Find movie magic, Australian outback adventures and close encounters with some of the country’s cutest creatures at theme parks in the Gold Coast suburb of Oxenford.

Immerse yourself in your favourite movies, watch stunt car drivers in thrilling live shows and meet your favourite superheroes at the Warner Bros. Movie World. Scream down a roller coaster, shoot into space at 65 kilometres (40 miles) per hour and whiz through Wild West mountains and ghost towns before plunging through geysers into the water. Bring smaller children to the themed Looney Tunes rides in the Kids’ WB! Fun Zone.

Movie World also has some of Australia’s best movie production facilities at the Village Roadshow. Visit the studios adjacent to the park. Popular movies including Unbroken, Peter Pan and Nim’s Island were filmed here.

Visit other attractions not tied to movies. Watch the sheepdog team round up sheep at the Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tour before a demonstration of shearing. Pat a koala, feed a kangaroo, milk a cow and discover the history of opal and gold mining as you fossick for gems. If you want to practice whip cracking at home, pick up a souvenir stockman’s whip from the gift shop.

Complete your outback adventures with a dinner show at the Australian Outback Spectacular, where you’ll be treated to Australian storytelling, incredible horsemanship, light-and-music displays and aerial performances.

Enjoy local dining options around Oxenford, from Indian curries to French and Japanese cuisine. In key with its many outback-themed parks, there is also an Australian tavern, a great place to warm up next to the fire in winter.

Oxenford is dotted with green parks and lakes, home to a diverse range of wildlife and water birds. Picnic at Gambamora Park or take a stroll or bike ride around the large lake in Cove Park. The suburb is located inland at the northern end of the Gold Coast, about a 40-minute drove from Brisbane.