The best wheelchair accessible beaches in Queensland
List
By Sarah Bristow
Queensland is famous for its bevy of beautiful beaches, with a pristine coastline stretching from the Southern Gold Coast to the tip of Cape York that is a must-do experience for visitors and locals alike. Among this population of waterfront havens are plenty welcoming people with disabilities, and boasting the amenities to prove it.
From ample disabled change rooms and parking to permanent beach matting and beach wheelchairs for hire, get to know the wheelchair accessible beaches of Queensland which promise to help all enjoy a summer by the sand.
Accessible Beaches in North Queensland
The Strand, Townsville
The Strand, Townsville
Townsville’s bustling foreshore is welcoming of all, regardless of age or physical ability. A two and a half kilometre-long walkway offers wheelchair-friendly access to the shoreline as well as its designated swimming spot, the Rock Pool. Beach matting can also be found on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Strand is also equipped with accessible picnic tables and designated parking for those with disabilities.
Magnetic Island, Townsville
Just a short ferry-hop from Townsville city on the Sealink passenger ferry or Magnetic Island car ferry, Magnetic Island is home to some of the most spectacular accessible beaches in Queensland.
On the southern tip of the island, Picnic Bay Life Saving Club offers beach wheelchair hire, and there's an enclosed swimming area at the beach. Nearby, a children's playground is equipped with a range of cognitive play equipment and is rubberised to allow wheelchair access.
On the northern end, 3km of golden beach welcomes visitors at popular Horseshoe Bay. And its beauty is accessible thanks to a Mobi‑Chair (floating beach wheelchair) which is available from the Horseshoe Bay convenience store in the main street opposite the beach. A public accessible toilet and shower with fold‑down shower seat, is available in the Horseshoe Bay Park. For added peace of mind, the beach has a protected netted beach guarding against marine stingers and is patrolled year round.
Alma Bay is another patrolled beach, with a beach wheelchair available for hire from the news agency across the road from the beach park.
If you don't have your own car, Sunbus operates an intra‑island bus service which stops at 29 destinations on Maggie, including Picnic Bay and Horseshoe Bay. Both the bus and bus stops are wheelchair accessible.
Palm Cove, Cairns
Palm Cove Beach, Palm Cove
Just north of Cairns sits the idyllic Palm Cove, a hot spot of boutique accommodation and dining. It’s refreshingly also one of the more accessible beaches in Queensland, which offers its own resident beach wheelchair for guests to use whenever they choose. It can be collected from the Palm Cove Surf Life Saving Club.
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
As its name suggests, Four Mile Beach is a lengthy stretch of golden sand fringed by palm trees that is one of the most popular beaches in Queensland. Thankfully there is a beach wheelchair on hand to make this an option for everyone to enjoy - you can rent it free of charge from the Lifeguard Hut. There is also roll out matting that allows wheelchairs to get down to the hard sand.
More accessible beaches can be found in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef at:
- Ellis Beach, Cairns: a beach wheelchair and beach matting is available from April to November each year.
- Holloways Beach: a foreshore park features paved walking trail, accessible BBQs, picnic tables, toilets and water fountain.
- Yorkeys Knob: just 15-minutes drive from Cairns, facilities include, accessible BBQ’s, picnic tables, and toilet.
Accessible beaches on the Sunshine Coast
Alexandra Headland Beach
Say hello to one of the first of the accessible beaches in Queensland - Alex Heads was the leader of the pack in the Sunshine Coast when it came to providing beach matting, which it welcomed in 2017.
The beach also offers metal access ramps, including a purpose built ramp (opposite Okinja Rd) with ample room for several chairs or mobility scooters to park, access by the surf club, and another by the skate park.
Accessible bathrooms are located within the surf life saving club.
