1/59Courtney Potts stands looking over the Beach Closed signs at Coolngatta. Photo: Scott Powick.
50+ photos: Gold Coast’s abandoned beaches
They normally bustle with life, but Gold Coast beaches have suddenly fallen silent. See our stunning images from Coolangatta, Surfers Paradise and The Spit.
2/59The Spit lies empty. Picture: Nigel Hallett.
3/59Only seagulls enjoy Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson
4/59Barriers at a carpark on The Spit. Picture: Nigel Hallett
5/59Police parked up at Coolangatta following the closure of the beach. Photo: Scott Powick
6/59A Beach Closed sign at Coolngatta Beach. Photo: Scott Powick
7/59The empty beach at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett.
8/59Burleigh Heads carpark closed. Picture: Nigel Hallett
9/59Empty sand at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett.
10/59A walker at The Spit. Picture: Nigel Hallett
11/59A closed carpark at The Spit. Picture: Nigel Hallett
12/59Beach closed signs in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
13/59Walkers enjoy a part of the beach that was still open. Picture: Nigel Hallett
14/59A walker risks a stroll in a closed off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
15/59The beach closure forced more people onto the footpath. Picture: Nigel Hallett
16/59Beach closed signs in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
17/59A cyclist passes beach closed signs in Surfers. Picture: Nigel Hallett
18/59A man looks out onto the closed Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Nigel Hallett
19/59People risk a walk in a closed off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
20/59A walker in the closed off area at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
21/59People in the a off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
22/59Beach closed signs at Coolangatta. Photo: Scott Powick
23/59Lifeguards pass by. Picture: Nigel Hallett
24/59Beach closed signs in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
25/59A walker in the closed off area at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
26/59Walkers in the closed off area at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
27/59People walking and cycling on the footpaths following the closure of the beaches. Picture: Nigel Hallett
28/59Barriers at a carpark on The Spit. Picture: Nigel Hallett
29/59People walk by the closed beach at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
30/59A jogger in the closed off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
31/59People in the closed off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
32/59Beach closed signs in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
33/59People in the closed off area. Picture: Nigel Hallett
34/59Melanie Rabo, 21, of Switzerland, stands on the edge of the closed beach at sunrise in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
35/59An empty beach at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
36/59A council worker does some cleaning work. Picture: Nigel Hallett
37/59Surfers Paradise beach deserted two years on from the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
38/59A couple were is spoken to by life guards in the banned area in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Nigel Hallett
39/59Seagulls enjoy Surfers Paradise beach to themselves. Picture: Glenn Hampson
40/59A tourist ignores to ban to enjoy Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson
41/59Local Vera Hawash looks over the closed Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson
42/59The barriers at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Glenn Hampson
43/59Lifeguards keep watch at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Glenn Hampson
44/59A morning walker is seen on the path beside a closed Surfers Paradise Beach. Picture: AAP
45/59People seen behind a beach closed sign at Coolangatta. Picture: Getty.
46/59Beach Closed sign at Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Getty.
47/59People seen behind a beach closed sign at Coolangatta. Picture: Getty.
48/59A walker at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Getty Images.
49/59The scene at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Getty Images.
50/59Police patrol Surfers Paradise Beach. Picture: AAP.
51/59A morning walker negotiates a barrier to Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: AAP
52/59A 'Beach Closed' sign is seen at Coolangatta beach. Picture: Getty Images
53/59A 'Beach Closed' sign is seen at Coolangatta beach. Picture: Getty Images.
54/59Barely a soul in sight at Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Getty Images.
55/59Walkers stick to the path at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Getty Images.
56/59A Gold Coast Lifeguard erects a Beach Closed sign at Surfers Paradise beach. Picture: Getty Images.
57/59A 'Beach Closed' sign is seen at Coolangatta beach. Picture: Getty Images.
58/59The eerie scene at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Getty Images.
59/59A 'Beach Closed' sign is seen at Coolangatta beach. Picture: Getty Images.
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