Gold Coast

A guide for the main kayaking areas of the Gold Coast.

Destinations

From north to south we have:

The Broadwater

The defination of the Broadwater ranges from the short section between Southport and the Seaway, to those that also include the protected waterways behind South Stradbroke Island.

For the purposes of this guide, the Broadwater is the full stretch of the waterways from the Nerang River all the way up to the start of North Stradbroke Island at Jumpinpin Channel.

The Broadwater

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A popular marine playground

Northern Reaches

The northern reaches overlap the southern end of Moreton Bay and include Pimpama River, which helps define the last remaining wildlife-strip separating the Gold Coast and Greater Brisbane.

Both waterways reside at the southern edges of the Logan River catchment / floodplains.

Pimpama River

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Wildlife corridor between the bay and the hinterland

Behm Creek

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An agricultural feel through the sugar cane farms of the Logan flood plains

Coomera River Catchment

A fantastic destination with paddling options on Coomera, Coombabah and Saltwater Creeks, along with a system of urban canals, albeit not to the same scale as on the Nerang River.

Coomera River

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An enjoyable paddle on the second largest GC river

Coombabah Creek

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Important fish breeding habitat and nationally significant wetlands

Saltwater Creek

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A trip up to Movie World (almost)

Lower Broadwater Tributaries

A couple of smaller creeks sitting inbetween the Coomera and Nerang river catchments.

Biggera Creek

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The lower tidal canals and waterways provide a great escape from the bustle of the main rivers

Loders Creek

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Small and peaceful creek to explore on a high tide.

Nerang River Catchment

The Nerang catchments contain a wide array of options to keep most paddlers busy for a while. From the largest lake on the Gold Coast, to the urban maze of the canals, wide tidal lower Merang and estuaries of The Broadwater, there is something for everyone.

Nerang River

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The Gold Coast's largest river system

Advancetown Lake

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Paddling SEQ third largest lake in the upper reaches of the Nerang River.

Southern Creeks

While much smaller than the aforementioned rivers, the southern creeks make for fantastic laid back paddling options away from the main bustle of the city, although the picturesque waters are one of the worst kept secrets on the coast and it can get busy in summer.

Currumbin Creek

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Popular beach and surf break at the mouth with pleasant urban paddling upstream

Tallebudgera Creek

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Clear sparkling waters framed by the Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach