Main Beach & Broadbeach - Surfers Paradise

Queensland, Gold Coast

Whilst hordes of experienced surfers search for their version of surfing paradise nearby, less experienced surfers can enjoy surfing along this long stretch of sand which is often good fun for beginners when the waves are small.

Main Beach, along with Broadbeach is home to the busy high rise holiday hub of Surfers Paradise, and they are popular spots for people to try surfing for the first time. If you have never surfed before, take a surf lesson, as you'll have a safer, more successful and fun surfing experience than just renting a board.

Wave Type
During and after big swells, shifting sandbars, rips and long shore gutters (rip currents that run parallel to shore), make for challenging surf conditions, so make sure you observe the lifeguard signs, find a safe sandbar that is attached to the beach and stick to it.

During long periods of small swells, the sandbars here settle and can create some great waves, both lefts and rights. These are long beaches with many sandbars, so search up and down the beach to find the best waves.

Main Beach and Broadbeach are exposed to swell and wind, so it's often best to surf early before ocean breezes strengthen, which messes up the surf.

Good Wind Direction
Best on South West to North West winds.

Good Swell Direction For Fun Beginner Waves
Small North to East to South swells.

Hazards
Rip currents and marine life.

Have fun surfing Surfers Paradise by practising surfing etiquette and surf safety.

Access
Walk, or car parks and parking is available along the length of these two beaches.

Lifeguard Patrolled
Patrolled daily at various points along Main and Broadbeach - always swim between the red and yellow flags.

Beginners & kids are best to surf at beaches when Lifeguards are on patrol or with a friend who has decades of surfing experience.

Amenities
Located at any of the many surf clubs that line the foreshore of the beach.

Closest Shops
Surfers Paradise offers a massive range of cafes, restaurants, take away food,
clothes and surf shops and is famous for its bars and nightlife.

Photos of Surfers Paradise Beaches

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Main Beach Surfers Paradise with a classic inner sandbar - deep long shore gutter - outer sandbar surf zone set up. Beginner surfers are best to catch whitewater waves on the inner sandbars close to shore.
Photo: Kelly Ratcliffe

Surfing Main Beach Surfers Paradise
Photo: Kelly Ratcliffe

The long sweep of beach at Surfers Paradise provides plenty of space to search and find broader inner sandbars attached to the beach for catching waves close to shore, like that on the right of the photo. Avoid the deeper, dark water rip currents, like that to the left.
Photo: Kelly Ratcliffe