Parents rate the Gold Coast’s best kids’ party venues

Trying to find ‘just the right’ venue to host your child’s next birthday party? This is an ultimate list of venues in and around the Gold Coast, with real reviews from parents.

We’ve gathered the best indoor activities, play centres, adrenalin-charged hot spots, outdoor destinations, arcades and more, as rated by parents. From toddlers to teens, there are venues catering to almost every child’s interest and want.

Adrenalin-fuelled

IFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING, SURFERS PARADISE

P: 1300 435 966 W: goldcoast.iflyworld.com.au Take your kid’s party to new heights (see what we did there?) with a party at iFLY. There are several different party packages available, but the Kids Party package is great for kids aged 16 years or younger. It includes pre-flight training,

flight suit, helmet and goggle hire, one-on-one assistance as you fly, and a flight certificate. It’s a unique and very fun birthday activity! Suitable for kids ages 3 and over. “My kids had a great time. The instructors are very friendly and reassuring for nervous first timers.” – Arron.

GAME OVER, HELENSVALE

P: 07 5519 3999 W: gameovergc.com.au/corporate/birthdayparties/ This world-class entertainment venue delivers thrills that will satisfy the most astute adrenalin junkie. There are height restrictions for kids wanting to drive the karts, but there is also the Clip ‘n Climb and Lazer Tag party packages to consider. “Had an awesome time here, celebrating a 9th birthday. [The] staff were great, the place was great, activity was great” – Mena.

RAKUEN MARTIAL ARTS NINJA PARTIES, MIAMI

P: 0474 917 975 Got a little ninja at home? Help them hone their skills with a fun and unique experience at the Rakuen Martial Arts Training Facility. Held at a world-class Judo training facility, birthday parties include a martial arts training session, ninja games and even a ninja warrior jumping castle. The birthday kid will also get to cut their cake using a real Samurai Short Sword! “If you looking for an awesome kids party experience that’s educational and fun, you can’t go wrong with booking one of the “Ultimate Ninja Birthday Parties” at Rakuen Martial Arts.” – Matthew.

STUNT PARK, NERANG

P: 0412 455 005 E: info@stuntpark.com.au W: stuntpark.com.au/pages/birthday-parties Enjoy a 3-hour fun-filled party session at Stunt Park. This is the perfect location for kids who love action. Activities can include filmed action star scenes, flying on wires, ninja obstacles, gladiator skills, stage combat, sword fights and more. There is 2 hours of training in four activities followed by party time. You can BYO food and drink, or request to have your party catered. “Colin and his team were superb and provided us with a very memorable experience. When you want somewhere different to go where you can really enjoy yourselves, book into Stunt Park!” – James.

SLIDEWAYS GO KARTING, NERANG

P: 07 5596 3663 W: gokartinggoldcoast.com.au/kids-go-kartsgold-coast The unique three-storey indoor drift kart track has been designed with families in mind. Children as young as four can ride in the dual kart, while sharing the track with drivers aged 7 years and older. For groups of 10 kids or more, enjoy an authentic racing experience. There are qualifying sessions, grid starts and the track reserved for your party. You can also take advantage of the barbecue area or book to have the event catered. “Had my sons birthday here and the staff were so helpful and accommodating. The boys haven’t stopped talking about how much fun they had. Lee the manager was so great.” – Jess.

Arcade and Bowling

LEVEL UP ARCADE, BROADBEACH

P: 07 5627 0633 E: info@leveluparcade.com.au W: leveluparcade.com.au/birthday-parties This is a ‘next level’ arcade and amusement centre for kids, adults, teens and families. There are more than 60 machines and ticket redemption prizes include items like scooters, Nerf guns, licensed Disney toys, restaurant and café vouchers and more.

With just six kids you can host your kids’ next party. You’ll have 90 minutes to celebrate, which includes 200 pre-loaded tickets for each child to play on the Rainbow and Green machines. “[Level Up] is a great place for a birthday party. Lots for the kids to enjoy, and there was even a cheeky beer for the adults.” – Gee.

IPLAY ADVENTURE, COOMERA

P: 07 5661 9028 W: iplayaustralia.com.au iPlay ranks highly when it comes to entertainment centres for the family. It’s a great venue for entertaining the kids, having a party and school excursions. The Arcade has games for every age, including some that are exclusive to iPlay. You’ll also have access to hyper bowling, dodgems, high ropes and rock climbing. “iPlay was great value for my daughter to take her friend for her birthday. The high ropes are well supervised with clear instructions” – Kimberly.

