Image credit to Paradise Resort Gold Coast.
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Planet Chill ice skating has a new headline act. We drove down from Brisbane for the opening night of Rock on Ice, Paradise Resort’s new ice show, and came away wanting to book a full stay just to go back and watch it again.
IN THIS GUIDE
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It’s about an hour’s drive from Brisbane to Surfers Paradise, and we arrived to a light drizzle just before 7pm. This is our first visit to Paradise Resort, and it will not be our last. This review is written from that one evening, the opening night for VIPs, media and the families of the crew.
Disclosure: we were invited by Paradise Resort Gold Coast to attend the opening night of Rock on Ice. Ticket, VIP table and refreshments were provided. All opinions are our own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Planet Chill Ice Skating at a Glance
A performer mid-air during an aerial acrobatics sequence at Rock on Ice, Planet Chill.
PLANET CHILL ICE SKATING AT A GLANCE
Show – Rock on Ice, a 45-minute ice-skating spectacular.
Venue – Planet Chill, Paradise Resort’s ice rink, 2nd floor above reception.
Cost – From $30 single, $100 Family Pass (4 people), VIP tickets from $120 (table for 4, 2 popcorn cups plus a bottle of wine or 2 soft drinks).
Doors – 6:30pm, show starts 7pm. Aim to arrive when the doors open.
Ages – All ages. Strobe lighting, smoke and special effects are used during the show.
Prams – The foyer is pram accessible, with a lift up to Planet Chill. Ask staff to direct you to pram parking near the rink.
Parking – Onsite parking is for overnight resort guests only. The closest public car park is 450m away on the corner of Cypress Avenue (hourly, daily or weekly rates). We also passed a parking area on Norfolk Avenue nearby. Light rail (Surfers Paradise North) is 300m from the resort.
Good for families because – it is a 45-minute sit-down show rather than a full day out, the foyer has an indoor playground and toilets right there, and a four-year-old can follow all of it.
Correct as at – September 2026.
THE SHOW
What Is Rock on Ice?
Rock on Ice takes the history of rock music, from the 1950s through to today’s biggest anthems, and puts it on the ice. Figure skating, aerial acrobatics and choreography are set to a soundtrack that moves era by era, so the costumes, lighting and music all shift together as the show progresses.
It was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual kids’ entertainment we see on the road. We were dancing in our seats, which says more about the show than anything we could write about it.
THE RINK
Planet Chill Ice Skating: Home of Rock on Ice
Planet Chill is Paradise Resort’s own ice rink, and it’s the Gold Coast’s only permanent ice rink since Iceland at Bundall closed in January 2025. The only other ice skating on the Gold Coast is Dreamworld’s Winterfest, a seasonal pop-up rink over the winter school holidays as featured on The Urban List. Planet Chill is built into the resort, which is presumably part of why a full stage show like Rock on Ice was possible here in the first place.
So if you’re comparing ice skating Surfers Paradise options, or ice skating Gold Coast wide, there isn’t another year-round rink to compare it to. If you’re building out a wider trip, our Gold Coast with kids guide covers what else is worth the drive.
Public Ice Skating at Planet Chill: Prices and Rules
You don’t need to be staying at the resort to skate. Planet Chill is open to resort guests and the general public, and sessions are booked online. We haven’t skated there ourselves yet, so this is what the resort lists rather than a first-hand review.
- Price: $10 for ages 3-5, $20 for ages 6 and up, including adults. For a 4-year-old and one skating parent, that’s $30.
- Skate hire: skates and helmets are included with every ticket, in sizes from children’s 8 up to adults’ 14.
- Ages: 3 years and up. Children 0-2 are not permitted on the ice, and 3-5 year olds must be accompanied on the ice by a skating adult.
- Session times: these vary day to day, so check the next available session when you book. Learn to Skate sessions are also available.
- What to wear: long pants and a jumper. Closed-toe shoes like sneakers are required for the strap-on skates. Gloves, wrist guards and knee pads are optional and not provided.
