Where was H20: Just Add Water filmed?
2006
City Locations
Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise (Australia)
Location Types
Schools/Colleges, Diners/Coffee, House, Film Studio
Location Styles
Beachfront, Boat Style, Craftsman, Colonial, Exotic/Tropical, Shipping Yard/Dock
About H20: Just Add Water
The TV show H2O: Just Add Water premiered in 2006 and was created by Jonathan M. Shiff. It was directed by Evan Clarry, Mark Shirrefs, and Nicholas Bufalo and is well-liked in Australia. Cariba Heine, Phoebe Tonkin, and Claire Holt are the main actors in the show who portray the roles of Rikki, Emma, and Cleo, three teenage mermaids.
The show revolves around these three girls as they discover their magical powers over the water after being transformed into mermaids while swimming at Mako Island. Together they try to keep their secret while dealing with everyday situations involving water. The girls find it difficult to handle daily tasks like taking a bath or going out in the rain due to their newly acquired abilities, which have both pros and cons. They aim to keep them hidden from everyone, including their families, but eventually get used to their new way of life. Throughout the series they also learn more about their newfound powers and gain help from Lewis McCartney in understanding what’s happening to them and how it works.
The show features three types of mermaid tails: custom-fit tails for swimming scenes, a "floppy tail" for still shots, and a "hardtail" for stunt scenes. It took six months to create the custom costumes, including individually hand-crafted scales made from body casts. H2O: Just Add Water has been well-received by critics and viewers; it won multiple awards nationally in Australia and internationally over its three-year run, including the AFI Award for Best Visual Effects, Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards for Best TV Drama Show, and the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Children’s Program (2010).
H20: Just Add Water Locations
The production of the popular television series H2O: Just Add Water was filmed on and around the Gold Coast in Australia. Most of the show was shot at Village Roadshow Studios; however, various other locations were also utilized for filming. These include SeaWorld for its incredible array of marine life, Somerset College for its stunning architecture and lush gardens, as well as private residences.
The scenery of these regions are captivating and provide an impeccable backdrop for the show. The Gold Coast region of Queensland, Australia, is known for its beautiful surf beaches, picturesque canals, and beautiful hinterland.
A trip to these locations is worthwhile if you want to relive some of your favorite scenes from the show while taking in all that these amazing places have to offer. From swimming with dolphins at SeaWorld, to exploring the area’s beautiful waterways, there is something for everyone at these iconic locations used during the production of H2O: Just Add Water.
Transforming into mermaids scene in H2O: Just Add Water
Burleigh Beach, Queensland, Australia
The scenes at Mako Island (Season 1, Episode 1) are iconic and beloved by fans. These scenes depict the moment when three unsuspecting teenage girls, Cleo Sertori (Phoebe Tonkin), Emma Gilbert (Claire Holt), and Rikki Chadwick (Cariba Heine), discover their newfound powers as mermaids after being bathed by the moonlight from above. This scene captures the magic of transformation and friendship that is so integral to the concept of this show. After being rescued, the girls go back to their regular lives but later realize that they have undergone a transformation. They now turn into mermaids within seconds of coming into contact with water.
The stunning location for this scene was Burleigh Beach on the Gold Coast in Australia. It's a world-class destination for point break surfing and an unbeatable beach atmosphere with an array of cafes, restaurants and nature walks to explore. The national park on the headland offers bush walks through rich rainforest and stunning views of the Gold Coast.
Getting to Burleigh Beach is easy. Visitors can fly into either Brisbane or Coolangatta Airport, with the latter your closest option. From there, it’s a short drive to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast Highway.
Filming Locations Directory
Party at Emma's house scene in H2O: Just Add Water
44 Anglers Esplanade, Runaway Bay QLD 4216, Australia
At the marine park, the strange old woman (Christine Amor) appears again and warns Cleo not to look at the full moon, but the other girls dismiss her as crazy. Emma sees the full moon's reflection in a punch bowl at the party. And when Rikki and Emma jump into the water, Emma transforms into a mermaid. To make matters worse, her tail remains even after the others dry her off. The dilemma now is how to conceal a mermaid in the middle of a party.
The scenes depicting Emma's party are from Season 1, Episode 7. The location is at 44 Anglers Esplanade, Runaway Bay, which is found near Surfers Paradise on Queensland's Gold Coast. The area is known for its stunning views, with crystal blue waters stretching to Stradbroke Island. Please note that the site is privately owned, so please refrain from disturbing any residents.
To get to 44 Anglers Esplanade from Surfers Paradise, you can take bus route 705, which will take approximately 15 minutes. Alternatively, it is only a short 10-minute drive by car or taxi, depending on traffic conditions.
