A local’s guide to the best roller skating on the Gold Coast
I’ve only tried roller skating once when I was a kid. The huge head bump taught me that once is enough.
Well, until I tried it again in adulthood.
I recently visited a roller skating rink with friends on the Gold Coast. Despite my earlier fears, I felt a newfound thrill in the sport after gliding a few meters.
If you’re like me, finding a new interest in roller skating, or wanting to share your love for the sport, this is the right article for you.
Our team went around town to create the ultimate guide to enjoying roller skating that has captivated many Australians in recent years.
From the best rinks to all the fun new experiences to discover, you are guaranteed to have a great time roller skating on the Gold Coast.
Why roller skating is a must-try experience on the Gold Coast
With a strong outdoor culture and favorable weather conditions, roller skating has been a popular recreational activity in major Australian cities like the Gold Coast since the 19th century.
The sport offers a fun and active way to socialize with others in almost every part of the city. Plus, it’s a great way to visit the city’s popular attractions without a car.
Roller skating gained more traction in recent years, thanks to online trends from TikTok and Instagram. It has become ingrained in the retro aesthetic à la Stranger Things, which many teenagers replicate.
Best of all, it’s a relatively cheap and accessible sport. You can enter some of Queensland’s best roller skate rinks for just $40 or less to experience all the joy for the whole day.
So, what are you waiting for?
Top roller skating rinks for families, beginners, and rising stars on the Gold Coast
Everyone has to start somewhere and there’s no better place to begin your roller skating journey than at the best and most affordable rinks on the Gold Coast.
From a disco-themed complex to facilities that complete the experience, the city offers various options for everyone to indulge in.
If that excites you, bring your family and friends for a fun-filled sports day at the Gold Coast’s top roller skating rinks.
Epic Skate Rink
– Media credit: epicskaterink
Location: 20/23 Enterprise Ave, Tweed Heads South NSW
Contact: [email protected], +61 7 5523 9660
Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Admission price:
- Single entry: $25
- General & after-dark skating: $130 per 10 sessions
Epic Skate Rink prides itself on being the premier destination for roller skating on the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast.
For one, the rink’s large size accommodates various sports, such as roller derby and inline hockey while providing enough space for beginners and casual skaters to practice.
To jumpstart your kid’s roller skating journey, they even have an Active Kids program that also teaches the basics. It spans 12 sessions and is divided into varying difficulties that learners can ease into.
Its 4-star skill lessons even include skate dance routines, jump maneuvers, and foot spins. Your kids will be gliding across the rink in just weeks!
At night, the skating rink comes alive with groovy music, disco lights, and fog machines, reminiscent of skating malls in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Families can even enjoy the arcade booth for some classic pinball and retro video games.
Epic Skate also hosts special gatherings at its exclusive rink-side rooms for birthday and party events. For as low as $145, friends and families can enjoy the rink’s Friday and Saturday Night sessions while wearing glow sticks.
They also offer customizable skate shoe parts, skating sets, and memorabilia, including an LGBTQIA+ collection.
Pro tip:
Always request to have your rented skating shoes cleaned before using them. Most shoes are worn multiple times and can sometimes smell bad.
The staff will immediately replace or clean the shoes for free.
Rollerama Gold Coast
– Media credit: rollerama.gc
Location: 2 Market St, Carrara
Contact: [email protected], 07 5554 8583
Hours:
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Admission price:
- Daytime school holiday: $25 per session
- Night and weekend skating: $20 per session
Children will particularly have a fun time at Rollerama Gold Coast with its skating lessons and amenities catered to younger visitors.
Like Epic Skate, Rollerama also offers disco-themed events on Friday and Saturday nights. You can enjoy funky music and colorful disco lights while wearing retro outfits.
There are also open-to-all-ages basic skating lessons where customers are guaranteed to receive professional lessons and advice to become more graceful on the rink after just a few sessions.
After playing around the rink, people can unwind and relax at the skating rink’s indoor cafe to enjoy coffee, cold drinks, ice creams, and sweet desserts.
Pro tip:
If your eyes are sensitive to lasers, wear laser safety glasses when visiting during Rollerama’s weekend disco nights to prevent further eye damage.
You can skate along the rink’s edge, where the lasers are less likely to hit.
Skate Paradise Roller Skating Rink
– Media credit: skateparadiserollerskatingrink
Location: 34-38 Johnson Rd, Hillcrest
Contact: [email protected], +61 7 3800 7300
Hours:
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Admission price: Single entry: $18
Operating since the early ‘80s, Skate Paradise Roller Skating Rink offers a true retro aesthetic with modern conveniences. The family-friendly skating complex has enough space for people of varying skills to enjoy their time on the rink.
Adults and experienced skaters can run freely at the Olympic-sized rink, while children and beginners can practice their first steps on the separate mini rink.
Skate Paradise also has an indoor cafeteria and arcade center for people to relax after skating around all day. The rink-side cafeteria can even be reserved for parties and gatherings.
Skaters can come and go, as waterproof carpet covers the area to prevent people from slipping.
The staff are also notably helpful in assisting beginners to ease into the sport. They even provide relevant tips and advice about keeping balance while on the rink.
Pro tip:
If you’re visiting the area by car, park in the designated space under the facility. The parking area beside it is for the Hillcrest Indoor Pistol Club customers.
Alternative skating rinks for your adventurous self on the Gold Coast
Roller skating rinks aren’t the only place you can rely on to practice your blooming skills. You can visit the city’s best alternatives for various expertise and preferences.
From Olympic-size ice skating(ice skating Gold Coast) rinks to massive skateboard parks, the Gold Coast has numerous options for those adventurous enough.
