Image supplied by Paradise Resort Gold Coast.
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Planet Chill ice skating has a new headline act. We drove down from Brisbane for the pre-launch 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, before the show had even officially opened to the public.
Disclosure: we were invited by Paradise Resort Gold Coast to attend the pre-launch of Rock on Ice. Ticket, VIP table and refreshments were provided. All opinions are our own. This post also contains an affiliate link, if you book through it 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), from $115 VIP Table (table for 4, popcorn and a drink included).
Doors – 6:30pm, show starts 7pm.
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 fresh breath of 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 as far as we can tell, it’s the only ice skating rink in Surfers Paradise. If you’re looking into ice skating Gold Coast wide, this is worth knowing, it’s not a seasonal pop-up, it’s a permanent rink 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.
For anyone comparing ice skating Surfers Paradise options, there really isn’t another one to compare it to locally. If you’re building out a wider trip, our Gold Coast with kids guide covers what else is worth the drive.
PREMIERE NIGHT
Our Night at Rock on Ice
We arrived around 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.
During the 45 minutes, our four-year-old was entertained the entire way through, no small feat for a 4 y/o at 7pm. The choreography was impressive, and the choice of music had the whole family dancing in our seats rather than just watching politely. 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 four-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 (opening night), 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.
Ticket prices:
- $30 single ticket (sideview seating, first come first served)
- $100 Family Pass (sideview seating, 4 people)
- From $115 VIP Table (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 at 122 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Onsite parking is for overnight resort guests only, we confirmed this ourselves on the night. For visitors, the closest public car park is open-air, 450m away on the corner of Cypress Avenue, with hourly, daily or weekly rates payable via app or the onsite meters. We also passed a parking area on Norfolk Avenue nearby, worth checking too if Cypress Avenue is full.
We ended up parking for free on Oak Avenue, there was a space when we arrived, but there’s no guarantee of one, so it’s worth planning ahead instead of counting on street parking. If you’d rather skip parking altogether, the Surfers Paradise North light rail station is only 300m from the resort, an easy option if you’re staying elsewhere on the Gold Coast.
THE HONEST BIT
What We'd Do Differently With a 4 Y/O
The one thing we’d change next time is arriving earlier. We got there close to doors-open time, and by the time we’d found our table and settled in, there wasn’t much slack left before the show started. With a 4 y/o in tow, we would have loved more time to explore the indoor playground and the pools beforehand.
The foyer is pram accessible, with a lift up to Planet Chill, and staff can direct you to pram parking near the rink. We didn’t see any prams on the night, the walk from the foyer to the seating is short enough that most families don’t feel the need to bring one in that last stretch. The complimentary snacks and drinks we had were a premiere-night touch, for regular shows, popcorn and drinks are available to purchase, so it’s still smart to pack your own snacks and a water bottle in case your child needs something specific or the queue is long. Parents can also bring an extra cushion to boost a smaller child’s seat height and comfort, a small thing that makes a noticeable difference over 45 minutes.
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.
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 and tagline, 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.
THE VERDICT
Is Planet Chill Ice Skating Worth It for Families?
Yes. Between the show itself, the VIP table setup and a rink that’s unique to the Gold Coast, 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.
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 from $115 for a VIP table for 4 with popcorn and a drink included.
How do I contact Paradise Resort?
You can reach the resort on +61 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 a short drive or light rail trip from the resort. Book your own Planet Chill ice skating night at Rock on Ice via the button below.
Booking Rock on Ice?
Check current show dates, ticket tiers and dinner packages.
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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.
