Gold Coast Beaches

Gold Coast Beaches

The attraction of the Gold Coast lies in the incredible Gold Coast beaches. Clear waters, fine golden sands, a mix of ocean swells and secluded estuaries and with surf life savers patrolling all the major bathing locations.

The Gold Coast City Council patrols more beaches than any other Australian local authority, utilising jet skis, boats, helicopters and watercraft in its rescue operations. The unparalleled focus on beach safety makes the Gold Coast a favourite destination for family holidays.

Burleigh Point, Duranbah, Kirra and South Stradbroke are just a few many great spots providing top surfing conditions. Surfing is a major activity on the Gold Coast which hosts international championships such as the Billabong Pro.  The national surf lifesaving titles are held at Kurrawa beach at Broadbeach and attract over 5000 people.

Southport - Broadwater

The Gold Coast Broadwater is a popular spot for all water sports enthusiasts and jet-skiing, windsurfing and parasailing are very popular with rentals available for visitors. From Fisherman's Wharf, cruise the Broadwater and out to sea for a day of game fishing.

Southport hosts some of the Gold Coast's major tourist attractions such as Sea World which is located on The Spit at Main Beach and has dolphin, shark and sea lion shows, thrill-a minute ski shows, the exhilarating Bermuda Triangle ride and lots more.  

Marina Mirage, also on The Spit, is the home of waterfront restaurants, cafes and stylish boutiques. The superb marina is home to houseboats, luxury cruisers, fishing trawlers and yachts that ply the channels of this amazing calm water seascape.

Surfers Paradise - Main Beach 

Holiday makers are attracted to a 'paradise for surfers' and Surfers Paradise is the town and beach which symbolises the lifestyle of the area.  Surfers Paradise is the heart of the Gold Coast with the busiest stretch of beach and beach activities.  

The area offers nightlife, bars, nightclubs and more restaurants per square kilometre than anywhere else in Australia.  Visit the major shopping centres and boutique retail outlets, or try the games and rides in the Paradise Centre.  Sit back and watch buskers, calypso bands and magicians get up to tricks in the Cavill Mall. 

A beach walk is a great way to appreciate the extent of the Gold Coast beaches and one such walk is to cosmopolitan Main Beach via Narrowneck. Head for Tedder Avenue with its mix of dining precinct and side walk cafes.

Broadbeach

Broadbeach is firmly established as one of the major destinations for holiday makers on the Gold Coast.  Just a few kilometres south of Surfers Paradise, it has a safe, patrolled surf beach that hosts some of Australia's major surf life saving competitions. 

Broadbeach Central Mall is a traffic free pedestrian mall opposite the main beach. Within the mall and the surrounding area there are over 40 restaurants, coffee shops and bistros with children’s play equipment and fairground rides that operate all year.

The popular Conrad Jupiters offers an island oasis of restaurants, bars, live stage show and 24-hour casino action.  The casino complex and the shopping and dining precincts are linked via a modern monorail.

Pacific Fair, Queensland's largest shopping complex is located in Broadbeach and it is easy to spend a day wandering through its cobbled streets, dazzling arcades and department stores.

Burleigh Heads

Located midway between Southport to the north and Coolangatta in the south, Burleigh Heads has always been a popular location for family holidays.  It is within easy reach of the lively nightlife to the north and the more relaxed family atmosphere of the southern beaches.

The beaches in Burleigh are lined with parklands that include picnic and BBQ areas. Burleigh Heads is renowned as a good surfing beach and regularly hosts surfing and iron-man competitions. The unspoilt headland offers amazing views of the surrounding coastline and consists of a small National Park and koala park.

Within the National Park there are a number of walking trails along the adjacent coastline. The popular Fleays Wildlife Park and Fauna Centre are located just west of Burleigh. 

Palm Beach - Currumbin - Tallebudgera

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary has grown from a simple bird sanctuary to a major wildlife reserve with many tourist attractions. The feeding of the rainbow lorrikeets that come swooping out of the surrounding bush at feeding times has long been a favourite attraction of the park.

Excellent calm water estuary conditions, perfect for toddlers,  exist at Currumbin Creek and Tallebudgera Creek. Yet just around the corner are some of the Gold Coast's best surfing beaches.  Try the local Surf Lifesaving Club for a bite to eat or a night out at the Currumbin RSL Club. There are some excellent panoramic views of the Gold Coast from the Currumbin region.

  Coolangatta - Kirra - Greenmount

Kirra is one of the Gold Coast's best known surfing beaches, with challenging off-shore breaks for the experienced riders and smaller inshore waves for the beginner. The Coolangatta area has some of the prettiest beaches on the Gold Coast, with bays and headlands providing an alternative to the sweeping expanse of shoreline elsewhere on the coast.

The headland at Greenmount provides protection from the rolling ocean swells and the small waves are perfect for children. Just around the headland from Greenmount is Rainbow Bay, a fabulous little spot and a great favourite for family groups.  Duranbah, just around the corner, is one of the most popular of all the surfing spots on the Gold Coast and offers a great elevated vantage point above the surfers.