Beach wheelchairs & matting

You can only use a beach wheelchair at the location you borrowed it from.

You will need to bring one or two people to help you transfer, wheel along the beach and accompany you in the water. There won't be someone available to help you.

It can be difficult to wheel the beach wheelchairs through soft sand. It’s best to bring some strong companions to help.

Equipment availability can vary due to beach conditions. Check with our partner before going to the beach. Some partners may supply equipment outside the usual hours on request.

You can borrow a beach wheelchair to use anywhere on the Gold Coast. You will need to collect and transport the beach wheelchair. For details, go to Beach wheelchair loans.

Use the beach wheelchair as instructed. You will need to read and follow the equipment manual. You may also need to sign a waiver or hire agreement before using a beach wheelchair.

Only use the beach wheelchair in areas patrolled by lifeguards/lifesavers. Stay between the red and yellow flags when going in the water.

Follow all safety instructions provided by the club and lifeguards/lifesavers.

View the locations list for details on accessible toilets and changing rooms at each location.

These locations have Changing Places toilets nearby:

• Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club, Broadbeach
• Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club, Burleigh
• Broadwater Parklands, Southport
• Neptune Royal Life Saving Club, Tallebudgera Creek

To find exact locations of accessible parking, beach showers and Changing Places amenities go to Mobility maps.

Equipment

• Beach wheelchair: Sandcruiser
• Equipment availability: 10am to 2:30pm, Monday to Friday, all year
• Contact details: email lifesaving@kurrawasurf.com.au or phone 07 5527 5660

For more information, visit Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club

Amenities

• Beach wheelchair accessible beach shower
• Changing Places toilet with dual transfer toilet, height adjustable change bench, shower and ceiling tracking hoist. Please bring your own 4-looped sling to use the hoist.
  You will need a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) to access this facility. The club has a key available for loan or you can apply for a key.

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchairs: Hippocampe, Waterwheels, All-Terrain Rollator beach walker
• Equipment availability: 9am to 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays, September to May
• Contact: email admin@burleighslsc.com.au or phone 07 5535 2419

For more information, visit Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC.

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilets
• Beach wheelchair accessible beach shower
• Changing Places toilet with dual transfer toilet, height adjustable change bench, shower and ceiling tracking hoist. Please bring your own 4-looped sling to use the hoist.
  You will need a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) to access this facility. The club has a key available for loan or you can apply for a key.
  Located next to Nook Expresson, about 150 metres south of the club.

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchairs: Hippocampe, Sandcruiser
• Equipment availability: 9am to 3pm, Saturdays and Sundays, September to May
• Contact: email lifesaving@northburleighslsc.com.au or phone 0480 500 123

For more information, visit North Burleigh SLSC.

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilets
• Beach wheelchair accessible changing room with fixed bench seat, grab rails and additional circulation space
• Beach wheelchair accessible beach shower

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchairs: Hippocampe, Waterwheels
• Equipment availability: 9am to 3:30pm, Saturdays and Sundays, September to May
• Contact: email junioractivities@miamibeachslsc.com.au or phone 07 5572 0353

For more information, visit Miami Beach SLSC.

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilet

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchair: Waterwheels
• Equipment availability: 9am to 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays, September to May.
• Contact: email admin@nobbysbeachslsc.com or phone 07 5526 1117

For more information, visit Nobby's Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilet

Equipment

• Beach matting, permanent

To view the location, download the Southport Central Business District and Broadwater Parklands Mobility Map(PDF, 4MB).

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilets
• Changing Places toilet, with dual transfer toilet, height adjustable change bench, shower and ceiling tracking hoist. Please bring your own 4-looped sling to use the hoist.
  You will need a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) to access this facility. Apply for a key.
  Located about 150 metres north of the Rockpools (across from Café Catalina/the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre).

For more information, visit Broadwater Parklands.

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchairs: Waterwheels, Hippocampe (adult and child sizes), Davinci
• Equipment availability: 9:30am to 3:30pm, Sundays, September to May
• Contact: email admin@surfersparadiseslsc.com.au or phone 07 5531 5966

For more information, visit Surfers Paradise SLSC.

Volunteering Gold Coast Accessible Beaches volunteers provide support at this beach.

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilets on the foreshore
• Beach wheelchair accessible beach showers

Equipment

• Beach matting
• Beach wheelchairs: Waterwheels, DeBug Beach walker
• Equipment availability:
  September to April – 8am to 5pm every day
  May to August – 8am to 5pm weekends only
• Contact: email secretary@neptunerlsc.com.au
• Book: Beach wheelchair and accessible matting

For more information, visit the Neptune Royal LSC

Amenities

• Standard accessible toilets
• Beach wheelchair accessible beach showers
• Changing Places toilet with dual transfer toilet, height adjustable change bench, shower and ceiling tracking hoist. Please bring your own 4-looped sling to use the hoist. You will need a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) to access this facility. The club has a key available for loan or you can apply for a key.

Borrow a WaterWheels or Sandpiper beach wheelchair any day for free through our Beach Wheelchair Lockbox Pilot Program. Due to current beach conditions following Tropical Cyclone Alfred the service will continue without the beach matting in place. The lockbox is located on the foreshore at Justins Park in Burleigh Beach, just 40 meters north of Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Lifesaving Club:

• Locker A contains a Waterwheels wheelchair (for people up to 115kg)
• Locker B contains a Sandpiper wheelchair (for people up to 80kg).

Only use wheelchairs on loan:

• if beach and weather conditions are suitable
• during lifeguard beach patrol times, within a patrolled beach area
• if the beach is open and flags are up
• at Burleigh Beach.

Please reach out to Gold Coast Recreation & Sport Inc if you would like to request a multi-day loan or to borrow a beach wheelchair that you can take to other locations.

Beach wheelchairs: Hippocampe, Sandcruiser

Bookings essential

To book: visit Gold Coast Recreation and Sport beach wheelchair hire

Contact: email skyem@gcrs.com.au or phone 07 5531 3312, 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday

Eligibility

Local Life Saving Clubs and community organisations can apply to join the program. You must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

Applying to join the program

You can contact us to discuss your application by email inclusion@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 465 326. We will meet you at your location to:

• help you apply
• discuss what equipment will best suit your circumstances
• provide information for you to share with your Management Committee.

What you will do as a Beach Access Program partner

The role of our partners is to provide, manage and take care of the equipment. You do not have to assist with transfers, wheeling along the sand, or taking people into the water.

To join the program, you’ll need a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City. This document outlines your responsibilities and how we will assist you. As a partner, you must:

• be responsible for the equipment throughout your participation in the program. This includes managing risks
• provide the equipment to the community for free at least one day per week during surf patrol season. This can include nipper days.
• attend a one-time training session on equipment maintenance.
• handle the deployment, upkeep, and storage of the equipment. You must tell us if your equipment is damaged or unsafe so we can fix or replace it
• inform users about safe usage and operation, such as providing equipment manuals.
• maintain your insurance coverage. This includes public liability, personal accident and injury, and/or WorkCover insurance
• advertise the availability of the equipment on your website.

How we will support you

We will:

• Supply you with beach wheelchairs and / or matting. We will also provide equipment manuals and ancillary equipment. For example, if you have a beach wheelchair, we will give you life vests
• organise one-time training to help you safely assemble, use and maintain your equipment. If needed, partners can ask for refresher training
• arrange and cover the cost of an annual service of the beach wheelchair
• handle repairs or replacement of damaged parts / equipment
• feature you as a Beach Access Program partner on our website and other places
• work with you on how to manage the equipment
• offer guidance and ongoing support.

Contact us

You can contact us by email inclusion@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 465 326.