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Main Beach is a coastal suburb of the Gold Coast, just north of Surfers Paradise. While it isn't known that well as its southern neighbour, it is still a very popular upscale tourist spot known for its Sea World resort and its long beach.
Get in
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The main road to get into Main Beach is the Main Beach Parade from Surfers Paradise.
If you're using public transit, the 1 Main Beach light rail station of the Gold Coast's G:link LRT network is on the southern fringes of Main Beach. It's a bit of a walk to the rest of Main Beach, but it should take no more than 30 minutes for the average walker at the very max.
Hopo Gold Coast provides ferry services from G:link stations in Surfers Paradise and Southport to 2 Marina Mirage Wharf and 3 Sea World Wharf.
See and do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Sea World, Seaworld Dr. Daily 9:30AM–5PM. A marine theme park mainly catering injured marine wildlife, the park has several rides, attractions, shows and many marine attractions showcasing marine Australasian wildlife
- 2 Federation Walk Coastal Reserve. A coastal reserve with a mix of subtropical landscape including littoral rainforest, native grasslands, and pockets of wetlands and many of the wildlife found in these biomes.
Buy
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- 1 Marina Mirage (Marina Mirage Shopping Centre), 74 Seaworld Dr, ☏ +61 7 5555 6400, admin@marinamirage.com.au. 10AM–6PM. An upscale shopping mall with boutique stores and waterfront dining. It's, unfortunately, a bit car-centric. Still, it's walkable from the nearest G:link stop (≈20 mins) – however, the Hopo GC Ferry between Sea World and Surfers Paradise stops by Marina Mirage, but services are infrequent.
Eat
[edit | edit source]Tedder Avenue between Hughes and Cronin Avenues is home to an upscale shopping and dining precinct with boutique stores, cafes, and restaurants. Although not pedestrianised, it's still a very pedestrian-friendly street (for Australian standards outside Sydney) and is connected to the bus network via the 704.
- 1 Domanis Cafe Restaurant Bar, 1/19-21 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 7 5571 0091. Sun Tue–Thu 11AM–10PM; Mon 5PM–9PM; Fri Sat 11AM–midnight.
- 2 Hot Shott, 3/17 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 451 847 370. Daily 5:30AM–4PM. A spacious cafe and restaurant – has everything essential an Australian restaurant needs to have.
- 3 Lark Cafe, cnr Stafford Ave & Main Beach Parade, ☏ +61 7 5532 8441. 5:30AM–2PM. Another ordinary Australian cafe.
- 4 Le Jardin Cafe Restaurant, 13 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 7 5564 0100. Daily 6AM–5PM. A cafe with a large outdoor garden and patio. Plenty of good Australianised French and Belgian food.
- 5 Main Beach Fish Grotto, 10/20 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 457 779 712, mainbeachfishgrotto@gmail.com. Daily 11AM–8PM. A small fish and chips takeaway shop.
- 6 Milan On Main, 4/14-16 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 7 5591 6661, info@milanonmain.com. Daily noon–9PM. Upscale Italian restaurant and cafe – and despite its name, the restaurant specialises in Napoli cuisine, not Lombard cuisine.
- 7 Senza Nome Italian Restaurant, 8/20 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 7 5564 0900. Daily noon–9PM. Italian mid-range restaurant that's spacious.
- 8 Shuck Restaurant, 20 Tedder Ave, ☏ +61 7 5528 4286, info@shuck.com.au. Wed–S noon–midnight. Perhaps the most splurge seafood restaurant on Main Beach, with lots of fresh local oysters and fish.
- 9 Xenia Main Beach, 30 Peak Ave, ☏ +61 480 384 535. Daily noon–3PM, 5–8:30PM. A Greek restaurant.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern, Shop 40, 60-70 Seaworld Dr, ☏ +61 7 5571 0566, info@fishermanswharftavern.com.au. Mon–Fri 10AM–11PM, Sat Sun 10AM–12:30AM. A rather unusual westward facing coastal tavern, open till late.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]Accommodation at Main Beach tends to be expensive and the only accommodation that can be found here often are above $200 the very minimum – for more budget options, some of the inland suburbs will have a lower price range, but at a compromise of losing very convenient access to the nearby beach.
Budget
[edit | edit source]Mid-range
[edit | edit source]- 1 Maldives Resort (Maldives Resort Main Beach), 46–52 Pacific Street, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5557 7500, stay@maldivesresort.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A relaxed, mid-scale resort offering comfortable, fully self-contained one-bedroom apartments equipped with private balconies showing ocean, pool, or garden views. Select rooms offer upgraded superior layouts with updated kitchens and bathrooms. Property facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, heated spa, poolside BBQ entertainment area, an on-site beauty salon, a tour desk, and complimentary secure covered underground parking. From A$160.
Splurge
[edit | edit source]- 2 Beachside Tower (Beachside Tower Apartments), 3545 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5591 7033, enquiries@beachsidetower.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Absolute beach frontage property offering fully self-contained one-, two-, and three-bedroom holiday apartments. Features only two apartments per floor, ensuring all units directly face the ocean and include private balconies with sweeping views of the Pacific. Amenities include a large heated outdoor swimming pool with a children's wading area, a spacious grassed barbecue zone, free Wi-Fi, and underground security parking. From A$230.
- 3 De Ville Apartments, 3645 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5591 6322, info@deville.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Spacious, self-contained one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned directly opposite the beach. Rooms offer expansive, uninterrupted views of the Gold Coast coastline, Marina Mirage, and the Hinterland. Select executive units have been premium-renovated. Property highlights include a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, sauna, full-sized tennis court, barbecue entertainment setups, and complimentary secure undercover off-street parking. From A$240.
- 4 Imperial Hotel Gold Coast, 94 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5509 8000, reservations@theimperialgc.com.au. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. An iconic luxury 5-star resort boasting palatial Mediterranean-inspired architecture and bespoke style. Originally launched as the world's first fashion-branded designer hotel, the property features 200 light-filled rooms and suites looking out over the private marina or tranquil Broadwater. Includes a spectacular 65-metre lagoon pool with its own white sand beach, an indulgent day spa, refined high-tea experiences, and award-winning dining options. From A$260.
- 5 Sea World Resort (Sea World Resort & Water Park), Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 133386. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Australia's only theme park resort, offering family-friendly 4.5-star accommodation on the Broadwater with direct monorail access to Sea World. Features a massive aquatic adventure playground, a sponge-themed splash park, evening entertainment, and exclusive animal encounters tailored for resort guests. From A$220.
- 6 Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast (Sheraton Mirage), 71 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5577 0000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. The Gold Coast's only absolute beachfront 5-star resort. It spans over six hectares of meticulously manicured tropical gardens and enormous swimmable lagoon pools. Accommodations feature bright guest rooms alongside ultra-premium Pacific Mirage Villas. Home to the glass-atrium Terraces Restaurant, which features internal waterfalls and ocean vistas. From A$207.
- 7 Xanadu Main Beach Resort, 59 Pacific Street, Main Beach, QLD 4217, ☏ +61 7 5557 0400, toll-free: +61 1800 557 704, stay@xanadumainbeach.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A modern high-rise tower resort located just 200 metres from the sand of Main Beach. Offers beautifully appointed, fully self-contained one- and two-bedroom holiday apartments with private balconies boasting sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Resort amenities include two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a hot tub, a sauna, a fully equipped fitness center, and full-sized tennis courts. From A$205.
Connect
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