Giant sea turtle to catch Gold Coast wave

A giant sea turtle is set to catch a wave before finding a place to nest in the sand before a popular Gold Coast sculpture festival.

The inflatable reptile, nicknamed Alphie, weighs 375kg and will have to be towed out to sea on an inflatable rescue boat.

Alphie will then take his place on Currumbin Beach before the 14th annual Swell Sculpture Festival begins on Friday.

The turtle is the creation of BJ Price, one of 55 artists who will spend Thursday transforming the beach into an open-air gallery for the event expected to attract more than 275,000 people.