Miami Beach Gold Coast

Just Another Day in Paradise. Australia has its own Miami Beach, it’s on the Gold Coast in Queensland and what an impressive beach it is.

The autumn days in SE Queensland at this time of the year can be absolutely gorgeous. The temperature may drop to a chilly 6 degrees overnight, but the days warm up to a very nice 22 degrees to 25 degrees. The summer temperatures are way hotter than this, so as the saying goes, “there’s no time like the present”, a ROAD TRIP to the Gold Coast was organized for a day visit to the beach.

Click on the Red Markers for Locations

South from Brisbane is Queensland’s Gold Coast best known for its theme parks, glitzy night life and “Sun, Surf and Sand”. Most people have heard of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Burleigh, Kirra and Cooloongatta, all great spots to holiday. On a busy day, also great spots to try and find free car parking that is close to the beach, and you DON’T have to pay a charge for the privilege of parking the car so you can spread your towel on the sand.

Firstly, arriving in Broadbeach then driving around looking around for a free park that was near the beach seemed like an eternity, I thought there has to be a better way.

💡Idea: Heading south along the Gold Coast Highway and only 4.5 kilometers down the road passing by another top spot, Nobbys Beach, I rediscovered drop dead gorgeous Miami Beach. I say rediscovered because years ago, I lived in the Gold Coast suburb of Miami and spent many hours surfing the beach breaks and wandering along the golden stretch of sand that is tucked in between the two imposing rocky headlands of Nobbys Beach in the north and Miami Headland (Mick Schamburg Park) to the South.

Miami beach can be an extremely popular spot on week-ends and holiday time but a little bit quieter when I visited mid-week. It certainly does not have the glitz and glamour of Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach or the bars and cafés of Burleigh Heads’ which is just a few kilometers further south, but that’s just what the locals and Brisbane day trippers like about it. You won’t find any theme parks or crowds of tourists here; Miami Beach has a very down to earth local feel about it and is a place that could remind you of a beach holiday you might have gone on with family and friends when you were much younger.

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Miami Beach is tucked away inside the high cliffs of the Miami Headland with the Surf Life Saving Club located directly behind the main surfing beach. The long stretches of golden sands offer plenty of swimming and surfing spots with the main beach area patrolled by the local surf lifesavers. Miami Headland also offers some protection from the elements if there is a strong southerly wind blowing which can often spoil a day out on many open Gold Coast beaches.

Here you’ll also find the rainbow-coloured stairs, put on your walking shoes and test your fitness as you make the climb to the summit of the Miami Headland where you’ll reach Mick Schamburg Park and the most amazing panoramic views from Lores Bonney Lookout stretching all the way from Miami, north to Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise.

Stretching along the clean white sands of Miami Beach is a beach front foreshore reserve, with plenty of parking and access to the beach from Marine Parade. This is an extremely popular spot with picnickers, dog-walkers, cyclists and joggers. Miami’s Beach esplanade and parklands are dotted with all the modern amenities and facilities you might need including public and disabled toilets, BBQ’s and undercover tables and chairs all scattered along the shoreline. There is also plenty of parking along the esplanade and the surf club with more than enough room for you to lay your hands on your piece of paradise and set up for a day out.

The children’s playground will keep the kids amused for hours and with toilets situated nearby and some of the best beach views on the Coast, this would be an ideal spot to throw down the picnic blanket, organise your picnic goodies for a feast by the sea.

 

In keeping with the local vibe of the area, just a few steps back off Miami Beach, situated at the Surf Life Saving Club, you’ll discover Piccolo’s Expresso Café where you can enjoy a fresh cup of Merlo Coffee , drool over a fresh made juice or pull up a table and order a tasty café style meal from the breakfast or lunch menu. The views on a clear sunny beach day are absolutely stunning. ☕💖💖

Miami Beach tends to be little more secluded than some of its more famous neighbouring Beaches to the north and south and that’s the way the locals like it. Miami still has a caravan park (situated behind the Surf Life Savers), accommodation for longer stays but it’s the beach, the beachside coffee shop giving it a retro easy feeling of beach days past. This is a terrific location to head to for a day trip or a longer stay making it an exceedingly popular destination for surfers and family holidays.

If you are planning a Road Trip to the Gold Coast the choices of where to go and stay are endless. When I head to the Coast I like to have break where the crowds are smaller, you know the feeling you get, where it seems you have the beach and surf all to yourself. Places to park, a secret fishing spot, beach shack type coffee shops and cafes, patrolled beaches and access to some of the Tourist attractions when its time to go exploring are the “must haves” that I look for.

Miami Beach hits all the right notes for me, but if you want something a little more adventurous, Burleigh Heads, just a few kilometres down the highway might me just the place. Beautiful protected beach’s, Markets on the foreshore, beachside walking trails and a stunning hiking track around Burleigh Hill to Tallebudgera Creek is a breathtaking experience. Cafes, restaurants, clubs, shopping and accommodation, you’ll find all this and more at Burleigh.

I have previously posted a Blog on Burleigh Heads, click on the link below- Surprising Burleigh Heads – for all your visit information.