Prices and rules checked 22 September 2026.
OPENING NIGHT
Our Night at Rock on Ice
Opening night was a showing for VIPs, media and the families of the crew. We arrived just before 7pm and were welcomed with complimentary popcorn, cold drinks and a glass of sparkling wine before we’d even sat down. We were seated at one of the VIP tables with what turned out to be the best vantage point in the room, name tags already sitting on the table waiting for us.
The staff were welcoming and full of energy from the moment we walked in, and we spent a few minutes chatting with a member of the resort’s marketing team, who gave us a quick overview of what to expect before the show started.
The 45-minute performance is high energy from start to finish, blending dynamic strobe lights, theatrical smoke, and upbeat rock anthems. The choreography was impressive, and our 4-year-old was captivated the entire way through, no small feat at 7pm. The music had the whole family dancing in our seats rather than just watching politely, though the sensory intensity is worth keeping in mind if your child is sensitive to loud sound or flashing lights. After the show, she kept dancing and spinning around the resort like one of the performers, which is about as good a review as a 4-year-old can give.
The Rock on Ice set and one of the show’s aerial moments. All lights, bubbles and a dress with a mind of its own.
DATES AND PRICES
Rock on Ice: Ticket Prices and Show Dates
Rock on Ice runs from September 2026 through to January 2027, with dates spread across the school holiday periods:
- September: Friday 18, Friday 25
- October: Friday 2, Friday 9
- December: Friday 11, Friday 18, Wednesday 23, Wednesday 30
- January 2027: Friday 8, Friday 15, Friday 22
Doors open at 6:30pm, with the show starting at 7pm. Aim to arrive when the doors open. It gives you time to find your seat and settle in before the lights go down.
Ticket prices:
- $30 single ticket (sideview seating, first come first served)
- $100 Family Pass (sideview seating, 4 people)
- VIP tickets from $120 (table for 4, 2 popcorn cups, plus a bottle of wine or 2 soft drinks), with a front-row VIP option available at a higher price
Food and drink packages, on top of your ticket:
- Deb’s Pizza and Jerry’s Burger Family Deal, $60 for 2 adult mains, 2 kids meals and 2 drinks
- Penguins Dining Voucher Deal, pay $80 and get a $100 voucher to spend at Penguins Restaurant, plus 2 drinks. Penguins is open 5pm to 8pm, and vouchers must be used before or after the show
Dinner and show packages are also available. Given how quickly a school holiday show like this can book out, we’d get in early if a specific date matters to your travel plans. Drinks are also available to purchase at the bar on the ground floor if you’d rather keep it simple.
GETTING THERE
Getting to Paradise Resort and Parking
Paradise Resort is located at 122 Ferny Avenue. Onsite parking is strictly reserved for overnight guests. For show-only visitors, paid open-air car parks are available nearby along Cypress and Norfolk Avenue, though we got lucky finding free street parking on Oak Avenue. If you’d rather skip the driving and parking hunt altogether, the Surfers Paradise North light rail stop drops you just a short walk from the entrance.
THE HONEST BIT
What We'd Do Differently
The one thing we’d change next time is arriving earlier. Doors open at 6:30pm and that’s when we’d get there. We arrived close to 7pm, and by the time we’d found our table and settled in, the show was about to start. With a 4-year-old in tow, we would have loved that extra half hour to explore the indoor playground and the pools beforehand.
Although the resort is fully accessible with lifts up to Planet Chill, we didn’t end up needing a pram, and we didn’t see any others on the night either. The walk from the foyer to the seating area is short enough that most families leave strollers behind for that last stretch. Instead, our top seating tip for little ones is bringing an extra cushion to boost their seat height so they get a clear view over the 45-minute show.
As for food, the complimentary snacks and drinks we received were an opening-night VIP touch. For regular shows, popcorn and drinks are available to purchase, but it’s still smart to pack your own snacks and a water bottle in case your child needs something specific or the queue gets long.
