Mermaid Beach
Huge beachfront homes and some of the last remaining beach shacks on the Gold Coast front Mermaid Beach. The beach is accessed at street ends and through Ken Mansbridge Park, opposite the Mermaid Beach Surf Club.
Swimming
Mermaid Beach has 3 patrolled lifeguard towers:
- Tower 24 – Seashell Avenue / Hedges Avenue
Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, every day between September and April and during school holidays
- Tower 25 – Hilda Street / Hedges Avenue
Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, every day between November and April and during school holidays
- Tower 26 – Montana Avenue, near Mermaid Beach Surf Lifesaving Club
Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, every day all year round
Make sure you swim in the patrolled area between the red and yellow flags.
Surfing
Beach breaks extend the full length of the beach and conditions are best on a moderate swell and offshore winds. Wave quality is variable depending on prevailing swell direction, wind, tide and sand bar formation so check conditions before paddling out. If in doubt, don't paddle out. For more information, visit our Surfing page.
Facilities
To view the facilities available at this beach including accessibility features, use our interactive map.
Getting there
| Public transport |
Translink buses run along the Gold Coast Highway past Mermaid Beach. Plan your trip using Translink's journey planner. |
| Active travel |
Walk, run or bike ride to the beach. Plan your trip using our walking and cycling maps. |
| Parking |
There is limited parking at the surf club. On-street parking is available in surrounding streets. Take note of parking signs and/or line markings before heading to the beach. |
About Mermaid Beach
Mermaid Beach got its name from the cutter HMS Mermaid, which explorer John Oxley sailed aboard in 1823 when he discovered the Brisbane and Tweed Rivers. Mermaid Beach is generally much quieter in contrast to its busy neighbours in Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise. This is likely due to the majority of the beach here being fronted by homes and units. Hedges Avenue runs parallel to the beach and has a dedicated pedestrian and bike lane, providing access to the beach at cross streets.
The Mermaid Beach Surf Club is located back from the beach, across from the beachfront Ken Mansbridge Park. The park has tables and shelters. There's an eclectic blend of dining options a few blocks from the beach, particularly along the Gold Coast Highway.
There is no oceanway along this stretch of beach, however, there is a dedicated bike lane along Hedges Avenue, as well as bike parking at the Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club.