Dog-Friendly Southport and Main Beach: Broadwater Walks, Cafes and Stays

The Southport and Main Beach basics

Southport and Main Beach face each other across the Broadwater, and between them they cover the big-day-out end of the Gold Coast with a dog. Southport has Broadwater Parklands for a long on-lead stroll, a cafe right on the water that welcomes dogs, and Musgrave Park for an off-leash run. Across the water, The Spit has the Seaway, a kiosk with its own menu for dogs, and an off-leash beach whose status council's own pages disagree on. Here's what we know, and where to go if it's shut on the day.

Park rules are checked against City of Gold Coast pages, and venues and stays were checked on 27/10/2026. If a sign on the day disagrees, the sign wins.

Broadwater Parklands, Southport: on a lead

Council welcomes friendly dogs on a lead across Broadwater Parklands, with the flat waterfront paths, lawns and shade that make it one of the best long walks on the Coast. Dogs are prohibited in the netted swimming enclosure and the playgrounds, and the parklands host big events like the Gold Coast Marathon, so check what's on before a weekend visit. See council's Broadwater Parklands page.

Musgrave Park, Southport: off-leash

Council lists an off-leash area at Musgrave Park on Musgrave Avenue, where dogs can run under effective control. There's also a signed dog prohibited area around the lake, so keep them out of the water here. The park has barbecues, picnic shelters, toilets and a drinking fountain. See council's Musgrave Park page.

• Where: 120 Musgrave Avenue, Southport
• Off-leash: designated area
• Watch for: the dog prohibited area around the lake, and the playground

The Spit, Main Beach: check before you go

The Spit's off-leash dog beach is one of the Gold Coast's favourites, but council's own pages disagree on whether it's open. Its beach pages still carry a closure notice from the Tropical Cyclone Alfred erosion, while its beach restoration page doesn't list The Spit as closed and ABC News reported in December 2025 that all Gold Coast beaches had reopened. Our Spit dog beach guide sets out what each source says. The Gold Coast Waterways Authority, which looks after Doug Jennings Park as its trustee, still lists the off-leash dog beach on its park page. Council's Animal Control Area Register puts the off-leash zone on the ocean foreshore between the Muriel Henchman Avenue beach entrance and the southern Seaway rock groyne. Check council's Spit beach page for the latest before you load up the car.

Doug Jennings Park itself, at the end of Seaworld Drive, has beach showers, drinking fountains with dog bowls and toilets, and the Seaway Promenade makes a good on-lead walk with the city skyline across the water. Leads stay on in the park: the Waterways Authority lists having a dog off a leash there as a prohibited activity. Dogs are prohibited from playgrounds, and on Main Beach itself they must stay at least 200 metres from the flags.

If The Spit is closed on the day, the closest off-leash swims are on the Broadwater: the Labrador foreshore at any hour, the Biggera Waters foreshore early and late, and Paradise Point, covered in our Runaway Bay, Hollywell and Paradise Point guide.

Dog-friendly cafes

Cafe Catalina, Southport. Right in Broadwater Parklands with water views, and in its own words it welcomes well behaved pets in the undercover alfresco area. Dogs aren't allowed in the inside dining room, and if you book online, note that you're bringing a dog. It's one of the few dog-friendly spots on the Broadwater that does dinner. See Cafe Catalina.

Address: 10/11 Gold Coast Highway, Broadwater Parklands, Southport QLD 4215
Hours: breakfast 7am to 11:30am and lunch 12pm to 3pm daily, dinner from 5:30pm Monday to Saturday
Dogs: undercover alfresco area only

Seaway Kiosk, The Spit. The end-of-the-road kiosk with a big deck over Doug Jennings Park. Must Do Gold Coast's January 2026 listing notes a separate menu for dogs, with biscuits, patties and sausages. It's weather dependent, so check before a special trip. See Seaway Kiosk.

Address: The End of The Spit, 507 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD 4217
Hours: Monday to Friday 7am to 4pm, weekends 7am to 5pm, public holidays from 8am, weather permitting

For more along the coast, see our Gold Coast dog-friendly bars, restaurants and cafes guide.

Vets near Southport and Main Beach

The nearest clinics we've checked are VetLove Labrador on Clayton Street and Greencross Vets Biggera Waters on Brisbane Road, both in our Labrador guide. After hours, Animal Emergency Service at 104 Eastlake Street, Carrara, runs overnight on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. SASH Gold Coast at Robina and AEC Gold Coast at Varsity Lakes are open 24/7. See our Gold Coast vets guide.

Dog-friendly stays nearby

QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise. QT's Pup Yeah program allows one dog per room, with dogs under 25 kg preferred and bigger dogs assessed before arrival. The first three nights carry no dog fee, then it's $40 a night. Dogs stay out of the restaurants, pool, gym and spa, and can't be left alone in the room. See QT Pup Yeah FAQs.

Address: 7 Staghorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

Novotel Surfers Paradise. Pups in Paradise rooms are selected Deluxe rooms on level 6 with a private balcony, for dogs up to 20 kg, booked direct only. Dogs must be licensed, tagged and on a lead, never left alone, and sleep on their own bedding. A $200 cleaning charge applies for accidents or dogs on the bed. See Novotel dog-friendly rooms.

Address: corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Hanlan Street, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

The Langham, Gold Coast. The Pampered Pets Staycation covers you and one dog up to 20kg, with a Langham pet bed and bowls, a daily $80 food and beverage credit and valet parking, and a $220 per night pet fee built into the package. See Langham Pampered Pets Staycation.

Address: 38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

Jadran Motel and El Jays Holiday Lodge, Labrador. A Broadwater-side motel with a pool and kitchen units that says on its own site that it's pet friendly. It doesn't publish pet fees or limits, so call before you book. See Jadran Motel.

Address: 54-56 Frank Street, Labrador QLD 4215

Worth knowing: Gold Coast Tourist Parks' own pet policy says only its Jacobs Well and Kirra Beach parks take dogs, so the Main Beach and Broadwater tourist parks are a no. For the city-wide list, see our pet friendly accommodation guide and dog-friendly caravan parks guide.

More northern Gold Coast dog guides: Surfers Paradise, Bundall and Chevron Island, Ashmore and Benowa, Nerang and Carrara.

After the walk: salt, sand and ticks

After a swim, rinse your dog with fresh water before the salt dries, working into the belly, armpits, paws and ears. Check the head, neck, ears and between the toes for ticks after every walk, paralysis ticks included. Our ticks and snakes guide covers what to look for.

FAQs

Is The Spit dog beach open?

Council's sources disagree. Its Spit beach pages still show a closure notice, while its restoration page doesn't list The Spit as closed. Check the signs at the access before you let your dog off-leash, and see our Spit dog beach guide for the alternatives.

Are dogs allowed at Broadwater Parklands?

Yes, on a lead. Dogs are prohibited in the swimming enclosure and the playgrounds.

Where can my dog go off-leash in Southport?

At Musgrave Park on Musgrave Avenue. Keep dogs out of the signed prohibited area around the lake.

Is there a dog-friendly cafe in Southport?

Cafe Catalina in Broadwater Parklands welcomes well behaved dogs in its undercover alfresco area.

Checked 27/10/2026. We're humans working from public council, park and venue sources, and rules, hours, fees and dog policies change without notice. Always check the signs on the day and confirm with the venue, park or council before you go. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.