One of the biggest perks of living on the Gold Coast are the endless stretches of sandy white beaches. Now, we don’t want to leave little pupster at home while we have all the fun in the sun, right?
With that in mind, we’ve sniffed out five of the best dog-friendly beaches on the Gold Coast, so you can finally toss that backyard clam shell pool you haven’t touched in a decade. If you’ve got no plans this weekend, how does wagging tails, wet paws, and a sandy car sound? Well you’d best be heading for one of the top dog-friendly beaches on the Gold Coast.
Biggera Waters Beach
Biggera Waters
Located on Marine Parade, this stretch attracts hundreds of frolicking tail-waggers daily, from dawn til dusk. If sandy toes ain’t your cuppa tea, there is a footpath that trails right by the beach, so you can let poochy roam and sniff the sand on their own. And, not that your pup will appreciate it, the view of glittering Surfers Paradise ain’t too shabby either. If you’re heading home through Southport, be sure to drop in to Parc-Bah Espresso for a pick-me-up and some doggy ice cream for the fur-baby.
The Spit
Main Beach
Unleash, and let lil pupster run wild at The Spit. With rolling green and gold dunes and the longest stretch of sand of all the best dog-friendly beaches on the Gold Coast, this is your go-to for the ultimate in dog-mingling. Every weekend, this place is flocked with salty dogs and their entire fam-bam clan. But don’t let the masses put you off, there is ample parking for everyone, along with facilities and a kiosk. What’s more, the beach is patrolled (safety first, peeps) and boasts a knockout view right down to Coolangatta, making this one of the best spots to be at sunset.
Tallebudgera Dog Beach
Palm Beach
Pssst… tucked away behind the popular swimming hot spot at Tallebudgera Creek is this stunning semi-private dog beach. After parking at the Tallebudgera Leisure Centre, you’ll need to keep Rover on a leash and away from the tempting BBQs until you reach the surf at the northern end of Palm Beach, then it’s on like Donkey Kong. The whole beach is off-leash from the spit, right up to the first set of lifesaver flags. The perfect time to go is late arvo, when the flags are down and you can trot all the way south to the next beach on our list. Tip: avoid sticky fingers and grab a few council-provided poop bags near the Talle Surf Club on your way down.
Currumbin Creek
Palm Beach
This doggy haven is arguably the best dog-friendly beach on the Gold Coast. Starting at the Palm Beach Parklands and wrapping all the way around the spit to meet the surf, you can easily spend the whole day here. If a few hundred metres of salty dog beach joy isn’t enough, there is a whimsical forest to trek through too—hellooo stick collecting! If you prefer calmer water, retreat to the creek side which overlooks the hazy hinterland. Now humans, the canines own this turf so let this be a warning to you: this is not a place for alfresco dining with an enticing antipasto spread on the rug, unless our furry friends are welcome to feast.
South Cabarita Beach
Bogangar
Although technically in Northern NSW, we just couldn’t let this secret gem at Cabarita miss our best dog-friendly beaches on the Gold Coast list. This quaint, placid beach is south of the Cabarita Headland and makes for a stunning walk for your pup. If we haven’t sold it to you already, did we mention dolphins and whales are frequently seen in this haven?
Looking for more things to do on the Gold Coast with your pup? Have you visited these dog-friendly campsites?
Image credit: Supplied