Have you ever dreamed of visiting the filming locations of your favorite children television series H2O: Just Add Water and its spin-off, Mako Mermaids? You can actually do it! The series were filmed either in or close to the area of Gold Coast, Australia. In this article I am going to introduce you the most popular places where some scenes were filmed. I also added pictures to each place. In the article I also used a few photos from h2o_mako_confess – thank you for sharing your pictures! When you scroll down, you can find a map with all the locations from the article.

If you happen to know about more filming locations than I summarized in this article, please contact me so I can add it here. Thank you!

P.S. You can visit these places on Google Maps anytime!

Disclaimer: Some of these locations are private residences. If you visit, please do not trespass or disturb the owners. Also please note that these places were mainly used only as exteriors. The interior scenes were usually filmed in Village Roadshow Studios.

JuiceNet/Rikki’s

2 Marina Cres, Hollywell, Queensland 4216, Australia

I believe the cafe is one of the most beloved places in H2O. It’s a must-visit for all H2O fans when you are in Australia! It sure does look different now but it doesn’t change anything on the fact that it’s still the very same place where H2O was filmed. If you happen to be nearby, don’t hesitate and visit it! Just don’t be disappointed if the café inside looks nothing like the café from the series. For more recent pics of the cafe check out h2o_mako_confess‘ post. On the upper row of pics you can see what the cafe looked like in the series, the lower one shows what the building looks like now.

And look, there is also a sign like this on the building:

Credit: Jahsanette paul-kiwi‘s video

Marine Park – Sea World

Seaworld Drive, Main Beach Gold Coast, Queensland 4217, Australia

The place where Cleo worked and a where bunch of scenes were filmed, too! Beautiful but a pretty pricey place though. You must pay an admission fee to enter the park. You can also pay for additional activities like a Dolphin Pat Photo, Meet dolphins in ankle-deep water, Dolphin Deep Water Adventure, Become a Dolphin Trainer for a Day or Tropical Reef Snorkel (which kinda reminds me of the H2O underwater scenes). Personally, I would love to do all of this but even just being there would mean a lot to me.

Mako Island Seashore (H2O + Mako Mermaids)

Burleigh Head National Park, Tallebudgera Creek, Queensland 4220, Australia

Aka the one & only real place where the actual Mako island scenes were filmed! What a beautiful place! Ancient Aboriginal people used to call this Gold Coast suburb “good fish” and you’ll hear no argument from anyone on this apt name. Tallebudgera is best known for its sparkling creek which is framed by the Burleigh Heads National Park on one side and Palm Beach on the other. This is the focal point for any visit to Tallebudgera where the lifestyle is all about camping, swimming, picnicking, kayaking and a spot of fishing or two. Tallebudgera Creek offers a protected beach area suitable for all kinds of active water sports such as stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking. The creek is a popular, calm water place for families.

The H2O Beach – Currumbin Alley

Currumbin Beach, Queensland, Australia

Another location you wouldn’t want to miss – the H2O beach! Aka the beach where the beach scenes were filmed. Do you recognize the rocks? Or the beach where Emma discovers that she’s a mermaid in episode 1? Yes, these scenes and a lot more were filmed right here! You can find a beach scene in almost every episode – walking on the beach was basically a thing. Currumbin Beach is one of the jewels in the Gold Coast’s crown, regularly voted Queensland’s cleanest beach and within the World Surfing Reserve. The crystal clear water of Currumbin extends from the famous Elephant Rock lookout and the iconic Currumbin Vikings Surf Club, north to Currumbin Rock (The Rock) on the south side of the Currumbin Creek Estuary.

The park where Rikki discovers she’s a mermaid

Paradise Waters Park, Gold Coast, Queensland 4217, Australia

Paradise Waters Park is located in Surfers Paradise. The park features a picnic shelter for family and friends to get together with plenty of open green space for recreational activities. There’s also a playground for kids to enjoy. This park is also a designated off-leash dog where dogs can exercise and socialise.

High School – Somerset College

Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba, Queensland 4213, Australia

The place where the school scenes were filmed. In real, Somerset College is an independent, non-denominational Christian day school located in Mudgeeraba, Queensland, Australia. Established in 1983, the college has a non-selective enrolment policy and caters for approximately 1480 students from Pre-Prep to Year 12. Originally constructed in rural farmland in the Gold Coast hinterland, the countryside surrounding the campus has undergone significant urban development since the school’s foundation.

The swimming pool scenes – Miami Aquatic Centre

80 Pacific Ave, Miami, Queensland 4220, Australia

You might recognize this location (Miami Aquatic Centre) from season 1 episode 11 (Sink or Swim) where Emma is asked by Byron to train him up for a swimming competition.