TIMEZONE, ROBINA AND SURFERS PARADISE

W: timezonegames.com/en-au/parties-andevents/kids-and-teens-parties

Arcade games, laser tag and an all-round great party venue for kids. When you book your event at Timezone, you’ll receive pre-loaded Powertickets, a dedicated host, and access to a range of party packages and optional extras. “What a great place to have a party. Lovely young staff, very attentive.” – Sandra.

STRIKE BOWLING, SURFERS PARADISE

P: 1300 787 453 W: strikebowling.com.au/parties/kids-parties Looking for big fun on a small budget, think Strike Bowling. Situated right in the heart of Cavill Avenue, Strike Bowling has fun covered. There are 10 bowling lanes, a 15-person karaoke room and two escape rooms. The venue has a package to suit even the fussiest partygoer. You can opt to have the venue cater or BYO. “The kids had a fantastic time.” – Bianca.

ZONE BOWLING, ROBINA

P: 07 3050 0798 W: zonebowling.com/birthday-parties Zone Bowling is located in the Robina Town Centre. It has been upgraded and is now an exciting bowling and entertainment experience. In addition to ten-pin bowling, you can enjoy laser skirmish, bumper cars and a fully fledged Timezone. It’s an ideal location for a party or special event. “We had a wonderful party for my son’s birthday at Zone Robina. Our party host was the most polite and respectful young man I’ve met in a very long time. Great value for how many activities the kids got to do. It was awesome.” – Miranda.

Arts and Craft

THE CRAFT PARLOUR, MIAMI

E: hello@thecraftparlour.com.au W: thecraftparlour.com.au/pages/kids-craftparty The team at The Craft Parlour know just how much goes into kids’ parties, so they want to go all out to ensure you have a special day. The beautiful studio has plenty of room for kids to dance, relax and craft themselves silly. And don’t worry about the mess (because anyone who has done craft with their kids knows it can get very messy). The Craft Parlour has helpers on hand and will take care of the clean up. All you need to do is BYO food, drinks and cake. “I have had numerous experiences with both regular after school art and craft sessions for my 6-year-old and more recently I enjoyed the Friday Sip and Paint class. Always guided by beautiful nurturing mentors who are so welcoming and warm and celebrate each child’s uniqueness.” – Sheila.

ARTLIS STUDIOS, CURRUMBIN

P: 0400 382 617 W: artlis.com.au/create-with-us/parties/ Let your mini artist get creative with a group of friends. All the mess stays at the studio, the by kids will be led by the Party Artists through a creative workshop. Included in the price are all the materials for up to 10 children. All you need to do is decide on a project. Due to health and hygiene reasons, food cannot be consumed in the studio, but there are a number of parks suitable for a picnic within walking distance. “My son came out of the splat monsters workshop beaming and he absolutely loved it!” – Ruby.

Baking and Cooking

KIDS COOKING ACADEMY, NERANG

P: 0433 467 400 W: kidscookingacademy.com.au/ The Kids Cooking Academy offers cooking

TIPS

IF YOU ARE WORKING TO A BUDGET, KEEP NUMBERS SMALL AND THINK ABOUT WHETHER YOU NEED PARENTS TO REMAIN AT THE VENUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN CHILD. MOST VENUES ALSO PROVIDE CATERING, SO CHECK AHEAD OF TIME ON ANY ALLERGY PROVISIONS, IN CASE SOME GUESTS HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS.

classes for all kids on the Gold Coast. At the helm is qualified chef Richard Neale. He’s extremely passionate about cooking, food and teaching young children a valuable life skill. He comes to your home and can take the stress out of hosting a kid’s party. Included in the package is party food, cooking lessons, invitations, and party bags.

HERO COOKING, GOLD COAST

W: herocooking.com.au Learn to cook authentic Japanese food right in your own kitchen. When you book a party with Hiro, she comes to your home and conducts the class. You’ll learn that there’s more to Japanese

food than sushi and ramen. It’s a unique way to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. “We loved the class and Hiro’s attitude. She is very nice and makes the experience very Japanese. It’s a really great experience.”

Indoor and Play Centre

BIG TOP PLAYHOUSE, COOMERA

P: 0405 982 135 W: bigtopplayhouse.com.au A circus-themed indoor play centre with an open air aspect. There’s a gated under-5s area. The hosted party packages include a reserved table for parents, kids lunch options with juice and water jugs, tasty snacks to choose from, party bags for each child, use of the celebration room for lunch and to celebrate the cake, plus an attentive party host to play fun disco games or speed slide races. “We had our daughter’s birthday party here and it was nothing short of amazing. The detail that went it to making sure it was everything we wanted was unreal” – Jess.

