Why boaters love it
Wave Break Island sits inside the Gold Coast Broadwater, a quick hop from The Spit and Southport. Built in the mid-1980s during construction of the Gold Coast Seaway, the island's job is in the name—"wave break"—calming the Broadwater and creating a super-sheltered playground for boaties.
Expect white-sand beaches, clear water (especially on a high tide), and easy anchorage options for everything from tinnies to cruisers. It's one of the Gold Coast's lowest-effort, highest-reward day trips: protected swimming for kids, beginner-friendly snorkelling along the rock wall, skyline views for the photo roll, and it's minutes from fuel, food and ramps on the mainland.
Quick facts
- Ramp → beach
- ~5 min from The Spit
- Access
- Boat only, no public ferry service
- Best tide
- Any
- Anchorage
- Northern beach
- Dogs
- Yes
- Camping
- No - day-use only
- Toilets
- Nil
- Wildlife
- Turtles, dolphins, birds
- Vibe
- Busy, social, scenic, family friendly
- Activities
- Swimming, snorkelling, relaxing
- Fishing
- Snapper, Bream, Whiting, Mackerel, Cod, Trevally, Flathead, Tailor
- History
- Man-made island built in 1980s
Getting there
Skippers can launch from Muriel Henchman Park boat ramps (The Spit) or the Broadwater Parklands boat ramp (Southport). From The Spit it's a short run across Marine Stadium and the South Wave Break Channel; from Southport you'll track north in the main channel and cut across to the island's northern beach.
Keep a sharp lookout: this is busy water with ferries, PWCs, dive boats, kayakers and swimmers. Anchorage choices: the northern beach for a sandy, family-friendly swim-off; the western 'Keyhole' (a sheltered notch popular on southerlies); tuck along the eastern shore if winds swing westerly.
| No. | Description | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| A | Broadwater Parklands boat ramp (Southport) | -27.958613, 153.413617 |
| B | Muriel Henchman Park boat ramps (The Spit) | -27.951452, 153.424667 |
| C | Western 'Keyhole' anchorage | -27.938723, 153.414755 |
| D | East <-> West access path | -27.937752, 153.416789 |
| E | Eastern shore anchorage | -27.932660, 153.418653 |
| F | Northern beach anchorage | -27.930558, 153.412808 |
| G | Gold Coast Seaway | -27.934157, 153.431775 |
Best time: mid—high tide (ideally around slack high) for the clearest water flushing in from the Seaway, gentle currents, and easy swimming/snorkelling. In a small boat, aim for a rising tide if beaching the bow—less chance of going dry. Avoid the Seaway throat unless you know the tides and traffic—currents can rip.
Safety first
Keep well clear of divers along the southern Seaway wall and watch for paddlers crossing the channel—dawn/dusk are the trickiest for visibility. Island use is day-use only—no camping or structures. Open fires are not permitted on Gold Coast beaches. Respect speed limits and any temporary dredging markers in the South Wave Break Channel and the Keyhole. The Broadwater is generally considered smooth water, but always check current conditions and requirements.
Things to do
Relax
Beach the bow on the northern side, throw the awning up and enjoy a lazy Broadwater day. The western Keyhole is a favourite hidey-hole when the breeze is in the south. There are no facilities on the island; nearest toilets/showers are back at Muriel Henchman Park (The Spit).
Snorkelling & swimming
The northern rock wall and adjacent flats offer super-easy snorkelling with shallow sand giving way to boulders (roughly 0—10+ m). Expect friendly schools of fish and occasional rays and turtles. Best around high tide for clear water and manageable current; avoid peak flow.
Fishing
Work sand flats for whiting/flathead and edges/rock for bream and trevally. The nearby Seaway walls see more pelagics on the right day. Mind the divers and keep distance to the rock wall. Check size/bag limits and local closures before wetting a line.
Beach stroll & photography
Wander the north/east beaches for Broadwater and skyline shots. Birdlife is active—respect roosting areas, especially on the western side near the mangroves. The island offers excellent vantage points for photographing the Gold Coast skyline, particularly during golden hour.
Can I bring my dog?
Wave Break isn't a national park. Dogs are generally allowed on Gold Coast beaches when on-leash (with some exclusions near patrolled flagged areas and specific off-leash zones like The Spit). Use common sense on the island: keep them on-lead, below the dune line, and clean up. Check local signage and current City of Gold Coast rules before you go.
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