Burleigh Heads is one of the easiest places on the Gold Coast to keep kids happy, and most of it sits within a short walk or drive of 2nd Avenue. Here are seven family things to do close to us, from the calm beach two minutes from our door to a wildlife park with a resident platypus, each with the real minutes and the practical tips.
Can you walk to the beach with the kids from 2nd Avenue?
Yes, the sand is about a two-minute walk, roughly 150 metres straight down Second Avenue to The Esplanade. This is the quieter northern end of Burleigh beach, calmer than the surf-club end, which makes it easy for families with small children to paddle and build sandcastles. Lifesavers patrol daily and the flags generally go up around 9am, so swim between them and keep an eye on the northern corner when the swell is up. If the older kids want to learn to surf, Godfathers of the Ocean runs family and kids lessons on this beach, with patient instructors and a strong focus on water safety before wave count.
Is the Burleigh headland walk doable with children?
It is, and it is one of the best free mornings we send families on. The Oceanview Walk around Burleigh Head National Park starts about sixteen minutes on foot from our door, or five minutes to drive to the Goodwin Terrace entrance. The track is flat, grade two and 1.2 kilometres one way, wrapping the headland past the six-sided basalt columns to Tallebudgera Creek, so it takes around 30 minutes at a child’s pace. Kids tend to spot koalas in the gum trees and brush turkeys underfoot, and from June to October you can watch whales pass the point. Pack water and go early for the calmest light.
Where can kids meet Australian animals near Burleigh?
At the David Fleay Wildlife Park, about a ten-minute drive west at West Burleigh. It is open 9am to 4pm daily, and it is built for young families, with flat boardwalks through wetlands and rainforest that suit prams and little legs. The kids can see koalas, kangaroos, crocodiles, dingoes and the park’s resident platypus, Wally, and the ranger presentations run through the day. Guests travelling with children keep mentioning the Fleays in Flight show, where large birds of prey sweep low over the crowd. Allow a half day and bring a hat, as the boardwalks are open in parts.
Is Tallebudgera Creek good for young kids?
Yes, it is one of the calmest, clearest spots on the coast for a family paddle, about a seven-minute drive south on the far side of the headland. The water is shallow near the banks, so small children can splash while the adults swim a little deeper. It is a gentle spot for a stand-up paddleboard or kayak, and Action Outdoor Hire delivers boards and kayaks to the creek if you want them. The honest tip guests repeat: the creekside car park fills by mid-morning on weekends and school holidays, so arrive early, and watch the current near the creek mouth on an outgoing tide.
What is the best family market in Burleigh?
The Burleigh Market is the one to time your weekend around. It runs every Saturday from 7am to 12 noon in the grounds of the Burleigh Heads State School on the Gold Coast Highway, about a five-minute drive from us, with free parking on the oval. The stalls run to fresh produce, gourmet food, coffee, arts, crafts and collectibles, with live music through the morning, so it is an easy, low-cost outing that keeps everyone grazing. It runs rain, hail or shine, so a shower is no reason to cancel. Get there before 9am for the easiest parking and the freshest produce.
Where can families eat in Burleigh without the fuss?
A few places make life easy with kids. The Tropic at the Burleigh Pavilion, about fourteen minutes’ walk south above the beach, has a healthy kids menu and a wide deck with room for children to move, open from 11am seven days. Paddock Bakery, a five-minute drive north at 20 Hibiscus Haven, does relaxed breakfasts in a leafy, dog-friendly garden courtyard, open 6am to 3pm and walk-in only, so get there before 9am on weekends. For something livelier, Jimmy Wah’s does vibrant Vietnamese with a dedicated kids menu, and California Tacos keeps the little ones happy with soft tacos and quesadillas.
What is there for kids on a rainy day or a lazy afternoon?
Two easy answers. Justins Park, about nine minutes south along the beachfront, has a playground, a skate park, free electric barbecues and plenty of shaded grass under the Norfolk pines, all a few steps from the sand, so one parent can mind a swim while the other sets up lunch. When the weather turns, Paint Juicy runs paint-and-sip and painting workshops suitable for all ages, a good indoor hour when the kids need a change of pace. Between the two you have a wet day and a spare afternoon both sorted without going far.
FAQs
What is there to do in Burleigh Heads with kids?
Plenty within a short walk or drive of 2nd Avenue. Swim at the calm north beach, walk the headland for koalas, meet a platypus at David Fleay, paddle Tallebudgera Creek, browse the Saturday Burleigh Market, and let the kids loose at the Justins Park playground and skate park.
Is Burleigh Heads beach safe for children?
Yes. The northern stretch out front of 2nd Avenue stays calmer than the surf-club end, and lifesavers patrol daily with the red-and-yellow flags generally up from around 9am. Always swim between the flags, as the northern corner can pull a current when the swell is up.
Is David Fleay Wildlife Park worth visiting with kids?
Yes. It is open 9am to 4pm daily, about a ten-minute drive from 2nd Avenue, and the ranger talks, the Fleays in Flight raptor show and the resident platypus Wally keep children engaged. Boardwalks wind through wetlands, so it suits little legs and prams.
Is Tallebudgera Creek safe for young kids?
Yes, the creek is calm and shallow close to the banks, which is why families rate it so highly. Keep a close eye on children near the mouth on an outgoing tide, when the current picks up, and stick to the sheltered foreshore stretch near the grass.
The quiet advantage of staying at this end of Burleigh is that most of these sit within a short walk or drive of your door, so you can fit two or three into a day and still be back for a swim before dinner. Pick the ones that suit your crew and leave the rest for next time. When you are ready to plan, check our rates and book direct, and browse more ideas on our Burleigh Heads attractions page.
Image credit: Destination Gold Coast
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