Gold Coast Beaches & Beach Walks
The Gold Coast has arguably the best beaches in the world! Our sub-tropical climate and long sunny fine days combine with our 52 kilometres of unpolluted beautiful beaches to provide tourists with a fabulous experience.
The Gold Coast Beaches are famous for the surf, swimming and of course great walks, so we have put together a list of our favourite walks and some info on our favourite beach too.
The beaches are patrolled by Gold Coast City Council and Surf Life Saving Queensland.
- 27 beaches, including Surfers Paradise are patrolled on a year round basis
- 41 are patrolled between September and May
We have so many beautiful beaches however many are subject to rips, currents, tides and unsafe swimming conditions. Before you get in the water make sure you swim between the flags. Also check the Gold Coast City Council webpage for information on which beaches are open and closed.
Surfers Paradise Beach
The most famous of all Gold Coast beaches, probably because it’s one of the largest and most popular with more than 100,000 people hitting the sand every year.
Surfers Paradise Beach is probably best as a swimming location these days. Make sure you swim between the red and yellow flags which indicate that the beach is patrolled.
Surfers Paradise Beach has 6 patrolled lifeguard towers:
- Wharf Road – patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day all year round.
- Thornton Street and Garfield Terrace at Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club – patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day all year round.
- Clifford Street – patrolled between 8am and 5pm on weekends all year round.
- The Esplanade (end of Cavill Avenue) – patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day all year round.
- The Esplanade (end of Elkhorn Avenue) – patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day all year round.
- The Esplanade (end of Staghorn Avenue) – patrolled between 8am and 5pm every day all year round.
Gold Coast Beach Walks
- Burleigh to Miami. Parking in Miami is probably easier than in Burleigh. It’s about 5 km return, there is one mega hill which has one of the best views on the Gold Coast. This walk can be really busy on weekends.
- Surfers to Broadbeach on the new ocean way walk is awesome. The full length is about 5 km return and the good news is it is all flat. No hills and loads of great places stop for a quick selfie or family pic.
- Main Beach to The Spit. Depending on where you start it is about 10 km return and all flat on pathways. This is a nice bike ride too if you are keen.
- Around Doug Jennings Park at The Spit and along the Seaway Wall. This area was redeveloped during COVID and is now a great space that Gold Coasters just love. If you did the entire circuit it is about 2 km return and just the way we like it, it’s all flat.
- Broadwater Parklands, Southport. Why not walk the length of the parkland? It’s all flat, along the water and has great paths for walking, running scooters and bikes. If you have time, pop into Catalina Cafe for a coffee and their amazing carrot cake.
- Tallebudgera Beach to Tallebudgera Creek - This is a gorgeous walk, start down the Palm beach end of Tallebudgera Beach and walk up to the creek. Dip your feet in and walk across the bridge too. Depending on where you start it is about 2.2 km return. If you get hungry, pop into the Custard Canteen for a coffee and snack.
- Surfers to Narrowneck is one of our absolute favourites. Often not as busy as Surfers to Broadbeach. Stay on the Esplanade side and walk right up to Narrowneck, cross over and wander around MacIntosh Park, spot a peacock or two. The walk is only about 3 km return and all flat.
Check Availability
All Experiences