Photos by Phillis Real Estate
The Boat Gold Coast team offers valuable insights into choosing the perfect waterfront home on the Gold Coast. We highlight a diverse array of homes along the city’s rivers and canals through captivating photos, showcasing everything from boats of all sizes— power and sail, pontoon and catamaran—to scenic decking, lush lawns, boat lifts, ramps, pontoons, and jetties. With the right mindset and key information, there’s a property to suit everyone’s tastes and lifestyle.
PICTURE THIS: Your backyard view transforming with the seasons, the tide ebbing and flowing as a constant reminder of nature’s rhythms. There’s no better way to combine residential living with the boating lifestyle than here on the Gold Coast.
Living on a waterfront property with stunning waterway views is a dream many boat enthusiasts strive to achieve. The Gold Coast is home to more than 90% of Australia’s residential canals. While states like New South Wales and Victoria have banned new canal developments, Queensland continues to allow them under strict regulations, ensuring the value of a waterfront property here will only increase over time.
Unlike the canals of Venice, which lack car access or road systems, the Gold Coast offers the best of both worlds with easy access by land and water. When selecting a waterfront home, start with your land-based needs—proximity to work, schools, shopping, and leisure activities. Once you’ve narrowed down your preferred suburbs, you can focus on finding the ideal house with boating access.
PROPERTY ORIENTATION AND LAND
The orientation of your property is crucial for comfort. A north-facing waterfront, for example, ensures sunlight in your backyard all day long. Homes facing other directions may find themselves in shade for part of the day, which can feel cold during winter. A west-facing waterfront will remain shaded until the afternoon, with the intense orange glare of sunset often requiring closed blinds. Additionally, consider whether the land fans out towards the water, providing more space for a larger pontoon and easier boat manoeuvring, or narrows, which can limit boat access and create congestion with neighbouring jetties.
WATER ACCESS AND NAVIGATION
The Gold Coast boasts 400 kilometres of constructed canals, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for boaters. If quick access to the Broadwater and Seaway is a priority, Runaway Bay is an excellent option, with more registered boats than any other postcode in Queensland. However, it can be congested with older homes and crowded canals. On the other hand, Sanctuary Cove, Hope Island, and Upper Coomera offer exclusive, gated communities with modern architecture and a slower pace. Be mindful that the Coomera River can be temperamental during rainy summers.
Runaway Bay and Coomera River areas are popular among sailboat owners, as many sections are bridge-free and offer deep water passage. However, the main arm of the Coomera is a 6-knot zone, making travel to the Broadwater slower.
For smaller vessels, the Nerang River offers both 6-knot and 40-knot zones, allowing faster access to destinations like Southport, Carrara, and Broadbeach Waters.
Though main riverfront properties are highly desirable, they come at a premium and can be affected by boat wake, which may cause damage to pontoons and jetties. Before purchasing, take the time to explore the area by boat to assess potential challenges first hand.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOAT
If you’re new to the waterfront lifestyle and still deciding on a boat, start small with a tinnie or kayak, which allows you to enjoy the waterways without a significant financial commitment. For something more substantial, an 8-metre or smaller boat offers ease of navigation and speed along most stretches of the main rivers. Larger boats, while luxurious, are restricted to 6 knots on most canal systems and require special equipment like boat lifts or draining skirts to avoid costly maintenance from prolonged exposure to saltwater.
PONTOONS
When building or replacing a pontoon, several factors must be considered. Piled pontoons, secured to the seabed with concrete posts, are ideal for waterways with strong tidal flow, while calmer areas can accommodate pontoons attached to land via struts or cables. For smaller boats under 6 metres, a dry berth on the pontoon is an option, using a roller system for parking with either a manual or electric winch. A 3.5-metrewide pontoon is recommended for safe access around the boat, while narrow pontoons can be unstable and offer limited storage.
For properties on main rivers like the Nerang and Coomera, it’s important to choose a pontoon with high freeboard—this extra height will protect it from the waves created by passing boats, particularly wakeboarding vessels. Council regulations allow pontoon lengths to reach up to 70% of your waterfront property length.
Published in print January-March 2025
