At a glance
- When
- Tuesday 15 December to Thursday 31 December 2026
- Where
- Merrimac, Tallebudgera Valley, Tallebudgera, Robina, Palm Beach, Broadbeach and Varsity Lakes
- Who it’s for
- Parents of primary school-aged children looking for holiday programs, and families wanting a free night out
- What to do now
- Book the five paid programs early, because the listings say places are limited; the film night and the New Year’s Eve party are free
- Last checked
- Tuesday 10 November 2026, against each event’s City of Gold Coast What’s On page
- Not yet confirmed
- Whether places are still available, any weather plan for the outdoor programs, and the New Year’s Eve line-up and food trucks
Seven listings on the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On pages cover the school holiday week from Tuesday 15 December to New Year’s Eve on Thursday 31 December 2026, and five of them are paid programs for children, priced from $50 to $210. The other two are free: Movies Under the Stars: Elf at Kurrawa Park on Friday 18 December, and New Year’s Eve by the Lake at Varsity Lakes, which ends in fireworks at 8:30pm.
Every detail below comes from the listing for that event, read on 10 November 2026. Prices are as of 10 November and can change. The holiday programs are run by private operators, not the City, and each has its own booking page.
What is on, in one table?
| Event | Dates | Where | Ages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Engineers School Holiday Program | Tue 15 and Wed 16 Dec, 9am to 3:30pm | All Saints Anglican School, 102 Highfield Drive, Merrimac | Primary school-aged | $115 for 1 day; $210 for 2 days |
| Adventure Day | Thu 17 Dec and Mon 21 Dec, 8:30am to 2:30pm | Gibson Park, Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera Valley | 3 to 5 and 6 to 9 | $110–120 per child |
| Movies Under the Stars: Elf | Fri 18 Dec, gates 6pm, film 7pm | Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach | All ages (PG) | Free |
| Motiv8sports Multi-Sport Christmas Event | Mon 21 Dec, 8:30am to 3:30pm | Robina State High School, 1 Investigator Drive, Robina | 6 to 12 | $70 |
| Christmas Craft and Nature Play | Wed 23 Dec, 8:30am to 2:30pm | Schuster Park, 506 Schusters Road, Tallebudgera | 6 to 9 | $110 per child |
| Raft Building | Wed 30 Dec, 8:30am to 11am | Tarrabora Reserve, 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach | 6 to 9 (drop-off) | $50 per child |
| New Year’s Eve by the Lake | Thu 31 Dec, 5:30pm to 8:30pm | Waterfront Stage, Varsity Promenade, Varsity Lakes | All ages | Free |
Which programs are for children, and what do they cost?
Five of the seven are booked programs for children. Each is run by a private provider and has its own booking link on the listing.
The Young Engineers School Holiday Program is a LEGO-based engineering program at All Saints Anglican School, 102 Highfield Drive, Merrimac. The listing says children build motorised models, learn about gears, motors, forces and movement, and need no previous engineering or LEGO experience. It is for primary school-aged children. The December dates are Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 December, 9am to 3:30pm, at $115 for one day or $210 for two. The same program is also listed for 6, 7, 12 and 13 January 2027.
Adventure Day is an outdoor program at Gibson Park, Tallebudgera Creek Road, Tallebudgera Valley, for ages 3 to 5 and 6 to 9. The listing describes cubby building and bushcraft with supervised tools, slacklining, creek exploration and nature art, with each age group using different areas of the park and activities that vary with the children’s interests and the conditions on the day. The price is $110–120 per child. The pre-Christmas dates are Thursday 17 and Monday 21 December, 8:30am to 2:30pm, and the listing also shows January dates through 21 January 2027.
The Motiv8sports Multi-Sport Christmas Event is a one-day party for children aged 6 to 12 at Robina State High School, 1 Investigator Drive, Robina, on Monday 21 December, 8:30am to 3:30pm. It costs $70. The listing says the activities are non-contact and include water sessions with a slip ‘n’ slide, sponge wars and a “Grumpy Grinches vs Rad Reindeers” face-off, and that every camper gets a mystery gift. Registration opens at 8:30am, and the listing says to enter through Gate 3 and drive through the boom gate on Investigator Drive, then follow the signs to parking and registration.
Christmas Craft and Nature Play is a day for ages 6 to 9 at Schuster Park, 506 Schusters Road, Tallebudgera, on Wednesday 23 December, 8:30am to 2:30pm, at $110 per child. Children make Christmas trees, reindeer, wreaths and decorations from natural, recycled and craft materials and explore the park. The listing says places are limited and bookings are essential. The organiser is Cooee Kids, reachable at info@cooeekids.com.au.
Raft Building is a drop-off program for ages 6 to 9 at Tarrabora Reserve, 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, on Wednesday 30 December, 8:30am to 11am, at $50 per child. Children learn basic knots, build rafts from recycled materials such as pallets, rope and containers, and launch them on Currumbin Creek. The listing warns that this is a water-based program and that children need to be comfortable in the water. A second session is listed for Friday 15 January 2027.
What free events are on?
Movies Under the Stars: Elf is on Friday 18 December at Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach. The listing says the park opens at 6pm and the film starts at 7pm. Elf is rated PG and runs 97 minutes. The event is part of the City’s free Movies Under the Stars program, which the City says runs from September 2026 to April 2027, and is brought to the Division 10 community by Councillor Darren Taylor. The listing suggests packing a picnic and says to check the event’s Facebook page if the weather is uncertain. Our Movies Under the Stars guide lists other nights.
New Year’s Eve by the Lake is on Thursday 31 December at the Waterfront Stage, Varsity Promenade, Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. The listing says to bring a picnic blanket for live music, food trucks and kids’ activities, and that the night ends with a fireworks display over Lake Orr at 8:30pm. The listing’s hours also end at 8:30pm, so we cannot say how long after the fireworks the event runs. Entry is free. It is organised by Councillor Dan Doran, Division 11, and the listed contact is The Events Agency on 1300 855 270. Our December Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve guide lists other New Year’s Eve events.
How do I get to these events?
Each City page asks you to use public transport, walk or cycle and to plan your trip with the Translink journey planner. If you drive, it says parking may be limited, suggests the EasyPark app for metered parking, and reminds you that parking rules still apply during events. Translink’s customer line is 13 12 30. We found no Translink notice for these dates as of 10 November. For the Motiv8sports event, the organiser’s own entry instructions (Gate 3 and the Investigator Drive boom gate) are the ones to follow.
What should I check before I book?
- Availability: the Motiv8sports listing says its events have sold out all year and spots are strictly limited; the Cooee Kids listings say bookings are essential.
- Weather: the listings for the outdoor programs do not give a wet-weather plan, so ask the operator.
- Ages: the programs use different age bands (3 to 5, 6 to 9, 6 to 12, and primary school-aged), so check yours fits.
- New Year’s Eve by the Lake: the line-up and food trucks are not named on the listing.
Sources
- What’s On Gold Coast — Young Engineers School Holiday Program
- What’s On Gold Coast — Adventure Day
- What’s On Gold Coast — Motiv8sports Multi-Sport Christmas Event, Robina
- What’s On Gold Coast — Christmas Craft and Nature Play
- What’s On Gold Coast — Raft Building
- What’s On Gold Coast — Movies Under the Stars: Elf
- What’s On Gold Coast — New Year’s Eve by the Lake
Featured image: Tallebudgera Creek, Tallebudgera (photo: Shiftchange / CC0; text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast, Young Engineers, Cooee Kids, Motiv8sports or any event organiser. Check the official pages above before you book.