Always check the conditions when you arrive and swim between the flags.
Greenmount Beach
Live conditions and scores
Greenmount is an 800-metre north-facing beach at Coolangatta, five minutes from Gold Coast Airport. The headland blocks southerly swells, so the water runs calmer here than at most Gold Coast beaches. At low tide, rock pools open up at the headland base. Head up to the Rainbow Bay Lookout and you get panoramic views over two bays at once.
The Tweed Heads and Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, Queensland's oldest (est. 1911), sits right on the beach with patrols running year-round. Free parking is plentiful, though on summer weekends it fills fast, so arrive early. A paved Oceanway trail runs around the point, good for strollers and wheelchairs alike.
One thing to take seriously: a strong permanent rip sits against the Greenmount groyne at the western end. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
If you're a serious surfer, Snapper Rocks is right next door. Beginners can get lessons through local surf schools on Marine Parade, where the south end waves are gentler.
What Makes It Special
- •Sheltered north-facing aspect, calmer than most Gold Coast beaches
- •Year-round lifeguard patrols, 8am to 5pm daily
- •Large free car park within 50m of the sand
- •Low-tide rock pools at the headland base
- •Queensland's oldest surf club (est. 1911) with ocean-view deck and eatery
- •Strong permanent rip near the groyne — swim between the flags
Best Time to Visit
For swimming, September through February is your window, when the north-facing aspect keeps conditions sheltered and the water warm. Surfers should target winter, particularly August, when southeast swells and south-southeast winds line things up. Summer weekends get competitive for parking, so head down early.