Ready, set, SUP! Your guide to the best spots to stand-up paddle board on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a water-bound oasis, making it the perfect place to stand up paddle board. This guide will steer you in the right direction for a sun-soaked day of SUPing.

The Gold Coast is a water-bound oasis (absolutely no surprises there), making it easy to select standout spots to swim and surf. Though, best places to venture out on a stand-up paddle board (SUP) are a little less obvious. From calm creeks and hidden beaches to hinterland dams and inner-city islands, this guide will steer you in the right direction for a sun-soaked day of stand-up paddleboarding on the Gold Coast.

Tallebudgera Creek

Tallebudgera Creek is one of the most pristine places to explore on a SUP – time your visit with the high tide on a sunny day and you’ll be treated with water so clear you’ll see the patterns of rippled sand across the creek bed beneath. Dolphins are often cruising these spectacular waters too! The section of beach that fronts the Gold Coast Recreation Precinct is patrolled, offering a safe platform for beginner paddlers to find their feet. Plus, if you work up an appetite for coffee and freshly baked cookies (it happens), Custard Canteen is just a few sandy-footed steps away. You can also launch your SUP on the Koala Park side, across from Burleigh Headland (Jellurgal) and the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. On Tallebudgera Creek’s southern side, SUPs can cruise from Murlong Park or in front of the Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park. It’s an understandably busy spot on weekends and holiday periods, so plan to get there nice and early.

All Coast Paddle Board Hire and Action Outdoor Hire have you covered for SUP hire at Tallebudgera Creek. Keen for something a little different? Paddle Tallebudgera and work on your sun salutations with a floating SUP Yoga session by Pure Aloha.

Currumbin Creek

It’s a paddleboarders paradise at Currumbin Creek on the southern Gold Coast. The smooth, protected waters form a lagoon-like pocket near the Pirate Park Playground on the northern side – a cracker spot to start your paddle. With grassed areas, playgrounds, toilets and all-day bites at the dog-friendly Dune Cafe, it’s easy to spend a whole day there. You can SUP from The Alley along Duringan Street and meander your way along the creek, then relax and recharge with lunch and an ice-cold beer at the nearby Currumbin RSL, or reward your afternoon paddle with a woodfired pizza at popular Gold Coast restaurant, Little Tommy’s.

To hire a SUP, head a little further downstream to Throwers Drive bridge to the Currumbin Boatshed – the friendly team has a mighty quiver of boards and will show you the golden rules of paddleboarding on the creek’s edge before you get moving. Gold Coast SUP, located just nearby, loaded with boards for hire and safety gear. Need a lesson? Book in for an all-ages stand-up paddle board session with the Gold Coast Surf School.

Budds Beach

Tucked behind Surfers Paradise, Budds Beach offers a quieter, wave-free alternative to its bustling, energetic neighbour. You can hire SUPs and more right on the beachfront, and there’s plenty of shady trees, toilets and the popular Bumbles Café (and its famous house-baked cakes) all within strolling distance. Launch your board from the Budds Beach sand, then, sticking close to the shore, you can cruise the relatively calm Nerang River and gander at the mix of mangroves and mansions through Surfers Paradise and Chevron Island. Weekends at Budds are busy – so the early bird gets the worm (aka car park).

Go Vertical has private tours with a qualified instructors that leave from Budds Beach to explore the surrounding areas both by day and at twilight. Along with board hire, you’ll get photos along the way and laughs thrown in for free. SUP in Paradise takes private groups of up to four for one-hour lessons/tours, and offers a quick 15-minute introductory lesson if you need a refresher.

Broadwater Parklands

The Gold Coast’s expansive cultural parkland is a huge strip of lush greenspace that overlooks the Southport Broadwater. It’s home to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, kid-friendly rock pools and playgrounds, with barbecues and picnic spots dotted across The Great Lawn. There’s even Café Catalina and one of the Gold Coast’s best seafood spots, The Fish Shak, within reach. The Broadwater’s calm conditions make it a go-to for keen stand-up paddleboarders. There’s parking to both sides of the aquatic centre and further down on the Southern Lawn, then it’s just a short walk across to the water’s edge with your board. Stay close and cruise north, you’ll find a handful of sandy inlets to rest along the way. You’ll just need to dodge the pier (easy peasy) otherwise it’s smooth sailing! The Broadwater runs all the way up through Labrador, Runaway Bay and Paradise Point, so there are endless places for a SUP along the entire stretch of foreshore. 

The Aqua Adventure Centre is the go-to for SUP hire if you’re sticking to the Southport area. You’ll find them in the bright blue building right on Marine Parade – just footsteps from the water. If you’re keen to jump on a tour, the team at Seaway Kayaking Tours do offer stand-up paddleboard adventures, which leave a littler further north at Biggera Waters.

Doug Jennings Park, The Spit

Take Seaworld Drive all the way to the end to find yourself at The Spit, which is where the Broadwater meets the ocean – across from the most southern end of South Stradbroke Island. The road wraps around the waterfront of Doug Jennings Park like horseshoe – it’s a little rocky on the northern side, but the road soon opens up into a sandy tree-lined inlet with parking spaces galore. A far better spot to launch your SUP! The salt water is sparkling and it’s very easy to navigate your way around this stunning haven, just be wary of boats and jet skis as it’s a very popular place for water sports of all kinds. Be sure to stop into the Seaway Kiosk (located over near the dog beach) for the famous crab sandwich!

SUP hire is available seasonally at the Cheyne Horan Stand-Up Paddle Board Hire near Sea World and Muriel Henchman Park (tip – that’s great spot to try if the end of The Spit is busy!). If you can plan and book ahead, the team from Go Vertical can deliver SUPs straight to you for a fee.

Hinze Dam

Built across the Nerang River, Hinze Dam holds the main drinking water supply for the Gold Coast – while you’ll be in awe of its sheer size (it holds a hefty 310,730 megalitres of water at full supply), the breathtaking hinterland surrounds make for a spectacular recreational playground. Electric-powered boating, sailing, canoeing and paddleboarding is permitted at Hinze Dam, and it’s absolute SUP heaven, especially for beginners. Start your paddle from either the Eastern or Western Boat Ramps – there’s a lot to explore, and you’ll be treated to some pretty magical scenery, too. You can fuel up at the aptly named View Café near the Visitor Centre first and take in the sensational vistas over the dam while you map out your paddling journey. There’s no SUP hire here, so you’ll need to BYO board!