DOODLE BUGS, MIAMI

P: 07 5575 1234 W: goldcoastplaycentre.com.au/parties Doodlebugs has been built with relaxation, great coffee, good conversation and of course fun in mind! It’s fully air-conditioned with complimentary Wi-Fi. There’s a separate toddler area. Check out the indoor interactive train zone, pedal car track and state-of-the-art super cannons in the Cannonball Battle Zone. “What a fantastic venue for a kids party! We had our son’s birthday at Doodlebugs and it was one of the best play centres we’ve seen.” – Tina.

INFLATABLE WORLD, BURLEIGH

P: 07 5593 5346 W: inflatableworldoz.com.au/stadiums/burleigh Home to the biggest indoor inflatable playgrounds in Australia, Inflatable World is great for parties (and private bookings and school holiday fun). You’ll find party packages that include entry to the centre as well as a dedicated party area for 1.5 hours. “This place is cool. There must be about 20 huge inflatable bouncy castle equivalents. Lots of space for parties and a cafe where you can get hot food, drinks and snacks.” – Ralph.

BOUNCE INC, BURLEIGH WATERS

P: 07 3569 0704 W: bounceinc.com.au Have fun, learn new skills and express yourself with a BOUNCE Inc party. Catering for little ones (aged 2-5), bigger kids (aged 5-8) and tweens (ages 8-12) the parties at BOUNCE Inc are dedicated to getting kids moving and staying active. The activities and games are geared towards the relevant age group, and you’ll have the option of ordering food and drinks to fuel your crew. “My son came here for a birthday party and had so much fun! Great variety for all ages and specific areas for younger children is amazing! All staff were so friendly and helpful.” – Tess.

GOLD COAST PERFORMANCE CENTRE KIDS ZONE, RUNAWAY BAY

P: 07 5500 9988 W: sportssupercentre.com.au/birthday-party-atkids-zone Get rid of the stress that hosting a kids

birthday party can bring and let the Gold Coast Performance Centre take care of it. Tailor your own party at Kids Zone. You’ll have exclusive use of the unique and private venue, which includes a two-storey playground, flying fox and jumping castle. “What a fantastic location for a kids party!! I love that it’s a private space so the kids can run around in their own groups, and there’s plenty of space to play for kids of all ages, including a great baby’s section!” – Faye.

CHIPMUNKS PLAYLAND & CAFE, ROBINA

P: 0455 026 155 E: robina@chipmunksplayland.com.au W: chipmunksplayland.com.au/robina/ birthday-parties Chipmunks Playland is passionate about kids parties. They want to take the stress away from parents and caregivers by organising the ultimate experience for your little person. They have three different all-inclusive party packages and a variety of themed partyware, help from party planners and extras such as adult platters, cake supply or a special visit from Charlie Chipmunk. “The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. My kids enjoyed the food and really loved the party accessories.” – Katherine.

INFINITY, SURFERS PARADISE

P: 07 5526 8935 E: info@infinitygc.com.au W: infinitygc.com.au/groups-and-parties/ kids-parties Infinity provides a venue for kids to be themselves, to laugh and play in a safe ‘out of

this world’ environment. A kids’ party here is bound to challenge your senses and engage your imagination. “Thank you for the great party for my 9-year-old daughter. All the kids had a ball!”– Marie.

Resort and Theme Park

PARADISE RESORT, SURFERS PARADISE

P: 1800 074 111 W: paradiseresort.com.au/play/birthday-parties From magic parties, ice skating parties, waterpark parties and more, Paradise Resort has a party to suit your child. The resort can take care of everything, which means all you need to do is show up and have a great time. “We celebrated our youngest daughters birthday at the skating rink. The whole experience was amazing.” – Jean-Marc.

SEA WORLD, MAIN BEACH

P: 07 5591 0020 W: seaworld.com.au/groups-and-functions/ special-occasions Celebrate your child’s special day with a party at Sea World. There are animals, child-friendly rides and Nickelodeon Land with all their favourite characters. The party packages are an ideal option if you have 10 or more kids attending, and includes a reserved area for your celebration. Theme park admission is not included in the package though. “Great place to spend the day out with family!” – Naina.

Outdoor and Sporting

Putt Putt, Mermaid Beach P: 07 5575 3381 W: puttputtgolf.com.au/party-packages Throw an unforgettable party at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach. The parties cater for young kids, teens and adults, which means almost everyone can enjoy a round of miniature golf. All you need is a minimum of eight guests and a party package. The venue has three themed 18-hold courses, it’s lit up after dark and there is also a video game arcade on-site. Yes! “My kids loved playing all the courses.” – Alan.

