When the sun is shining and the hours of your day stretch out free before you, there really is no better way to spend it than with a trip to the beach. In fact, for most of us who live in Brisbane, the decision is less about what to do (beach day of course!) but where to do it. Spoilt for choice when it comes to nearby sandy shores, we have put together a list of all of the nearest beaches to Brisbane and the different ways you can get there.
Hopefully, this will make planning your next sun-filled day a lot easier, so more family time can be spent in the waves than in the car!
Gold Coast Beaches
Currumbin Beach – another Gold Coast wonderland
It wouldn’t be a complete list without highlighting the pristine beaches that line the Gold Coast shoreline. There are 21 of them between Snapper Rocks in the south to the Southport Spit in the north. How’s that for choice?
Main Beach and the Southport Spit are one of the closest Gold Coast beaches to Brisbane. Stretching for 5km, the Spit is renowned for its excellent surfing and pristine dog-friendly beach. Voted the best fishing spot on the Gold Coast, it is also the perfect place to throw in a line. The Seaway is the most reliable snorkelling and diving site in the region, and Federation Walk, which travels with the dunes on the ocean side, is a gift to bike riders and those looking for a casual stroll with a view.
Address: The Southport Spit, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
Highlights: Fishing, Surfing, 5km of beach, diving, swimming, Sea World Theme Park, dog-friendly
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 1 hour via the M1 (traffic-dependant).
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Southport is about 1.5 hours on the train.
Getting there by bus: Greyhound Buses leave from Brisbane CBD to Southport daily at 7am and take only 1 hour.
Sunshine Coast Beaches
Mudjimba Beach – One of the Sunshine Coast’s many stunning beaches
When most Brisbane locals consider searching for long stretches of soft white sand and crystal-clear waters, the Sunshine Coast and its glittering choice of beaches is usually their first pick. Stretching for 60km from Pelican Waters up to Tewantin, there are over 30 of them on offer waiting to be explored.
One of the closest beaches to Brisbane is Bulcock Beach in Caloundra. Although it is just around the corner from surf hotspot Kings Beach, Bulcock is a patrolled beach with minimal waves, offering a relaxing spot for families with young children.
Happy Valley which sits in between Bulcock Beach and Kings Beach is an unpatrolled beach offering rock pools on low tide for kids who love to fossick. Happy Valley also boasts one of the best playgrounds on the Sunshine Coast.
Address: Esplanade Bulcock Beach, Caloundra
Highlights: Swimming, fossicking, playground, boardwalk, rock pools, dog-friendly, fishing
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 1.5 hours via the M1 (traffic-dependant).
Getting there by train: Quickest public transport from Brisbane CBD to Caloundra is about 2 hours on the train.
Redcliffe Beaches
Suttons Beach, Redcliffe
When it comes to family-friendly beaches nearest to Brisbane, you can’t go past the string of stunning beaches that line Redcliffe Peninsula.
Only 4o mins drive north from our CBD, popular beaches found here including Scarborough Beach, (beloved by families for its calm waters, playground and Gollum Tree), and Suttons Beach (with its small, gentle waves ideal for all ages to enjoy and delightful pirate-themed fenced playground).
Most popular of them all, though is Margate Beach. Stretching for 2km with a wide beach and stunning waters, nearby restaurants and cafes mean food and drink options are plentiful, too. For those looking to take in more of the surrounding coastline, The Moreton Bay Cycleway travels through here too.
Address: Marine Parade, Redcliffe
Highlights: Swimming, fenced playground,
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 40 mins via the M1 (traffic-dependant).
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Redcliffe is about 1 hour 20 mins on the train.
Getting there by bus: From Brisbane CBD to Redcliffe is about 2 hours.
Nudgee Beach, Nudgee
Nudgee Beach, Nudgee
Situated only 15 minutes from central Brisbane, Nudgee Beach wins the title of our closest natural beach. Indeed, for some Brisbane locals it may even be within walking distance from their home!
Whilst its wide, dog-friendly shore is perfect for all sorts of beach sports and play, the muddy fun that can be accessed at low tide can prove irresistible to most Brisbane Kids. For this reason, we recommend timing your visit with the tides, as the sand is submerged at high tide.
Another highlight for many families visiting Nudgee Beach is the neighbouring Boondall Wetlands, which includes over 1,000 hectares of mangroves, wetlands, tidal flats, salt marshes and open forests.
Highlights: Swimming, mud fun, Boondall Wetlands, dog-friendly, playground
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 25 mins.
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Nudgee is about 30 mins on the train.
Getting there by bus: From Brisbane CBD to Nudgee is about 1 hour 15 mins by bus.
Pandanus Beach, Wynnum
Wynnum Whale Park near Pandanus Beach, Wynnum
Wynnum, the picturesque waterfront village renowned for its laidback lifestyle, is also home to one of our closest beaches – Pandanus Beach. Tucked discreetly behind the hugely popular Wynnum Whale Park and Wading Pool, the small beach offers children yet another reason to visit this family-friendly play space.
