10 Best Beaches in Brisbane

Hugely popular with beach-loving Brisbane families, Suttons Beach has soft sands, calm waters and plenty of picnic spots. Lifesavers keep an eagle eye on the waters, making this an excellent place for younger swimmers to take a dip.

A 30-minute drive from downtown Brisbane in scenic Redcliffe, a visit to Suttons Beach makes a popular family day trip thanks to grassy, tree-shaded picnic neighborhoods, barbecues, a nearby playground and extensive tracks for walking and cycling. Things can get busy at weekends and during school vacations, but there’s ample space for everybody.

Australia’s only man-made beach, Streets Beach offers urbanites a chance to swim and sunbathe without leaving the city. Sitting on the south bank of the winding Brisbane River and with its own clear-water lagoon, the stretch of palm-fringed white sand makes a dramatic contrast to the surrounding skyscrapers and shops.

Lifesavers patrol the beach year-round, and the location within South Bank Parklands means there are plenty of facilities for families. These include restrooms, picnic neighborhoods, walking tracks and a whole host of restaurants and bars for those who don’t fancy bringing their own food along. The clean, calm waters are ideal for cooling down on a hot Brisbane day, and the chance to grab an ice cream or ice-cold beer by the riverbank only adds to the appeal.

Less than a 40-minute drive south of downtown Brisbane in coastal Cleveland, Raby Ray Foreshore Park easily merits a full day’s exploring. A series of sheltered beaches here offers child-friendly bathing and kayaking, and you might be lucky enough to spot dolphins diving in and out of the clear, wave-free waters.

The park itself is well-equipped with parking, picnic neighborhoods, a playground, sports facilities and showers, and extensive footpaths are popular with runners and cyclists. It’s also a dog-friendly area, and pet owners flock here to enjoy some outdoor time with their canine companions at the designated off-leash stretch of sand.

The most popular bathing beach on North Stradbroke Island, Cylinder Beach has been voted the best in Queensland on numerous occasions. It’s no small boast. As you might expect for the world’s second-largest sand island (after Fraser Island, also in Queensland state) there are incredible beaches galore on North Stradbroke Island, but Cylinder Beach stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere and pleasant picnic neighborhoods shaded by leafy trees.

While the waters are best suited to stronger swimmers, lifesavers patrol the beach during high season, keeping things safe for families. From downtown Brisbane, it’s roughly an hour by automobile or bus followed by a ferry ride, but camping facilities here mean it’s possible to pitch up and enjoy the bathing and surf until the sun dips over the water.

Less than half an hour’s drive north of central Brisbane, scenic Shorncliffe Beach is popular with day-tripping Brisbane families thanks to calm waters and a well-maintained playground. The beach is located right next to the famous Shorncliffe Pier, and a number of waterfront spots nearby serve excellent fish and chips to hungry beachgoers.

The beach is a good starting point for coastal walks, too, with couples, families and solo joggers following the 1.5-mile ‘Lovers’ Walk’ along the waterfront to Sandgate, where you’ll find plenty of bars offering coffee, beer or a chilled glass of white to take the edge off the heat on a summer day.

Visitors to Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island, will be in no doubt about the origins of its name. This vast sweep of pristine sand stretches for nearly 25 miles, from Point Lookout to the island’s southern tip.

Famous for its challenging surf, ruggedly beautiful backdrop, and whale-watching opportunities, Main Beach caters well to outdoor types thanks to a series of campgrounds and strategically placed picnic spots. Surfers will be in their element, but the dense, koala-filled bushlands make for exciting nature walks, too, with kangaroos often venturing from the interior down to the beach.

Beginner surfers can hone their skills without traveling too far from Brisbane’s city limits at the beautiful Woorim Ocean Beach. Located on the ocean-facing side of the absurdly scenic Bribie Island, it’s the closest patrolled surf beach to Brisbane itself, and a popular spot for beginner and intermediate surfers because of the lack of swell and the relatively gentle waves (be sure to check surf conditions before hitting the waters).

A children’s playground and skate park add to the family-friendly vibe, and the abundant flora and fauna of Bribie Island’s National Park makes a dramatic backdrop to the white sand beach. It’s around an hour’s drive from Brisbane, but camping, hotels and guest houses cater to those who want to linger a little longer.

The closest beach to Brisbane’s Central Business District, Nudgee Beach is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the city’s airport, but the wild nature here feels a world away from the busy city streets. Flanked by mangroves and the abundant birdlife of the Boondall Wetlands, Nudgee Beach is overlooked by many visitors but is especially well suited to families thanks to shallow sections and an expansive picnic area.

Nudgee is also famously welcoming to dogs, with a canine-friendly stretch of sand as well as an enclosed off-leash area at nearby Tuckeroo Park. The sands might not be as white and soft as you’ll find elsewhere, but it’s a pleasant spot to let kids and pets splash around in safety.

One of the most picture-perfect beaches on sandy North Stradbroke Island (and competition is fierce), Frenchman’s Beach is a secluded and somewhat hidden spot just a short walk from Point Lookout. Access is via a long, steep flight of stairs, and those willing to tackle the stiff ascent on the return leg will be rewarded with a near-empty 1,600-foot sweep of white sand.

You might not have to share the beach with tourist hordes, but be on the lookout for animal inhabitants, including kangaroos emerging from the lush vegetation and pods of dolphins out at sea. And the name? Local history holds that 4 men from the French-speaking South Pacific islands landed here in the 19th century and that their descendants still live on the island today.

Regular passenger and automobile ferries make the 75-minute hop from Brisbane to beautiful Moreton Island. Home to the world’s highest coastal sand dune (the astonishing Mount Tempest) as well as a seemingly endless array of white sand beaches washed by crystal clear waters, it’s well worth a visit.

The world’s third-largest sand island, Moreton is perfect for everything from surfing wild waves to snorkeling in the shallows. The coastline and waters here have some of the clearest water in the region, and you’re sure to spot colorful sea life in the sparkling waters. Much of the island is covered by the dense vegetation of Moreton National Park, but there are plenty of appealing accommodations options, ranging from luxury resorts to simple campgrounds.