Main Beach, located just north of Surfers Paradise, is a popular location with visitors and locals alike. Along Tedder Avenue, you will find a variety of shops and a street packed with dining and nightlife options, and all of that is fronted by a beautiful and often quiet peaceful beach.
Head along Sea World Drive and on your left you’ll see there is Mariners Cove Marina featuring waterfront restaurants, marine & boat sales and a vast array of activities including helicopter tours, jet ski hire, boat hire, fishing charters, and cruises.
Right beside Mariners Cove is Marina Mirage, a modern two-level shopping mall with an al-fresco feel, features an array of up-market fashion and accessory stores, fine and casual dining, gifts and homewares, beauty and salon services.
The luxury Palazzo Versace Hotel is also located beside the marina and on the opposite side of the road, you’ll find the Sheraton Grand Mirage Hotel & Resort on the beachfront.
Continue heading up Sea World Drive and you’ll come to Sea World theme park and Sea World Resort.
Just past Sea World Resort and it becomes and the area known as The Spit which includes Doug Jennings Park. The area provides spaces for relaxing, walking tracks such as Federation Walk, fishing and beautiful views out to the Seaway and Wavebreak Island. There are also scuba diving sites in the waters here.
Most importantly, let’s not forget the main attraction of the area, the beach. Actually, it’s a really nice stretch of beach that is far less crowded than Surfers Paradise. It’s about 2km long stretching from Narrow Neck at the northern edge of Surfers Paradise through to The Spit in the north and it’s very popular with windsurfers.
On the beachfront here at the northern end of MacArthur Parade, you’ll find The historic Main Beach Pavillion and the Southport Surf Life Saving Club which offers bar, gaming, and bistro meals.
For safe swimming, always swim between the flags and check when lifeguards are in operation by visiting the Beach Safe website here: https://beachsafe.org.au/beach/qld/gold-coast/main-beach/southport.
Things to do in Main Beach
- Take a tour, boat cruise or adventure ride from Mariners Cove Marina
- Enjoy a night of waterfront dining at Marina Mirage
- Explore the undeveloped native coastal areas and walking tracks of the Spit
- Enjoy one of Australia’s most beautiful beachfront
- Enjoy a day at Sea World Theme Park
Restaurants and Dining in Main Beach
For dining in the Main Beach, there really are too many options with the key areas being Tedder Avenue, Mariners Cove Marina, and Marina Mirage.
Our picks for the top dining options in Main Beach
- Omeros Bros Seafood Restaurant – Award-winning restaurant by the water’s edge at Marina Mirage, Seaworld Drive
- Glass Dining and Lounge Bar – elegant waterfront dining, open for lunch & dinner – Marina Mirage 74 Sea World Dr
- Terraces Restaurant – very popular seafood buffet, seasonally offering lunch buffet and dinner buffet daily – 71 Sea World Dr, Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
- Domani’s – Italian/modern Australian – U 4 18 Tedder Ave, Main Beach
- Shuck – Seafood – a popular spot for casual fine dining with a focus on seafood – 20 Tedder Ave, Main Beach
The best coffee in Main Beach
Coffee is ubiquitous, but we have two favorite places to share
- Local & Co – 13 Tedder Ave – French-themed cafe with amazing cakes and cafe meals
- Hard Coffee – specialty coffee shop and cafe in a cozy setting on Tedder Avenue
The top places to stay in Main Beach
If you are looking for luxury, then you are in the right place, Main Beach has it in spades, our picks are
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast features a pool, pool bar, kids pool, gym, onsite restaurants, a health spa and direct beach access.
The Palazzo Versace has an Aurora Spa Retreat, a 24-hour fitness and wellbeing centre, a private marina, a Versace Boutique, swimming pools, spa pool, award-winning restaurants, bars.
Sea World Resort offers a very family freindly resort with amenaties such as swimming pool, water slide, hot tub, sauna, gym, spa, childrens playground, a buffet restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, and a cafe.
Check out our list of The Top 10 Places to Stay in Main Beach, or full list of Gold Coast accommodation deals here
Transport
You can plan a journey on the public transport network easily with this Journey Planner
The area is serviced by the G:Link light rail and public buses with the main stops being
- G:Link Main Beach station near the intersection of Tedder Ave on the Gold Coast Hwy
- Main Beach bus station near the intersection of Tedder Ave on the Gold Coast Hwy
- Tedder Avenue near Cronin Ave bus station
- Tedder Avenue near Hughes Ave bus station
- Main Beach Pde near Stafford St bus station
- Main Beach Pde at Main Beach Tourist Park bus station
- Seaworld Dr at Southport Yacht Club bus station
- Seaworld Dr at Mariners Cove bus station
- Sea World bus station
The Best of Main Beach Map
71 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
94 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Southport Surf Club Access, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
Main Beach Statistics
ABS 2021 Figures for the suburb of Main Beach
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 4,027 |
| Median age | 45 years |
| Median household income | $1,500 per week |
| Median house price | $1,200,000 |
| Percentage of owner-occupiers | 78% |
| Percentage of renters | 22% |
| Percentage of people born in Australia | 70% |
| Percentage of people born overseas | 30% |
| Top three countries of birth (other than Australia) | United Kingdom, New Zealand, China |