Things to do with Teenagers on the Gold Coast That Aren’t Lame!

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The Gold Coast is supposed to be ‘Queensland’s playground’. So if that’s the case, why do our teenagers wake up and announce they’re bored within five minutes?!

The problem isn’t the Gold Coast. It’s getting teenagers interested in doing anything that wasn’t their idea.

Teenagers are hard to impress.

Screens always win.

Unless you suggest something they actually WANT to do.

Go-karting? Yes. Jet boating? Absolutely. A day at the theme parks with their mates? Now we’re talking.

But suggest a lovely family outing and suddenly they’re very busy doing absolutely nothing in their bedrooms.

The good news? There are plenty of things to do with teenagers on the Gold Coast that aren’t lame. From the thrill rides and beaches to the arcades, escape rooms and entertainment in Surfers Paradise, there’s no shortage of options. You just need to know which ones will get a teenager off the couch.

I’ve rounded up activities for younger teens, older teenagers and young adults, from adrenaline-filled adventures and competitive games to great food, shopping and things to do at night.

Because sometimes the perfect Gold Coast day out involves a jet boat and a rollercoaster.

And sometimes it’s just a bubble tea and a wander around Pacific Fair.

Both count.

TL;DR: Want to skip straight to the good stuff? Here’s an at-a-glance guide to the best things to do with teenagers on the Gold Coast.

Competitive activities for teenagers on the Gold Coast

There’s something about teenagers and competition. They might not be interested in a family outing, but suggest an activity where they can beat their mates, their siblings or, even better, their parents, and suddenly everyone’s keen!

The Gold Coast has plenty of opportunities for a bit of friendly rivalry, from go-kart racing and golf challenges to escape rooms and mini golf.

And don’t expect anyone to be gracious about losing. The bragging rights could last longer than the outing itself!

Top Golf

Similar to bowling, players will have their own climate controlled bay with a screen to keep track of the leaderboard recording everyone’s distance and accuracy. Food and drinks can also be ordered at the touch of a button. While you play, listen to music or watch sport on the surrounding HDTV’s.

Topgolf puts a unique spin on a game of golf with the giant targets making it easy for all abilities and ages to give it a go in a fun environment. Gather your closest mates or bring the family along for 2 hours of game time at Topgolf on the Gold Coast.

*Grab your discounted tickets here.

Gold Coast Indoor Go Karting and Activity Centre

If your teenager thinks they’re a better driver than you, Game Over Gold Coast is the perfect place to put that confidence to the test!

The indoor electric go-kart track in Helensvale is a great option for competitive teenagers, especially those who enjoy a bit of friendly rivalry. And because it’s indoors, you won’t have to worry about the Gold Coast’s summer heat or afternoon thunderstorms ruining your plans.

There’s plenty more to do if go-karting isn’t enough, including laser tag, Clip ‘n Climb, mini golf and arcade games. You can book individual activities or combine a few into one outing.

Best for: Competitive teenagers who love racing, challenges and trying to beat their mates.

My tip: The go-kart races are separated into junior (7–12) and adult (13+) categories. If you’re taking teenagers of different ages, check whether they’ll be able to race together before booking.

We loved this combo pass at Game Over when we went!

Adrenaline and adventure for thrill-seeking teens

If your teenager thinks they’re fearless, the Gold Coast has plenty of opportunities to test that theory!

From indoor skydiving and rollercoasters to jet boating, high ropes courses and water parks, there’s no shortage of ways to get their adrenaline pumping.

I’ve always loved Sark’s advice: “If they are crabby, put them in water.” And after plenty of days at Wet’n’Wild and WhiteWater World with the kids, I reckon she’s onto something. It’s amazing what a few hours hurtling down waterslides can do for a teenager’s mood!

These are the Gold Coast adventures that might actually get your teenagers out of bed early. And that’s saying something.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving Gold Coast

Get their adrenalin pumping these school holidays by doing some indoor skydiving! iFLY lets you re-enact the experience of a skydive from 14,000 from the 360° glass tunnel. The glass tunnel also means that friends can come along and watch – and get the ultimate photo.

Check out the iFLY website here.

Grab your discount voucher here.

Horse riding on the Gold Coast

Enjoy a day with some majestic creatures at the Bonogin Valley Horse Retreat. Whether you are an experienced rider or looking to learn, there are lessons for all age and experience levels. Spending time with animals can be one of the many mindfulness activities for teenagers to help them whatever is going on in their life.

Find out more about the horse riding these holidays.

Dreamworld and WhiteWater World

One of the ultimate water parks you can ever visit is WhiteWater World. Conveniently located within the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast Highway, teens can experience epic slides, splash pools and tipping buckets. This is one of the best fun things to do in the Summer for teens. 

There are a range of ticket options for teens here.

