gold coast beaches

Gold Coast Beaches

A holiday guide is not complete without highlighting the incredible Gold Coast beaches. 57 km of clear waters, fine golden sands, ocean swells for surfers, secluded bays estuaries for the less adventurous and with surf life savers patrolling all the major bathing locations. The Gold Coast City Council patrols more beaches than any other local authority in Australia, utilising helicopters, boats, jet skis and watercraft in its rescue operations, making it an ideal destination for families.

Surfing is a major activity on the Gold Coast with Burleigh Point, Duranbah, Kirra and South Stradbroke being just four of the many great spots providing top surfing conditions. The Gold Coast has hosted international championships such as the Billabong Pro and hosts the national surf lifesaving titles every year with more than 5000 competitors competing on Kurrawa beach at Broadbeach.

Southport - Broadwater

Southport hosts some of the Gold Coast's major tourist attractions. Sea World 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.  

The Gold Coast Broadwater is a very  popular destination for all watersports 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. 

For a real adrenalin rush, dive off a platform suspended high above the water at Bungee Downunder. Marina Mirage, also on The Spit, is the home of stylish boutiques and waterfront restaurants and cafes. The superb marina is home to houseboats, luxury cruise boats, fishing trawlers and yachts that ply the channels of this amazing calm water seascape.

Southport still retains much of its administrative functions and is the Gold Coast’s northern business centre.  Modern department stores, cinemas, restaurants and a host of retail outlets are available in the area. 

Southport Accommodation

Surfers Paradise - Main Beach 

Surfers Paradise is the town and beach which symbolises the lifestyle of the area. People are not just coming to a sunny area for a holiday, they are coming to a 'paradise for surfers'.  Surfers Paradise is the heart of the Gold Coast with the busiest stretch of beach and beach activities.  

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

A beach walk is a great way to appreciate the sheer size 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.

Surfers Paradise Accommodation
Main Beach Accommodation

Broadbeach

Just a few kilometres south of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach is now one of the major destinations for holiday makers on the Gold Coast.  It has a safe surf beach that hosts some of Australia's major surf life saving competitions.  A wide pedestrian shopping and a café precinct lies just off the beach, with children’s play equipment and fairground rides that operate all year.

Holiday resorts, apartment complexes and shopping centres dot the skyline. 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. Broadbeach Central Mall is a traffic free pedestrian mall. Within the mall and the surrounding area there are over 40 restaurants, coffee shops and bistros. 

Broadbeach accommodation

Burleigh Heads

Always popular for family holidays, Burleigh Heads is located midway between Southport to the north and Coolangatta in the south. It is within easy reach of the lively nightlife to the north and the more relaxed family atmosphere of the southern beaches.

This unspoilt headland offers amazing views of the surrounding coastline and consists of a small National Park and koala park.  The beaches in Burleigh are lined with beautiful parkland, with picnic and BBQ areas. Burleigh Heads is renowned for its good surfing beach and it regularly hosts surfing and iron-man competitions. 

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. 

Burleigh Heads Accommodation

Palm Beach - Currumbin - Tallebudgera

This area is best known for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the feeding of the rainbow lorrikeets which come swooping out of the surrounding bush at feeding times.  This centre has grown from a simple bird sanctuary to a major wildlife reserve with various tourist attractions. 

Currumbin Creek and Tallebudgera Creek offer excellent calm water estuary conditions ideal for toddlers, 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 views of the Gold Coast panorama from the Currumbin region.

Palm Beach Accommodation

 Coolangatta - Kirra - Greenmount

This is the southern end of the Gold Coast at the border of Queensland and New South Wales. Urban sprawl has resulted in a merging of Coolangatta and neighbouring Tweed Heads into twin towns. 

This 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. 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 headland at Greenmount provides protection from the rolling ocean swells and the small waves are perfect for children. Just around the headland from Coolangatta and 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.  

Coolangatta Accommodation

Car Hire Gold Coast
Gold Coast Broadwater Travel Guide
Guide To Gold Coast Apartments
Gold Coast Resorts
Gold Coast Locations

Official Gold Coast Tourism Sites >>  Gold Coast Holidays Guide  :  Gold Coast Tourism