Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay are often unthinkingly referred to as the same place, even by locals of the Gold Coast, due to the incredibly similar natures of the suburbs. Both are well known for their laid-back, relaxed atmospheres, and are incredibly sought-after for those same reasons. Locals love the area for the quieter beaches, walking and bike tracks and lovely cafe haunts dotted around the suburbs. Of course, having Harbour Town, the discount shopping precinct, located within walking distance is also a great plus!

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KEY STATISTICS FOR BIGGERA WATERS AND RUNAWAY BAY

Median apartment price
$350,000
Median apartment rental value
$440
Transport
Buses and trams are the easiest ways to get around Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay when you’re not driving.

Things we love…

  • Both Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay are very relaxed suburbs and are well-known for the quieter beaches and natural trails they have.
  • Nearby Harbour Town is a great place to shop and dine, and there are also quite a few other shops, cafes and restaurants in the area, meaning there is something for everyone within easy walking distance.

But remember that…

  • There may be quite a bit of construction over the coming years, resulting in extra and noise and general construction-related changes throughout the area.
  • Public transport is limited to buses, with the nearest tram stop in Southport and the nearest train station in Helensvale

Location & Transport

Runaway Bay and Biggera Waters, as noted above, are both well-known for the relaxed, easy-going beachside atmosphere they both have. Given the similarities between both suburbs, you can expect the transport options between the two to also be similar.

The way most locals travel is via car, because whilst only a few kilometres away from the Gold Coast CBD, both Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay residents are limited to buses for public transport and located far enough away from the main strip of the Gold Coast that cars are the easiest way to get to work for quite a lot of people. This isn’t an issue however, as several main roads run through the suburbs. The most major roads are Oxley Drive and Brisbane Road, both of which provide access to most parts of the two suburbs, and are easy to access.

Harbour Town is obviously the biggest shopping location in both Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay. This has resulted in quite a few shops, cafes and restaurants coming into the surrounding area, which means that there’s always something to keep everybody interested.

Harbour Town
Harbour Town

Lifestyle

Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay are perhaps most characterised by the quiet, sheltered beaches. The two suburbs are both a bit quieter than their surroundings, forming a pocket where everything seems a little more relaxed.

Both suburbs also have very well-known and regarded walking and biking tracks throughout them. This makes Runaway Bay and Biggera Waters the ideal suburbs for walkers and cyclists, especially given the pretty incredible views from some walks. Not to mention the water-based fun to be had when you live in this area of the Gold Coast. From kayaking to swimming, paddleboarding to fishing. There is no surf at Runaway Bay or Biggera Waters due to South Stradbroke Island opposite, but the waves of Main Beach and The Spit are only 20 – 25 minutes away by car.

South Stradbroke Island Aerial 2
South Stradbroke Island Aerial Shot.

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Education

Given their fairly central location, there are a number of schools in Biggera Waters, Runaway Bay, and the surrounding areas. There is everything from kindergartens to high schools. We won’t mention all the kingergartens here, as there are quite a few, but rest assured – there’s something for everyone, and most places are within a ten-minute drive (at a maximum) of a kindergarten of some kind.

Primary schools in the area include Biggera Waters State School, well-known for the emphasis it puts on giving its students a well-rounded education. Other primary schools close by include Labrador State School, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, Musgrave Hill State School, and Coombabah State School, all of which are easily accessible, coeducational and have good reputations.

There are quite a few high schools throughout the Gold Coast, with the closest being Coombabah State High School. Other options include Southport State High School, Keebra Park State High School, Aquinas College, and the Queensland Academy of Health Sciences. None are more than a half-hours’ drive away.

Combined (Prep – Year 12) and high schools in Biggera Waters and Runaway Bay are few and far between, but there are a number on the Gold Coast itself, all of which are easily accessible. The combined schools in the area include A.B. Paterson College, St. Hilda’s School (which is a girls-only school), and The Southport School (which is St. Hilda’s all-male brother school).

The Southport School
The Southport School

Developments

Whilst there aren’t that many developments currently occurring in either Biggera Waters or Runaway Bay, we predict many more over the coming years. The laid-back suburbs are currently starting to see some of the property boom the rest of the Gold Coast is seeing, however, with a few developments going ahead or proposed.

One development that has been given the green light and has been released to market is the boutique apartment development East on the Broadwater. This unique new apartment development has a rather large drawing card: almost every aspect of the apartments can be changed according to the buyers wants and needs, as long as they get in early enough. Waterpoint Residences are a well-established Biggera Waters property development, and are well worth checking out, especially given that the apartments for sale there are designed with downsizers and investors in mind.

There are several projects with new apartments for sale in the neighbouring suburbs of Labrador and Coombabah. Summit Labrador is an apartment development one block back from the Broadwater, with the 83-apartment development currently undergoing construction. Other developments in the area include Coast Broadwater, which will include three 12-storey towers on Marine Parade in Labrador, along with Brightwater Apartments, which buyers could move into today. The Handsford Residences, which are located in Coombabah, are a collection of 59 off-the-plan townhouses.

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