Village Roadshow theme parks

The Gold Coast is well known for theme parks and a holiday on the Gold Coast isn’t really a holiday without a visit to at least one of them! Learn about our oceans and sea life at Seaworld, experience the Hollywood life at Movie World or just have a splashing good day out at Wet and Wild. All have some amazing rides and experiences. Choose your favourite – or visit all three – these school holidays.

Grab a discounted ticket to all three parks here.

Gold Coast Aqua Park

Ok – so there are two inflatable water park on the Gold Coast. One is at Southport and the other one is their sister location at Oxenford. They are similar – Oxenford has a cable/wake park too. You can jump, climb and slide your way around 300m of inflatable obstacles. The Gold Coast Aqua Parks are full of fun Summer activities for teenagers (and let’s face it, all year round on the Gold Coast) and a great place for them to meet their friends.

You can find tickets to the Southport location here.

Gold Coast Hinterland Treetop Challenge

If you are looking for some adventure these school holidays, the visit Gold Coast’s Tamborine Mountain for a rainforest adventure with high ropes, flying foxes and over 85 individual challenges, a great range of recreational activities for teenagers.

See what you can do at the Treetop Challenge.

Gaming, arcades and entertainment

This is one where you can join in on the fun or leave them to it with a bit of cash and a wave! Arcade games, virtual reality and interactive challenges are also perfect for teenagers who want to hang out with their mates without Mum or Dad hovering nearby.

I am a huge Archie Brother’s fan (hello dance mats!) but I know that the kids don’t always want me hovering.

The Gold Coast has plenty of great entertainment options, especially around Surfers Paradise, and they’re also handy when it’s raining or too hot to be outside.

Zero Latency VR, Southport

Hand on heart, this is one of the BEST things we’ve done with the teenagers on the Gold Coast!

We tried Zero Latency’s Dragon Escape virtual reality experience during the school holidays and had an absolute ball. You put on a VR headset and suddenly you’re somewhere completely different, working together to solve puzzles, crack codes and find your way out of a series of escape rooms.

We were beginners, so the staff recommended Dragon Escape. After a quick briefing, we were let loose to explore three virtual rooms, with about 45 minutes to escape before the dragon got us. And yes, we made it out!

I wish I could show you what we could see through those headsets because it was SO cool. The teenagers loved it, I loved it, and it’s one of those rare activities where everyone comes out talking excitedly about what just happened.

Best for: Teenagers who love gaming, escape rooms and doing something a bit different.

My tip: Zero Latency offers different VR experiences, so check which game you’re booking. We chose the escape room rather than a shooting game, and I’d happily recommend it!

Archie Brothers, Surfers Paradise

If your teenagers are competitive, Archie Brothers is a good place to start. Arcade games, bowling and the opportunity to beat their siblings (or their parents!) are usually a pretty easy sell.

We took three kids aged 12, 14 and 16 to Archie Brothers in Brisbane, along with three adults, and spent about two and a half hours there. We played arcade games for an hour, followed by bowling and pizza for dinner. Everyone had a fantastic time, and I particularly recommend having a go on the dance mat. Hilarious!

There’s also an Archie Brothers in Surfers Paradise, making it a handy option for teenagers who want some friendly competition without spending the day outdoors.

Best for: Competitive teenagers, groups of friends and families who enjoy a bit of rivalry.

My tip: These places are LOUD! If your teenager is sensitive to noise, bear that in mind before booking.

Think you can beat your teenagers at bowling or the arcade? Book your Archie Brothers Arcade Game Card and Bowling experience here and save money and let the family competition begin!

Infinity Attraction

Journey into a futuristic, maze-like world of wonder. Be transported into another dimension filled with unique special effects, atmospheric sound fields, ultra-groovy music and illusions that appear to go all the way to – Infinity.

Read about Infinity Attraction here.

Grab your tickets here for these school holidays.

Padlock’d Escape Rooms

If you are looking for team building activities for teens, then look no further than Padlock’d Escape Rooms. Take part in a museum heist, escape from an abandoned carnival or much more at these unique and challenging escape rooms. Teams of up to 6 people must work together to solve the problem and ultimately, escape! Choose from 10 rooms over 2 locations to escape from.

Click here for the Padlock’d experience.

Get your tickets here.

Art Vo

Get inside art at this truly unique experience at this ‘trick-art’ gallery. Conveniently located in Robina Town Centre, this is one of the fun group activities for teenagers available on the Gold Coast. Bring your camera to pose on the side of a cliff, surfing or next to a wild animal, and walk away with some great Instagrammable shots.

Click here for Art Vo.

Grab you tickets here.

Gold Coast Wax Museum

Located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, this unique museum is home to the largest collection of wax figurines in the Southern Hemisphere. Musicians, celebrities, sporting stars and celebrities have been immortalised in wax for all to enjoy. Teens can also walk through the chamber of horrors or take a look at replicas of the crown jewels. Easily accessible via public transport, this is a fun thing to do with friends for teens.

