At a glance
- What
- Eight enclosed swimming areas, not patrolled by lifeguards
- Water quality
- Avoid swimming for 3 days after heavy rainfall
- Rules
- No fishing, yabby pumping or dogs in the enclosures
- Free parking
- Murlong, Palm Beach
- Southport
- Broadwater Parklands and Rockpools opposite Australia Fair
- Check
- City of Gold Coast recreational water quality page
The City of Gold Coast says it has 8 enclosed swimming areas, which are popular with children and people who prefer calm natural water. The City’s list names nine places, including the Rockpools wet play area in Southport, and none of the enclosures is patrolled by lifeguards.
The City’s advice is to supervise children at all times and keep clear of the floating collar and underwater nets. Details below are from the City’s swimming enclosures page, checked on 17 October 2026.
Where are the swimming enclosures?
| Enclosure | Where the City says it is | Nearby facilities the City lists |
|---|---|---|
| Broadwater Parklands and Rockpools (Southport) | Opposite Australia Fair; the enclosure is a short stroll south of the wet play area | Barbecues, playgrounds, convenient parking; permanent jumping pontoon |
| Harley Park (Labrador) | Broadwater foreshore near the corner of Broad Street and Marine Parade, next to the Charis Seafood Market | Barbecue facilities; flood-lit in the evenings |
| HOTA Parklands | Behind the City’s Council Chambers, off Bundall Road | Toilets, showers, picnic areas with barbecues, shaded seating |
| Jabiru Island | Oxley Drive between Paradise Point and Hope Island; reach it through the car park by the public boat ramp on the southern side | Picnic and barbecue facilities |
| Jacobs Well | North of Jacobs Well Air Sea Rescue, off Jacobs Well Road; about 150 metres of netting on floating pontoons | Beach area, barbecue and picnic facilities |
| Murlong (Palm Beach) | Murlong Crescent; around 70 metres of beach | Shade structures, drinking fountains, beach showers, toilets, picnic tables, gas barbecues, boat ramp, free car parking |
| Paradise Point | Next to the main shopping area, near Falkinder Avenue and the Esplanade, just north of the Ephraim Island bridge | Playgrounds and toilets in the park, shopping strip across the road |
| Tipplers (South Stradbroke Island) | On the beach at the Tipplers camping grounds | Toilets, a café and kiosk |
The City’s list also names a Southport swimming enclosure. Its Broadwater Parklands entry says the enclosure is a short stroll south of the wet play area.
What are the safety rules?
- The enclosures are not patrolled by lifeguards.
- Do not swim alone, and do not try to swim to the enclosure boundaries.
- Take care when entering, because the depth varies with the tide.
- Swimming conditions can change with waves and currents, and there are shallow sand banks, sudden drop-offs and deep water.
- Marine animals may be present. Fishing, yabby pumping and dogs are not permitted in the enclosures.
At Broadwater Parklands the pontoon is 50 metres from shore. The City says non-strong swimmers should use a floating aid or not swim to it, that pontoons and ladders may be slippery or sharp from marine growth, and that nobody should run or dive off the floating pontoons or push others into the water. At Harley Park, keep off the geo-bag weir because it can be slippery. At HOTA Parklands, do not dive or jump from the nearby pedestrian bridge or climb on its railings.
Is the water safe after rain?
The City says water quality can be affected by microbial and other pollution, especially after heavy rainfall. It recommends avoiding swimming for 3 days after heavy rainfall, or if the water looks discoloured, murky or smells unpleasant. You can check real-time predictions, alerts and the latest results on the City’s recreational water quality page.
Where do I park?
Only some of the City’s enclosure descriptions mention parking. Murlong offers free car parking, Jabiru Island is reached through the car park by the boat ramp, and Broadwater Parklands has convenient parking. For the busier ones, our parking guides may help:
- Southport and Rockpools: the Broadwater car park guide and the Australia Fair parking guide.
- HOTA Parklands: our HOTA parking guide.
The City’s pages for the other enclosures do not describe car parks, so check the signs on arrival. Dogs are not allowed in the enclosures; for the boundaries of dog prohibited areas, see the City’s dog exercise area map.
Sources
- City of Gold Coast — Swimming enclosures (checked 17 October 2026)
- City of Gold Coast — Recreational water quality
- City of Gold Coast — Dog exercise area map
Featured image: shoreline at Jacobs Well, Gold Coast (photo: Kerry Raymond / CC BY 3.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast. Conditions can change; follow the signs at each enclosure and the City’s advice.