Light rail reaches Burleigh Heads as Stage 3 opens to passengers
G:link Stage 3 adds 6.7 km and eight stations between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, creating a continuous tram line from Helensvale to Burleigh.
Image: GC Prestige
G:link Stage 3 adds 6.7 km and eight stations between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, creating a continuous tram line from Helensvale to Burleigh.
- Stage 3 extends G:link 6.7 km south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads
- Eight new stations between Mermaid Beach and Burleigh Heads
- First passengers boarded at Burleigh Heads from 6am on Sunday 9 August 2026
- A single tram line now runs from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads
- Delivered by the federal and state governments with the City of Gold Coast
What's happening
The southern Gold Coast is now on the tram network. In a statement released on Friday 7 August 2026, the Queensland Government confirmed that Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 would open to the public that Sunday, 9 August. The first passengers were due to board at Burleigh Heads at 6am. The extension adds 6.7 kilometres of track to the G:link network, carrying trams south from Broadbeach through Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach and Miami to Burleigh Heads.
The opening means a direct tram trip between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads is possible for the first time. Combined with the earlier stages, the network now forms one continuous line from Helensvale in the north to Burleigh Heads in the south. The government says the line will connect locals and visitors with jobs, schools, healthcare, beaches, dining, shopping and entertainment along the coastal strip.
The key details
The project was a partnership between the Albanese Government, the Crisafulli Government and the City of Gold Coast. Transport and Main Roads Minister Brent Mickelberg made the announcement alongside federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, Senator Murray Watt, Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster and Mayor Tom Tate. Mickelberg said the former state Labor government had "delayed this project" and that it had been finished under the current government. He also pointed to the state's permanent 50-cent fares.
- New track: 6.7 km on the G:link network
- Eight new stations: Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Beach South, Nobby Beach, Miami North, Miami, Christine Avenue, Second Avenue and Burleigh Heads
- Fares: the state's permanent 50-cent public transport fare applies
- Network: a continuous journey from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads
Speakers framed the line as long-term infrastructure. Senator Watt called it "critical infrastructure" for the city's rapid growth, and Catherine King said it would provide "greater transport choices for years to come". Hermann Vorster described the extension as a "game-changer for the southern Gold Coast". He said the Broadbeach to Burleigh link would bring new connecting services and should ease congestion. Mayor Tate predicted this would be the most popular stage of the network.
Timeline and next steps
- Friday 7 August 2026: the government announces the opening
- Sunday 9 August 2026: passenger services begin, with first boardings at Burleigh Heads from 6am
- Next: according to the Member for Burleigh, new connecting services will be built around the Broadbeach to Burleigh link
The statement did not include construction costs, ridership forecasts or travel times.
Why it matters for developers and landowners
Fixed, high-frequency public transport is one of the factors planners weigh when deciding where more housing and mixed-use development should go. The City of Gold Coast's longer-term growth planning already points to mid-rise housing near transport corridors such as light rail. The suburbs along the new alignment, including Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami and Burleigh Heads, now have that kind of corridor.
The opening of a line does not change zoning on its own. Any change in what can be built near the new stations will depend on the current City Plan and on the new planning scheme the council is preparing. Owners of larger or amalgamation-ready sites within walking distance of a station should get site-specific planning advice before assuming that transport access means more yield.
Frequently asked questions
When did Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 open?
It opened to passengers on Sunday 9 August 2026, with first boardings at Burleigh Heads from 6am, as announced by the Queensland Government on 7 August 2026.
Which stations were added in Stage 3?
Eight: Mermaid Beach, Mermaid Beach South, Nobby Beach, Miami North, Miami, Christine Avenue, Second Avenue and Burleigh Heads.
How long is the Stage 3 extension?
It adds 6.7 kilometres to the G:link network and creates a continuous tram line from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads.
Source: Queensland Government Media Statements, published 7 August 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.
Queensland Government Media Statements
Read the original article →This is an independent summary written by GC Prestige for general information. All facts are attributed to the original publisher above — please refer to the source for full details. Not financial or planning advice.
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