See what’s on display here.

Get tickets before you go!

Food and shopping

Sometimes teenagers don’t want an activity. They just want to go shopping, get something to eat and hang out with their friends. Preferably without their parents tagging along!

And shopping doesn’t necessarily mean spending money. Half the fun seems to be wandering around, trying things on, getting a bubble tea and discussing absolutely everything with their mates.

Between Australia Fair, Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre and all the food and shopping around Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast has plenty of places where teenagers can happily entertain themselves for hours. I’d also investigate which Gold Coast markets are operating for a different pace. Give them a bit of independence and some money for lunch, and everyone’s happy!

Things to do on the Gold Coast at night with teenagers

Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean teenagers suddenly stop complaining they’re bored!

And the Gold Coast certainly doesn’t shut up shop after dark. From the bright lights of Surfers Paradise to evening markets, live shows, arcades and bowling, there’s plenty to keep teenagers entertained once the sun sets.

We’ve enjoyed the Australian Outback Spectacular, magic shows and heading into the hinterland to see the glow worms at Natural Bridge. And sometimes, just wandering around Surfers Paradise, grabbing something to eat and soaking up the atmosphere is enough to keep everyone happy.

I’ve put together a separate guide to things to do on the Gold Coast at night with kids and teenagers, with plenty more ideas for evening outings, whether you’ve got younger teens or older teenagers who’d rather be anywhere than at home with their parents!

Cheap and free things to do with teens on the Gold Coast

Keeping teenagers entertained doesn’t have to cost a fortune, especially on the Gold Coast!

Some of our best days out have been the ones that cost next to nothing. We’ve spent hours swimming and snorkelling at Tallebudgera Creek, exploring Gold Coast beaches and hiking through the rainforest at Springbrook National Park. The teenagers genuinely loved the waterfall walks, which just goes to show that you don’t always need theme park tickets to get them off their screens.

And with six weeks of summer school holidays to fill, free activities are going to come in very handy!

I’m putting together a separate guide to free things to do on the Gold Coast with kids and teenagers, so keep an eye out for that one. In the meantime, don’t underestimate the appeal of a beach, a waterfall and a few friends to keep teenagers happy.

Snorkel Tallebudgera Creek

If your bored teen loves the water, bring them snorkelling at Tallebudgera Creek. See turtles, fish and crabs occasionally dolphins in this beautiful creek or maybe they prefer to go kayaking or paddle boarding. This is one of the great free activities for teenagers and with the perfect Gold Coast weather, you can go almost all year round. Tip: There can be strong currents so only swim at the top of the tide.

Find out more about Tallebudgera Creek.

Fun things to do on the Gold Coast for older teenagers and young adults (16–21)

Jet boat ride

Get their adrenalin pumping with the thrill and excitement of a jetboat ride. Jet boats do 360 ° spins, high speed drifting and heap of other manoeuvres in as little as 10cm of water. Racing along the Broadwater your teen will have no excuse not to love this heart stopping activity.

Save time and get your tickets before you go.

Skypoint day climb

If your kid is driving you to climb the walls, send them to the Q1 climb. Scaling the Skypoint Tower this climb takes you to 270m above sea level This is a great activity for young adults or even families to do together – maybe it will give your teen a new perspective (literally!) on their day.

Find out about the Skypoint climb.

Get daytime or twilight climb tickets here.

V8 Supercar laps

The ultimate adrenaline seeking boredom busting activity has to be doing hot laps in a V8 Supercar. Teenagers 14 years and above can strap themselves in and experience what Supercars are really made of. Choose between Holden or Ford and get set for an once in a lifetime experience.

Book your V8 Supercar experience here.

Gold Coast hot air balloon ride

Take to the skies on a majestic hot air balloon journey. Experience true 360° views of the Gold Coast and it’s hinterland. A perfect opportunity to spend some  quality time with your kids – just make sure they are prepared for the early start!

Find out about the discount offer here.

Fun activities for teens on the Gold Coast

While it can be almost impossible to find things to do for teens that they will 100% love, we think our activities for teenagers to do is pretty impressive, and not at all lame! Try it out with your teenager and let us know what they think. We are quietly confident!

Even more QLD school holiday ideas:

Planning a longer Queensland trip? Compare these ideas with our guides to Sunshine Coast activities for teenagers and things to do with teenagers in Brisbane.

And our detailed school holiday articles for all ages here:

• Cairns school holiday activities
• Townsville school holiday activities
• Mackay school holiday activities
• Rockhampton school holiday activities
• Gladstone school holiday activities
• Bundaberg school holiday activities
• Hervey Bay school holiday activities
• Sunshine Coast school holiday activities
• Brisbane school holiday activities
• Gold Coast school holiday activities

If you are heading south these QLD school holidays, these holiday ideas might help:

• Byron Bay School holiday activities
• NSW School holiday ideas

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