The Spit, Southport and Broadwater Parklands: Outdoor Days from Main Beach

The Spit doesn't really feel like the Gold Coast, which is half the reason locals come up here on a Sunday morning. It's the narrow strip of land that extends north from Main Beach, flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Broadwater on the other, and once you've crossed Sea World Drive past the theme park, the towers stop and the banksias take over. Native vegetation, wide quiet beaches, ospreys overhead. Ocean Sands guests, at 11-17 Hughes Avenue, are about a five-minute drive or a long walk from where it begins.

May is a good month to be out here. The summer heat has eased into autumn shoulder season, the school holidays from Easter have wrapped up, the beaches have thinned out, and the water is still warm enough for a swim if you want one. The whales aren't quite migrating yet (peak season is June through August), but the rest of the place is quietly at its best.

Federation Walk and the National Park End

Federation Walk runs through the Spit's coastal reserve, following the beachfront through coastal vegetation for about 3.7 kilometres one way. The track is sealed enough to take a pram and shaded enough to be pleasant in the middle of the day, which it isn't always elsewhere on the coast. Allow about an hour and a half each way at a strolling pace, less if you're walking with intent.

The car park at the northern end of Sea World Drive is the obvious starting point, about a five-minute drive from Hughes Avenue. Parking is free, which on the Gold Coast is worth mentioning. The beach alongside the walk stays empty even in peak season, partly because of the ten-minute drive and partly because most visitors don't realise it's there. In May, with school back in and the autumn light angled lower, it's the kind of beach where you can walk for half an hour and pass three people.

Sea eagles and ospreys nest in the casuarinas and are regularly visible overhead. Dolphin sightings from the beach are common at dawn, and the occasional turtle shows up in the shallows. The Wikipedia entry on the Southport Spit is a useful primer if you want the geological backstory: the whole landform was created naturally between 1897 and 1898 through longshore drift, which is to say it's a relatively recent piece of coastline, geologically speaking.

Southport Broadwater Parklands

Broadwater Parklands sits about ten minutes north of Main Beach, on the western side of the Broadwater at Southport. It's a large public recreation space, free to use, and it's used. On any given afternoon you'll find families at the water-play area, teenagers at the skate park, friends sharing a BBQ, and someone running drills on the beach volleyball court. The playground is one of the better ones on the coast. The grass extends far enough that a cricket match and a picnic can happen at the same time without bothering each other.

What makes the parklands distinct is the orientation. The Broadwater here faces west, which means it's the right destination for a late afternoon when you want to watch the sun go down over water rather than chase the dawn at the beach. In May, sunset lands around 5:15pm, which is early enough to make a sundowner picnic feasible without a late dinner. Bring something cold, claim a patch of grass.

The parklands are a roughly five-minute drive from Hughes Avenue via Marine Parade and the Gold Coast Highway, or you can walk it along the foreshore in about forty minutes if you've got the morning.

Kayaks, SUPs and Wavebreak Island

Several kayak and SUP operators work out of the Broadwater near the Spit. The Broadwater itself is excellent for paddling: calm, with shallow clear sections where the bottom is visible, and Wavebreak Island in the middle as an obvious destination. Hire is hourly or half-day. Most operators rent single kayaks, doubles and stand-up paddleboards.

Action Outdoor Hire (action-outdoor-hire) operates in the area and is the safer recommendation if you're comparing options. Mornings on the Broadwater tend to be glassy, so a 7am or 8am hire is the move if you want the water to itself. By mid-morning the breeze picks up, which is fine for a confident paddler and harder work for a beginner.

Wavebreak Island sits in the Broadwater just north of the Spit, accessible by kayak, private boat or water taxi. There's a beach on the ocean side and calm Broadwater on the other, and during the day the place is uninhabited apart from whoever's made the crossing. The shallow water between the Spit and the island is good snorkelling when the visibility is up, which in autumn it usually is. Allow about thirty minutes from the Spit launch point, longer if you stop. Pack water, sunscreen and a dry bag. Don't paddle out if you can't see the far shore clearly, which means you also can't be seen.

Getting There from Ocean Sands

The Spit is reached via Sea World Drive heading north from Main Beach. The Federation Walk car park is signposted at the northern end, with free parking. Broadwater Parklands is on Marine Parade in Southport, also about five minutes from Hughes Avenue. Both are direct by car, both have parking that doesn't require an app and a small loan. If you'd rather walk, the foreshore path from Main Beach connects most of the way north into the Spit, and south along Marine Parade into Southport. The full circuit is doable in a morning if you're inclined.

Mini-FAQ

How long is Federation Walk?

About 3.7 kilometres one way through the Spit's coastal reserve, with sealed paths suitable for prams. Allow ninety minutes one way at a strolling pace.

Is Broadwater Parklands free?

Yes. The water play area, playground, BBQs, skate park and volleyball court are all free to use. Parking is free along Marine Parade and in the surrounding streets.

Can you swim at the Spit?

The ocean side has unpatrolled beaches, so swim with caution and check conditions. The Broadwater side is calmer and shallower, suitable for wading and SUP. For patrolled swimming, Main Beach itself is closer and lifeguarded year-round during daylight hours.

Is May a good time to visit on the Spit Gold Coast?

May is autumn shoulder season on the Gold Coast: smaller crowds, mid-twenties days, water still warm enough for a swim, and the summer humidity gone. School term, so weekdays are particularly quiet.

Ocean Sands 2 and 3 bedroom apartments put you within five minutes of the Spit and Broadwater Parklands, with secure underground parking, a heated indoor pool and a tropical outdoor pool for when you're back from the day. May availability is generally better than peak season, and the autumn rates reflect it. Check the Main Beach holiday accommodation page for current dates, or get in touch with the on-site managers directly.