Kurrawa Beach: Patrols, Parking and Facilities at Broadbeach

Kurrawa Beach is a patrolled surf beach at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, with a park of toilets, barbecues, shade and playgrounds right behind the sand. It is free, and Broadbeach Mall is nearby for cafes and a meal after your swim.

The beach has three lifeguard towers, so it is easy to find a patrolled spot to swim. The park behind it makes it a good choice when the group wants more than sand and surf.

Swimming and lifeguards at Kurrawa Beach

Swim in the patrolled area between the red and yellow flags. Kurrawa has three patrol locations, and all three are staffed from 8 am to 5 pm daily:

• Tower 26A, Hedges Avenue: November to April and during school holidays.
• Tower 27, Margaret Avenue: all year.
• Tower 28, Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club: all year.

Any patrol can close because of dangerous swimming conditions, unsafe beach conditions or beach maintenance. Check the flags and the patrol status before you swim.

The basic rules are the same on every Gold Coast beach: swim only between the red and yellow flags (no flags means no swim), take extra care on a yellow flag and ask a lifeguard if you are unsure, and never swim near a danger sign or when the beach is closed. If a rip catches you, stay calm, float and raise one arm. Do not swim against it. If you see someone in trouble, alert a lifeguard, or call 000 if no one is on duty, and do not go in after them.

Surfers can also use the beach. Wave quality changes with swell, wind, tide and sandbars, so check conditions first. Council’s advice is “If in doubt, don’t paddle out.”

Kurrawa Park: toilets, barbecues and the playground

Kurrawa Park and neighbouring Pratten Park run for more than a kilometre along the Broadbeach foreshore, mostly flat open ground with plenty of shade. The park behind the beach has toilets, barbecues, tables, shade structures, playgrounds and beach showers. That makes it one of the easier Gold Coast beaches to do with kids, a picnic or a larger group. There are also beach volleyball courts in the park.

Kurrawa Park has the Gold Coast’s first all-abilities playground, created with Disability Services Queensland so children can play alongside friends and family. It includes sensory, motor, imaginative and educational play. The park also has an accessible change room with a changing bench and hoist.

Council’s Kurrawa page links to mobility maps, beach wheelchairs and matting, public and accessible toilets, and Changing Places toilets, so check those before you go if you need them.

Finding your spot on the beach

The patrol towers are spread along the beach: Tower 26A is at Hedges Avenue, Tower 27 is at Margaret Avenue, and Tower 28 is at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club. Pick the tower closest to where you have parked, and walk to the flags from there. Check the patrol status before you settle in.

Rules on the beach

Lighting or keeping a fire is not allowed on Gold Coast beaches. Council’s page on what is allowed on the beach covers fires and dogs only; other rules, such as alcohol and glass, are in its local laws, which are linked from that page. A permit is needed to use a beach for animals other than dogs, such as horses.

Is Kurrawa Beach dog friendly?

Dogs must be on a leash on most Gold Coast beaches, and they are prohibited within 200 metres of flagged swimming areas. Designated off-leash areas are listed elsewhere on the Gold Coast, so check council’s list if you want to bring a dog to the coast.

A day at Kurrawa

A simple plan: arrive early to find parking, set up near a patrol tower, swim between the flags, then move up to the park for lunch at a table or barbecue. The kids can use the playground while adults rest in the shade, and the Oceanway gives you a walking and cycling path along the coast.

When you want a proper meal, Broadbeach Mall is close, with cafes and alfresco dining. Council describes it as a stone’s throw from the beach.

Kurrawa Park also hosts big events, including Blues on Broadbeach, the Crafted Beer and Cider Festival and the Broadbeach Christmas Carols, so expect crowds and changed parking on those dates. Check council’s events pages for dates.

Planning your visit

• Cost: Free.
• Lifeguard hours: 8 am to 5 pm daily at all three towers when they are open; Tower 26A is seasonal.
• What to bring: Sunscreen, a hat, water and something for shade. The park does have shade structures and tables.
• Food: Broadbeach Mall, nearby, has cafes and alfresco dining.
• Walking and cycling: The Oceanway runs through the park.

Getting there and parking at Kurrawa Beach

Kurrawa is about 70 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD without traffic. Parking at Kurrawa Surf Club is limited. On-street parking is available in nearby streets, so read the signs and line markings before you leave your car.

Translink buses run along the Gold Coast Highway through Broadbeach, and the Oceanway walking and cycling path runs through the park. Use the Translink journey planner for current routes. Council’s Kurrawa beach page has the patrol status and a map of facilities.

Nearby

• Broadbeach – the suburb guide, with the mall, restaurants and more.
• HOTA, Home of the Arts – the Gold Coast’s arts precinct.
• Broadbeach Markets – local markets in Broadbeach.
• Narrowneck Beach, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise Beach – more Gold Coast beaches to the north.
• More coastal days on the beaches page and the Gold Coast page.

You might also like

• Nobby Beach (Mermaid Beach)
• Miami Beach (Gold Coast)
• Narrowneck Beach (Main Beach (just north of Surfers Paradise))

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