Broadwater Parklands Fun For Everyone
The Southport Broadwater Parklands is one of my favourite places to visit, especially when you are looking for FREE activities to keep the family entertained. Southport Broadwater Parklands is a huge community park located in Southport, designed for large community gatherings and plenty of FUN options for everyone!
Discover the vibrant diversity of Broadwater Parklands with three incrediable playgrounds, each tailored to cater to a variety of ages and abilities. At Broadwater Parklands you are definately spoilt for choice!
Peninsula Playground
The Peninsula Playground a newly unveiled play space designed for the community’s enjoyment. Nestled within lush subtropical landscaping, it offers ample space for both small and large gatherings, making it the perfect spot for families and friends to come together.
Key Features of The Peninsula Playground:
- Spiral Tower: This four-level tower features interactive play equipment including glockenspiels, binoculars, telescopes, suspended nets, rope tunnels, and an enclosed slide.
- Water and Sand Play Area: Experience fun with carved sandstone, bronze sea animals, water pumps, mini weirs, and water gates in a dedicated area for water and sand play.
- Elevated Sand Table: Designed as a ‘fish and chip shop,’ this sand table is wheelchair accessible, ensuring inclusive play for all children.
- Diverse Play Equipment: Enjoy a wide range of play options such as play panels, swings, slides, trampolines, diggers, stepping stones, balance beams, a carousel, climbing walls, and climbing nets.
Come and explore The Peninsula Playground, where adventure and fun await amidst beautiful natural surroundings.
Adventure Play Attraction
The Adventure Play Attraction, centrally located in the park near The Rockpools. This vibrant playground is perfect for younger children, featuring a make-believe pirate ship and interactive learning and play equipment. Come and let your kids’ imaginations run wild at The Adventure Play Attraction!
Washington Waters Play Attraction
If you have children with heaps of energy to burn then a stop past here is a must. This playground offers thrilling experiences for all ages. Glide on the Flying Fox, enjoy tandem rides on the monorail, or bounce on the inflatable pillow. Perfect for kids seeking energetic fun!
Rock Pools Waterplay
Looking for even more excitement? Make your way to the Rock Pools Waterplay, and guess what? It’s FREE!
This dynamic, sculptural water playground features cool water fountains and vibrant marine-themed equipment. With a creek bed and tidal rockpools, kids can splash, and explore to their heart’s content.
Rockpools opening hours:
- January and February: 8am to 6pm
- March: 9am to 5pm
- April: 9am to 4pm (Tuesdays open at 11am, Anzac Day open at 12pm)
- May to August: 9am to 3pm (Tuesdays open at 11am)
- September and October: 8am to 5pm (Tuesdays open at 11am)
- November: 8am to 6pm (Tuesdays open at 11am)
- December: 8am to 6pm (Christmas Day opens at 12pm)
* Hours may change due to weather conditions.
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Where is the Broadwater Parklands?
The Southport Broadwater Parklands is situated parallel to the Gold Coast Highway and opposite Australia Fair Shopping Centre. The park has several onsite car parks for visitors, and on-street parking is also available along the Gold Coat Highway. Both on-street parking and onsite parking are managed by the City of Gold Coast and require a fee to park at.
How to get to the Broadwater Parklands?
The public park is accessible by several forms of public transport. The most convenient form of transport would be to get the G:link. The G:link is a light rail line operating from Broadbeach South to Gold Coast University Hospital via Surfers Paradise and Southport. There is a G:link station located just a few hundreds meters from the entrance to the parkland. Trams run every 8 minutes during peak times. Southport Bus Station is only a few minutes walk from the entrance to the park and provides bus connections to neighboring suburbs.
Broadwater Parklands went through a major redevelopment and was re-opened by the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, on 23 August 2009. Southport Broadwater Parklands has become a popular family attraction.
Broadwater Parklands features include:
- The great pier that extends 100 m out into the Broadwater provides views of Surfers Paradise, The Spit and Southport.
- The events’ lawn, hosts some of the city’s largest events, including the Gold Coast Airport Marathon and Carols by Candlelight.
- There are also places for a picnic, to kick a ball, toss a frisbee, or simply relax and enjoy the views of the open Broadwater.
- A public stage with a large outdoor screen provides a spot to watch movies.
- The Pavilion building, with a rooftop deck offering elevated views, has park information, public toilets and showers and there will be bike lockers to encourage commuters to use ‘pedal power’ to travel to and from Southport.
- A new pedestrian crossing links Nerang Street and the Southport CBD to the parklands in place of the existing underpass.
- Walkways and bridges encourage exploration of the ‘urban wetland’, and of cascading water and reed-filled ponds. That collects, cleans and filters stormwater before it goes into the Broadwater.
- A boulevard of fig trees provides a shaded space, ideal for farmers’ markets, picnics and summer promenades.
- Coastal casuarinas provide shady spots, along the shoreline, for family gatherings.
- Unique artwork unveiled at the launch of Stage One of the parklands.
- There is a landscaped car park for approximately 200 vehicles.
