Coomera Houseboats Cruising Area
If you are considering renting one of our Coomera Houseboat fleet but you are not sure where you can go or which Gold Coast beaches are the best, then this blog is just for you!
Coomera Houseboats has one of the largest, safest and most sheltered cruising areas you will find with so much to explore, see and do. You can choose from a large number of beaches to find the perfect ones to suit your chosen activities.
Everyone knows that the famous surf beaches are situated along the Main Beach strip, around Surfers Paradise and right along the coast down to Tallebudgera. They are all pristine, white sandy surf beaches that are featured on Gold Coast posters and shown on every Gold Coast ad.
Are they amazing? Of course they are! Are they the best beaches on the Gold Coast? Well, that all comes down to your personal taste and the reasons you want to visit the Gold Coast.
In this blog, we’re going to let you in on all of the top class ‘local secret spots’ that you can enjoy away from the crowds, and they are all within the Coomera Houseboat cruising area. Why not enjoy your very own unspoilt white sandy beach that you motor across to on a luxury Coomera Houseboat? This then gives you a fantastic basecamp from which you can explore as much, or as little, as you would like to on a daily basis.
Of course, you can also easily get to any of the famous Gold Coast tourist beaches from your Coomera Houseboat, just make sure to ask our staff about the best places to anchor to get to the beach of your choice. As they are all oceanside surf beaches they are outside our cruising area. However, you can get close enough to jump on a tram or in an Uber, or just enjoy a short stroll up the road, so you can tell everyone you walked on the sands and jumped in the waves of Main Beach, in Surfers Paradise.
Karragarra Island
Karragarra Island, alongside North Stradbroke Island between Russell and Macleay islands, is a great destination that includes a sandy, family-safe beach with a protected swimming area near the jetty. You can make use of the barbecues and picnic tables, and enjoy the shady trees while the kids are in the playground.
Karragarra Island is the smallest of the southern islands beside North Stradbroke and is about 500m wide and 2km long. Everything here is within easy walking distance with virtually no traffic which makes it the perfect place to relax with your family and escape the hustle and bustle of the glitter strip!
South Stradbroke Island
One hidden gem you can’t miss out on is South Stradbroke Island, known by the locals as ‘South Straddie’.
South Stradbroke Island is an 1800 hectare conservation park kept in pristine condition by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. You can enjoy unspoilt beaches, spine tingling sand dunes, and lush rainforests, as well as maybe being lucky enough to spot some of the native wildlife!
The southern tip of this local favourite is only 200 metres away from the Spit (just north of Main Beach), and is one of the most beloved places to surf on the Gold Coast.
You can find a spot to anchor your Coomera Houseboat so you can enjoy the calm waterways, or set out across the island to the 22km pristine surf beach if you are looking for a more adventurous day on the beach, with hardly anyone else fighting you for the perfect wave.
There are no bridges or roads to South Stradbroke Island, so this means that the beaches and surf spots are definitely not crowded and those with their own vessel are among the only ones that have access.
Slipping Sands
Every local will have their own favourite spot on South Straddie, but ours is without doubt, Slipping Sands. This is an unparalleled stretch of golden sand at the top of South Straddie, near Jumpinpin Bar.
This area is known by the locals as ‘Millionaire’s Row’, as every weekend you will see the bigger, more expensive, luxury boats turn up to allow the owners to enjoy the simply fantastic attractions of this beach. Slipping Sands is perfect for swimming and beach walks and has easy access to the wide deserted ocean beach and the amazing sand dunes that gives the beach it’s name.
It’s a great place to take your Coomera Houseboat as you can anchor in the safe cove, and then explore the stretches of sandy edges, or venture across to the Surf Beach for some fun in the surf.
The calm waters of the cove are excellent for children. You will need to watch the tides for this visit but if this sounds like a place you want to see, just chat to our staff and they can explain the best place to anchor and how long you should stay.
Paradise Point
About 25 minutes north of Surfers Paradise and away from the well-beaten tourist path, this is another beach that is popular with the locals. Paradise Point stretches for about 2km along the beachfront, facing the Broadwater and safe anchorage is available for your houseboat right near the park.
There are a large number of separate undercover areas with free BBQ facilities and running hot and cold water, multiple kids playgrounds, mature trees that offer plenty of shade and a protected swimming area on the beach with a pier to tie your boat up to.
Multiple restaurants and cafes across the road from the park offer easy dining options, or an ice cream to enjoy overlooking the water. All in all, an excellent family beach location that you could easily spend a couple of glorious days in!
If you are lucky enough to have a Coomera Houseboats vessel on New Year’s Eve then this is the place to be. You will need to anchor a couple of days early to ensure you get to enjoy the 9pm fireworks display and some live music with the locals.
Harley Park
Just one km’s walk away from our cruising ground, a little further up the coast and within sight of Surfers paradise, Harley Park on the Labrador Foreshore is a quiet stretch of sand, perfect for you to throw down a towel and enjoy the sunshine. This is also the spot to come and enjoy some fresh Gold Coast seafood! One of the largest, and most popular seafood venues is located right on the beach.
Charis Seafood is well worth a visit. Stocked with cooked and fresh fish, oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, squid, octopus, crab, bugs, and more, you can be sure you will be able to enjoy a feed with the pelicans or take some fresh seafood back to your Coomera houseboat where you can cook up a meal to remember.
Broadwater Parklands
While this one isn’t within the cruising grounds, just jump on a water taxi and get on your way. Although not technically known as a ‘beach’, this is still a favourite beachside hang out of many locals and tourists alike. Located down the road from Surfers Paradise, opposite Australia Fair in Southport, the Gold Coast’s Broadwater Parklands offers a world class range of facilities for everyone to enjoy.
You will find a vast expanse of green in the heart of the parklands if you want to enjoy a picnic ashore, as well as the Rockpools water playground that is a favourite with the kids. Young kids can enjoy spouting water animals and small waterfalls, as well as a variety of pool areas and creek beds with water filling up and emptying on timers. For older kids, a fun-filled water adventure awaits with pop jets squirting water throughout the play area and waterfalls cascading down the rockpools.
Of course, the famous Gold Coast beach that runs alongside Broadwater Parklands will not fail to impress, with a safe swimming zone and the pristine white sand the Gold Coast is famous for.
When you have booked your houseboat in for your next holiday, take the time to check out our cruising grounds map and work out which Gold Coast beaches you can’t afford to miss! Alternatively, contact us and let us know your plans, our friendly staff are always happy to recommend the best anchorages for your trip.