge amount of green space, gas barbecues, the ablutions block and the fact you can see your kids from most vantage points. There aren’t many picnic tables so it’s best to bring your own gazebo, chairs or blankets.

Location: Greenway Boulevard off Binstead Way, Maudsland

8. Damian Leeding Memorial Park - Oxenford

Perfect for fitness fanatics and family BBQ’s

Frequented by runners and cyclists, the Leeding Memorial Park is also a great all-rounder because it has gas barbecues, covered picnic tables, a playground kid’s love and a lake that families can bike, scooter or walk around. The 3.9km track is dotted with fitness stations and there’s an off-leash area within the park so be prepared to meet plenty of pooches.

Kayakers and SUP’ers use the lake and if you’re lucky you’ll time it on a day when remote-controlled toy speed boats are racing. The only downside is the lack of shade so it’s wise to bring a gazebo if you’re planning to make a day of it. As for amenities, this park has them all as well as a drinking fountain, an accessible toilet and a boat ramp.

Location: Watersport Lane, located off Heathwood Drive in Oxenford.

9. Kevin Gates Park, Burleigh Heads

Perfect for a day of fishing and kayaking or swimming in crystal clear water on the incoming tide

Burleigh’s beauty is undeniable, but just a few minutes’ drive away is a little park that packs a punch, especially for those who prefer peace over pace. Koala Park, as it’s known by many, is located off the left of the Gold Coast Highway (northbound) just after the Tallebudgera Creek Bridge.

It’s dotted with barbecues and picnic tables and looks across to the more popular and busy beach on the other side of the creek. Keen fishermen line the rock walls and below SUP’ers paddle up and down the picturesque river. We love this spot because it’s just a short stroll under the bridge to a little beach (known as Echo Beach) that is accessed via Ikkina Road near George’s Paragon. Closer to the road and the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre you’ll also find toilets. The water is shallow for longer on this side of Tallebudgera Creek so it’s perfect for kids, and just above this is the incredibly beautiful ocean view walk in the Burleigh Heads National Park.

Location: Awoonga Avenue, Tallebudgera.

So with an abundance of parks to choose from, be sure to get the family down to one of these winning locations on your next trip to the beautiful Gold Coast.

If you love spending time outdoors you might like to explore Gold Coast's top picnic spots.