Popular South-East Queensland Tourist Hotspot
Table of Contents
Thank you for checking out my tourist information guide for Mermaid Beach Gold Coast. So you find it easier to read I have arranged it into the following headings:
1. Introduction
2. Where is Mermaid Beach Gold Coast?
3. Best Time To Visit Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
4. What Facilities do they have at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast?
5. How to get to Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
6. Things to do at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
7. Mermaid Beach Accommodation
8. Mermaid Beach Restaurants
9. Final Thought
10. FAQs
I hope this travel resource is useful to you. If it is, it would be great if I have inspired you to head on over to this wonderful Gold Coast beach!
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Read Time: 11 Minutes
Introduction
While neighbouring Miami and Broadbeach might be more fashionable, the pristine stretch of sand that defines Mermaid Beach makes it one of the best beaches on the Gold Coast to go to when you want to escape the crowds.
Popular with surfers and swimmers who enjoy outstanding conditions for surfing and three distinct and patrolled swimming areas, the suburb is home to ‘Millionaire’s row’ – a set of very expensive real estate that occupies a prime position along Hedges Avenue. It also has one of the best Surf Life Saving Clubs in the whole of South East Queensland, which you’ll want to eat at.
Parents with children and older people like coming here because of its relaxed family-friendly vibe, while those who enjoy walking can take in the stunning stretch of coastline at various points along the walking tracks that line the sand.
Away from the beach, the area has plenty of hip cafes, restaurants and hangouts that serve top-notch coffee and contemporary eats, which make perfect spots for all-day dining and people watching.
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is a beach you can go to all year round. Hence, there is no best time to go there, just the best time for you!
Where is Mermaid Beach?
Mermaid Beach is located on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. More specifically, the 2km stretch of near empty sand is bounded by the much busier Broadbeach to the north and Nobby’s Beach and Miami Beach to the south.
It lies about a 30 minute drive north from Kirra Beach and about 20 minutes south of Surfer’s Paradise. You can reach it from the Queensland state capital of Brisbane in just over an hour’s drive, while from the regional city of Toowoomba it usually takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. As a result Mermaid Beach is a popular day trip destination for residents from these places as well as being a hotspot for international tourists.
The traditional owners of the land on which Mermaid Beach Gold Coast resides are the Yugambeh people. The beach is named after the HMS Mermaid, a cutter which the explorer John Oxley was sailing on when he discovered the Tweed and Brisbane Rivers in 1823.
Mermaid Beach distance to other Gold Coast Beaches
Best Time To Visit Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is a beach you can go to all year round. Hence, there is no best time to go there, just the best time for you!
Your needs and preferences will play a part in deciding when you want to go there. However, there are some factors you should take into account which might influence your decision.
If you are wanting to go for a swim or a surf, the summer months of December to February are great times to go there. The water is usually very pleasant and there is normally some nice swell. It is worth pointing out though that this is the busiest time of year for tourism as it coincides with the school holidays – which means hotel and holiday accommodation prices are likely to be more expensive. As it is the rainy season, there is a good chance of storms and lightning at this time of year, so you should be mindful of that.
For those without children or who live in colder climes like New Zealand, Victoria or New South Wales, Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is a fabulous place for tourists to visit in the winter months of June to August, as it usually much warmer at this beach in Queensland than their home town. The water might be a bit chilly for some, but the beach is not as crowded and hotel and resort accommodation prices will be cheaper.
You may also want to consider coming to this beach in the months of October to November and March to April. Around this time you should be able to find great deals at hotels and also find the beach to be much less busier than during the summer. The skies are also likely to be clearer too and the temperature very agreeable.
What Facilities do they have at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast?
You will find a good range of facilities at the Ken Mansbridge Park in Mermaid Beach just over the road from the Mermaid Beach Life Saving Club.
The park is named in honour of a local lifesaving legend and houses a lovely statue depicting a little mermaid with her arms outstretched, enjoying the sun. It accommodates a range of facilities including public and disabled toilets, outdoor showers, picnic tables (some of which are shaded) and barbecues.
You will also find exercise equipment and beach volleyball nets and courts, while there are convenient beach access points with platforms and accessible matting for those in wheelchairs who want to venture onto the sand. Additionally, there is an adult and child sized Sandcruiser beach wheelchair that can be used as needed.
Two of the main drawcards at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast are swimming and surfing.
How to get to Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is an easy beach to get to via several different forms of transport.
Driving is probably the most convenient way method, though your route will vary depending on where you are coming from. It could involve you taking the M1 from northern NSW or beyond Brisbane or the Gold Coast Highway, as well as several local roads. To find the quickest route from your starting point, your best bet is to use Google Maps or download the Waze app, which I personally find is very accurate.
For those flying into the region the chances are you will end up at the Gold Coast airport or Brisbane airport. From either you can hire a car, with most of the major car rental companies including Enterprise, Avis, Budget and Europcar being based there. Alternatively you can catch a taxi or Uber, both of which are easy to get. Expect to pay around $60-$75 for either.
If you don’t want to catch a taxi or hire a car, Translink provides good bus transportation from the airports and around the Gold Coast. Plenty of services run throughout the day roughly every 20 minutes or so. You can find the most appropriate timetable from your starting point by using their journey planner.
Mermaid Beach distance to other Queensland Destinations
Things to do at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
Two of the main drawcards at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast are swimming and surfing.
