
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).

And a bonus… some Mako Mermaids locations!
Zac’s House
82 Savoy Drive, Broadbeach Waters, Queensland 4218, Australia

The Map

We have updated our gallery with some new episode stills from the third season of Mako Mermaids where Cariba played Rikki Chadwick.





Mako Mermaids > 3.15 – The Legend of Jiao Long


We have updated our gallery with promotional photos from Mako Mermaids where Cariba appeared in the last two episodes as Rikki Chadwick.





Mako Mermaids > Promotional Photos > 01