Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast's main beachfront entertainment and tourism hub, ~80km from Brisbane CBD, defined by its high-rise skyline along Surfers Paradise Beach and the Cavill Avenue precinct. It attracts a diverse population of tourists, young professionals and apartment dwellers with median age around 40. Predominantly unit-based housing with luxury riverside houses in canal estates.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 26,412
- Median age
- 42 years
- Median household income
- $1,323 /week
- Median personal income
- $775 /week
- Median family income
- $1,707 /week
- Average household size
- 1.9
- Persons per bedroom
- 1.0
- Local government area
- Gold Coast
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Gold Coast
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Moncrieff
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $750 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,606
- Median house price
- $1,675,000
- Rent share of household income
- 57%
Schools
- Surfers Paradise State School
Transport
- G:link light rail — Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise, Cypress Avenue stations
- Gold Coast Highway
Lifestyle & amenities
Tourist and entertainment centre known for its beach, Cavill Mall shopping strip and nightlife along the glitter strip. High-rise apartments dominate with a diverse international resident base; luxury houses in Paradise Waters and Isle of Capri canal areas. Unit-dominant suburb.
- 8 cafés
- 11 restaurants
- 2 pubs and bars
- 65 parks and reserves
- 10 gyms and fitness centres
- 2 supermarkets
- 15 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (30.4°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (22.0°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 1065 mm
- Reference station: Brisbane, 69.3 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Building serves 50.1% of the 27,202 resolvable premises in Surfers Paradise. Most premises here are in apartment buildings served by fibre to the basement and existing in-building copper. Real-world speeds depend on the in-building wiring.
- Fibre to the Premises: 8.3%
- Fibre to the Curb: 4.5%
- Fibre to the Building: 50.1%
- Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial: 29.8%
- Fibre to the Node: 7.3%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 72,022 across the Gold Coast LGA in the year to April 2026 (stable on the prior year).
- Most common categories: 36,038 theft, 11,810 drug offences, 7,093 violent offences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise (QLD 4217) had 26,412 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 42. It sits within the Gold Coast local government area.
What is the median rent in Surfers Paradise?
The median advertised rent in Surfers Paradise is $750/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Surfers Paradise?
Yes — 1 school is listed within or near Surfers Paradise. Nearest include: Surfers Paradise State School. School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Surfers Paradise?
Surfers Paradise is predominantly served by Fibre to the Building (50.1% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Surfers Paradise?
Across the surrounding area, 72,022 offences were recorded in the 12 months to APR26. The most common offence categories were theft (36,038), drug offences (11,810), violent (7,093). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Surfers Paradise?
In Surfers Paradise, mean daily temperatures range from 16.5°C to 26.7°C and annual rainfall is 1,065 mm measured at the Brisbane weather station (69.3 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: