Waterskiing on Australia's Gold Coast

The Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth largest city, enjoys year-round warm weather — perfect for skiing! Located in South East Queensland, about an hour south of Brisbane, the Gold Coast offers white sandy beaches, world-famous surf spots, and a great waterskiing community.

Among the ski sites available are the Gold Coast Water Ski Club and the Gold Coast Cable Park, handily located a five-minute drive apart.

The Gold Coast has between 40 and 50 members who enjoy the use of a new Malibu TXI and private inlet/small lake on the Coomera River. With only one boat allowed on the water (the Gold Coast Club boat), a slalom course, and a jump ramp — this site is ideal for tournament skiing. The water stays warm year round, and though it can be windy in the afternoons, you often enjoy ideal skiing conditions at the Gold Coast with mature trees surrounding the lake on two sides.

The members have a shared calendar and arrange times to take turns driving each other. Skiing is available seven days a week from 7am – 7pm. If you are visiting the Gold Coast and would like to ski you can join the club for the day, or longer, depending on how much skiing you would like to do. As of March 2019, the Guest Day Membership is $30 for adults and each ski set is $8 (so two 15-minute sets would be $46). To book a ski email: secretary@goldcoastwaterski.com.

Memebers at the Gold Coast Waterski Club getting coaching from pro skier Nick Adams

Members are friendly and welcoming and love meeting other skiers from around the world. Because the ski lake is owned by the council there is no clubhouse, but the Gold Coast Wake Park across the road has an excellent bar/restaurant with views of the two cables. They also have a shop selling skis, wakeboards, gloves, shorts, wetsuits, ropes, handles, and lifejackets, among other things. More set up for wakeboarding than skiing, it is still a good fun way to get out on the water. The Gold Coast Wake Park is located at 34 Maudsland Road Oxenford QLD 4210. For up-to-date costs and opening times check out their website.

If you are heading to the Gold Coast Ski Club it is roughly 40-minutes north of the Gold Coast Airport and an hour south of Brisbane Airport. Public transport in this area is good along the beach but is limited as you go inland towards the ski lake, so it is best to hire a car. In terms of places to stay, the closest beachfront locations are Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Southport and Labrador, which are all just a 25-minute drive from the lake. Here you will find all sorts of accommodation options from luxury resorts to affordable backpacker hostels.

If you want some ski-inspiration while visiting, Sea World Gold Coast is launching a brand-new ski and stunt show on Thunder Lake from April 2019. Check out the details here on the the Thunder Lake Stunt Show page.