Your ultimate guide to Gold Coast beaches

The Gold Coast is annually one of the most popular and highly-visited tourist destinations in Australia, and one of the main reasons why is obviously its huge number of pristine white beaches. Stretched out over the course of approximately 57km of coastline, the Gold Coast's beaches feature some of the most popular surf breaks and beach locations in not only Australia but also the world.

But what differentiates one Gold Coast beach from the next? Which beach is best suited for those with families and young children as opposed to teenagers, couples or students? We attempt to answer all those questions and more with this Gold Coast beaches guide. The core beaches of the Gold Coast, in alphabetical order, are as follows:

Broadbeach, located towards the Gold Coast's northern end, is a suburb that provides a pleasant blend of shopping, upmarket restaurants, low and high rise resort and apartment buildings, as well as being home to three significant Gold Coast facilities - Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Jupiter's Casino, and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The area, as may be guessed from its name, is also home to a long, clean stretch of beach that is easily accessible for both pedestrians and cyclists and is bordered by several large parks that make for great picnic areas.

The beach itself is patrolled by staff from the Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club, and also sits alongside the Broadbeach Surfschool which offers surfing lessons and training. The beaches at Broadbeach, along with the people they attract, are indicative of the suburb itself - slightly more refined and less intense than the crowds at Surfers Paradise yet more upbeat and cosmopolitan than those further to the south of the Gold Coast.

Always a popular surfing destination due to its widely renowned surf break, Burleigh Heads and the point which is a hotspot for weekend barbecues and picnics due to its large, scenic park which overlooks the ocean. Providing a good alternative to the more tourist-populated suburbs of the Gold Coast, Burleigh's beaches can also draw significant numbers, especially when the surf is up and spectators as well as participants may appear.

Burleigh provides a pleasant beach atmosphere that is protected by the point to the south and offers one of the best all-round swimming, bodyboarding and surfing beaches on the Gold Coast, which is also reflected in the fact that the Quicksilver Pro professional surfing contest is often held at Burleigh Heads when the conditions are not suitable at other alternatives such as Kirra.

Acting as the initial symbol many international and interstate visitors will have upon arriving at the Gold Coast by plane, Coolangatta is the area where the main stretch of continuous beach that reaches up to Main Beach in the north begins. Its two main beaches - Greenmount Beach and Rainbow Bay - are the Gold Coast's only north-facing beaches which helps to provide excellent, sheltered conditions that are ideal for swimming. A stroll around the point to nearby Snapper Rocks can also give you an increased chance of seeing whales passing on their annual migration throughout the year's cooler months.

Greenmount Point is a piece of coastal headland which serves to separate the main Coolangatta stretch of beach to the north with Rainbow Bay to the south, and makes for a great, picturesque vantage point to take in the coastal scenery. While Coolangatta's beaches are great for swimming, they are not the best for those looking for wave breaks for surfing, so aspiring surfers would be best served looking elsewhere, particularly the nearby Duranbah and Kirra beaches - two of the surfing hotspots of the entire Gold Coast.

Currumbin's beaches form a lovely balance between a family destination - with sheltered off, shark-netted swimming areas and nearby parks ideal for barbecues - with a great spot for surfers and other watersports enthusiasts offered by Currumbin Alley.

Affectionately dubbed simply "The Alley", it is a surf break that can often be crowded due to it being surfable in almost any conditions - long-boarders will delight in the smaller days, while other surfers will be able to take advantage of some great right-hand waves available towards the point. Relatively fast, long waves can be caught when the swell is up that are perfect for lots of turns while also being relatively forgiving. Many surfing lesson schools are also in operation on weekends in the area which can prove both a benefit to beginners and a hazard to surfing veterans.

While not technically a part of the "legal borders" of the Gold Coast, Duranbah (or Flagstaff Beach) warrants a mention of its own as it is just a short trip from the main part of Coolangatta. Duranbah, or "D-Bah" as it is known by the locals, is one of the world's best-known surfing beaches, with suitable surf in most conditions as the swell can get quite big. Families looking for a swim would be advised to stay away - the beach itself isn't anything amazing and it's all about the waves at Duranbah.

