Surf Farm locks in wave tech partner for Glass House Mountains project

A major new surf park planned for the Glass House Mountains has taken a key step forward, with Surf Farm confirming Spanish company Wavegarden as its official surf technology partner.

The development, positioned at the gateway to the Sunshine Coast, will feature a Wavegarden Cove lagoon built with a 62-module configuration — placing it among the most advanced artificial wave systems in the southern hemisphere.

Once complete, the installation is expected to deliver one of the widest ranges of programmable waves available, catering for beginners through to elite surfers.

The partnership also marks a first for Queensland, with Surf Farm set to become the state’s first Wavegarden site and the third on Australia’s east coast.

Surf Farm team member and former world champion Joel Parkinson said the project would add a new dimension to the region’s surf offering.

“I was raised on the Sunshine Coast and I’m proud that the Glass House Mountains based Surf Farm will become a major new leisure and tourism destination for the region,” Mr Parkinson said.

“Surf Farm is about creating something truly special for surfers and the wider community. The Wavegarden Cove technology delivers incredibly high-quality, repeatable waves, and implementing the full 62-module configuration means this will be the most advanced Wavegarden setup on the east coast of Australia.

“It’s a game-changing project for the region — a place where beginners, families and elite surfers can all share the same world-class environment.”

Beyond the waves, the project is being pitched as a broader lifestyle and tourism destination, with plans for food and beverage outlets, retail spaces, events programming and spectator areas.

Backed by investors involved in the UrbnSurf wave parks in Melbourne and Sydney, the development is also expected to generate local employment and boost tourism in the hinterland.

Wavegarden founder and chief executive Joséma Odriozola said the Sunshine Coast project would add to the company’s growing global footprint.

“The Wavegarden Cove 62 configuration will provide an exceptional breadth of wave settings, offering one of the most versatile surf experiences in the region,” he said.

Wavegarden systems are already operating at more than a dozen sites worldwide, known for their reliability and ability to generate consistent surf conditions in controlled environments.

Surf Farm is currently in detailed design and pre-construction, with building works expected to begin later this year.