Surfers Paradise Buffet Dinner Cruise Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Broadwater

The Broadwater is the large, sheltered tidal lagoon behind the Gold Coast beaches, protected from the Pacific by a long sand spit and South Stradbroke Island. The Nerang River and many canals flow into it, so its water is usually flat and calm even when the surf is rough. That is what makes a Broadwater dinner cruise so comfortable: you eat at a steady table, with no open-sea swell, while the boat moves slowly past sandbanks, marinas and the city.

In daylight the Broadwater is busy with sailboats, jet skis and pelicans; at night it turns quiet and the water reflects every light along the shore. Your cruise leaves from the terminal on The Spit at Main Beach and stays within these protected waters for the whole evening. It is one of the most popular things to do on the Gold Coast at night, and an easy way to see the coast from the water without a long day trip.

Surfers Paradise skyline by night

Surfers Paradise grew from a small beachside settlement into the heart of the Gold Coast, and today its tall towers rise directly behind the beach. Seen from the Broadwater after dark, the high-rise skyline glitters from end to end and is mirrored in the still water, the view many visitors remember most from their trip. Climb to the open-air top deck after dinner for the clearest 360-degree outlook, and bring your camera.

The crew points out the landmarks you pass on the way, including the Gold Coast arts and cultural precinct beside the Nerang River and the lavish waterfront mansions and private jetties lining the canals. The best time to see the skyline is shortly after sunset, when the sky still holds some colour and the city lights come on. In the cooler months a light jacket is useful on the top deck, while summer evenings are warm and humid.

Main Beach, The Spit and Marina Mirage

Main Beach is the elegant northern neighbour of Surfers Paradise, with a quieter village feel, cafes along Tedder Avenue and one of the cleanest surf beaches on the coast. North of it runs The Spit, a narrow strip of land between the ocean and the Broadwater that holds the marine theme park, the cruise terminal and long stretches of parkland. Your cruise boards here, with free parking right at the terminal, and entry to the theme park is not needed.

Close by lies Marina Mirage, a waterfront marina and dining precinct where gleaming yachts and motor cruisers line the pontoons. The boat passes it early in the cruise, and the marina lights make a beautiful foreground to the skyline beyond. If you arrive early, a short walk along the Main Beach foreshore before boarding is a lovely way to start the evening.

The buffet dinner on board

Dinner is a chef-prepared buffet made with quality local produce, served in the comfortable, air-conditioned lower deck. Hot dishes on a typical menu include grilled calamari with garlic and lemon, seasoned grilled chicken tenderloins, roast lamb with a rosemary crust, barramundi poached in a coconut bisque with steamed rice, twice-cooked potatoes and steamed vegetables. The cold selection brings Gold Coast king prawns, mussels, garden and pasta salads, coleslaw and soft bread rolls.

To finish there is a seasonal fruit platter, a rich mud cake and a lemon and passion fruit cheesecake, plus the chef special of the day. Many dishes are marked vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or lactose free, so most diets are easy to cover; the menu can change without notice and allergen details are a guide only. Drinks are not included and can be bought on board, and a local musician keeps the mood relaxed while you eat.