Alexandra Headland is a patrolled surf beach on the Sunshine Coast, about 100 km north of the Brisbane CBD, with a surf club, a skate park, a playground and a coastal path over the headland to Mooloolaba. The beach is free, and council keeps it patrolled all year.
The beach runs between beach access points 154 and 168 along Alexandra Parade, with grassy parks behind the sand and apartments and cafes across the road. It is a handy swim and surf stop between Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
Can you swim at Alexandra Headland?
Yes, between the red and yellow flags. Alexandra Headland Beach is patrolled year round, with council lifeguards all year and volunteer lifesavers from the Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club through summer, from September to May. Patrol hours change with the season, so check BeachSafe before you go.
Surf Life Saving Queensland advises swimming only at patrolled beaches, between the flags, and never alone. Rips are a leading cause of coastal drownings, so ask a lifeguard if you are unsure where to go in.
The surf club
The Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club, known locally as Alex Surf Club, sits right on the beach near beach access 159. The club has several places to eat and drink (the Beachside Cafe, Lookout Bistro, Bluff Bar and Sports Bar) and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ring 07 5443 6677 or use the club’s booking link for hours.
Surfing at Alexandra Headland
The beach works best in south-west to south-east winds, and the Bluff, at the headland end, is popular for malibu and longboarding. If you are new to surfing, stay on the patrolled stretch and ask the lifeguards about the day’s conditions.
Parks, playground and skate park
Three council parks sit along the beachfront, and between them they cover most of what a family day needs.
Buhk Family Park
Buhk Family Park is on the beachfront along the Coastal Pathway, north of the surf club. It has shelters, barbecues, picnic tables, beach showers, an open grassed area for kicking a ball and parking. It is also home to the Alex Skate Park, which has a large and a small bowl plus a street section with ledges, banks, rails and stairs, for skaters, BMX riders and bladers of all levels.
Wilkes Family Park
Wilkes Family Park is a short walk south, and it has the playground: a double play fort with rope climbing, slides and climbing ramps, plus swings, a seesaw and a Supernova spinner. There are also public toilets, beach showers, a drinking fountain, barbecues, shelters and parking. The public toilets for Buhk Family Park are here as well.
The headland walk
Alex Bluff Foreshore Park stretches about a kilometre along the headland and forms part of the Coastal Pathway. It has scenic viewpoints, barbecues, picnic tables, public toilets, beach showers, an exercise equipment station and parking. A raised boardwalk and viewing platform connect the headland to the Esplanade at Mooloolaba Beach, about 2 km south by road, so you can walk or ride between the two beaches.
Is Alexandra Headland dog friendly?
Not on the main beach. The beach at access 156 to 163, from the northern end of the skate bowl along Alexandra Parade, is a dog prohibited area. Check the signs on the day for the rest of the beach.
The nearest listed off-leash area is Buddina Beach, beach access 210 to 217 (Mawarra Street to Talinga Street). Off-leash times are a guide only, so follow the signs.
Planning your visit
- How long: a morning or afternoon for a swim, the playground and a walk along the Coastal Pathway.
- Best time: summer weekends have volunteer lifesavers on the sand as well as council lifeguards, so the patrolled area is easiest to find.
- Cost: free to visit.
- What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, water, a towel and a ball for the open grass.
- Accessibility: accessible matting is laid on the beach on weekends during the volunteer patrol season.
Getting there and parking
By car, Alexandra Headland is about 100 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 1 hour 25 minutes without traffic. Allow longer on weekends and school holidays. If the kids are in the back, these tips for surviving long car trips with kids help.
There is parking at Buhk Family Park, Wilkes Family Park and Alex Bluff Foreshore Park, all off Alexandra Parade. Read the signs for time limits.
By bus, Translink route 600 runs between Caloundra station and Maroochydore station and stops on Alexandra Parade at Alexandra Headland, at Wilkes Family Park, at Alexandra Headland Beach and at Okinja Road. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.
More detail is on council’s Alexandra Headland Beach page. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Mooloolaba Beach – the next beach south, with the Esplanade, a playground and restaurants, about 2 km by road.
- Maroochydore Beach – the next patrolled beach north.
- Point Cartwright – headland views at the southern end of Mooloolaba.
- Cotton Tree – the river and beach at the Maroochy River mouth.
- SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast – an aquarium day out in Mooloolaba.
- Things to do on the Sunshine Coast – more ideas for the rest of the trip.
Browse more beaches, skate parks or everything in the Sunshine Coast.
Quick answers
Can you swim at Alexandra Headland Beach?
Yes, between the red and yellow flags. The beach is patrolled year round, with volunteer lifesavers through summer from September to May. Check BeachSafe for the day’s hours.
Are there toilets at Alexandra Headland?
Yes. There are public toilets and beach showers at Wilkes Family Park, a short walk south of the skate park, and at Alex Bluff Foreshore Park on the headland.
Is there a playground at Alexandra Headland?
Yes. Wilkes Family Park has a double play fort with slides and climbing ramps, swings, a seesaw and a Supernova spinner, next to barbecues and shelters.
Is there a skate park at Alexandra Headland?
Yes. The Alex Skate Park in Buhk Family Park has a large and a small bowl and a street section.
Can I take my dog to Alexandra Headland Beach?
Not to the beach in front of the surf club, which is a dog prohibited area (beach access 156 to 163). Buddina Beach is an off-leash area.
How do I get to Alexandra Headland from Brisbane?
By car it is about 100 km, about 1 hour 25 minutes without traffic. Translink bus 600 stops on Alexandra Parade; use the Journey Planner for times.
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