Whilst at high tide the white sandy beach is glorious, at low tide the area becomes a vast, muddy playground that little fossickers love to explore! Plan a whole day here if you can. Between the beach, the water splash park, the wading pool and the delicious fish and chip shops that line the shore, this is a wonderland the whole family will enjoy.
Highlights: Swimming, mud fun, Whale splash park, natural wading pool, fish and chips, esplanade, playground
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 20 mins.
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Pandanus Beach is about 30 mins on the train.
Getting there by bus: From Brisbane CBD to Pandanus Beach is about 1 hour 15 mins by bus.
Streets Beach, Southbank
Streets Beach, Southbank
It may be a man-made beach, but with sweeping views of Brisbane City and the river from its sandy shores and clear blue waters, Streets Beach in Southbank is about as close as possible! Insanely popular with Brisbane locals, the beach is easy to access by public transport – which is usually the preferred method for those looking to spend a day there.
With so many amazing local attractions within walking distance (GOMA, Qld Museum etc) and a brilliant kids playground, is there little wonder this inner city oasis is so popular all year round?
Address: Southbank Parklands, South Brisbane
Highlights: Swimming, beach, lagoon, pools, popular nearby attractions, cafes, markets
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 10 mins.
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Southbank is about 10 mins on the train.
Getting there by bus: From Brisbane CBD to Nudgee is about 10 mins by bus.
Wellington Point Beach and King Island, Wellington Point
Wellington Point Beach, Wellington Point
Brisbane locals love Wellington Point Beach. Not only does it have an incredible beachside playground with amazing climbing trees, but the area is also hugely popular due to the island just 2km from its shore.
If you have ever done the low tide walk from Wellington Point to King Island then you can understand just how magical and spectacular this part of Brisbane is. Not only can you walk to the island and back on low tide, there are thousands of small sand crabs and small shells to discover along the way. The island has a small beach reserve and low pools to explore too.
Address: 2A Main Road, Wellington Point
Highlights: Beach, playground, climbing trees, King Island Walk, fossicking, cafe
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 25 mins.
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Wellington Point is about 1 hour on the train.
Masthead Beach, Raby Bay
Raby Bay
Only 45min from Brisbane’s centre, Raby Bay Foreshore Park has three swimming coves with white-sanded beaches that are well-known for their dog-friendly attitude and calm, tranquil waters.
Masthead Beach has a dog off-leash section for those wanting to bring the WHOLE family, as well as plenty of water and sand sports opportunities for the kids. With alfresco dining, a wide range of recreational activities, incredible playgrounds, sunny beaches and plenty of entertainment options on offer – Raby Bay is one of the best suburbs you will find in Brisbane that is near a beach.
Address: Raby Bay, Cleveland
Highlights: Beach, dog-friendly, playground, bike track, walkways, cafes, kayak and paddle-boat hire.
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables, cafe
Getting there by car: 30 mins.
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Raby Bay is about 1 hour on the train.
Woorim Beach, Bribie Island
Woorim Beach, Bribie Island
Woorim Beach, part of a beautiful stretch of coast on the eastern surf side of Bribie Island, is just over a one-hour drive north of Brisbane.
Protected by Moreton Island, the beach experiences a relatively small swell between 0.5 to 1 metre, creating a safe and enticing destination for families to swim and play. With lovely soft sand, it is a great spot to sculpt an epic sand city and a fun thing to do on Bribie Island with kids. When it is time to dip your toes into the water, the smaller waves allow little Brisbane Kids to experience the thrill of ocean waves without too many big surprises.
We like that there is also a fenced playground and surf club nearby, but we love that it is also wheelchair-friendly. Beach matting at the entrance provides a pathway to the beach, with beach wheelchairs also available to hire.
Address: North Street, Woorim, Bribie Island
Highlights: Beach, small waves, fenced playground, cafes.
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by car: 1 hour 40 mins (via M1).
Getting there by train: From Brisbane CBD to Woorim Beach is about 2 hours on the train.
Stradbroke Island
Cylinder Beach, North Stradbroke Island
Located approximately 30 km southeast of Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island is effortless to reach. Water ferries depart from Cleveland 7 days a week, all year round, making the island accessible for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The island has six popular beaches – Flinders, Home, Cylinder, Deadmans, Frenchmans and the huge 32-kilometre long Main beach. There are two patrolled beaches or 3 during the peak seasons.
Cylinder Beach is Probably the most popular for families, which is the perfect spot for a swim or a fish.
Address: North Stradbroke Island
Highlights: Beach, surfing, north gorge walk, cafes,
Facilities: Public and accessible toilets available, BBQ, Picnic Tables
Getting there by Car and Ferry: 45 minutes from Brisbane CBD to the Cleveland Ferry. It is then either a 25 min passanger ferry or 45 min car ferry ride across to the island.
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