Iceworld Olympic Ice Rinks
– Media credit: iceworld_olympic_ice_rinks
Location: 1179 Beaudesert Rd, Acacia Ridge
Contact: [email protected], (07) 3277 7563
Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Admission price:
- General admission (15 yrs and older): $29.50
- Children (6 to 14 yrs): $24.50
- Toddler (3 to 5 yrs): $13
Iceworld Olympic Ice Rinks has long been on our radar for the various amenities and activities people can enjoy when visiting the ice skating rink.
Here, children and adults can learn essential skating techniques and disciplines from nationally accredited Aussie Skate School instructors.
Plus, all ice skating equipment can be rented on-site, so there’s no need to buy expensive ice skating shoes when visiting the place.
Since most ice skating skills translate to roller skating, people can continue to practice while keeping cool during hot summer days. It’s killing two birds with one stone!
Skating isn’t the only thing people can enjoy when visiting Iceworld. The ice rink also offers special birthday and corporate party packages for a whole day of fun on the ice.
The special group packages usually include exclusive rink-side seats, priority entry, and catering options.
Come November and December, visitors can crank up the fun by joining Iceworld’s annual Halloween and Christmas events. Participants can dress up in their favorite costumes to have a chance to win up to $500 and be featured on the ice skating rink’s official social media pages.
Pro tip:
Some of Iceworld’s skating shoes show fatigue due to their age. Fortunately, you can exchange the rented shoes for better ones at the reception desk for free.
If not possible, wear long, thick socks to avoid chafing the skin when skating.
Pizzey Skatepark
– Media credit: pizzey_skatepark
Location: Bardon Ave, Miami
Contact: [email protected], +61 3 9486 9899
Hours: Open 24 hours
Admission price: FREE
If you want more thrills, you can always try Pizzey Skatepark in Miami. While skateboard enthusiasts are the park’s most common visitors, it’s also open to roller skaters and bikers of all skills.
It features several obstacles and ramps to practice, making it the perfect place to practice new sick tricks and flips in front of a supporting crowd.
The skatepark is even considered one of the best Olympic-level training facilities in the country, thanks to its size and the various “street style” platforms suited for all skating hobbies.
Best of all, it’s free and open 24/7. With lights installed in every corner, parents wouldn’t need to worry about their kids tripping in the dark too.
After a long day, visitors can also set up picnic blankets under the tree shades in the nearby clearing or feed the birds in the miniature lake.
Pro tip:
The skatepark is particularly crowded on Sundays when families bring their kids for scooter and bike rides.
Some children may not have a strong sense of danger and can rush to oncoming skaters. You can practice somewhere far from crowded places to avoid nasty collisions and practice interruptions.
What to expect when roller skating on the Gold Coast
Still not convinced? Don’t worry—the city’s roller skate spots offer all visitors something to enjoy.
Whether it’s from the nostalgic effects or a new hobby to get obsessed with, everyone can have a memorable skating experience in the city.
Disco-themed events
Roller skates have had a huge cultural significance in the past. However, recent years have shown the sport remains relevant among many Australians.
The same rings true on the Gold Coast.
Visitors can enjoy groovy music as disco lights and glow-in-the-dark decorations adorn the skating rinks during weekend party events.
The retro disco themes continue in the cafeterias, with their brightly-colored rags and vintage-style plastic tables.
Adults can relive their childhood while younger generations can socialize with other kids and build new experiences in the place that influenced many people’s formative years.
Skate sport lessons
Basic skating skills aren’t the only skills people can learn when visiting the city’s best roller skating rinks.
With the rising popularity of Australian sports in the Olympics, indoor recreational activities like inline skating and roller hockey have gained recognition over the years.
The growing popularity also brings easier access to the sport as evidenced by the various roller skate lessons available for competitive platforms. As such, people can rest assured they will receive professional-vouched courses in line with current industry standards.
Tips for beginners
Roller skating isn’t a skill that can easily be learned overnight. Trust us, we tried.
That said, it isn’t a sport with a high learning curve either.
A few practices and well-thought-out techniques can make you look more graceful on the rink. Some can even be learned in a day or two!
To make your starting steps easier, here are some secret beginner-friendly tips to improve your moves on the skating rink.
Wear comfortable clothing and protective gear
Roller skating is a physically demanding sport. It involves sweating a lot, especially if the indoor rink has poor ventilation.
To combat the heat, you can wear breathable, baggy clothes. A simple T-shirt, shorts, and athletic wear can keep you fresh and active for hours.
Avoid wearing new pants and long skirts, as they can rip during big stretches or get tangled in your skating wheels.
Of course, you can’t forget your protective gear. A skating helmet and joint braces are important to prevent serious injuries.
Some skaters also wear wrist guards to protect their hands when bracing for a bad fall. Fortunately, Epic Skate and Rollerama sell merchandise and safety equipment suited for physically demanding activities like roller skating.
Start slow
While professional and long-time roller skaters make the sport seem easy, it isn’t in reality.
Roller skating requires a lot of balance and body coordination, both of which vary depending on the person’s physique. Adults will have a harder time due to their size and weight.
To ease into the sport, start slow as you learn how to move in the roller skates at a steady speed. You can hold onto railings to balance or readjust your stance.
Don’t try skating at full speed immediately, as you can injure yourself or others during a collision.
Once committed, you can enroll in the rink’s beginner roller skating programs to learn basic techniques and even some nifty tricks.
Iceworld’s skating programs are particularly beginner-friendly, as the instructors have years of experience teaching kids and adults who are new to the sport.
Some of them even became notable local figures, competing in major sporting events and exhibitions.