The beach itself is much like Surfers Paradise to the north — beautiful sand, beautiful waves, beautiful people — but everything else about Broadbeach is dialled down a notch or two. There are more locals here, and the suburb behind the coast is more relaxed and refined. After a swim, picnic in one of the handsome surrounding greenways, or venture a couple of blocks inland to the recently refurbished Pacific Fair — that rare case of a shopping centre done right.