Name: Broadwater Parklands
Address: Marine Parade, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
Rating: 4.7

Spacious park featuring a marine-themed water play area for kids, plus BBQ grills & walking paths.

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While sections were open earlier, the Broadwater Parklands officially opened in 2009, becoming a central hub for recreation and events on the Gold Coast.

Official Opening

Broadwater Parklands is home to an impressive inflatable aquatic playground, offering a fun and challenging experience for kids and adults alike.

Inflatable Playground

One of the best things about Broadwater Parklands is that entry to the park itself is free, making it accessible to everyone.

Entry Cost

Located in Southport, Broadwater Parklands is situated in the heart of the Gold Coast, making it easily accessible from various parts of the city.

Central Location

Broadwater Parklands is a popular venue for various events and festivals throughout the year, including music concerts, food festivals, and community gatherings.

Host to Many Festivals

The park features a netted swimming enclosure, providing a safe and protected area for swimming in the Broadwater.

Safe Swimming Enclosure

Broadwater Parklands

Broadwater Parklands, a jewel of the Gold Coast, distinguishes itself through its innovative integration of recreational spaces with the natural estuarine environment. Unlike typical beachfront parks, it features a saltwater swimming lagoon, offering a safe alternative to ocean swimming while maintaining a connection to the Broadwater's ecosystem. The Rockpools, a dedicated water play area, uniquely incorporates sculpted marine creatures, providing an educational and engaging experience for children. A lesser-known fact is the parkland's role in hosting large-scale community events, transforming from a tranquil retreat into a vibrant hub for festivals and celebrations. The Federation-style pier, extending into the Broadwater, offers panoramic views and serves as a popular fishing spot, connecting visitors to the area's maritime history. The parkland's design prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that individuals of all abilities can enjoy its diverse offerings, from the sprawling lawns to the interactive art installations scattered throughout the grounds.

Introduction

Broadwater Parklands prioritizes accessibility with parking spaces for people with disabilities available in each carpark. Wheelchair access is facilitated throughout the park, including to the northern section's BBQ areas. A Liberty Swing is located in the Washington Waters Playground, with access requiring contact with onsite security. Beach access is improved by permanent mobility matting near the swimming enclosure, extending towards the hard sand, tide permitting.

Each toilet block includes an accessible option, and the park features a Changing Places toilet, equipped with an adjustable height change table, ceiling tracking hoist, and shower; access requires a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK), obtainable by eligible day visitors via onsite security. Accessible parking spaces are located directly outside the Changing Places toilet.

The Broadwater Tourist Park, situated on the shores of the Broadwater, offers an accessible one-bedroom cabin with a ramped entrance and an open-plan design for wheelchair mobility. The park's reception is accessible via a ramp with handrails and automatic doors. Mobility is eased throughout the park via internal roads and pathways suitable for wheelchairs, prams, and mobility scooters. The southern camp kitchen provides ample room for wheelchair mobility, with accessible barbeque facilities. An easy-access bathroom facility is located at the southern amenity block, featuring a wheel-in shower with a handheld shower head and seat, along with conveniently placed handrails.

Accessibility

Broadwater Parklands offers families a diverse range of activities centered around play and waterfront fun. The park features three distinct playgrounds catering to different age groups and abilities. The Peninsula Playground, the newest addition, includes inclusive options alongside traditional play structures and bookable BBQ areas. For younger children, the Adventure Play Attraction near The Rockpools features a pirate ship and interactive learning equipment. Older children can enjoy the Washington Waters Play Attraction, complete with a flying fox, monorail, and a bouncy pillow.

The Rockpools water play area provides an exciting, marine-themed environment with fountains, a creek bed, and tidal rockpools for exploration. Families can also swim in the calm, natural waters of the Southport swimming enclosure, which includes a jumping pontoon. Seasonal events and organized activities enhance the family experience, with details available at the reception of the Broadwater Tourist Park.

Adjacent to the park, GC Aqua Park offers an inflatable water park experience suitable for all ages and abilities. Families can also enjoy cycling or walking along the waterfront pathways, with convenient access to nearby attractions like the GC Aqua Park. The Broadwater Tourist Park, located next door, has been voted one of Queensland’s best holiday parks for families, offering a range of facilities and activities.

Family Activities

Southport Broadwater Parklands, a premier community space on the Gold Coast, was transformed from a large asphalt car park into a world-class foreshore park. Designed by AECOM, the parklands feature event lawns, bathing boxes, barbeque shelters, and play equipment, fostering community engagement. The park's redevelopment, a $42 million project led by the Gold Coast City Council, has rejuvenated public land into an active green waterfront.

The parklands serve as an iconic gateway for the Gold Coast, hosting major events and embracing an active lifestyle. The Northern Precinct, developed in stages from 2013 to 2023, includes land reclamation, boating facilities, buildings, and playgrounds. A key feature is the Great Lawn, ideal for family picnics and the venue for popular city events like the Gold Coast Marathon and Mayor’s Christmas Carols.

Play areas cater to all ages, including the Peninsula Playground with its spiral tower, the Adventure Play Attraction with a pirate ship, and Washington Waters Play Attraction with a Flying Fox. Barbecue areas with communal barbecues and picnic spots encourage gatherings. The parklands also integrate sustainable design, such as an urban wetland for stormwater runoff and photovoltaic panels for park lighting. The parklands have become a popular family attraction and a point of community pride.

Community Parkland

The Southport Broadwater Parklands Northern Precinct represents a significant phase in the park's evolution, reflecting a commitment to the Southport Broadwater Parklands Masterplan. Completed in stages from 2013 to 2023, the Northern Precinct development involved land reclamation to accommodate new recreational boating facilities, complemented by multi-use community spaces and extensive open-space amenities. These include a large-scale event lawn and outdoor educational facilities designed to integrate with the innovative constructed mangrove stormwater treatment system.

A key feature of the Northern Precinct is the major destination playground, enhancing the parklands' appeal. The development strategy maximized sustainability initiatives, aligning with the Southport Broadwater Parklands Masterplan. The Fisherman’s event lawn, the playground, and the boat ramp are key drivers, supporting local, regional, and international users.

Digital solutions played a crucial role in the playground's design, with a custom main play tower developed in 3D using SketchUp and Revit. This allowed for detailed engineering and fabrication documentation, facilitating engagement with safety certifiers and the client. The 3D modeling enabled the creation of realistic photorealistic perspectives, ensuring the final design matched the project's realities. The project has delivered various community, social, and health outcomes, enhancing the parklands' role as a premier open space.

Broadwater Parklands

Did You Know?

Official Opening

Inflatable Playground

Entry Cost

Central Location

Highlights from Reviews

Location