Burleigh Beach Gold Coast: Visitor’s Guide (2025)

Burleigh Beach is by far the most popular destination on the Gold Coast!

Spend the day exploring all that Burleigh Heads has to offer including the white sand beaches, countless cafes, restaurants, and bars, the Burleigh Heads markets, Burleigh’s epic surf breaks, coastal walk around Burleigh Hill, and many more fun-fuelled activities!

In this Burleigh Head Beach guide, I have included some useful information on how to get to Burleigh Beach, things to do, the best places to eat and drink, where to stay in Burleigh Gold Coast, and the best time to visit.

BURLEIGH BEACH GOLD COAST – OVERVIEW

Let’s start this guide with all the essentials you should know about Burleigh Beach, from its location to getting there and more.

WHERE IS BURLEIGH HEAD BEACH?

Burleigh is pretty much the halfway point between the north end of the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise) and the south end of the Gold Coast (Coolangatta).

Click here for the location on Google Maps.

BURLEIGH BEACH MAP

HOW TO GET TO BURLEIGH HEAD BEACH?

There are a few transportation options to reach Burleigh Heads which include renting a car, public transport, Uber, or on foot.

RENT A CAR:

In my opinion, renting a car is by far going to be your best option.

Driving a car on the Gold Coast is very safe and the road rules are very straightforward. If you’re an American or European, do note that we drive on the left-hand side of the road in Australia so this might take a few hours to get used to. 

I always use Discover Cars to search and book car rentals on Gold Coast as they offer the best rates.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Public buses and trams run frequently along the Gold Coast Highway which is another good option for getting down to Burleigh Head Beach.

I recommend purchasing a Go Card from any 7-Eleven store on the Gold Coast.

It costs $10 AUD to purchase a Go Card and you will also need to top it up with around $20 – $30 which should be enough to cover your transport for a few days on the Gold Coast. 

It’s as easy as tapping on and tapping off with your Go Card when riding on the buses or trams on the Gold Coast. A handy tool to use when traveling on public transport is the Translink Journey Planner.

If you don’t have a Go Card, it’s possible to purchase paper tickets on board public transport, however, you will end up paying around 30% more for each journey.

UBER:

There are quite literally thousands of Uber drivers on the Gold Coast and at any time of the day you are able to search and book an Uber online using the app and within a matter of minutes, you can easily find a ride to get to Burleigh Heads. 

Uber is a lot cheaper than taxis on the Gold Coast and if it’s your first time using Uber, you’ll get your first ride for free!

ON FOOT:

If you happen to be renting a hotel or apartment in Burleigh, chances are the beach will be a stone’s throw away and you can simply walk there.

BEST TIME TO VISIT BURLEIGH HEAD BEACH

The best time to visit the beach is early morning or late afternoon as it won’t be too hot under the midday sun.

If you can time your visit for a weekday, chances are you will get to enjoy the beach with fewer people around.

It’s known to be very popular on weekends so you can expect it to be very busy with many families and groups of friends hanging out here on the shoreline and on Burleigh Hill.

My recommendation would be to get there between 6:00 am and 10:00 am to score a good spot along the beachfront and enjoy a swim and a sunbake before the crowds hit.

Also, late afternoon around 5 pm – 6 pm is a nice time to visit as it’s a great spot to watch the sun setting over the Surfers Paradise skyline.

ARRIVING AT BURLEIGH BEACH

When you arrive at Burleigh Head Beach there are many parking lots along the beachfront with hundreds of car spaces available.

Parking is free for up to 3 hours, though in some areas you’ll have to pay around $4 AUD per hour.

The paid parking areas are clearly signposted so you will be able to tell which parking spaces are free and which ones you will have to pay for. 

From the parking lot, you’ll see a pathway that leads along the Burleigh Heads Esplanade and directly down to the shoreline.

Toilet and shower facilities can also be found next to the parking lot which is free for all beachgoers to use.

Any trash that you accumulate during your visit can be placed in the rubbish bins provided along the Burleigh Heads Esplanade and in the park areas.

Please help keep our Gold Coast beaches clean!

WHAT TO EXPECT AT BURLEIGH BEACH

Burleigh features a pristine stretch of glistening white sands and azure waters that overlooks the Gold Coast city skyline.

Burleigh is by far one of the best beaches on the Gold Coast!

Locals and tourists from all over the world flock to Burleigh Heads for its world-class surf breaks, unbeatable beaches, lively cafe scene, nature walks, and the all-around sunny vibes that this epic location has to offer.

Swimming at the beach is a must and it would be rude not to experience the ocean here!

Burleigh Beach is patrolled by lifeguards 7 days a week from 8 am – 5 pm, just be sure to swim in between the red and yellow flags.

Burleigh Heads is classed as a World Surfing Reserve, attracting surfers from all corners of the globe.

The right-hand point break at Burleigh is one of the best breaks on the East Coast of Australia.

If you’re feeling hungry or thirsty, you can pop up to the Kiosk which is attached to the Burleigh Heads Surf Club, and grab something to eat and drink at an affordable price!

