Family Boating Bucket List – 5 Things to do with your families around the Gold Coast
By Roselle Tenefrancia
Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints.
School holidays and Christmas holidays in the summer are a combination that often create stress for parents. What to do and where to go? For many, driving out of town with friends for a weekend (or a week) of camping is a great Australian holiday experience. For boaties on the Gold Coast, you need not go far for that family adventure with nature – plus doing some shopping and dining for the Christmas season.
We have come up with five simple, easy and no stress activities to add to your bucket list that the whole family can enjoy – for one day, or for one week, or more.
1. We are blessed with an abundance of beautiful sand banks in the Broadwater. Beaching your tinnie or dinghy on any of these sand banks at low tide make for a great adventure. You can let your children experience being on “land” that disappears at high tide. Young children will enjoy the sensory experience of walking and touching the sand, and the sense of isolation. And who knows what else you can find?
2. Anchor and raft up with friends on the Nerang River along Budds Beach and let your children enjoy some SUP fun, build sandcastles on the beach, and let them play at the beachside playground. And when everyone starts feeling hungry for lunch or some cappuccino and cakes, and fresh fruit juices, simply walk over to Bumbles café across the road.
3. Cruising further up north to explore the islands and mangroves and beaches past Jumpinpin. There are many undeveloped and unspoiled places that you can simply soak in. Research online about these places (There are heaps of resources online!) and you will be able to talk with your children about them. Find your suitable anchorage and spend a night or two just enjoying the natural surrounds. Take your dinghy to island towns and meet the locals.
Encourage your children to learn more about the environment and communities in their own city.
4. If the whole family wants to be more adventurous and you have the luxury of time, cruising up to Brisbane is definitely an experience. The Brisbane River recently opened opportunities for recreational boaties to visit various lifestyle hubs along the river.
The River’s Edge Strategy is Brisbane City Council’s plan to improve access and activity on and alongside the inner-city reaches of the Brisbane River. This also links to Brisbane’s River Art Framework, which presents a vision for a world-class collection of public art along the River’s edge.
5. If you need to catch up with shopping and dining, and you prefer to stay afloat, the whole family can dock at Capri on Via Roma, Runaway Bay Shopping Village and Sanctuary Cove, as they all offer free public berthing. Paradise Point has a public jetty that allows you to stay for 20 minutes for a quick pick up of groceries, food and other items from the shops across the road.
Getting around in the busy summer months should not be stressful for the family. The waterways are free for us to use and we only have to understand and appreciate them better. As in all things boating, safety and common sense come first. The more time your children spend on the water, the sooner they will learn safe navigation, boating courtesy and environmental awareness. And all these can be achieved within the city’s waterways.
Published in print January-March 2024
