Broadwater Parklands is the Gold Coast’s flagship family parkland, and it is really three attractions rolled into one waterfront stretch at Southport. The centrepiece is the Peninsula Playground, built around an eighteen-metre, four-level spiral tower with an enclosed slide, rope tunnels and suspended nets, plus sand and child-operated water play with carved sea creatures.

Next along is Washington Waters, the big-kid zone, with a flying fox, a tandem pedal monorail, a giant fenced bouncy pillow and a bike-education track. Down by the water, the Rockpools is a sculptural wet-play area with fountains, a creek bed and wading pools that runs year-round, though its hours shift with the season.

It is well set up for all abilities, with an in-ground wheelchair-accessible trampoline, a Liberty swing and an elevated sand table, and there are accessible toilets, barbecues, picnic tables, plenty of parking and a coffee cart on site.