10 Best Beaches around Gold Coast

Burleigh Heads Beach is next to a national park and is one of the best-loved beaches on the Gold Coast thanks to its relaxed vibe, rolling waves, and white sand. Burleigh Heads Beach offers sheltered waters perfect for bathing, as well as rolling surf waves around the headlands that attract surfers from near and far.

Former world pro-surfer, Michael Barry, runs the Godfathers of the Ocean surf school at the beach and new surfers can take a private lesson to learn how to hang 10 with style.

Surfers Paradise is a world-famous 2 km golden sand stretch of beach right in the heart of Queensland’s Gold Coast. Patrolled by a trio of lifeguard-topped towers, Surfers Paradise beach has safe designated bathing and surfing areas, and plenty of free-to-use barbecue broils and seating areas for you to enjoy the Aussie surf culture from the safety of the sand.

If you’ve never ridden a wave before or you’d like to improve your skills, sign up for a lesson here and hire a board to learn from the pros. Experienced surfers should head to the outer bar which offers moderate swell and offshore winds.

Snapper Rocks is in Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, home to one of the world’s most famous point breaks. A small rocky outcrop on the northern side of Point Danger, Snapper forms the start of the human-made Superbank which stretches 2 km from Snapper Rocks Point to Kirra.

Snapper Rocks plays host to annual surfing contests as the Superbank creates the world’s longest, hollowest, and undoubtedly the best waves. At contest times, surf fans from around the world come to Snapper Rocks to watch the pros at work on the waves.

Currumbin Alley is just a 10-minute drive from the Gold Coast airport and offers excellent beginners’ surfing as well as family-friendly rock pooling at nearby Currumbin Creek. Join one of Currumbin’s many surf school programs and learn to ride the famous "Lacey’s Lane" wave.

A little less developed than much of the Gold Coast, you won’t find glitzy skyscrapers here, but instead you’ll be rewarded with calm waters around the creek and children’s play areas. You can drive up through the rainforest to the Currumbin Rock Pools, which make perfect exploring destinations for active kids (reef shoes are recommended).

Kirra Beach in Coolangatta is home to one of Australia’s most famous surfing spots, Kirra Point, the northern break of the renowned "Superbank," one of the world’s longest right-handed waves. Kirra made history by establishing one of the first surf clubs on the Gold Coast back in 1916. The historic clubhouse, which still stands today, offers a fantastic spot for enjoying lunch while taking in stunning views of the beach and the rolling waves.

Join locals every Saturday at 7 am for the free 5 km Parkrun along the beach which starts near the North Kirra Surf Life Saving Club.

Coolangatta Beach is the southernmost community on the Gold Coast and the closest to the airport. Thanks to its north-facing sheltered beach with golden-white sand and safe bathing clear waters, it’s a very popular spot for families. The waves off the point are great for beginner to intermediate surfers.

Throughout May to October (with prime months August and September) you may be able to see the migratory humpback whales at Tweed Heads; the whales can often pass quite close to the shore, and you’ll get some amazing photos.

Rainbow Bay Beach is the last major beach in Queensland before the New South Wales border. The beach is known as the gateway to the nearby Fraser Island, a popular destination for 4WD tours. The town derives its name from the area's vibrant, multi-colored sand dunes, which owe their hues to the mineral content in the sand. Rainbow Bay is also bordered by the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park which offers several scenic walking trails.

The white sand beach at Rainbow Bay is predominantly flat, which can cause the tide to rise quickly. Be sure to keep an eye on the tide to avoid your belongings getting wet.

Tallebudgera Creek is an estuary, famous for its gentle currents and crystal-clear waters, bookmarked between Burleigh Heads National Park and Palm Beach. On the south side of the beach, the waters are patrolled by lifesavers. Bring your snorkel and head out up to an hour before high tide which brings clear clean water from the ocean and fascinating sea creatures such as dolphins, rays, and turtles.

This is a much-loved locals’ bathing spot, so you’ll need to arrive early in the morning in the summer months to get a good parking place.

Gold Coast Beach is between the iconic Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, boasting golden sands, clear sparkling water, and well-patrolled waves close to the glitzy high rises that line the beach. There are dozens of apartment buildings and hotels for visitors to rent between lifeguard towers 31-33, with stunning ocean views just seconds from the surf.

Bring lunch to cook on one of the public free-to-use barbecue broils or grab something tasty from one of the many smoothie or sandwich shops in the area.

Nobby Beach is a quiet family-friendly stretch of golden sand between Miami and Mermaid Beach, a little north of Burleigh Heads National Park. The waters are patrolled year-round from 8 am to 5 pm but be careful to only swim in the area between the flags as there are several strong rips in the area.

One of the Gold Coast’s most popular accessible beaches, there are several access points for wheelchair users with beach matting, beach wheelchairs, and wheelchair platforms.