Doing Broadbeach with kids these April school holidays is easy from Oceana on Broadbeach. We have lined up six family activities, from the patrolled beach 30 metres out front to a short drive to Currumbin, a tram to SkyPoint and a walk to Pacific Fair. Most are free or cheap, and nearly all are reachable without moving the car. Here is the plan.
In 2026 the Queensland autumn school holidays run from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, with Easter at the start. Because we sit at the quieter southern end of Broadbeach with full kitchens, laundries and a heated pool, a holiday week here handles rainy days, early risers and tired legs without much effort.
Kurrawa Beach: the swim straight out front
Distance: about 1 minute walk (30 metres through our beach gate). Directions: out the front of Oceana and across the beachfront. Hours: open access; patrol flags up through the day in season.
Kurrawa Beach suits all ages, from toddlers with buckets to teens on boogie boards. It is free, and the foreshore path is pram friendly right to the sand’s edge. Guests keep mentioning how calm the southern end is compared with the Surfers stretch, which makes it a gentler spot for younger swimmers. Plan an hour or a whole morning, and time your swim with the patrol flags. The one tip: set up near the flags and use the outdoor showers by the surf club to rinse sandy kids before the walk home.
Kurrawa Park and Pratten Park: free play and a BBQ lunch
Distance: 1 to 2 minutes walk. Directions: along the Gold Coast Oceanway foreshore, just south of the beach gate. Hours: open parkland, daylight hours.
This foreshore parkland is made for toddlers to tweens, with playgrounds, shade trees and open grass a minute or two from the door. It is free, pram friendly and flat, and public BBQs let you cook lunch while the kids run. Allow an hour or two, or longer if you bring the cricket set. The practical tip: the shaded playground and picnic tables fill up around lunchtime in the holidays, so claim a spot mid-morning and use the nearby public toilets before you settle in.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: a half-day of animals
Distance: about 20 minutes drive south. Directions: south along the Gold Coast Highway or Old Burleigh Road to Currumbin. Hours: 9am to 4pm daily; lorikeet feeding 8am and 4pm.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary suits every age, and prams are easy on the sealed paths. Day passes start from around 30 dollars per adult booked online, and children under two are free. Give it a half to full day for the wildlife shows, koalas and reptiles. The famous wild lorikeet feeding runs at 8am and 4pm, and you can watch for free or feed them for a gold coin donation. The tip worth knowing: book online to skip the gate queue, and arrive for the 8am feed before the holiday crowds arrive.
SkyPoint at Q1: the view the kids remember
Distance: about 10 minutes by tram. Directions: G:link from Broadbeach North to Surfers Paradise, then a short walk to Q1. Hours: 7:30am to 9pm daily, last entry 8:30pm.
SkyPoint Observation Deck sits 230 metres up the Q1 tower and works for all ages, with lifts and pram access throughout. Tickets start from 32.50 dollars per adult, with child and family rates available. Allow about an hour to take in the 360 degree views across the coast and hinterland. The tip: ride the tram rather than driving and parking in Surfers, and aim for late afternoon so the kids see the coast in daylight and again as the lights come on.
Pacific Fair: the rainy-day backup
Distance: about 8 minutes walk. Directions: towards the convention centre and across to Hooker Boulevard. Hours: retail trading hours, open daily.
Pacific Fair is a free, all-ages option and the natural backup for a wet April day. The open-air centre is fully pram friendly, with lifts, parents’ rooms and a big food precinct. Plan a couple of hours for a wander, a snack and a browse. The tip: it is a short walk from Oceana, so you can leave the car behind, and the central dining lawn gives the kids somewhere to move between shops rather than being cooped up indoors.
The heated pool back at Oceana
Distance: on site (ground level). Directions: down to the beachfront facilities deck. Hours: guest access throughout your stay.
Some of the best holiday hours cost nothing extra and happen at home. Our heated pool suits all ages, is free for guests, and stays comfortable on cooler April mornings and evenings. There is also a 20 metre lap pool, a spa, a sauna and a poolside BBQ, all 30 metres from the sand. Allow as long as the kids last. The tip: the heated pool is the one to point tired or cold kids towards late in the day, and the BBQ gazebo turns a swim into an easy dinner without leaving the property.
FAQs about Broadbeach with kids in the April holidays
Is Kurrawa Beach safe for kids?
Yes. Kurrawa Beach out front is patrolled by Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, with flags up through the day in season. Always swim between the flags. The quieter southern end where we sit tends to be calmer than the Surfers stretch, which suits younger swimmers and paddlers well.
What are the Queensland April school holidays in 2026?
In 2026 the Queensland autumn school holidays run from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, with Term 2 starting Monday 20 April. Easter falls at the start, with Good Friday on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April, so expect attractions to be busiest over that long weekend.
Is Oceana on Broadbeach good for families?
Yes. Our two, three and four bedroom apartments give families room to spread out, with full kitchens, laundries and large balconies. The heated pool, BBQ area and patrolled beach are all on site or across the road, and almost everything else is a short walk, so you can leave the car parked.
Do we need to book Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in advance?
Booking online is cheaper and saves queuing at the gate, especially during school holidays. The sanctuary opens 9am to 4pm daily, with lorikeet feeding at 8am and 4pm. Arrive early for the morning feed and the animal presentations before the mid-morning holiday crowds build up.
A good family holiday runs on space and short distances, and that is what the position gives you. Spread out in one of our beachfront apartments with the kitchen and laundry a holiday week needs, then browse things to do in Broadbeach to fill the days between beach and pool.
Image credit: Oceana on Broadbeach