Best surfing at Coolangatta
Story and photos by Kirsty Wallett, Australia
Coolangatta offers a fantastic beach holiday without the overcrowding experienced at other parts of the Gold Coast.
Not only does Coolangatta still have a friendly, small-town-feel surrounding some of the world's best surf breaks (Snapper Rocks to name just one), it's also five minutes from Gold Coast International Airport and boasts some of the most amazing beach views anywhere in Australia.
You can spend a day at the beach without having to fight for a square of sand, a common problem at so many other world-class beaches, and accommodation and dining isn't overpriced. And if you're a surfing fan, make the trip in the Australia summer (usually February) to catch the Quicksilver and Roxy Pro, the first stop on the world pro surfing tour.
Greenmount and Rainbow Bay beaches are some of the best spots in Australia to take a surfing lesson, and there are plenty of local providers to choose from. Given that Snapper Rocks and Duranbah are popular world-class surf breaks, if you're a first time surfer, it might be better to learn at a less crowded beach. You'll need to know proper surfing etiquette to catch a wave at Snapper.
Coolangatta has a busy nightlife and you won't be bored in the evenings, especially on the weekends. Marine Parade, one of Coolangatta's main streets, which follows the beachfront, is littered with casual outdoor restaurants. And despite being small, Coolangatta boasts a few great pubs. The Coolangatta Hotel, or the Cooly, is the most popular; you'll want to get there early-ish on a Friday or Saturday night, as the line to get in often stretches around the corner. The hotel has a casual restaurant, pool table section and two bars, one usually with dance music, the other a live band. The second level regularly hosts live gigs, with everything from local Aussie rock bands to international acts like Donavon Frankenreiter and Lowrider.
As far as food experiences go in Coolangatta, there are two things you can't miss; a meal at a surf club and a pie from the legendary Coolangatta Pie Shop.
There are several surf clubs to choose from. The Coolangatta Surf Club at the top of Marine Parade is well known amongst both locals and visitors for its great food and cheap beer. If you head further down Marine Parade, you'll reach the Greenmount Surf Club, offering absolute beachfront views and value-for-money meals and drinks.
The Coolangatta Pie shop is located on Griffith street and is well known with locals for having some of the best meat pies on the Gold Coast - or anywhere in Queensland, for that matter! Best of all, the pie shop is open until the wee hours of the morning, just in case you need one on the way home after a night out at the Cooly Hotel.
Fact File
Gold Coast tourist information
Public Transport - Translink
The Coolangatta Hotel
Coolangatta Surf Club
Gold Coast Surf School - Walkin on Water
Where to Stay
Coolangatta/Kirra YHA
230 Coolangatta Road, Bilinga
Phone: (+617) 5536 7644
For more tips on travelling Queensland, Australia and the world, along with the occasional rambling travel story, visit Kirsty's blog at www.thetravelater.blogspot.com or follow Kirsty on Twitter @kirstywallett