Wave Break Island
True to its namesake, Wave Break Island is a man-made island which was designed to protect the western foreshore of the Broadwater from waves that might penetrate the new, permanently stabilised deep entrance. It was created in 1985 as part of the Gold Coast Seaway construction (read more about the History of the Seaway).
However, Wave Break Island is much more than just a purpose-built island. The island is a tranquil, picture-perfect slice of paradise loved by locals and tourists alike. In particular, Wave Break Island is popular amongst boaties and kayakers, thanks to the favourable conditions, however the island is also the perfect day-trip getaway for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, while still being a short and convenient distance away from the mainland.
The island boasts the Broadwater’s best beaches, with the eastern, northern and the keyhole on the western side all featuring the perfect white sand the Gold Coast is renowned for.
Day-trippers love visiting Wave Break Island for walks along the sandy beach, swimming, picnics, nature walks and wildlife spotting. Well-known for its sparkling clear waters, Wave Break Island is particularly popular amongst snorkelers and scuba divers. The clear, clean and mostly shallow waters make it a perfect spot for kids to go swimming….with a good chance of spotting colourful fish and other wonderful marine life.
The Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA), through its navigation channel dredging and beach nourishment programs, continually work to ensure beaches in and around the Broadwater are nourished to protect infrastructure. The beaches and rock walls of Wave Break Island benefit from these works to ensure the island continues to act as a buffer from the ingress of wave action through the seaway entrance. We regularly dredge the navigation channels around Wave Break and use the sand to replenish the island to ensure the effectiveness of this vital asset.
