Broadbeach, Gold Coast: Beach, Parks, Markets and Parking

Broadbeach is a Gold Coast beachside suburb about 4 km south of Surfers Paradise, with a patrolled surf beach, a long beachfront park, an all-abilities playground, twice-monthly Sunday markets and restaurants and bars a short walk back from the sand. The beach, the parks and the markets are all free.

It is about 82 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, and G:link light rail stops here at Broadbeach North and Broadbeach South stations. That makes it an easy day out for a swim, a picnic with the kids and dinner afterwards.

Can you swim at Broadbeach?

Yes. Council lifeguards patrol from 8 am to 5 pm. Tower 28 is at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, and Towers 27 (Margaret Avenue), 30 (Chelsea Avenue) and 31 (Wharf Road) are also patrolled every day of the year. Towers 26A (Hedges Avenue) and 29 (Australia Avenue) are added in the warmer months and during school holidays.

Swim in the patrolled area between the red and yellow flags. Patrols can close for dangerous swimming conditions, unsafe beach conditions or maintenance, so check the flags when you arrive. Council’s advice is to keep children within arm’s reach in the water, never swim at night, and call 000 in an emergency. Stay away from steep, unstable sand scarps, because they can collapse. If you surf and the conditions look doubtful, council’s advice is “If in doubt, don’t paddle out”.

The stretch north of Kurrawa, around Australia Avenue, Chelsea Avenue and Wharf Road, is typically quieter than the sand in front of the surf club.

Things to do in Broadbeach

Kurrawa Park

Kurrawa Park, at 155 Old Burleigh Road, is the beachfront park behind the sand. It has big grassy areas, an esplanade and boardwalk, volleyball courts and a walking track, and the Oceanway runs through it. There are many sheltered picnic areas with barbecues, plus picnic tables, shade structures, a drinking fountain and a water tap. Several outdoor showers line the esplanade, and there are toilets at both ends of the parklands, including a disability toilet.

The park also hosts the Coastal Markets and big festivals such as Blues on Broadbeach.

Pratten Park and the all-abilities playground

Pratten Park adjoins Kurrawa Park on Old Burleigh Road. At its northern end is the Gold Coast’s first all-abilities playground. It is fully fenced, with a hill slide, a flying fox, a swing set for up to five children and a fully harnessed seat for children who need more support. Parents and carers can watch from the surrounding area.

The southern end has a second playground, with a pedal-powered monorail, a pirate ship and slides. The rest of the park has barbecues, picnic shelters and tables, showers, toilets (including a disability toilet), a drinking fountain, fitness stations and a bicycle track.

The Coastal Markets

The Coastal Markets run on the first and third Sunday of the month from 8 am to 2 pm at Kurrawa Park, opposite the Oasis and Oracle shopping centres. Entry is free and pets on a leash are welcome. Stalls sell handmade art and design, fashion, gifts and homewares. Trading can change, so check the markets’ social media before you go.

Eating, shopping and The Star

Surf Parade, just back from the park, has restaurants and pubs, including Cora at The Beach Hotel at number 50. The Oasis Shopping Centre at 75 Surf Parade, across from the park, has a Woolworths supermarket, boutique fashion and cafes and restaurants, and it offers three hours of free undercover parking for customers.

On the beachfront, Kurrawa Surf Club on Old Burleigh Road has a bar open from 10 am and a bistro serving lunch and dinner, and Tower 28 Cafe is open Monday to Friday from 6 am to 2 pm and until 3 pm on weekends. Pacific Fair shopping centre is on Hooker Boulevard, and The Star Gold Coast casino resort is also in Broadbeach.

Is Broadbeach dog friendly?

Partly. In Kurrawa Park dogs must be on a leash everywhere, and they are banned from children’s playgrounds. Dogs are also prohibited within 200 metres of flagged swimming areas. There is a signed off-leash area at the southern end of Pratten Park, opposite Broadbeach State School. Dogs on a leash are welcome at the Coastal Markets.

Accessible facilities at Broadbeach

There is a Changing Places toilet between Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club and the all-abilities playground. It needs a Master Locksmiths Access Key, which you can borrow from the club (07 5527 5660) or apply for through council. Bring your own four-looped sling if you need the hoist.

The club has one Sandcruiser beach wheelchair, free to use, available from 10 am to 2:30 pm Monday to Friday all year, depending on the season and volunteers. There are accessible parking spaces near the surf club, entered from Old Burleigh Road, and a beach shower that a beach wheelchair can reach. No beach matting is listed for Broadbeach or Kurrawa. Council’s mobility maps show more accessible facilities.

Planning your visit

• How long: a couple of hours for a swim and the playground; a full day with lunch, the markets and a walk along the Oceanway.
• Best time: within patrol hours (8 am to 5 pm) if you want to swim. The markets run on the first and third Sunday of the month.
• Cost: free entry to the beach, parks and markets. Parking is free at the Pratten Park car parks (time limits apply) and paid in metered bays.
• What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, water, swimmers and a towel, and a leash if your dog is coming.
• Accessibility: see the facilities above; the all-abilities playground, Changing Places toilet and beach wheelchair are all at the Kurrawa end.

Getting there and parking

Broadbeach is about 82 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 70 minutes by car without traffic. Surfers Paradise is about 4 km north by road.

Pratten Park North has roughly 100 to 149 spaces and Pratten Park South roughly 50 to 99, both with accessible spaces. Parking at the surf club itself is limited, and there is on-street parking in surrounding streets. Metered bays on some streets run from 9 am to 7 pm seven days a week, including public holidays except Anzac Day, and you can pay with cash, a card or the EasyPark app. On Old Burleigh Road, the stretch from Queensland Avenue to the surf club costs about $2.30 an hour with a 4 hour limit, and the stretch from the surf club to Margaret Avenue is free for up to 4 hours. Surf Parade in the town centre costs about $4.50 to $5.50 an hour with a 2 hour limit. Read every sign for the time limit and the hours that apply.

By public transport, G:link light rail stops at Broadbeach North and Broadbeach South stations, both on the L1 Helensvale to Burleigh Heads line. Broadbeach South is at the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Hooker Boulevard. The line continues south through Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Miami to Burleigh Heads. From Brisbane, take a Varsity Lakes train (the T5) to Helensvale and change to the light rail there. Translink buses also run along Gold Coast Highway through Broadbeach. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner.

More detail is on council’s Kurrawa beach page, its Broadbeach parking page and the Coastal Markets website. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Surfers Paradise Beach – the next big beach north, about 4 km away.
• Burleigh Heads Beach – a patrolled surf beach at the southern end of the light rail line.
• Burleigh Heads National Park – a coastal headland walk beside Burleigh.
• Southport Broadwater Parklands – waterfront parkland to the north.
• Gold Coast Aqua Park – a floating inflatable obstacle course on the Broadwater at Southport, for confident swimmers aged 5 and over.
• Things to do on the Gold Coast – more ideas for the whole coast.

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