Toilets are available in the foyer close to Planet Chill, and there’s an indoor playground right there too, handy if you’ve got a wait before doors open or a wriggly kid who needs to burn off energy first.
Waiting to walk in, and still dancing on the way out.
THE VERDICT
Is Planet Chill Ice Skating Worth It for Families?
Yes. Between the show itself, the VIP table setup and the Gold Coast’s only permanent ice rink, Rock on Ice is a strong pick for a family night out in Surfers Paradise these school holidays.
It’s our first time at Paradise Resort, and the rest of the property backs up the first impression: an indoor playground greets you as you step in, and the resort leans hard into its own tagline, “Heaven for Kids… Paradise for Parents,” which felt accurate for the couple of hours we spent there. We’d happily book a full stay next time, instead of just a night out for the show.
MAKE IT A STAY
Book Your Stay
If Rock on Ice has you thinking about making a full trip of it, you can book Paradise Resort Gold Coast here. Beyond Planet Chill, the resort packs in a waterpark, kids club, miniature train, a Pamper Parlour, birthday party options, and daily activities and entertainment, so a night out for the show can easily turn into a full stay’s worth of things to do without leaving the property. We’d suggest at least a couple of nights or even a week to make the most of it.
The Paradise Resort sign, out the front of the resort.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE
Nearby Experiences & Activities
Since you’re already in Surfers Paradise, it’s worth building a few other Surfers Paradise attractions into the trip. A Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and Paradise Country Gold Coast Multi-Day Pass covers four theme parks in one booking, while Dreamworld and SkyPoint Observation are worth adding separately. All are a short drive or light rail trip from the resort. If Sea World is on the list, our Sea World Gold Coast with a toddler review covers what the day is really like with a small child.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Planet Chill Ice Skating: FAQs
What is Rock on Ice at Paradise Resort?
It’s a 45-minute ice-skating show combining figure skating, aerial acrobatics and rock music from the 1950s to today, performed at Planet Chill, the resort’s own ice rink.
Where is Paradise Resort?
Paradise Resort Gold Coast is at 122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise, about an hour’s drive from Brisbane.
Does Paradise Resort have its own parking?
Yes, but it’s for overnight resort guests only. If you’re visiting just for Rock on Ice, the nearest public car park is 450m away on the corner of Cypress Avenue. There’s also a parking area on Norfolk Avenue nearby, or you can take the light rail to Surfers Paradise North station, 300m from the resort.
What are the entry fees for Rock on Ice?
Tickets start from $30 for a single sideview seat, $100 for a Family Pass covering 4 people, or VIP tickets from $120 for a table of 4 with 2 popcorn cups plus a bottle of wine or 2 soft drinks.
How do I contact Paradise Resort?
You can reach the resort on (07) 5691 0000 or via the contact page on their website.
Is Rock on Ice suitable for young kids?
Yes, it’s listed as suitable for all ages, and our four-year-old was entertained for the full 45 minutes. Strobe lighting, smoke and special effects are used during the performance. Worth knowing if your child is sensitive to any of those.
Can I bring a pram to Rock on Ice?
The foyer is pram accessible, with a lift up to Planet Chill, and staff can direct you to pram parking near the rink. In practice, the walk from the foyer to the seating is short enough that most families don’t bring one in for that last stretch. Parents can bring an extra cushion for a smaller child’s seat.
What other Surfers Paradise attractions are near Paradise Resort?
Movie World, Sea World, Wet’n’Wild and Paradise Country are all bookable together on a multi-day pass, and Dreamworld and the SkyPoint Observation Deck are worth adding too. All are a short drive or light rail trip from the resort.
Booking Rock on Ice?
Check current show dates, ticket tiers and dinner packages.
KEEP EXPLORING
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The Brisbane-based parents behind Really Traveling. They drive south to the Gold Coast with their young daughter through the school holidays and publish first-hand guides for families with children under five.
