Mermaid Waters

Mermaid Waters is one of the more commonly confused suburb names on the coast, purely because it sounds like it should be the beach itself — it isn't. Mermaid Waters sits inland, directly behind Mermaid Beach, and is a genuinely residential, non-beachfront suburb built around canals and local shopping rather than a tourist strip.

What it's known for

The suburb is mostly houses and low-rise apartments, with a local shopping centre (Pacific Fair is nearby, technically in neighbouring Broadbeach) and canal-front streets popular with longer-term residents rather than short-stay visitors. It's not somewhere people typically travel to specifically, but it's a practical, often cheaper option if you're happy being a short drive from the beach rather than directly on it.

Should you stay here?

Mermaid Waters can work as a budget-friendly base for travellers who don't mind a short drive to the beach — you're close to both Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach without paying beachfront prices. It's not the pick if you want to walk straight onto the sand.

Getting there

Mermaid Waters is a short drive from the Broadbeach South tram stop. It's about a 20-minute drive from Gold Coast Airport.