Miami Beach, Gold Coast: Surfcam, Rainbow Stairs & hotels

Miami Beach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, offers good beach breaks for surfing, the photo-friendly Rainbow Stairs plus both resort and apartment accommodation.

Where is Miami Beach, Australia?

Queensland’s Gold Coast is often called Australia’s equivalent of Florida. And it even has its own Miami Beach.

Miami Beach is roughly half way up the Gold Coast, and is the name given to the southern stretch of the 16km long, sweeping beach that goes up all the way to the Spit at the top of the Gold Coast. The section of this beach officially designated as Miami Beach is 1km long.

The Miami Headland separates Miami Beach from North Burleigh Beach, which lies to the south.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Miami Beach surfcam

Miami Beach is known for good surfing, with easily accessible beach breaks. Surfing conditions tend to be best in winter, with June the most consistent month for surfing at Miami Beach.

A Miami Beach surfcam is available at Surfline.

Where to swim at Miami Beach, Gold Coast

Miami Beach on the Gold Coast can be a hazardous place to swim, as there are often strong rips along the beach. The safest place to swim at Miami Beach is in the patrolled section between the red and yellow flags near the Miami Beach Surf Life Saving Club at the southern end of the beach.

7 Gold Coast experiences worth booking in advance

See waterfalls and natural wonders – on a full day Springbrook National Park tour.
Be awed by massive migrating humpbacks – on a great value whale-watching cruise.
Feast as you explore the Gold Coast waterways – on a dinner cruise.
Kayak with dolphins and snorkel with hundred of sub-tropical fish – on the same tour.
Enjoy high speed thrills along the waterways – on a jet boat adventure.
Glide above the beautiful hinterland – on a serene hot air balloon flight.
Taste the best Scenic Rim wines – on an indulgent Tamborine Mountain wine tour, with lunch.

Miami Rainbow Stairs

While at Miami Beach, you may as well take in the views from the Mick Schamburg Park on the Miami Headland. To get there, climb up the brightly-painted Miami Rainbow Stairs.

From the Mick Schamburg Park Lookout, you can see north to Surfers Paradise, as well as south towards Coolangatta Beach, Greenmount Beach, Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay Beach in Coolangatta.

Miami Beach from the Mick Schamburg Park Lookout. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Miami Beach accommodation on the Gold Coast

The top accommodation options near Miami Beach include the four star Grande Florida Resort, which has two lagoon-style pools, and the spacious Sanddrift Beachfront Apartments.

Other things to do on the Gold Coast include whale-watching cruises during whale season, kayaking with dolphins and taking a hot air balloon flight over the hinterland.