BURLEIGH HILL & COCK ROCK VIEWPOINT

Burleigh Hill is an iconic landmark on the Gold Coast and it’s easily accessible.

Every afternoon, many tourists and locals tend to gather on Burleigh Hill for a picnic while watching the sunset. Not a bad spot to see out the day if you ask me!

There are 27 hectares of the national park that make up Burleigh Hill and await to be explored.

You can discover dense rainforests, coastal pandanus groves, rocky foreshores, tidal sandbars, and panoramic viewpoints.

I recommend visiting Burleigh Hill bright and early to adventure on the 2.3 km walking track that leads you in and around the beauty of Burleigh Heads National Park.

Click Here for your own personal Burleigh Heads National Park Map which has the walking tracks and entrances clearly marked.

On the Rainforest Circuit, you can find the Tumgun Viewpoint which overlooks the southern Gold Coast beaches, and Cock Rock which is an infamous viewpoint perched on the cliffside at the very top of Burleigh Hill.

FULL BLOG POST: BURLEIGH HILL

TALLEBUDGERA CREEK

Tallebudgera Creek, also known as Talley Creek, is just around the headland from Burleigh Head Beach and it boasts some of the clearest and most turquoise water in the entire Gold Coast.

On low tide there are several sand bars that appear, creating little islands to go and enjoy while they last.

Another popular spot is Echo Beach, a cute little cove tucked away on the south side of Burleigh Hill. There is access to this beach from the Rainforest Circuit trail along the Burleigh headland walk.

If you love bridge jumping, there is a deeper section of Tallebudgera Creek where you can launch yourself off of the five-meter-high bridge and into the creek below.

Be sure to bring a quick-dry towel to dry off after a dip.

There can be strong currents and also boats zipping around so be mindful of these conditions when swimming in Tallebudgera Creek.

BURLEIGH HEADS BEACH SURF BREAK

Burleigh is classed as a World Surfing Reserve, attracting surfers from around the globe. The right-hand point break is one of the best breaks on the east coast of Australia.

As a spectator, you have the best seat in the house watching surfers take wave after wave from the top of Burleigh Hill.

If you want uncrowded waves at Burleigh, you will have to get in the water before sunrise as it gets very busy when the swell arrives.

SNORKELING AT BURLEIGH BEACH

Another fun-fuelled DIY activity to try when visiting is to go snorkeling around the rocks which are located in front of Burleigh Headland.

I only recommend snorkeling at Burleigh when there are no waves breaking and the ocean is calm.

It’s a lot safer to go snorkelling Burleigh Heads as you won’t get hit by any waves and the visibility is much better too. 

You can easily enter the water at Burleigh Cove which can be found along the oceanview track and there is a set of stairs that leads down to the shoreline. 

From here you can snorkel around Burleigh Hill and all the way into Tallebudgera Creek. You will find an abundance of marine life just under the surface so make sure to have a GoPro with you to capture all the action.

If you’re too exhausted to swim back to Burleigh from Tallebudgera, you can climb up the rocks in front of the headland till you reach the concrete pathway and you can easily walk back along the oceanview track.

See More: 3 Day Gold Coast Itinerary

BEST CAFES, RESTAURANTS, & BARS IN BURLEIGH

There is no doubt that Burleigh Heads has some of the best cafes, restaurants, and bars on the Gold Coast.

There are quite literally too many to name in this post so I will share with you my personal favorites.

BEST CAFES IN BURLEIGH:

• Connors
• Nook Espresso
• The Pantry Cafe
• Burleigh Tropicana Cafe
• The Koffee Shack

BEST RESTAURANTS IN BURLEIGH:

• Burleigh Heads Surf Life Saving Club
• Burleigh Heads Hotel
• Fish Mongers
• Justin Lane
• Wahoos

BEST BARS IN BURLEIGH:

• Night Jar
• Rick Shores
• Burleigh Pavillion
• Pink Monkey Bar
• Burleigh Hotel

THE BURLEIGH MARKETS

Every weekend throughout the year, there are a few different Burleigh Markets to check out which are The Village Markets and the Burleigh Food Market.

BURLEIGH FOOD MARKETS:

The Burleigh Food Market is held every Saturday morning at Burleigh Heads State School and the opening hours are 7 am to 12 pm.

The Burleigh Market is the perfect place to purchase fresh fruit and vegetables, gourmet foods, bakery goods, fresh meat and fish, locally roasted coffee, and much much more!

You can also enjoy live entertainment every Saturday morning at Burleigh Markets and meet the local farmers, artisans, and producers!

THE VILLAGE MARKETS:

The Village Markets in Burleigh is more than just a market! It’s a creative community of small businesses, designers, artists, foodies, musicians, and more!

Village Markets are open every first and third Sunday of the month from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The Village Markets are also located at Burleigh Heads State School.

BEST GOLD COAST TOURS

WHAT TO PACK FOR BURLEIGH BEACH

When visiting Buelrigh Beach, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you:

FINAL THOUGHTS – BURLEIGH BEACH

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and if you have any questions, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically.

Many thanks!

PIN IT FOR LATER