Brisbane people love the surf and sand as much as any other Australians, but tend to travel further than their counterparts in other capital cities. This is in part is because the beaches off Brisbane are few in number and many of those have dangerous rips. It is also because there are so many good beaches to the north and south of Brisbane at places like the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. They would rather travel a bit further to enjoy the excellent beaches and facilities available at these places.

Streets Beach, Brisbane

Streets Beach is one of South Bank's most popular attractions and the only man-made beach in Australia in the middle of the city. A unique swimming location, Streets Beach overlooks the Brisbane River and Central Business District. Conceived as a major piece of landscape, it has a sparkling, crystal clear lagoon with white sand beaches, palm trees, pebbled creeks and shady shallows surrounded by sub-tropical trees and exotic plantings.

Redcliffe from Redcliffe Pier

Redcliffe
Redcliffe is a thriving city and a delightful place for a day trip. A 35 minute drive north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway, Redcliffe has 22 kilometres of golden sandy beaches, ocean views, gentle rolling waves and delightful foreshore parklands. Beaches in the area include Deception Bay, Scarborough, Redcliffe, Scotts Pt., Woody Pt. and Clontarf.

Shorncliffe Park and Jetty

Sandgate
Sandgate, approximately 25 minutes north of Brisbane, provides both an insight into the unique Boondall Wetlands environment and the old-fashioned delights of a bayside town. In the 1880s it was "the" beach for Brisbane socialites. Today, people still visit Sandgate to catch the sea breezes, enjoy a picnic under huge fig trees, walk or bike along the curves of the Bay, walk along the Sandgate pier, explore the parks dotted along the foreshore or admire the architecture of colonial Queenslanders. Beaches on the Sandgate coastal strip include Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Brighton, and Nudgee Beach to the south.
Sandgate is accessible from Brisbane by train. Alight at Shorncliffe station and walk along the pathway which follows the water.

Pandanus Beach

Wynnum-Manly
Wynnum and Manly are twin suburbs on Moreton Bay, some 25 minutes by car or by train from the city centre. The waterfront Esplanade at Wynnum is a great place to catch the fresh, salty breezes of Moreton Bay and views to Moreton Island. Pandanus Beach or the nearby Wynnum wading pool are great spots for children to enjoy the water. There are also a a variety of restaurants, cafes and coffee shops on The Esplanade.
Manly Harbour Village is the nearest point from the Brisbane Central Business District to access Moreton Bay and it is from here that tours of St Helena Island begin. Nestled beside the Manly Boat Harbour, the village has a wide variety of eating venues and provides an eclectic mix of shopping experiences, all complemented with views of the harbour.

Karragarra Island

Karragarra Island
Karragarra is the smallest of the populated bay islands, nestled between Russell and Macleay Islands in Moreton Bay, and has a very small permanent population. It is a very tranquil, peaceful place to visit. The beach sits in a beautiful secluded position with an enclosed swimming area and free electric barbecues and undercover seating for the rare rainy days. Access is via car/passenger ferry from Redland Bay.

Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island

North Stradbroke Island
The island is situated in Moreton Bay and is accessible by car or passenger ferry from Redland Bay or Cleveland. The island is quite large, and has roads between its various settlements. Amity Point, Cylinder Beach and Ocean Beach all have shark nets to protect bathers from shark attack.
Main Beach stretches for 32kms of unspoilt sand, dunes and surf. It is popular with board riders and body surfers who enjoy the big swells. The waves are large and powerful and the views are spectacular. Although Main Beach is patrolled it often has strong currents and rips to go with its big swells. The headland at Point Lookout overlooking Main Beach is the best vantage point for watching the surfing action and spotting dolphins and whales in season.
Cylinder Beach is a picturesque cove between Cylinder and Home Beach Headlands. It is popular with families because it is easily accessible with a carpark situated only metres from the beach. The waves at Cylinder are often smaller and therefore it is perfect for sun bathing and swimming during good weather conditions.
Deadman's Beach and Frenchman's Beach are secluded spots, nestled between North Gorge and Cylinder Beach. These beaches are great places to explore the rock pools where you can see small fish, anemones, shells and crabs.
Adder Rock Beach is accessed through a 4WD track next to Adder Rock campground. This beach provides an attractive spot for swimming, and is popular with campers and four wheel drivers.
Flinders Beach is 4.6 kms of beach situated between Amity Point and Point Lookout. Flinders Beach has foreshore camping and is accessible by 4WD only from Amity Point and Point Lookout.
Amity Point and Dunwich are on the sheltered west side of the island and have sandy beaches and calm water for swimming and great fishing. Amity and Dunwich both have swimming enclosures however these beaches are not patrolled.

