IT MAY have been a long time coming, but beaches from Coolangatta to Currumbin are now a national surfing reserve.

Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley, Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke and National Surfing Reserve chairman Brad Farmer joined some of the greatest names in surfing on Friday to celebrate the reserve that has been years in the making.

The 14-kilometre stretch of beach from the NSW border to Burleigh includes the surf breaks of Snapper Rocks and Kirra.

The announcement was on Friday as the world best surfers were at Snapper Rocks preparing for the Quiksilver and Roxy pros.

Mr Farmer said the idea of a surf reserve, which has spread around the world, was born on the Gold Coast but it had taken 20 years for the coast to be included.

He said a lot of people's interests had to be addressed since the area had so many people involved in the surf industry.

Mayor Ron Clarke said the beaches in the southern Gold Coast were worthy of reserve status.

"The quality of the waves at these beaches is renowned," Mayor Clarke said.

"Surfers come from all over Australia and indeed the world to experience the quality of surf here on the Gold Coast."

"In partnership with the National Surfing Reserve, the group responsible for allocating reserve status, we can ensure the long-term protection and preservation of these areas."

The Gold Coast joins other famous breaks such as Manly, Lennox and Margaret River (WA) on the reserve.