The Spit Dog Off Leash Beach

Dogs are spoilt for choice on this splendid canine-friendly tip of a peninsula of the Gold Coast, with the option of romping in a large protected cove on the Broadwater or stretching their legs surfside on the uninhabited sands of the northern tip of Southport.

The Broadwater is characterized by a sizable crescent of sand which at low tides is invaded by armies of soldier crabs, lowset dunes and a large dog-paddling lagoon.

The surf beach is one of the remotest on the coast, protected to the north by the seaway wall and dissected by a long sand pumping jetty which juts seemingly with no end out into the sea.

The marker for where the dog-friendly zone begins - Broadwater and beachside -is Muriel Henchman Avenue (just past Sea World) and it continues to the sea wall at the far end.

To access the Broadwater there are several entry points, marked by small indented carparks to the left off Seaworld Drive.

To access the beach, head almost to the end of Seaworld Drive and a large carpark materializes on the right. There are showers and a dog drinking tap here and access to the beach via the seaway wall or via a path to where the sand pumping jetty starts.

Before or after, visit the iconic trawler fresh seafood joint Peter’s, which is nestled at the back of Seaworld Nara Resort. On weekends they do a roaring trade in fabulous fresh fish’n’chips, traditional or marinated in delicious sauces and grilled. And don’t be alarmed by the queues – it’s a highly efficient well-oiled machine, turning over 100 orders in half an hour.