'Palmy', as it's fondly known by locals, is patrolled by two surf lifesaving clubs, Palm Beach and Pacific Surf Life Saving Clubs. Pacific Surf Life Saving Club, to the north of Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club, is a smaller, family-oriented club. It offers a small café right on the beach, tucked away from the busy Gold Coast Highway.
There are several parks along Palm Beach that contain toilets, tables, beach showers and shade structures. There is no beachfront Oceanway along this section of the coast.
Make sure you swim in the patrolled area between the red and yellow flags. Palm Beach has two patrol locations. At times, a patrol may be closed due to dangerous swimming conditions, unsafe beach conditions or beach maintenance works.
Jefferson Lane, near Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, between November and April and during school holidays
Near Pacific Surf Lifesaving Club Patrolled by lifeguards between 8am and 5pm, every day between November and April and during school holidays
Palm Beach is part of the World Surfing Reserve. This beach is subject to an increase in wave energy due to the reduced sheltering effects of Snapper Rocks and the orientation of the coast, which tends to be more easterly. There are excellent beach breaks along most of the beach providing a playground for body surfing, short boarding, long boarding, stand-up paddle boarding and other surf-related activities. The Palm Beach Artificial Reef is also popular with experienced surfers. Surfers should always assess conditions. If in doubt, don't paddle out. For more information, visit our Surfing page.
To view the facilities available at this beach including accessibility features, use our interactive map.
If you'd like to exercise your dog off-leash, there are plenty of designated areas across the Gold Coast – find one near you on the dog exercise area map.
Please note: Dogs are prohibited within 200 metres of flagged swimming areas.