The Best Beaches in Brisbane

Heading to the beach is one of the best activities to do for a family outing. It’s great fun, easy to arrange, really entertaining for the kids, outdoors, and best of all, free! So why don’t we do it more often? Well, mainly because we tend to think we have to drive all the way to the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast to find a great beach. The fact is, we have some awesome beaches right here in Brisbane! Here are our picks for the best beaches to in Brisbane to visit with kids.

Some of these beaches are just for little ones and others a big, full-on patrolled Brisbane beaches. If you click on the name, you’ll be led to Google Maps so you can see where each is located. Just remember a bucket and spade, suncream and sun-safe swimwear, swim between the flags, and you’re all set for an awesome day of sand and surf!

1. Suttons Beach, Redcliffe

Suttons Beach is a beautiful patrolled beach in Redcliffe. It’s a perfect place for playing on the sand, paddling in the water and going for safe swim with the reassurance of knowing that it is under the supervision of our wonderful surf life savers. There are lots of grassed areas and plenty of shady spots for picnics. There is a lovely beachfront promenade perfect for bikes and scooters, there are picnic and barbecue facilities, and toilets, including disabled toilets. Also featuring the awesome, fully fenced Suttons Beach Park, this beach will definitely be a huge hit with the kids! There is also parking, as well as fish and chip shop up the road, or a more fancy restaurant nearby. What more could you ask for?

2. Lower Moora Park, Shorncliffe

Lower Moora Park features a small but picturesque beach near the Shorncliffe Pier, perfect for making sandcastles and paddling. You can stroll up the pier, enjoy the picnic and barbecue facilities and enjoy ride-on toys on the paths. There is also an amazing playground at Lower Moora Park. It has even more sand for kids to play in, as well as a series of cool forts and other fun playground equipment. There is some parking and toilets including disabled facilities. This is a great place for a day out, but shhhh, don’t tell everyone!

3. Streets Beach, South Bank

No trip to Brisbane would be complete without a visit to Streets Beach in the South Bank Parklands. While this is a man-made beach, it is no less of a fun-filled attraction for kids and adults alike, with the convenience of being located right in the heart of the city! With pristine white sand, beautiful calm lagoon of varying depths for paddlers to swimmers (with lifeguards on duty), pebbly creeks and even Aquativity and a boat pool, you will definitely get a full day of entertainment here. There are nearby barbecues, sheltered tables and lawns, toilets and changing facilities with showers, and many local cafes and restaurants. It’s hard to believe we can experience all of this for free!

4. Pelican Park, Clontarf

This is another great little beach where you can fly a kite, splash around in the water and have a barbecue or picnic at the shaded picnic tables overlooking the ocean. There are also not one but TWO great fully fenced playgrounds for the kids to enjoy at Pelican Park! You can also watch the pelicans or go for a cycle. There is even a boat ramp and a fish and chip shop nearby.

5. Wellington Point

Wellington Point is a lovely seaside suburb with a great beach where kids can check out the crabs, collect shells and have a paddle. At low tide, a sand causeway connects to the nearby King Island, and you can experience the thrill of walking across to the beautiful island conservation area. There is also a huge park in the centre of the point where you can have a picnic and there are a couple of nearby cafes. There is even a great seaside playground shaded by large fig trees, which are great for climbing!

6. Coochiemudlo Island

Coochiemudlo is a little island 400m off the waterfront at Victoria Point. You need to take a ferry to get there, but it only costs and few dollars and takes about 10 minutes to get there, so it is well worth the trip. There is a beach with very gentle surf, making it ideal for kids. Think a typical cartoon desert island, basically a big hill with palms and ringed with sand!

7. Redcliffe Lagoon, Redcliffe

Redcliffe Lagoon is not strictly a beach, but it is a shoreside lagoon on Redcliffe Parade. It has sandy areas and the great lagoon for swimming in (which is patrolled during summer months). There are fun water jets and bug squirters, lots of grassy areas for picnics and plenty of paths for riding bikes or scooters. There are toilets and changing facilities with showers, and also disabled access ramps. This place is well kept and great for kids, but can get busy on summer days.

8. Scarborough Beach, Scarborough

Scarborough Beach is a beautiful beach where kids can play in the sand and swim in the sea. There’s parking, toilets, barbecue and picnic facilities. Kids can ride along the foreshore paths and there are lovely grassy areas and nearby cafes. There is also the great fully fenced Scarborough Beach Park, which features two awesome play areas – Pirate Place and Railway Place! This a great place to visit for a fun-filled family day out at the seaside.

9. Decker Park, Brighton

Decker Park in Brighton has great sandy sections of beach for kids to enjoy, alongside the tranquil waters of the bay. There are also two unfenced playgrounds at Decker Park, to add to the fun for kids, with a good range of play equipment and cognitive play equipment. There are barbecue and picnic facilities, wheelchair accessible toilets, grassy areas and foreshore paths to explore. There is also a jetty and even a dog park, so every member of the family can enjoy this fun beach area!

10. Enogerra Reservoir, The Gap

For something a bit different, why not check out this lakeside beach at Enogerra Reservoir? The sandy shore of the reservoir is great for building sandcastles and having a picnic on, and you get to enjoy the beach without even heading to the coast! The tranquil waters of the reservoir also make for the perfect place to have a swim or enjoy some fun activities on the water. You can bring your own kayak or canoe, or hire some fun adventure equipment when you get there. There are also lovely bushwalks around the area and around the perimeter of the lake, and you can also get up close with wildlife at the Walkabout Creek Visitor and Wildlife Centre.