Narrowneck
Narrowneck is the slender stretch of sand that separates the Nerang River from the ocean.
Swimming
Narrowneck has 2 patrolled lifeguard towers:
- Tower 38 – North Narrowneck, Main Beach Parade (beach side of Macintosh Island Park)
Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, every day all year round
- Tower 37 – South Narrowneck, Main Beach Parade (opposite Hi Surf apartments)
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
Narrowneck Reef is popular with surfers and offers excellent surf amenity under the right conditions. Surfers should always assess conditions. 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 Main Beach Parade. 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 a car park on Main Beach Parade. On-street parking is available in surrounding streets. Take note of parking signs and/or line markings before heading to the beach. |
About Narrowneck
Narrowneck is the slender stretch of sand that separates the Nerang River from the ocean. In 1920, the highway connecting Sydney to Brisbane was constructed at Narrowneck.
A year later the Gold Coast's first seawall was built at Narrowneck out of timber to protect this narrow stretch of foreshore from erosion. Behind this beach is the beautiful Macintosh Island Park accessed by a modern bridge. The Narrowneck Reef is located here and its construction was a major part of the Northern Gold Coast Beach Protection Strategy.
In 1999, the Narrowneck Reef was constructed offshore to buffer this vulnerable stretch of shoreline from large swells causing erosion. The reef was built using mega geotextile sandbags installed by a specialised vessel. In 2018, it was renewed to ensure the reef continues to protect the coastline.
The oceanway runs along the beachfront here and there are toilets, benches and beach showers.