As spring approaches, the Coolangatta coastline is the place to be. A welcome change of pace from the bustling Gold Coast, yet offering more action than the sleepy suburbs of the Tweed Valley, Coolangatta is the ultimate weekend hang.
From beaches and playgrounds to bushland and rock pools, Coolangatta has it all. We, of course, back it up by offering awesome dining options, icy cold beverages, and the most epic entertainment you can imagine.
What are you waiting for? Get to Cooly and start enjoying all it has to offer!
A Weekend Guide to Cooly
Breakfast
Head to The Strand at Coolangatta and you’ll find a plethora of beachfront dining options. These options are not only exciting but growing every day.
The Strand is an eclectic and vibrant place and has started its celebration of spring early with two newer additions. One of these is the retro-inspired Pancake Diner, which offers both sweet and savoury pancakes and crepes, as well as other breaky favourites. If you have the family in tow, it’s sure to be a winner.
Beach
No one spends a weekend in Cooly without hitting the beach. Offering some of the best surfing conditions and most picturesque scenery, you can either grab a board, go for a swim, or sit back and watch as the locals rip up the waves. Snapper Rocks is the best place to do the latter, and if you head there soon you might even catch the humpbacks and their calves heading back down south. They’ll be playing in the waters until early November, so be sure to grab the binoculars!
Park
If you’ve opted for Coolangatta Beach or Greenmount and you’ve got little kids to entertain, head towards Marine Parade and to the well-equipped playground of swings, slides, ropes and climbing frames. With enough there to keep the kids happy for hours, you can enjoy some time in the sun while taking in the spectacular scenery.
Lunch
Griffith St Larder offers an all-day menu that’s great for grabbing lunch on the go. Paired with a coffee roasted locally by Blackboard Coffee Roasters, you can grab gourmet sandwiches or a salad that’s anything from boring. The Larder is infamous for their hand-cut chips (although The Cooly Hotel serves up stiff competition) and for those who like to finish lunch with something sweet, it doesn’t get much sweeter than a salted caramel syringe cronut. Go on, you know you want one.
Currumbin Rock Pools
Not far from the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary lies the Currumbin Rock Pools, a favourite hang for both locals and tourists in the know. The ideal place to take in the afternoon, the refreshing pools are magic on a hot sunny day. For something a little more adventurous you could try shooting the mini rapids in a kayak.
Beer time
Once you’ve done a bit of exploring, it’s time to chill out with a beer at the Cooly Hotel. Offering a range of mainstream and boutique beers, it’s the perfect place to kick back with friends, relax with a drink and enjoy the view. Stay a bit later and enjoy pool competitions, live bands, DJ’s and more. There’s always a game to watch, cool tunes to listen to, and a fun-filled atmosphere at the Cooly Hotel.
For a full list of What’s On, including free entertainment, gigs and sport, click here.
Markets
Every 2nd Sunday of the month you’ll find one of the best beach markets on the East Coast. With a backdrop of the famous Surfers Strip setting the scene, it’s an amazing sight to see. Beach wear is an obvious theme, but you’ll also find jewellery, art, home goods and more. If they’re not on when you’re in town don’t fret, as there are plenty of other markets nearby. Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads are other great beach markets, or you could pop along to Sanctuary Markets in Currumbin, which are held from 4 pm every Friday.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Segway Safari
For some post-market fun that’s bound to get the heart pumping, check out Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Segway Safari. You and up to three friends can glide through lush Australian bush that borders the Gold Coast’s favourite wildlife park. You’ll start with a ten-minute training and orientation session where you’ll be introduced to your friendly, experienced guide, and then you’ll get 40 minutes to explore on two wheels.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Having gone behind the scenes exploring the bush our Aussie animals love, it’s time to go behind the scenes with the people that train, rehabilitate, breed, research, and care for such animals. Go backstage and be introduced to cockatoos, galahs, macaws, black kites, buzzards, eagles, and owls. This fascinating experience will help you better understand the role Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary plays in saving endangered wildlife, and you’ll learn how you can play your part too.
Kirra Hill
On your way back into Coolangatta, you’ve got to stop into Kirra Hill, one of the most picturesque and scenic spots in which to take in the views north to Main Beach and south to Snapper Rocks. An iconic iron eagle sculpture overlooks the proceedings and makes for a great photo op.
Sunday Sesh
