Jacobs Well is a small bayside town at the northern end of the Gold Coast, where the Pimpama River meets the southern end of Moreton Bay. People come for the boat ramp, fishing off the jetty and a grassy foreshore park, with the southern Moreton Bay islands in view across the water.
It is quiet compared with the Gold Coast beaches, so it suits a relaxed day out: a picnic by the water, a line in, or a launch into the bay.
Lions Park, the heart of Jacobs Well
Lions Park, on Pimpama Jacobs Well Road where it becomes the Esplanade, is where most visits start. It has barbecues, picnic shelters, picnic tables, a playground and toilets, plus a jetty and a boat ramp.
The park looks across the water to a line of mangrove islands. Next door is the Volunteer Marine Rescue base, and the swimming enclosure sits just north of it.
Fishing at Jacobs Well
The jetty at Lions Park is the easy way to fish without a boat. Flathead, whiting, tailor and bream are the usual catch in the nearby estuary waters, from the jetty or over the side of a boat.
The water beyond the ramp is in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, so check the zoning map and Queensland size and bag limits before you fish. Our fishing for beginners guide covers the basics, gear and rules. For more waterside spots, browse fishing spots.
Jacobs Well boat ramp
The boat ramp has four lanes, a pontoon and a trailer parking area. It is a launch point for the channels and islands of southern Moreton Bay, and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority describes it as access to the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
Check the tide before you launch and give yourself time at weekends, when ramps across the Gold Coast get busy.
The islands across the water
From the foreshore you look over Tipplers Passage to Kangaroo Island and Woogoompah Island, both part of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park. You need a boat to reach them. For an island you can visit by ferry, see Russell Island, and for the sand island to the east, South Stradbroke Island.
Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre
The Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre is an Education Queensland centre that runs day visits and camps for school groups, with a small share of places for community groups. It is not a drop-in attraction. Bookings and enquiries go through the centre’s website.
Is Jacobs Well dog friendly?
Dogs must be on a leash in Lions Park, and there is no off-leash area there. Dogs are not allowed at the children’s playground or in the swimming enclosure beside the park, and council warns that tough penalties apply.
Planning your visit
- How long: 1 to 2 hours for a picnic and a fish; a half day if you are launching a boat.
- Cost: no entry fee is listed for the park, and council’s page lists no fees for the ramp or parking.
- What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, water, bait and tackle, and insect repellent in the warmer months.
- Swimming: use the swimming enclosure beside the park.
- Accessibility: council does not publish accessibility details for the park, so ring 1300 465 326 if you need to be sure.
Getting there and parking
By car, Jacobs Well is about 50 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, about 57 km. Follow Pimpama Jacobs Well Road to the water; Lions Park is where it becomes the Esplanade. The Gold Coast theme parks are roughly 15 minutes away.
Parking is at the park and the boat ramp. Council’s park page lists no parking details or time limits, so expect it to fill at weekends and holidays.
By bus, Translink route 733 runs between Calypso Bay Marina at Jacobs Well and Pimpama station, with a stop at Kumgum Street at Lions Park. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30. More on the park is on City of Gold Coast’s Lions Park page.
Nearby
- Hope Island – a Gold Coast waterfront suburb to the south.
- Sanctuary Cove – marina and village on the Coomera River.
- Warner Bros. Movie World – a short drive for a big day out.
- Wet’n’Wild Gold Coast – the water park nearby.
- Manly Harbour Village – another bayside harbour with a waterfront walk.
Browse more Gold Coast places.
Quick answers
Where is Jacobs Well?
Jacobs Well is a suburb at the northern end of the Gold Coast, about 57 km south-east of the Brisbane CBD, on the shore of southern Moreton Bay.
Is there a boat ramp at Jacobs Well?
Yes. Lions Park has a four-lane boat ramp, a pontoon and a jetty.
Can you fish at Jacobs Well?
Yes, from the jetty at Lions Park or from a boat. Check marine park zones and size and bag limits first.
Can you swim at Jacobs Well?
There is a swimming enclosure beside Lions Park, north of the Air Sea Rescue base.
Is Jacobs Well dog friendly?
Dogs must be on a leash in Lions Park, and are not allowed at the playground or swimming enclosure.
Can you visit the Jacobs Well Environmental Education Centre?
It runs programs for school and community groups rather than casual visitors. Contact the centre to book.
Is there a bus to Jacobs Well?
Yes, Translink route 733 stops at Lions Park and runs to Pimpama station.
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