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15 BEST THINGS TO DO AT RIPLEYS GOLD COAST

INSIDE: Take a look inside Ripleys Gold Coast Oddity Museum.

Ripleys Gold Coast is an ODDITY Museum to tickle your funny bone, bombard you with random facts, and scare the bejeezus out of you too.

There’s tonnes of fun & hands-on activities for kids at Ripleys Surfers Paradise!

Grab yourself a discount entry to the Odditorium if you can, but it’s good fun at any price.

It’s one of the best Gold Coast Surfers Paradise attractions for the whole family.

Take a sneak peek below for all the details! 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at NO extra cost to you.

photo - ripleys believe it or not shop front

Guide to Ripleys Gold Coast

Ripleys Believe it or Not! museum in Surfers Paradise has 15 themed galleries and tonnes more hands-on interactive exhibits.

Every turn reveals something new, fun or surprising to discover.

Be sure to look beyond the obvious!  

If you think a room is boring, look more closely until you find something that catches you unawares. 


RELATED: Big List of Things to do on the Gold Coast with Kids

ripleys surfers paradise by mohd fazlin

Image credit: Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi via Flickr CC BY 2.0

Things to do at Ripleys Surfers Paradise

No.1: Shrunken Heads

Shrunken heads, animal oddities, and rare artefacts from around the globe (over 400 of them!)

No.2: Spinning Vortex Tunnel

Survive a walk through the Spinning Vortex Tunnel. 

This is an exercise in winning over nausea.

No.3: Piano Musical Stairs

Play the Piano Musical Stairs as you walk down!

No.4: Interactive Dance Room

Jump for joy in the Interactive Dance Room (our favourite spot!)

photo - ripleys gold coast lazer race

MORE attractions at Ripleys Believe It or Not Gold Coast

No.5: Laser Race

Navigate through a web of lasers as you try and beat the buzzer. This attraction raises your heartbeat somewhat.

No.6:  Oddities made from food

See the Last Supper made from burnt toast, and a portrait of Michael Jackson made from gum balls.

No.7:  Curious collections 

There’s collections of unusual dresses, fashion, hats, and jewellery – each one special because of the connection it has to a historical event, or what it’s made from.

No.8: Miniatures 

Spot the World’s Smallest Car.

Plus a tiny jade elephant, tiny story books, and a minute baseball glove, perfectly stitched. 

No.9: Touch the Skull Face

He invites you to! 

venice beach snake charmer by mohd fazlin

Image credit: Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi via Flickr CC BY 2.0

No.10: Snake Charmer

See the Venice Beach snake charmer who trained his pet snake to crawl in and out his nose!

No.11: Touch the Fertility Statues

Or not, if you don’t want to have a baby.

These statues are well known for their ability to help couples fall pregnant, or so they say.

If this is you, be sure to fill in the form so you can let them know of your success in making a baby! 

No.12:  See Dame Edna made from Chicken Wire!

There’s no end to the display of creative art and craft here too.

Dame Edna’s sculpture is one of the best.

No.13: Double Eyed Man

Look for the model of the man with two pupils in each eye.

He’s one of only FOUR people in the world who’ve ever displayed this oddity. 

PIN Ripleys surfers paradise

Ripleys Believe It or Not?

No.14: Blue Face Man

Ching Foo of Shensi China, pictured above, was born with a blue face.

Believe it, or not?

No. 15: Interactive Games & Play

There’s places for kids to crawl, dance, and race, plus puzzles to complete, illusions to wow, and lots of interactive games.

There’s something for everyone at Ripley’s Surfers Paradise.

Hot tip: Beware of mirrors. That’s all we’ll say. 

Ripley’s 7D Moving Theatre

The brand new 7 Dimension theatre lets you see, touch, feel, move, shoot, and engage in a screen adventure like never before.

photo - ripleys surfers paradise entrance

Three Fun Ripleys Facts!

Robert Riply was a collector, traveler, cartoonist, entrepreneur, anthropologist, curator, sports man, and presenter.

His life was one incredible adventure, travelling the world to find oddities and strange phenomena.

His life’s work enabled him to become a millionaire early on! 

He also coined the term, “Believe it, or Not!”

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Museums around the world

There are also Ripleys museums in: 

  • England
  • USA
  • Malaysia
  • Denmark
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Thailand and
  • the Netherlands.

ripleys shop sign by mohd fazlin

Image credit: Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi via Flickr CC BY 2.0

Ripleys Believe it or Not Surfers Paradise Shop 

Pick up a souvenir of your time at Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium souvenir and gift shop on the premises.

Exit the museum through the Ripleys gift shop.

