Nobby Beach is a patrolled surf beach in Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast, with a surf club bistro, a local shops strip and a light rail station close to the sand. It sits between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, about 70 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD.
It is a good pick when you want a beach with lifeguards and a working surf club without the Surfers Paradise crowds. Parking is the one thing to plan for.
Swimming at Nobby Beach
Swim between the red and yellow flags. Nobby Beach has two patrol locations, and both are staffed from 8 am to 5 pm.
- Tower 23 is on Lavarack Road next to Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club. It is patrolled every day of the year.
- Tower 24 is at Seashell Avenue. It is patrolled every day from September to April and during school holidays.
The City of Gold Coast says patrols can close because of dangerous swimming conditions, unsafe beach conditions or beach maintenance, so check the council’s Nobby Beach page for the current status before you go.
Surfing at Nobby Beach
Nobby Beach has beach breaks along its full length. Council says conditions are best on a moderate swell with offshore winds, and that the waves change with swell direction, wind, tide and the sandbars. Its advice is simple: if in doubt, don’t paddle out.
Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club
The surf club has looked after the beach since 1954. Its beachfront bar and bistro is on Albatross Avenue and lists daily trading from 10 am to 10 pm, with online menus and bookings. The Nippers program for kids runs on Saturday mornings; the club’s website has the details.
The club building is also where Tower 23 and the bike parking are. A renovation is planned, so facilities may change.
Is Nobby Beach dog friendly?
Dogs are not allowed within 200 metres of the flagged swimming areas. For off-leash exercise, the City of Gold Coast points to designated areas elsewhere on the coast, listed on its dog exercise area map. Check the signs on the sand for the exact boundaries.
For a dog beach nearby, see The Spit Gold Coast and Tallebudgera Creek.
Planning your visit
- How long: a morning or afternoon for a swim and lunch at the club or in the shops precinct.
- Best time: mornings for easier parking; the beach is patrolled until 5 pm.
- Cost: free. Parking, food and drink are extra where they apply.
- What to bring: sunscreen, a hat and water. Take your rubbish with you.
- Getting around: the Oceanway walking and cycling path runs along the southern section of the beach, and Albatross and Hedges Avenues have a dedicated bike lane. There is bike parking at the surf club.
- Accessibility: beach wheelchairs and matting are available. See the council’s Nobby Beach page for the link to the details.
Getting there and parking at Nobby Beach
By car, Nobby Beach is about 85 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 70 minutes without traffic. From Surfers Paradise it is about 15 minutes by car.
Parking
There is limited parking at the surf club. Otherwise you park on the surrounding streets or in the Nobby Beach shops precinct. Council advises reading the parking signs and line markings before you leave the car, as the rules vary from street to street.
Light rail and bus
The Gold Coast light rail runs through to Burleigh Heads, and Nobby Beach has its own station on the Gold Coast Highway, a short walk from the beach. This is the easiest way to avoid the parking hunt: take the tram from anywhere on the line and walk to the sand. Plan the trip on the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
Translink buses run along the Gold Coast Highway. Bus routes changed from 7 September, so use the journey planner for the current route and stop.
Nearby
- Broadbeach, Gold Coast – the next beach north, with parks and markets.
- Burleigh Heads Beach – a surf beach to the south, on the same light rail line.
- Burleigh Head National Park – a coastal headland walk after your swim.
- Surfers Paradise Beach – the busy end of the coast, about 15 minutes north.
- Palm Beach, Gold Coast – a quieter beach further south.
- Kirra Beach – a surf beach down near Coolangatta.
Browse more beaches and Gold Coast days out, or read Things to Do on the Gold Coast.
You might also like
- Miami Beach (Gold Coast)
- Kurrawa Beach (Broadbeach)
- Narrowneck Beach (Main Beach (just north of Surfers Paradise))
Quick answers
Is Nobby Beach patrolled?
Yes. Tower 23 by the surf club is patrolled 8 am to 5 pm every day of the year. Tower 24 at Seashell Avenue is patrolled 8 am to 5 pm from September to April and in school holidays.
Where do you park at Nobby Beach?
There is limited parking at the surf club, plus on-street parking in the surrounding streets and the Nobby Beach shops precinct. Read the signs and line markings first.
Can you take dogs to Nobby Beach?
Not within 200 metres of the flagged swimming areas. Council lists off-leash areas elsewhere on the Gold Coast.
How do you get to Nobby Beach by public transport?
Take the Gold Coast light rail to Nobby Beach station on the Gold Coast Highway and walk to the beach. Buses also run along the Gold Coast Highway.
How far is Nobby Beach from Brisbane?
About 85 km, roughly 70 minutes by car without traffic.
Is there a surf club at Nobby Beach?
Yes, Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club on Albatross Avenue, which has a bar and bistro open daily.
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