At a glance
- Cost
- $3.60 an hour
- Hours
- Paid 9am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday, on the car park page; the Parklands page says 7am to 7pm
- Spaces
- 650 to 699
- How to pay
- Cards and coins; some meters take card only
- Address
- Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade, Southport
- Official page
- City of Gold Coast, Broadwater Carpark
Parking at the Broadwater car park in Southport costs $3.60 an hour, and the City of Gold Coast says you pay between 9am and 7pm, Monday to Sunday, public holidays included (Anzac Day is excluded). It is a large outdoor car park inside Broadwater Parklands on Marine Parade, and the City lists its capacity as 650 to 699 spaces.
The City’s car park page publishes an hourly rate and no daily maximum. Prices on this page are as of October 2026.
How much does it cost, and when do I pay?
| Item | What the City says |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $3.60 |
| Paid times | 9am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday |
| Public holidays | Charges apply, excluding Anzac Day |
| Outside paid times | Parking is available 24/7 and is free outside the times stated |
| Capacity | 650 to 699 spaces |
| Features | Accessible parking spaces, motorbike parking spaces, outdoor parking, pay-by-plate meters |
The City page for this car park is the Broadwater Carpark page.
Do the City’s pages agree on the paid hours?
Not exactly. The Broadwater Carpark page says fees apply from 9am to 7pm. The City’s Broadwater Parklands page says “Broadwater carparks: metered parking from 7am to 7pm”. Both pages are the City’s, and the car park page is the one that sets out the fee times for this car park, so we have used 9am to 7pm. Because the two pages differ, read the meter screen and any signs when you park, particularly if you arrive before 9am.
How do I pay?
The car park page says the meters accept credit or debit cards and coins. The City’s separate metered parking page says some meters at the Broadwater Parklands car park accept card only, and that selected meters there take cash, so try another meter if you need to pay in cash. The steps, receipts and faulty meters are covered in our guide to Gold Coast council parking meters.
What is nearby?
The City’s Broadwater Parklands page describes grassed areas, electric barbecues, three playgrounds, the Rockpools water play area, a netted swimming enclosure and four cafés. It also names the Gold Coast Marathon, the Gold Coast Show and Monster Machinery Day among the events held there.
Two opening hours matter if you are planning a family day:
- Rockpools: September and October 8am to 5pm, with Tuesdays opening at 11am. November is 8am to 6pm, with Tuesdays opening at 11am. Hours may change due to weather.
- Bouncy Pillow (Washington Waters Playground): September to November 7am to 6pm, and hours may change due to weather.
The swimming enclosure is not patrolled, and dogs are not allowed in it. The City asks you to supervise children and not swim alone.
What about the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre?
The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is on Marine Parade in Southport, and its page says metered parking is available at the centre and in the local Broadwater area, with a link back to the Broadwater car park page. The centre’s listed hours are Monday to Friday 5am to 8pm, Saturday 6am to 5pm, Sunday 7am to 4pm and public holidays 7am to 4pm, and it is closed on Good Friday, Anzac Day, Labour Day, Gold Coast Show Day and Christmas Day. The City lists the centre’s phone number as 07 5582 8282. Limited free parking is available at the centre only for certain paid-up memberships and enrolments, such as learn to swim and squad enrolments on an ongoing direct debit and 6 or 12 month pool-only or fitness memberships. The centre’s events list shows the Swimming Gold Coast Relay Championships on Saturday 31 October from 8am to 1pm, and says parking may be limited during event dates.
How else can I get there?
The City says Translink buses run along Marine Parade and the G:link runs through Southport. Hopo ferry services stop at Broadwater Parklands. For on-street options, the Parklands page lists parking along the Gold Coast Highway. The City says the Washington Waters Playground is opposite Australia Fair, and our Australia Fair parking guide covers parking at the shopping centre.
Is there accessible parking?
The car park is listed with accessible parking spaces. The City’s Broadwater Parklands page says there are accessible parking spaces across the northern, central and southern car parks within the parklands, and the City publishes a Southport CBD and Broadwater Parklands mobility map. Separately, the City’s accessible parking page says people with a valid disability parking permit can park free of charge in metered parking spaces across the Gold Coast. Whether that applies at the Broadwater meters is not stated on the car park page, so check the signs or ask the City.
More guides: Gold Coast parking guide
Sources
- City of Gold Coast — Broadwater Carpark (rate, paid times, capacity, features; checked 13 October 2026)
- City of Gold Coast — Broadwater Parklands
- City of Gold Coast — Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
- City of Gold Coast — Accessible parking
Featured image: the foreshore at Broadwater Parklands, Southport (photo: Shiftchange / CC0)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast. Parking rates and conditions can change; check the City’s car park page and the signs at the entry before you park.