Qld Beaches - 3.South Coast
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The Spit - Gold Coast

Beach Info
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Sand Pumping Pier at The Spit

The Spit Overview

Location 5kms North of Surfers Paradise. 70kms South of Brisbane.
Nearest Town: 5kms (Surfers Paradise)
Tasman Sea Beach Facilities Activities Rating Accommodation
Beach: Sand Patrolled: Peak Times Sunbathing: 88% Hotel/Resort: No
Length: 1km Appox Toilets: Yes Swimming: 81% Caravan Park: No
Faces: East Showers: Surfing: 81% Beach Food: Yes
Top: Breakwall Picnic Area: Yes Kitesurf: 77% Café/Kiosk: Yes
Bottom: Main Beach Tidal Pool: No Fishing: 82% Restaurants: No
Surrounds: Bushland Pier: Yes Shore Dive: No Risk Level: 2 - Care Required
Reef: No Other: Seaway Wall Snorkelling: No Dumping Waves: Yes
Ocean Swell: Yes Access: 2 - Car or Walk in Spear Fishing: No Frequent Rips: Yes
Other: Car Park: Yes Walks: 85% Shark Attacks: No Report Found
Transport: No Other: Other: Busy seaway nearby
One of the best beaches on the Gold Coast, doesn’t get as crowded as more central beaches. Beach has some protection from northerlies due to seawall.



The Spit Map





History

History

Prior to 1897 The Spit area was connected to South Stradbroke Island by an area of land known as Jumpinpin.
A serious of storms and high seas broke through the land, forming South Stradbroke Island and creating a new sea passage to the ocean from The Broadwater, which was later developed into the Gold Coast Seaway.

Gold Coast Seaway.

The sea passage at The Spit became a popular way to access the ocean from The Broadwater, but was at times dangerous due to sand and silt buildup known as Southport Bar. In 1987 breakwalls were built on each side of the seaway and the world's first permanent sand pumping system was built,
In 1987 the Gold Coast Seaway was constructed by building breakwalls on each side of the waterway and construction the world's first permanent sand bypass system, which clears 80,000 tonnes of sand from the channel each year via the Sand Pumping pier.
Today the Seaway is a busy boating channel, with many leisure boats, tours and Jetskis passing through every hour. The Seaway is also crossed by many surfers and body board riders as a way to get to the surf break at the south tip of Sth Stradbroke Island.

Surfing

The Spit Surfbreak

The Spit is a popular beach break that can get crowded on weekends. It is fairly consistent, works on swell with any east in it. Offshore wind is North-east.
It starts working around 2-3ft and can hold up to 2m, not much more. There are both left and right rides. The breakwall provides a little protection from strong winds from the north.
Care should be taken around the pier, as injuries have occurred here.
Sometimes surfers visiting this spot decide to head for the less crowded break on South Stradbroke island, which requires paddling across the busy Gold Coast Seaway.





Created by admin. Last Modification: Wednesday 04 of May, 2011 11:33:00 EST by admin.

Category: 3.South Coast
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