The Best Brisbane Beaches Within Driving Distance of the City

Whether you’re after a surf beach, dog beach, kids’ beach or just a sunny spot to lie your towel – we’ve got the inside scoop of the best beaches near Brisbane.

The best Brisbane beach for relaxing in the CBD.

No list of beaches in Brisbane could miss the iconic, manmade Streets Beach, by far the closest beach to Brisbane CBD. The beach sits on the south bank of the Brisbane River, though not on the river’s edge.

Of all the Brisbane beaches, Streets Beach is perhaps the most popular, thanks to its brilliant location and fully contained waters. This makes it a great swimming spot for kids and adults.

If you happen to be staying in the city in a hotel, Brisbane Street Beach is the most convenient beach you can find.

And while you can’t enjoy views out into the ocean, you can enjoy the fantastic Brisbane skyline as you relax on the sand or splash in the water.

Drive from Brisbane: 0 minutes  

The best Brisbane beach for BBQs with loved ones and days out in the school holidays.

Located on the foreshore of the beautiful town of Redcliffe, lies Suttons Beach Park. While this fully patrolled beach may have lovely gentle waves and soft white sand, the real hero of the show is its facilities. Picture rotundas, shady trees, numerous barbeque facilities, gazebo-style dining, bikeways, toilet blocks, plenty of space and a large playground for children. What else could you want? 

Suttons Beach Park really is the ultimate beach day location. So fill up your Esky, pack the car with friends and family and set course for one of the best beaches near Brisbane. Take advantage of this family friendly beach by staying in one of the best Brisbane beach hotels, The Sebel Brisbane Margate Beach.

Drive from Brisbane: 28 minutes

The best Brisbane total escapism beach.

Only a ferry-ride from the mainland, this pint-sized island is not to be missed. Affectionately known as ‘Coochie’, Coochiemudlo Island is the epitome of life in the slow lane. With no public transport or public Wi-Fi and only a patchy mobile service, Coochie is the perfect place to escape for the day.  

As the island is only 140 hectares wide, you can easily reach all three of its beaches in one-day on foot. Its beautifully flat, calm and relatively shallow beaches are perfect for kids, water sports such as SUP’ing or kayaking and beach picnics.

The conservation efforts of the local community mean that the island is also great for wildlife spotting - keep your eyes peeled for sea eagles, wallabies, and even the occasional dugong.  

Drive from Brisbane: 45-minutes

The best Brisbane dog walking beach.

Located on Bribie Island, Woorim Beach is just a one-hour drive from Brisbane and easily accessible by car. Woorim Beach’s long stretch of soft, powdery white sand seems to go on forever, making it the perfect beach walking track. Plus, it’s dog-friendly so you can even take your pooch off their leash. 

 As well as being a great beach for walking, the shelter provided by nearby Moreton Island means there is little to no wind or swell, creating perfect conditions for kids or those learning to surf.

If you’re looking for a more adventurous beach day, hire out a boat and cruise up and down Pumicestone Passage for the afternoon. The passage is 35 kilometers of pristine water, home to many sea birds, and perfect for escaping into nature.

Drive from Brisbane: 1 hour

The best Brisbane beach for swimming, surfing, and sunbathing. 

Well loved by locals and tourists alike, North Stradbroke Island is a Queensland gem. With quaint towns, gorgeous lakes and a stunning coastline it’s easy to understand why.

The island is home to three popular, white sandy beaches; Cylinder Beach, Home Beach and Flinders Beach. Cylinders Beach the island’s most iconic surf beach. It’s patrolled all year round and has a gentle wave that’s great for body surfers, boogie boarders, and those learning to surf. Plus, there is plenty of beach to chill out on, for those who prefer to be spectators. 

If you feel like going for a wander, take a walk up to Point Lookout. This surfy beach town offers sweeping views over the beach below and is the ideal place to grab some lunch. The idyllic town and ocean views is perfect for day trips from Brisbane any time of the year. 

Drive from Brisbane: 1.5 hours