At a glance
- Status
- Stage 3 has carried passengers since Sunday 9 August 2026; some finishing works are still to come
- Route
- Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, a 6.7 km extension along the Gold Coast Highway
- New stations
- Eight: Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Beach South, Nobby Beach, Miami North, Miami, Christine Avenue, Second Avenue and Burleigh Heads
- Journey time
- Around 16 to 17 minutes from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, says TMR
- Network
- 27 km with 27 stations and 23 trams from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads, per TMR at completion of Stage 3
- Project cost
- $1.549 billion, funded by the Australian and Queensland governments and the City of Gold Coast
- Driveway or access problem
- Phone the project team on 1800 312 600, available 24 hours a day
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 is open: the Government said the first passengers would board at Burleigh Heads from 6am on Sunday 9 August 2026, and John Holland reported that day that passengers were travelling. The G:link now runs from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says some finishing works may still be needed after the start of passenger services.
This guide uses TMR’s Stage 3 project page (last updated 9 August 2026), the project website run by the GoldlinQ consortium, a Queensland Government media statement of 7 August 2026 and a John Holland notice of 9 August 2026, all checked on 19 October 2026. It does not cover timetables or fares in detail, because those belong to Translink, and it flags below where the official pages say nothing.
Is Stage 3 open yet?
Yes. The TMR project page says passenger services commenced on 9 August 2026, and the page’s own status label still reads “Construction”, which is out of step with its text. The GoldlinQ project site, gclr3.com.au, says Stage 3 is operational and delivering public transport connectivity between Broadbeach South station and Burleigh Heads. The Queensland Government’s media statement of 7 August 2026 said the extension would open that Sunday and that the first passengers would board a tram from Burleigh Heads at 6am.
Which stations are new, and how long does the trip take?
TMR describes Stage 3 as a 6.7 km extension south of the existing tram network, built as dual track in the centre of the Gold Coast Highway, with 8 stations and two traffic lanes retained on either side of the tracks. Five additional trams were bought for it. TMR gives a journey time of around 16 to 17 minutes from Broadbeach South station to Burleigh Heads.
| New station, north to south | Notes from the official sources |
|---|---|
| Mermaid Beach | Named in the Government’s media statement |
| Mermaid Beach South | Named in the Government’s media statement |
| Nobby Beach | The statement names Nobby Beach among the places the tram now links |
| Miami North | Named in the Government’s media statement |
| Miami | John Holland says the works include a new light rail and bus interchange at Miami |
| Christine Avenue | Named in the Government’s media statement |
| Second Avenue | Named in the Government’s media statement |
| Burleigh Heads | The southern terminus; John Holland says the works include a light rail and bus interchange here |
The order above follows the order in the Government’s media statement. Use the Translink journey planner for walking distances and departure times.
How big is the network now?
TMR’s page says that before Stage 3 the Gold Coast Light Rail system had 19 stations from Helensvale to Broadbeach, served by 18 G:link trams. At completion of Stage 3, it says, the system from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads will be 27 km with 27 stations, served by 23 trams. John Holland, the design and construction contractor, reports that the extension grows the network to 27 km. The Government statement quotes Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate as saying that Gold Coasters and visitors can now ride from Helensvale to Burleigh.
Who paid for it, and what did it cost?
TMR lists the total investment as $1.549 billion, funded by the Australian Government ($395.6 million), the Queensland Government ($1.043 billion) and the City of Gold Coast ($110.1 million). The page says the figure includes an additional $18.6 million for ancillary works delivered with the Stage 3 project. The GoldlinQ consortium and its contractor, John Holland, delivered the project on behalf of the Queensland Government.
What is still being finished?
The GoldlinQ site says major construction is complete across much of the alignment and that finishing works will be completed over the coming months. TMR says some finishing works may be required after passenger services began. Neither page gives dates or locations for the remaining works, so check the GoldlinQ site’s interactive map and current works page before you drive the corridor. If a driveway is blocked or you have an urgent access issue, the project site says to phone 1800 312 600, which it says is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What changed for buses and parking along the corridor?
The GoldlinQ site says bus stops along the Stage 3 route have been relocated near light rail stations, creating a single, consistent set of stops, so that when trams are not running, people who take a replacement bus can be picked up and dropped off at the same places. It says signalised crossings and accessible pathways have been put in place near stations and stops.
On parking, the same site says parking along the Gold Coast Highway and surrounding streets is managed by the City of Gold Coast and will continue to be monitored and reviewed as light rail operations begin. Some on-street parking has changed to fit the changed corridor, and alternative parking, including mobility bays and loading zones, is provided on nearby streets in some cases. The site directs drivers to the City’s website for the latest information. For fines and notices, see our guide to Gold Coast parking fines.
TMR adds that bus services around the light rail network will be reconfigured following the start of Stage 3 passenger services. Which routes changed, and on what dates, is not set out on the TMR or GoldlinQ pages that this guide used. Check the Translink website for the current bus routes.
What does it cost to ride?
Neither TMR’s project page nor the GoldlinQ site lists fares. The Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister’s statement of 7 August 2026 refers to permanent 50 cent fares for Gold Coasters. For the fare that applies to your trip and how to pay, use Translink’s own pages, because a ministerial statement is not a fare table.
What else is being built around Burleigh Heads?
TMR’s page says the Gold Coast Passenger Transport Access Study will deliver dedicated public transport infrastructure for bus operations at four locations along Burleigh Connection Road (Reedy Creek Road):
- Varsity Lakes Train Station
- Reedy Creek Road, opposite Treetops Plaza and Bunnings
- Stockland Burleigh Heads, at the intersection of Dunlin Drive and Tabilban Street
- West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads, opposite Stanley Street
The page says the works include new bus stops, footpaths, signalised pedestrian crossings and upgrades to pedestrian facilities. It does not give a completion date.
Where do I check for updates?
- TMR’s project page and the GoldlinQ project site for finishing works and the interactive map
- Translink for timetables, fares, journey planning and bus route changes
- The City of Gold Coast website for parking changes along the corridor
- QLDTraffic for road closures; see our guide to long-running M1 works
More guides: Gold Coast public transport guide
Sources
- Department of Transport and Main Roads — Gold Coast Light Rail (Stage 3) (last updated 9 August 2026)
- GoldlinQ — Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project site
- Queensland Government ministerial media statement — Doors Opening: First Tram Departs Burleigh (7 August 2026)
- John Holland — Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 opens to passengers (9 August 2026)
Featured image: Burleigh Heads light rail station in August 2026 (photo: Nottashaa432 / CC0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, GoldlinQ, John Holland, Translink or the City of Gold Coast. Service details change; check the official pages before you travel.