Find: 

  • Science Kits
  • Posters 
  • Replicas of exhibitions
  • Postcards and Stationery
  • Ornaments and quirky gifts
  • Musical instruments
  • Books 

Leave yourself at least 30 minutes to browse as there’s all kind of strange treasures here. 

photo - ripleys surfers paradise with lizard man

Image credit: Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi via Flickr CC BY 2.0

THE INSIDE SCOOP: Ripleys Museum Surfers Paradise

Correct at time of publication. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in AUS dollars.

Address: Ripleys Believe it or Not in Surfers Paradise is located at Soul Boardwalk, Cavill Mall, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217.
Telephone: 07 5592 0040
Email: [email protected]
Website: Click here

Opening Hours

  • 9am till late, daily.
  • 365 days a year.
  • New Years Day 9am to 6pm.

During low season, last admission 9pm, out by 10pm
During high season and weekend – last admission 10pm, out by 11pm

Ripleys Tickets 

  • Adults $26.90
  • Seniors 55+ $22.90
  • Students 13-17 $22.90
  • Child 3-11 $17.90
  • FREE for under 3’s

Ripleys Discount Tickets

  • Save $2 per adult, and $1 per child ticket by booking online. 
  • Keep an eye on Groupon Gold Coast for Ripley’s Surfers Paradise discount tickets. 

BOOK NOW: Gold Coast Attractions Pass (save up to 40% off normal admission prices on 3, 5, or 7 local attractions) 

dame edna by modh fazlin

How to get to Ripleys Gold Coast QLD

How to get to Cavill Mall Surfers Paradise? 

By Gold Coast light rail:  Ride the G Link to the Cavill Ave station (from Helensvale or Broadbeach directions) 

By Bus: Surfside Buslines provide daily scheduled services between major Gold Coast suburbs and Surfers Paradise for nominal fares. One of the closest bus stops either from North, South or West is Ferny Ave App Beach Rd Bus Stop.

By Car: Click here for google map directions

Where to park in Surfers Paradise

Soul Boardwalk parking

  • Soul Boardwalk Car Park- (Entry off ‘The Esplanade’). Can stay all day. Covered. Pay on Exit. Min $5.00, Max $15.00 .
  • First hour free between 5am and 4pm
  • After 4pm, $8.00 flat rate

Bruce Bishop Car Park Surfers Paradise

  • Entry off ‘Beach Road’ or the Gold Coast highway
  • Can stay all day. Pay on Exit. Covered parking.
  • Approx $2.30 per hour
  • 5 min walk to Cavill Mall 

Esplanade Street Parking Beachside

  • Pay & Display parking available on the Esplanade Surfers Paradise
  • Approx. $2.70 per hour 
  • Pay when you park. Check time limits and top up as you go. 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Map

Nearest takeaway coffee and/or food options: Cavill Mall has plenty of eateries and takeaway restaurants
Toilets: Yes including baby change table
Disability access: Yes
Dogs: No

Toadstool Rating – Ripleys Believe It or Not Surfers Paradise

This Gold Coast wax museum & odditorium is one of the things to do in Gold Coast with kids. 

ripleys gold coast review

MORE Things to do in Surfers Paradise Australia

No.1: Cavill Mall

Wander around Cavill Mall to see street entertainment, and the local characters. 

You can also:

  • ride the AquaDuck
  • grab a coffee at Starbucks
  • shop for fashion in Paradise centre mall
  • Visit Build a Bear Workshop toy store in the Paradise Centre
  • grab a gelato cone at Gelatissimo or an icecream at Ben & Jerry’s Surfers Paradise
  • enjoy a burger at Hard Rock Cafe Surfers Paradise (look for the giant guitar at the start of the mall)
  • stay healthy with a Boost Juice smoothie for the whole family
  • grab a snack at Lord of the Fries ! 

No.2: TimeZone Surfers Paradise

Stay and play in one of Australia’s biggest games arcades for the whole family.

Play glow in the dark golf, new laser tag arena, ride bumper cars, join in mini bowling, and there’s over 200 games. 

Find it at Level 1, Paradise Centre.

Open 10am to 11pm daily. 

Hot tip: You can also visit Infinity Gold Coast, a laser experience like no other. 

No.3: Surfers Paradise Beach

This is the Gold Coast’s most famous beach, and entry is right across the road from Cavill Mall.

Bring your swimming costumes, sunscreen, and towels and take a dip between the flags. 

photo - tallebudgera beach gold coast kids

Looking for MORE things to do on the Gold Coast with kids?

Click the blue links below for more Gold Coast tips


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