JuiceNet scenes in H2O: Just Add Water
1 Marina Crescent, Hollywell, QLD, Australia
The scene from this Season 1 episode captures a moment of tension between Emma and Rikki. Emma has been put in charge at JuiceNet and is trying to assert her authority over slacker Rikki. During an argument between Rikki and Emma, Miriam (Annabelle Stephenson), a troublesome customer, sneaks into the cool room at JuiceNet and raises the temperature, upsetting the delicate balance that had been established. Her actions appear to be an attempt to get Rikki and Emma fired. As a result, Emma finds out that the things kept in the cool room are thawing out. To solve the problem, she uses her power to re-freeze them, but ends up freezing Miriam accidentally.
The cafe scene was filmed at 1 Marina Crescent in Hollywell, Australia. The area also includes plenty of green spaces, perfect for leisure activities such as fishing or picnicking.
The easiest way to travel to 1 Marina Crescent is by car, as it is only a 20-minute drive from Surfers Paradise or one hour from Brisbane’s city centre. Alternatively, regular bus services go directly to Hollywell from various points within the Gold Coast’s transport network.
Check Film Shoot Locations
Cleo's job at the marine park scene in H2O: Just Add Water
Sea World, Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217, Australia
The scene from Season 2, Episode 7 takes place at the marine park, where Cleo is fired from her job for feeding the dolphin the wrong food. Fans remember this iconic scene of the show for its representation of friendship between Cleo, Rikki, and Emma, as well as their magical powers. Lewis (Angus McLaren) inadvertently takes Cleo's job because he needs money for a new computer, causing Cleo to become angry with him and refuse to speak to him. Emma and Rikki try to assist Cleo in retrieving her job by using their powers to create obstacles for Lewis at his workplace. However, Lewis figures out their scheme and asks them to leave. On their way out, the girls unintentionally leave the marine park's underwater gate open, which results in Ronnie the dolphin's escape.
This scene was filmed at Sea World on Queensland’s Gold Coast. This theme park opened in 1971 and offers visitors a variety of rides and animal exhibits to explore. Sea World is dedicated to wildlife conservation and education, with projects focused on rescuing and rehabilitating sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife.
Visitors looking to visit Sea World can fly into Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta, which is located just minutes away from the park itself. From there, visitors can take a bus or taxi to access the park, although it may be more convenient to hire a car in order to explore all that this iconic location has to offer.
Access Production Spaces
Birthday party at Charlotte's house scene in H2O: Just Add Water
19 La Spezia Ct, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217, Australia
The 24th episode from the second season shows how Charlotte's (Brittany Byrnes) jealousy of Cleo and Emma (Claire Holt) leads her to try to keep them apart from Lewis. It showcases how the trio of mermaids always stand together and develop creative solutions to protect their secret. This is also a key moment in which Zane (Burgess Abernethy) demonstrates that he cares for friends, coming to the rescue and leading Ash (Craig Horner) away so Rikki can save Emma and Cleo from the flooded storage room. After understanding Charlotte's actions, the girls arrange for a party boat to rescue Lewis from Charlotte's unpleasant party. They also inform Charlotte that she is no longer a part of their group.
The scene was shot at 19 La Spezia Ct, Surfers Paradise, a privately owned property near Surfers Paradise Beach. The area is well-known for its beautiful beaches, perfect for filming scenes for films and TV shows.
This location can be reached by car easily. If you’re driving south from Brisbane, the journey will take approximately one hour.
Cleo and Rikki meet Will at school scene in H2O: Just Add Water
Somerset College, Somerset Dr, Mudgeeraba QLD 4213, Australia
In Season 3, Episode 2, when the girls return to school they discover that their friend Will (Luke Mitchell) is also enrolled there. Will is pleased to see them and asks for their help in moving the Moon Pool, as he wants to investigate what happened to him during the full moon. Bella (Indiana Evans), who appears to have a crush on Will, offers to assist him. However, she assures the others that she would keep him away from the Moon Pool. Despite Bella's assurances, a suspicious Rikki follows her.
The high school scenes in the movie were filmed at Somerset College, a non-denominational Christian school in Mudgeeraba, Queensland. Somerset College was founded in 1983 and is easily accessible from several other H2O: Just Add Water filming locations.
To get to Somerset College, you can take public transport or drive. This location is just a 25-minute drive south of Surfers Paradise.
Conclusion
H2O: Just Add Water was generally received very positively by younger audiences. The actors in the show have done a great job bringing the characters to life and bringing out some important lessons for kids. The script was well written, with enough elements of magic and adventure to keep it interesting, while also relaying essential messages about friendship and relationships.
Overall, H2O: Just Add Water is worth watching due to its entertaining yet educational content and its strong performances from the actors involved. It’s a fun show that can be enjoyed by all ages, making it a great addition to any movie collection. And if you’re planning a trip to Australia’s Gold Coast, several iconic filming locations from the TV series are easy to check out in person.