KDV SPORT, CARRARA

P: 07 5596 0404 W: kdvsport.com/kids-birthday-partiesgold-coast KDV Sport is a multi-sport venue that takes care of kids and parents. It has themed party packages and some incredible inclusions. All parties come with your own private party area and activities. There are four party packages to choose from and more than 10 activities on offer. KDV Sport can also come to your house for a party. The focus of this venue is sport and being active, so your kids will be on-the-go for 2 hours at least!

Celebrate your next birthday with a splash at City Aquatics!

Whether you’re five or 15, nothing says “party” quite like a pool party! The team at City Aquatics, the home of Rackley Swimming, share five reasons why a pool party is the BEST way to celebrate your child’s next birthday.

1. It’s inexpensive and flexible.

A pool party at the local swimming pool is an affordable and fun way to celebrate a birthday. Each venue is unique and offers a different set of birthday party packages, catering, and activity options—from simple Marco Polo and BYO food, to a fully catered affair with an inflatable obstacle course where all you have to bring is your swimmers.

2. Easy to organise with no clean

up required. Say the words ‘kids birthday party’ and many parents break into a sweat. It’s stressful to organise and no-one enjoys the clean up! Holding your birthday party at a City Aquatics pool instantly takes both of those worries away.

3. It gets them active with their

friends. A pool party gets the kids off the screens and in the water having fun with their friends.

4. It’s great for their swimming

ability and water confidence. Learning to swim and being confident in the water is critical for

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all Queensland kids. A pool party is a great way to get kids in the water, building on those skills - and they don’t even realise they are doing it! 5. It is FUN! Yes, a pool party is super fun! From pool games and inflatables to playing in the water with friends, it’s an active, fun party that all kids will enjoy.

Birthday parties at BOUNCE!

Every BOUNCE party is uniquely different. From junior jumpers to freestylers, there is something for everyone. It’s fun and inclusive for kids, and hassle free for parents!

BOUNCE has three types of parties to choose from: 1. Junior Party

These Junior BOUNCE parties focus on active play, including games that have been adapted from their Mini BOUNCE Squad coaching program. This party is perfect for kids aged 2 to 5.

2. Classic BOUNCE

The Classic BOUNCE party focuses on fun games where everyone can get involved. It’s their world famous party formula, showcasing all the best areas of BOUNCE for kids aged 5 to 8.

3. Freestyle BOUNCE

Freestyle BOUNCE parties take it next level with adventure challenge games and team activities. Designed for the tweens, it’s the perfect birthday party choice for kids ages 8 to 12.

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Can you host a

birthday party? sugar-free sugar-free

When we were kids, sugar was the cornerstone of any kids’ birthday party. But today, parents are looking for ways to reduce that sugar rush. Author of Modern Dilemma Kids & Sugar, Emma Wilson, shares her tips on how to host a sugar-free party without losing any of the fun!

1

Instead of filling pinatas with lollies, fill them with fun trinkets such as bouncy balls, pencils, marbles and erasers. It doesn’t need to be filled to the brim, just enough for kids to come away with something.

2PROVIDE SUSHI, SAVOURY CHIPS, POPCORN OR FRESH FRUIT. MOST OF THE TIME KIDS DON’T EVEN NOTICE THERE’S NO LOLLIES! A COLOURFUL TABLECLOTH, COLOURFUL BALLOONS AND STREAMERS SERVE AS FESTIVE REMINDERS THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY.

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Be refreshing. What would happen if you lived by your own compass? Demonstrate that kids’ parties aren’t a competition about who has the biggest and the best, but about getting people together, celebrating and feeling part of a community.

3

Opt for a simple homemade cake where you can control the ingredients. Don’t feel pressured to present a pinterestworthy creation! One handmade with love, along with all its bumps and lumps, will be adored by your child. Party bags really are optional. If you must, there are plenty of fun alternatives to filling them with sugar treats. You could give a little pot with a cactus or plant, or a decorated paper bag with a few stickers, a yo-yo, cute pencils or a toy. Or you could have the guests decorate rock pets, or they could make dream catchers, a bracelet, bath bombs or other craft to take home.

SERVE WATER, AND ONLY WATER. KIDS OFTEN DON’T REALISE THEY’RE DRINKING IT AND THEY DON’T FEEL THEY’RE MISSING OUT. YOU CAN USE COLOURFUL PAPER STRAWS, COLOURFUL CUPS OR REUSABLE MINI-WATER BOTTLES TO MAKE IT MORE FESTIVE.