Overall, there are three lifeguard towers that are patrolled by the Mermaid Beach Life Saving Club. They are as follows:
Generally speaking the swimming conditions are fairly calm, though there are often rips and drifts you need to contend with. For this reason you should ALWAYS swim between the red and yellow flags.
For those who enjoy surfing, Mermaid Beach can enjoy some moderate swell and decent winds offshore when the conditions are right. You’ll find most of the best waves just to the south of tower #24.
Beach fishing is another well practised pastime in the area, with your best chance of getting a bite on the sand being when there are rips across the inner bar. However, you should consider venturing out to Mermaid Reef on a boat or via kayaking, which is directly next to Mermaid Beach, where you can often catch huge mackerel.
Other activities you can do on the sand are sunbathing, building sandcastles, beachcombing and walking.
Mermaid Beach Accommodation
As well as ‘millionaire’s row’ there are several places to stay in Mermaid Beach for tourists. They range from fancy resorts and luxury hotels to holiday apartments and units and quaint beach shacks that can be booked through providers like Airbnb.
Depending on your budget you might want to consider the following places, all of which provide comfortable accommodation and good proximity to the beach. You can make a reservation at any of them here.
Whitehaven at Broadbeach
Occupying a convenient location on the Gold Coast Highway, the Montego Mermaid Beach Motel, this fabulous property is just 200 metres from Mermaid Beach.
It offers well-appointed private rooms with air conditioning and fans and is close to a nice range of cafes and shops.
Turtle Beach Resort
A terrific option for those wanting upscale family accommodation is the Turtle Beach Resort. This charming resort is just 3000 metres from Mermaid Beach and provides tourists with the option of one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments.
All of their fully furnished apartments come with a balcony that looks out to tropical gardens. Overall, the resort has four different swimming areas as well as a pool waterslide within one of them. Additionally, guests can enjoy the use of two saunas, spa treatments, a fitness room, tennis court and plenty of other entertainment options which enable guests to make the most of their time there.
Montana Palms Resort
The fantastic Montana Palms Resort is a Mermaid Beach Gold Coast resort that has one of the biggest swimming pools in the area. So, if you fancy spending your time away from the beach in the pool you will be well away. If you stay here you will also be able to book massage and spa treatments and use the barbecue facilities.
Accommodations here take the form of two- and three- bedroom apartments that are self-serviced. They come with a fabulous range of amenities including a full kitchen, balconies, laundry, undercover parking and free Wi-Fi.
Diamond Sands Resort
This is another excellent resort that presents one- two- and three- bedroom apartments. The Diamond Sands Resort provides direct access to the beach and a lovely swimming pool.
Guests will also find a water spa, full kitchen, separate laundry and a car park spot. In addition, there is a swimming pool specifically for children with water slides.
For those wanting to escape the tourist crowds that flock to other parts of the region, Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is an excellent option.
Mermaid Beach Restaurants
If you consider yourself a foodie then you’ll love the variety of options available for where to eat at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast.
Locals will tell you that the Mermaid Surf Life Saving Club is one of the best clubs in the region. It certainly has a huge food menu, great vibe and a fabulous balcony that looks out to the Coral Sea and Hedges Avenue.
Elsewhere, Etsu Izakaya on the Gold Coast Highway is a great place to go if you like sushi, tempura, sashimi and other delicious Japanese dishes. You may well need to book here as the place is always busy.
Talking of Asian food, Ally Chow is a fantastic bar and fusion restaurant that serves up an exceptional fine dining experience. It is particularly popular among couples who come here for its top-notch food, charming ambience and cool background music. Moreover, the bar offers a terrific selection of Japanese whiskey and Sake Asian inspired cocktails.
If you fancy some top-notch coffee and maybe a sweet treat, take a five-minute walk from the Surf Club down Ventura Road, towards the Bam Bam Bakehouse. This hip spot is renowned for its incredible croissants, eclairs and other pastries. It also offers terrific burgers and a massive plate of sweet potato fries that will take you to culinary heaven!
As a foodie, you should also take the opportunity to dine at Little Mermaid, also on the Gold Coast Highway. It offers a tremendous bottomless brunch every day of the week and has some of the best chicken and waffles you are ever likely to taste. Make sure you leave some room for their delicious desserts too.
Other Gold Coast Restaurants
Final Thought
For those wanting to escape the tourist crowds that flock to other parts of the region, Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is an excellent option.
While it is noticeably less busy, it possesses a laid-back and upscale vibe that is hard to find elsewhere. Despite this, it still has plenty of amenities and facilities to keep you entertained for hours and some decent holiday accommodation options.
For this reason, it is well worth adding Mermaid Beach Gold Coast to your Queensland Beach bucketlist.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mermaid Beach.
How Far Is Mermaid Beach from Brisbane?
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is situated about 83 km south of Queensland's Brisbane. All up, to drive you there from the CBD it will take you about an hour and 10 minutes
Is Mermaid Beach Gold Coast Patrolled?
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is a patrolled beach so it is a terrific family-friendly beach in Queensland to go for a swim. Lifeguards are on duty between 8am and 5pm during the months of November to April, between Towers 24 (around Seashell Avenue) and 25 (around Hilda Street). By the surf club, Tower 26 is patrolled all year round between 8am and 5pm.
Is there good surf at Mermaid Beach Gold Coast?
Mermaid Beach Gold Coast is not well known as a surf beach, as most surfers tend to head to Kurrawa Beach or Surfers Paradise. However, it does has some decent waves, particularly when the winds hit from the west.
