Gold Coast · Australia · Queensland · Pacific Ocean
Five recreational Pacific shores on Queensland’s Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise Beach and Broadbeach on the central corridor, Burleigh Heads Beach, plus Coolangatta Beach and Kirra Beach on the southern Marine Parade.
Surfers Paradise Beach: G:link and Translink Esplanade buses; limited surf-club parking; City metered Monday–Sunday 9am–7pm including public holidays except Anzac Day; 3-hour Central Traffic Area Monday–Friday 9am–5pm. Check the machine rates, EasyPark and the signs on the day.
Broadbeach: Limited Kurrawa SLSC parking and on-street. About 160 paid CBD spaces; other listed streets free. Metered hours 9am–7pm, seven days (including public holidays except Anzac Day) on named streets. Check the parking signs on the day.
Burleigh Heads Beach: G:link L1 to Burleigh Heads station and Translink buses on the Gold Coast Highway. Mixed table: metered named streets plus about 600 free beachfront Esplanade spaces (Gold Coast Highway–Kelly Avenue; 3-hour limit 7am–6pm on the eastern side). Check the City parking signs at Burleigh Heads.
Coolangatta Beach: Translink buses along Griffith Street. All parking in Coolangatta is free; time limits 9am–5pm daily including public holidays. Chalk & Lanham Street Carpark no charge.
Kirra Beach: Translink buses on the Gold Coast Highway and Marine Parade. Carparks at Kirra and North Kirra surf clubs; Roughton Park Carpark (Coolangatta) no charge. Check the signs on the day.
Parking pages from the City of Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise · Broadbeach · Burleigh Heads · Local area. Bus and tram: Translink L1
The central beach and the easiest for a first visit, on The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 (City of Gold Coast, Experience Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland). Towers 34 / 35 / 36 at Cavill, Elkhorn, and Staghorn Avenues, 8am–5pm every day all year. G:link through the main stretch. Beachfront markets Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 4pm–9pm. Dogs prohibited within 200 m of flags. Check the meter signs on the day.
Typically a quieter beach, just north of Kurrawa. Tower 29 Australia Avenue 8am–5pm every day September–April and during school holidays; Towers 30 / 31 Chelsea Avenue and Wharf Road year-round 8am–5pm. Check the parking signs when you arrive.
Tower 18 at Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club, 8am–5pm every day all year (City). G:link L1 to Burleigh Heads from 9 August 2026. Oceanway connects to Burleigh Heads National Park; City names it a World Surfing Reserve. Check the signs on The Esplanade on the day; some spaces are metered and some are free.
Marine Parade near Coolangatta Surf Club; Tower 3, 8am–5pm every day all year. Translink buses along Griffith Street. Coolangatta Beach is a dog-prohibited area; north-facing / more sheltered. Parking is free but time-limited; check the signs.
Marine Parade near Kirra Surf Life Saving Club; Tower 4, 8am–5pm every day all year. Translink buses on the Gold Coast Highway and Marine Parade. Kirra Point separates Kirra to the north and Coolangatta to the south. Dogs prohibited within 200 m of flags. Check the surf club and Roughton Park parking on the day.
Near Gold Coast: sunset sails and cruises, snorkeling, parasailing, and dolphin and wildlife tours. See Off the sand for tours and tickets.