Mermaid Beach

Mermaid Beach is an ocean beach and suburb on the central Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, situated between Broadbeach and Miami along the Gold Coast Highway. It features a wide stretch of golden sand, consistent surf breaks and a patrolled swimming area managed by Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Part of the Gold Coast Oceanway, it is backed by low-rise apartments, cafes and parks, offering a quieter alternative to nearby tourist hubs while remaining close to central amenities.

Visitors can expect a wide, sandy ocean beach with open surf, a patrolled swimming area marked by flags, and a paved Gold Coast Oceanway for walking and cycling along the foreshore. The beach is backed by a grassy reserve, dunes, and low-rise residential buildings with cafes and shops along Gold Coast Highway. The setting is relatively quiet compared to Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, with lifeguard patrols, showers and picnic areas, and views of the Pacific Ocean and headlands to the south.

Mermaid Beach is named after the cutter HMS Mermaid, used by explorer John Oxley in 1823 to explore the Moreton Bay and Tweed River region. The name was adopted for the coastal area in the early 20th century as the Gold Coast developed, and the Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club was established in the 1940s to provide beach patrols.

The beach reflects Gold Coast surf and beach culture, with surf life saving as a central community activity. It is part of the continuous stretch of developed coastal beaches that define the Gold Coast's identity as a beachside holiday destination for swimming, surfing and outdoor recreation.