Southport Broadwater Parklands: Rockpools, Playgrounds and Parking

Southport Broadwater Parklands is a free waterfront park on Marine Parade in Southport, stretching over three kilometres along the Broadwater on the Gold Coast. It has the Rockpools water play area, three playgrounds, a netted swimming enclosure, electric barbecues, an outdoor gym and cafes, and the Washington Waters end faces the Australia Fair shopping centre.

It is about 60 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD and has its own G:link station and ferry wharf, so it works for a few hours of water play and a picnic or a coffee by the water.

What to do at Southport Broadwater Parklands

Most families come for the water play and the playgrounds, which are all within walking distance of each other along the shoreline.

Rockpools water play

The Rockpools are a free splash area with cool water fountains, a creek bed, tidal rockpools and marine-themed play equipment. Lifeguards are on duty, and the shallow water suits little kids.

Opening hours change through the year:

• January and February: 8 am to 6 pm
• March: 9 am to 5 pm
• April: 9 am to 4 pm (Tuesdays from 11 am, Anzac Day from 12 pm)
• May to August: 9 am to 3 pm (Tuesdays from 11 am)
• September and October: 8 am to 5 pm (Tuesdays from 11 am)
• November: 8 am to 6 pm (Tuesdays from 11 am)
• December: 8 am to 6 pm (Christmas Day from 12 pm)

Hours can change with the weather, so check the City of Gold Coast park page before you go.

Playgrounds and the bouncy pillow

• Peninsula Playground suits all ages. It has a four-level tower with a slide, a sea-themed water and sand play area, swings, slides, trampolines, diggers, climbing walls and nets, and a carousel.
• Adventure Play is next to the Rockpools and is aimed at younger children, with a make-believe pirate ship and interactive learning equipment.
• Washington Waters Playground is opposite Australia Fair and suits older children, with a flying fox, an accessible Liberty Swing and a giant inflatable bouncy pillow. The pillow opens from 7 am and closes between 5.30 pm (April to August) and 7 pm (December and January), weather permitting.

Dogs are not allowed in any of the children’s playground areas.

Swimming enclosure

The netted swimming enclosure is a short walk south of the Rockpools, near Washington Waters Playground and the toilets. It has a permanent jumping pontoon about 50 metres from shore. Weaker swimmers should use a floating aid or not swim out to it, and pontoons and ladders can be slippery or sharp from marine growth.

Depth changes with the tide, so take care when you walk in. Keep clear of the floating collar and the underwater net, do not swim alone and do not try to swim to the edge of the enclosure. Marine animals can be inside it.

Lawns, the pier and big events

The wide grassed areas are the Great Lawn, Fisherman’s Lawn, the Little Lawn and the Southern Lawns, and they host big events such as the Gold Coast Marathon, the Gold Coast Show and Monster Machinery Day. Casuarina Grove picnic area, Pandanus Point, ANZAC Park and Southport Pier are also part of the parklands.

GC Aqua Park, an inflatable obstacle course on the water, is a separate paid attraction here. Prices, age limits and rules are in the Gold Coast Aqua Park guide.

Barbecues, cafes and toilets

• Barbecues and shade: electric barbecues and shaded shelters, and every barbecue is wheelchair accessible.
• Toilets: toilet blocks across the parklands, each with accessible toilets.
• Cafes: four, listed as open seven days a week. Broadwater Cafe is near the Aqua Adventure Centre, The Fish Shak and Shak Expresso are near the Rockpools, Cafe Catalina is behind the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre and Harley and Hudson Coffee Bar is at GC Aqua Park.
• Outdoor gym: bodyweight and functional training equipment, designed to work for wheelchair users too.

Is Southport Broadwater Parklands dog friendly?

Yes, on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in the swimming enclosure or in any children’s playground area, and there are no off-leash areas inside the parklands. For an off-leash run, The Spit has a dog beach about 10 minutes by car to the north.

Accessibility at Southport Broadwater Parklands

• Parking: accessible spaces in the northern, central and southern car parks.
• Toilets: every toilet block has accessible toilets. A Changing Places facility with a ceiling hoist and shower needs a Master Locksmith Access Key, and onsite security can help.
• Swimming enclosure: permanent beach matting leads to it.
• Playgrounds: Peninsula Playground has wheelchair-accessible sensory and nature-based play, a sand play table, an accessible sand digger, chiming bells, nest swings, an all-abilities swing with a backrest and an in-ground trampoline suitable for wheelchairs. For the Liberty Swing at Washington Waters, contact onsite security.
• Map: a mobility map showing toilets, parking, path gradients and kerb ramps is on the council park page.

Planning your visit

• How long: two to three hours for the Rockpools, a playground and lunch; longer if you add the swimming enclosure.
• Best time: the Rockpools open at 8 am from September to February and at 9 am from March to August, and from April to November they open at 11 am on Tuesdays.
• Cost: no entry fee and the Rockpools are free. Parking, cafes and GC Aqua Park are extra.
• What to bring: swimmers, towels, a hat and sunscreen, and a card or coins for the parking meter.

Getting there and parking

By car the parklands are about 74 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 60 minutes without traffic, and about 10 minutes from Surfers Paradise. The main car park is the Broadwater Carpark on Marine Parade, with 650 to 699 spaces and meters that take cards and coins. Parking is available 24 hours, and you pay $3.60 an hour from 9 am to 7 pm every day, including public holidays except Anzac Day. It is free outside those hours. There is also on-street parking along the Gold Coast Highway.

Without a car, the G:link light rail has a Broadwater Parklands station on route L1 (Helensvale to Burleigh Heads), buses run along Marine Parade and the Hopo ferry stops at the Broadwater Parklands wharf. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner.

The full details are on the council’s Broadwater Parklands page, Broadwater Carpark page and swimming enclosures page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Gold Coast Aqua Park – the floating obstacle course on the water at the parklands, for confident swimmers.
• Gold Coast Show – the annual show held on the parklands.
• The Spit, Gold Coast – a beach, a dog beach and a coastal walk, about 10 minutes by car north.
• Surfers Paradise Beach – the patrolled surf beach about 10 minutes by car south.
• Evandale Parklands, Gold Coast – another free swimming lagoon and playground, at Surfers Paradise.
• Things to do on the Gold Coast – more ideas for a Gold Coast day out.

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