The Houses

Cleo’s House

36 Margaroola Avenue, Biggera Waters, Queensland 4216, Australia

Emma’s House

44 Anglers Esplanade, Runaway Bay, Queensland 4216, Australia

Will’s Boatshed (house)

Broadbeach Waters, Queensland 4218, Australia

Will’s house is a boatshed that is transformed into living place, which is situated on the edge of a canal. You can find the place where it stood, but the house (which was actually just a wall – the interior scenes were filmed in the studio) is no longer here.

And there is a picture of what that wall looked like from the other side (inside).

Zac’s House

82 Savoy Drive, Broadbeach Waters, Queensland 4218, Australia

Rita’s House

19 Brakes Crescent, Miami, Queensland 4220, Australia

Cariba recently appeared in The Secrets She Keeps, a six-part domestic noir series based on Michael Robotham’s best selling novel of the same name, which was inspired by a real life kidnapping case in the UK. The series came out this year and you can watch it here.

What is it about?

Everyone has an idea of what their ‘perfect’ life is. For Agatha, it’s Meghan Shaughnessy’s. These two women from vastly different walks of life hold one thing in common–explosive secrets that could destroy everything they hold dear. Both will risk everything to conceal the truth, but their worlds are about to collide in one shocking act that cannot be undone.

Here are a few photos of Cariba in the series (photos from behind the scenes, an episode still and a promo).

This year, Cariba made an appearance in a new music video called: E.J. Worland – Do Better (Make Me Wanna Scream). You can watch the video here:

We finally got a new and longer teaser with many unseen scenes for Bend, a film Cariba and her friend Jordan have been working on. We don’t have a release date yet but let’s hope it will be out soon. We are all really excited to see it!

As you have may noticed, Cariba dyed hair hair back to blonde! And with new hair she also got taken a new photoshoot. Big thanks to abhairmakeup and gypsyboyred for sharing shots from this photoshoot and an interview with Cariba with us!

What is beauty to you?
”To me, beauty is a feeling that is conveyed when someone has a peaceful confidence and comfortability with themselves.”

What music are you currently into?
“I’ve had the Noordpool Orchestras album of Radiohead covers on loop. ‘Weird Fishes’ soothes me like no other.”

What is your earliest memory?
“My earliest memory is sitting on my grandfather’s lap on my first visit to Australia. I remember the garish carpet of wherever we were vividly.”

Favorite place in the world?
“My favorite place in the world is Rome. I went to a restaurant that looks down on Rome and because of the strict building and restoration rules, it still looks like ancient Rome from above. The history nerd inside me thoroughly approved.”

What is the best advice you’ve gotten that you can pass on?
“The best advice I’ve ever been given was to get out of my head and into my heart. Less over thinking, less numbing feeling.”

What is your favorite desert?
“My favorite dessert is a secret recipe of my grandmothers. It’s called vinegar . The name is designed to deter anyone that doesn’t know. Leaving more for those that do 😏”

Who is your role model?
“My role model (albeit somewhat of a boring answer) is my mum. She’s an incredible human. She’s dedicated her life to children other than her own, mining their potential as people through dance. She runs an award-winning special needs dance group on top of that but even more beautiful is watching her start to put herself first and claim her worth and needs. She’s given so much and she’s starting to collect everything she deserves in return.”

Who is your role model?
“My role model (albeit somewhat of a boring answer) is my mum. She’s an incredible human. She’s dedicated her life to children other than her own, mining their potential as people through dance. She runs an award-winning special needs dance group on top of that but even more beautiful is watching her start to put herself first and claim her worth and needs. She’s given so much and she’s starting to collect everything she deserves in return.”

Gallery Links:
Photoshoots > 2019 > Aaron Barry (abhairmakeup)
Photoshoots > Behind the Scenes > Abhairmakeup (2019)

Exclusive Gallery Update Interview Photoshoots

On 13th and 14th April 2019 Cariba had a workshop in Canberra with Angus McLaren organised by Legs Dance Studio. It must have been a great experience for all those who participated. Thanks to everybody who shared their photos from the workshop with us!

“Face To Face Workshop, Day 2 of 2 I can officially say I acted with Cariba Heine in a mock audition! In the drama mystery Thelma & Louise I played the character of Thelma and her Louise. I have learnt so much from this workshop. It was such an amazing experience!” – shannon_galaxy

Cariba posted a new shot from one of her older photoshoots with Chance Denman back in 2016. We have already had a similar photo from this photoshoot but it was black and white. This one is colorful and Cariba looks so stunning on it!

Cariba has started filming Everyone is Doing Great together with Alexandra Park and we are bringing you a few photos from behind the scenes of the filming and Cariba and Alex hanging out together. Enjoy!

Cariba spent this Halloween with her friends in Los Angeles, California in Haunted Hayride. From the photos and videos we can say that she had a really good time and her costume was amazing!

A new short film starring Cariba was released recently. Henry & Sophie is about two former lovers who reconnect in the desert. Cariba is starring there as Sophie. You can watch it here.