Pumicestone Passage, Bribie Island

Bribie Island
Situated between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast just under an hour’s drive from the city, Bribie Island has beaches to suit everyone. The lee side of Bribie has beautiful clear waters for fishing, boating and swimming in Pumicestone Passage. The ocean side has long, white surf beaches with waves that are not too high and are thus suitable for young children.

The Sunshine Coast is seen as a less glitzy alternative to the Gold Coast. It has just as many good beaches and accommodation and dining alternatives, but has a more easy going atmosphere about it that is particularly attractive to families.

Kings Beach, Caloundra

Caloundra is the nearest Sunshine Coast beach to Brisbane, being about an hour’s drive away. Its facilities are particularly geared towards families, with options for surfing at Kings Beach and still water paddling and swimming at nearby Golden Beach on Pumicestone Passage.
Mooloolaba has a number of rock pools and some good surf. The choice of accommodation options is extensive and the restaurant and cafe culture is second to none in the Sunshine State. Mooloolaba comes as closer to feel of the Gold Coast as an Sunshine Coast locality, however the emphasis here has been to shape the streetscape around pedestrians rather than motor vehicles, which is a big plus.
Alexandra Headland, Cotton Tree and Maroochydore are the next beaches to the north. Maroochydore is very much the commercial centre of the Sunshine Coast, however it still has plenty to off the beachgoer and holidaymaker.

Coolum Beach

Coolum has a beautiful ocean beach and there are plenty of scenic drives around and beyond Coolum through mountains and fields of sugar cane to add interest to a visit there. A highlight event at Coolum is the annual kite festival.
Noosa is the upmarket end of the Sunshine Coast; the real estate around the Main Beach is some of the most expensive and exclusive in Queensland. Hastings Street, behind the beach, has dozens of places to eat, be seen and spend money. The narrow sandy beaches and calm water of Noosa River are perfect for families. Surfers tend to prefer the big swells and open beach of Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach and south to Peregian Beach.

Noosa Beach

Sunshine Coast beaches with shark nets
Alexandra Headland, Bribie Island, Buddina Beach, Caloundra, Castaways Beach, Coolum Beach, Currimundi, Hyatt Regency Resort, Marcus Beach, Marcoola Beach, Maroochydore Beach, Moffat Beach, Mooloolaba Beach, Mudjimba Beach, Noosa, Peregian Beach, Point Cartwright, Sunrise Beach, Sunshine Beach, Surfair Resort, Twin Waters Resort, Wurtulla, Yaroomba Beach.

Mooloolaba Beach

Besides have some of the finest surf beaches in the country, the Gold Coast has the added attraction of the glitz and glamour of an international resort city. As well as the city's wide range of accommodation options and its excellent shopping, there is the nightlife for which the Gold Coast is renowned, plus the best collection of theme parks in the country, all close to each other. An eight lane freeway connects Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Surfers Paradise

Southport and the Broadwater is a paradise for boats, jet skis and anything with paddles. Plus there is a swimming enclosure and fantastic children's playground beside the water. The Seaworld theme park is located on the Southport Spit.
Main Beach and Surfers Paradise beach are just a short walk away from the shops and nightlife centred around Tedder Avenue. The wide, clean ribbon of sand extends south from Surfers Paradise, taking in Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Miami Beach.

Burleigh Beach and Burleigh Heads

Burleigh is the home of many surf carnivals and grassy parks beside the water. South of Burleigh Heads are Palm Beach and Tugun Beach. Kirra Beach is a massive sand beach with views over the water to the sparkling skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise. The beachfront boardwalk leads to Coolangatta Beach, close to Tweed Heads which is across the border into New South Wales.

Coolangatta Beach

Gold Coast beaches with shark nets
Broadbeach, Burleigh Beach, Bilinga Beach, Coolangatta Beach, Currumbin, Elkhorn Avenue, Greenmount Beach, Kirra Beach, Kurrawa Beach, Main Beach, Mermaid Beach, Sheraton Mirage Beach, Miami Beach, North Burleigh Beach, Northcliffe, North Kirra Beach, Narrow Neck, Nobby Beach, Palm Beach, Rainbow Bay, Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise Beach, Tallebudgera Beach, Tugun Beach.