With plenty of space for both bodyboarders and short boards to reach the great sets rolling in, be sure to check out D-Bah if you're looking for a surfing destination on the Gold Coast and feel confident in your abilities. As an added bonus for families, the Point Danger lookout which overlooks Duranbah and down further along the coast provides an amazing view and destination for a walk in the daily sunshine.

Kirra Point's small rocky headland serves to separate Kirra Beach on the North from the main Coolangatta beach to the south, and is often regarded as one of the world's premier surf breaks, with multiple surfing competitions - both professional and amateur - held here throughout the year.

With some of the best and most diverse surfing conditions along the Gold Coast, smaller surf can be found closer to the shore that is ideal for both swimming and beginning board riders, while outside the flags there are more challenging surf breaks further out that can sometimes become crowded due to their popularity with surfers. Another reason to visit Kirra Beach is not only the beach itself, but also the range of beautiful Gold Coast scenery that it has to offer with scenic footpaths, headland, golden sand and greenery all combining to make it a picturesque locale.

Originally named because it was, quite simply, the "Main Beach" for the nearby town of Southport, Main Beach has become a separate suburb in its own right due to continued development. While its popularity as a pure surfing beach has gradually tailed off, it has become a hotspot as great "chill out" destination due to the many accommodation facilities that sit in close proximity to the water.

In addition, Main Beach is also usually substantially less crowded than its neighbouring beaches at Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, lending it a relaxing atmosphere with several nearby restaurants and coffee shops available for use. A good choice as a Gold Coast beach destination for families with kids who want to have a fun and peaceful day out at the beach.

Nobby Beach in the suburb of Mermaid Beach is a secluded, quiet beach that offers a fairly substantial amount of parking bordered by a large park which provides a nice area for both adults and children to relax. Decent surfing is also offered with good waves appearing on a clean, easterly swell - surfers simply need to find a good bank or surf the shore break on the high tide in order to receive a powerful, clean ride.

Fishing is also a popular and viable activity to visitors to Nobby Beach - aspiring fishers can search out a deep gutter and wet a line for some quality catches of bream, dart and whiting that can be found all year round. Lastly, families may enjoy a tranquil walk in either direction along the quiet beachfront, with a spectacular sunrise offered at dawn over the sea for the early riser.

Twice voted to be the cleanest beach in Queensland, the beaches of Palm Beach have little in terms of distinct features to distinguish them from any other on the Gold Coast, yet provide a reliable, comfortable and often uncrowded option for a day of both swimming and relaxation. As the area is less developed and built up as opposed to some of its northern counterparts, Palm Beach beaches are popular with families, bodyboarders and walkers - especially those with dogs.

The option is also there to take an extended walk through the nature areas which extend along this stretch of the Gold Coast, being able to follow the boardwalk all the way through to the Burleigh Heads National Park. There are also playgrounds and parks dotted along the span of Palm Beach that prove popular with kids as well as families who want to have a picnic due to the large number of picnic tables, seats and barbecues available for public use.

Easily the most famous beach on the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise is also easily the most popular and crowded throughout the year due to its close proximity to the main attractions and theme parks, accommodation, nightlife and entertainment hub of the Gold Coast. The name "Surfers Paradise" can be deceiving however; while Surfers' beach is definitely one of the most beautiful on the Gold Coast and if not, the world, the conditions for actual surfing are no better (and often far worse) than other Gold Coast-area alternatives such as Kirra, Duranbah and Burleigh Heads.

Being situated a mere 100m walk from a huge range of restaurants, shopping outlets and fast food chains means that what Surfers Paradise beach lacks in big waves it more than makes up for in convenience, and its location near so many resorts and holiday apartment buildings makes it a hugely popular location to while away weekends either lazing on the beach or enjoying the great swimming conditions.

The beach is also regularly and heavily patrolled by Surf Life Saving volunteers, and its foreshore has undergone a major recent redevelopment that has helped spruce up its presentation even more. Much like the city of Surfers Paradise itself, the beach is aimed mainly towards the international, tourist, and "young adult" crowds.