Mooloolaba Beach
Mooloolaba Beach, Sunshine Coast
A Sunshine Coast favourite, Moolooaba has earnt its crown courtesy of its lengthy stretch of sand and ample amenities - including support for those with mobility needs. Mooloolaba SLSC provides beach matting and specialty beach wheelchairs, both of which are made available during patrolled hours (7am - 5pm daily)
Coolum Beach
Further north, Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club is helping everyone access the sand with beach wheelchair hire and beach matting from 7am - 5pm daily.
A beach wheelchair that can travel on sand without beach matting is available for hire from Compass Institute - you can make a booking from Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 3:30pm, phone (07) 5438 2627.
Local legends Coolum Surf School take things to the next level with adaptive surf classes for those battling MS or spina bifida.
Noosa Main Beach
Noosa Main Beach, Sunshine Coast
Tourists from all over the globe have long flocked to Noosa for both its beach and its burgeoning dining scene. As for the sandy stretch, lengthy boardwalks and permanent beach matting, alongside calm, protected waters make this postcard-perfect destination welcoming of all physical abilities.
Beach wheelchairs are available, and accessible changerooms, toilets and showers are onsite to make your visit comfortable.
Nearby, you can also explore the wheelchair-friendly coastal trails of Noosa National Park.
Kings Beach, Caloundra
Kings Beach has disabled access via matting and beach wheelchairs, as well as a children’s wading area, making it the perfect family destination.
Accessible beaches on the Fraser Coast
Hervey Bay Beach
The humpback whale haven of Hervey Bay offers adventure for all. Pre-whale watching tour (of which many offer disability access), drop by the beach where you’ll find beach matting, as well as the chance to utilise a floating beach wheelchair. Along the esplanade, Wetside Water Park offers accessible water play areas while the Seafront All Abilities Playground sits on the edge of Pialba Beach.
Accessible beaches Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise beach, Gold Coast
Not just an iconic destination, but one of Gold Coast’s most accessible beaches, Surfers Paradise boasts beach mats, beach wheelchairs, and even a mobile hoist for the comfort of its thousands of visitors year through. If you head to the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club you’ll also find disabled car parks and change rooms to make life that little bit easier.
Burleigh Heads
While it may be best known for its neighbouring headland and resident waterfront restaurants Rick Shores and Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads beach is definitely a sandy stretch worth visiting. It’s also one of the more accessible beaches in Queensland, with beach matting and a duo of different beach wheelchair types available at its Surf Club. Burleigh also neighbours Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, an educational space that’s equally accessible and welcoming of all physical abilities.
Nobby Beach
Escape the crowds of the Gold Coast’s more populous parts with a visit to Nobby Beach. Not only is this coastal suburb slightly more protected from the hustle up north, but it is welcoming of all thanks to the combination of permanent beach matting and an array of WaterWheels beach wheelchairs made available all year long.
Elsewhere along the coast, you'll find accessible support at these Gold Coast beaches and swimming areas:
- Broadbeach: a Sandcruiser beach wheelchair is available from Kurrawa Surf Slife Saving Club between 10am - 2pm Monday to Friday. There's also an accessible beach shower and a Changing Places toilet.
- Ian Dipple Lagoon, Labrador: beach matting, and Waterwheels beach wheelchair available 9am-3pm, Wed-Sat, from September to May.
- Mermaid Beach: beach matting, Sandcruise and MobiChair beach wheelchairs available 930am - 3pm on Sundays from September to May at Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
- Broadwater Parklands swimming lagoon: permanent beach matting and a Changing Places toilet.
- Tallebudgera Creek: beachmatting, accessible beach showers, plus Waterwheels beach wheelchairs avaialble 830am - 330pm on Saturdays from September to May from Neptune Royal Life Saving Club.
Special mention also goes to…
Gold Coast Recreation and Sport Inc, a disability-focused sporting entity, has made Hippocampe and Sandcruiser beach wheelchairs available for free right across the Gold Coast. All you’ll need to do is make contact with the group’s Southport base camp to organise. GiveAbility also offers a duo of Hippocampe beach wheelchairs available for free community use, plus back and seat supports. Just visit their website.
