Surfers Paradise: Beach, Cavill Avenue, SkyPoint and Getting There

Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s best-known beach strip, with a patrolled surf beach, the Cavill Avenue shops and bars, the SkyPoint lookout and a light rail line running through it. It is about 78 km by road south of Brisbane, and you can easily fill a day without a car once you arrive.

This guide covers the beach, Cavill Avenue, SkyPoint, markets, free things to do, and how to park or arrive by train and tram.

Surfers Paradise beach

Surfers Paradise Beach is a long, continuous sandy surf beach. City of Gold Coast lifeguards patrol it from 8 am to 5 pm every day of the year, at three towers: Tower 34 at Cavill Avenue, Tower 35 at Elkhorn Avenue and Tower 36 at Staghorn Avenue. Swim between the red and yellow flags, and check the council’s beach page for closures and water quality before you go. A patrol can be closed for dangerous conditions or maintenance.

The Gold Coast Oceanway, a flat coastal path of about 36 km, runs beside the beach. Toilets, showers and benches are along the Surfers section of the path. Parking at the surf club is limited, with on-street parking in the streets behind. For parking details, see our Surfers Paradise Beach guide.

Dogs are not allowed within 200 metres of flagged swimming areas.

Cavill Avenue

Cavill Avenue is the pedestrian strip that leads to the beach, lined with cafes, restaurants, bars and shops, with street performers. It is named after Jim Cavill, who opened the Surfers Paradise Hotel in 1925. At night it is the centre of the Gold Coast’s nightlife precinct, and the neon lights and live entertainment come on.

The Cavill Avenue light rail stop is on the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard, a short walk from the beach.

SkyPoint

SkyPoint is the observation deck on top of the Q1 building, 230 metres above Surfers Paradise. A lift takes you to Level 77. It also runs the SkyPoint Climb, which it calls Australia’s highest external building climb, and has a bistro and bar. Tickets are sold online at skypoint.com.au, where the current prices and opening hours are listed. Gold Coast residents get cheaper entry.

For more on the tower, see Q1 Gold Coast.

Markets and free things to do

• Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets: Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, 4 pm to 9 pm, with over 100 stalls. Free to browse. See the Beachfront Markets guide.
• HOTA, Home of the Arts: a free gallery over five levels, with city views from the top. Next door, Evandale Parklands has a lake for swimming and picnics and an outdoor sculpture trail. There is also a Sunday market at HOTA.
• The beach and the Oceanway: both free.

If you want something paid, the Nerang River has self-drive electric picnic boats, dinner cruises and the Aqua Duck, and Surfers has jetboat rides, iFly indoor skydiving, mini golf, an arcade and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not.

Planning your visit

• How long: a half day for the beach and Cavill Avenue; a full day if you add SkyPoint, HOTA and the evening markets.
• Best time: mornings for the beach; evenings for the markets, the lights on Cavill Avenue and the nightlife.
• Cost: the beach, the Oceanway, HOTA Gallery and the markets are free. SkyPoint and the attractions charge.
• What to bring: sunscreen, a hat, water and a towel.
• Accessibility: the council offers mobility maps, beach wheelchairs and matting; see its Surfers Paradise beach page.

Getting there and parking

By car, Surfers Paradise is about 78 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 70 minutes without traffic. Paradise Centre’s own page gives roughly 1 hour 10 minutes too. Parking is paid in the streets and car parks around Cavill Avenue; Paradise Centre has undercover parking off Hanlan Street (prices on its parking page). HOTA has about 900 spaces, and parking is limited at the surf club.

By public transport, trains from Brisbane run to Helensvale, where an overpass links the station to the G:link light rail. The tram runs from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads. The Cavill Avenue stop sits between the Cypress Avenue and Surfers Paradise stops. Check trip times and fares on the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30. Timetables are also at ridetheg.com.au.

A HOPO Ferry runs between Surfers Paradise and Broadwater Parklands, with a stop at HOTA.

Nearby

• Broadbeach – the next beach suburb south, with parks and markets.
• Southport – the Broadwater side of the Gold Coast, to the north.
• The Spit Gold Coast – walks, fishing and an off-leash dog beach.
• Things to Do on the Gold Coast – 14 places for a day out.
• Marina Mirage – waterfront dining at Main Beach.
• Gold Coast Convention Centre – the big events venue at Broadbeach.

Browse more days out on the Gold Coast and beaches.

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