Southern Gold Coast

DISCOVER CURRUMBIN

Crowned Australia’s Cleanest Beach in 2013, Currumbin is home to one of the most impressive and popular stretches of beachfront coastline on the Southern Gold Coast. Inspired by an eco-friendly community, this beachside village offers spectacular scenery, relaxed charm, boutique shops and dining, and pristine waterways to enjoy.

A haven for watersports, the Currumbin Creek and Estuary is where you will find an endless amount of activity on the water – including paddle boarding, fishing, boating, surfing, kite boarding, kayaking and swimming, as well as plenty of local pelicans and sea birds skimming for a tasty catch.

The kilometre long stretch of beachfront has two famous landmarks – Currumbin Rock, at the northern end, peaks over the popular surf spot The Alley, known for its gentle ‘beginner’ waves and rock pools; while Elephant Rock, at the southern end, stands sentinel alongside Currumbin Surf Club. The club provides a unique setting where you can enjoy lunch or dinner and drinks on the deck while the waves splash over the rocks just metres below.

A world leader in eco-tourism, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is the Southern Gold Coast’s major tourist attraction. It was established in 1947 by visionary conservationist, Alex Griffiths, who gifted the Sanctuary to the people of Queensland in 1976. Today, the Sanctuary is home to more than 1,400 native wildlife animals and birds, all on display amongst the Sanctuary’s natural bushland and rainforest setting.

Currumbin provides a spectacular backdrop for events and festivals throughout the year, as well as a perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely walk before heading to nearby cafes and restaurants. Several award-winning Clubs and dining venues have added to Currumbin’s reputation as a must-visit destination.

DISCOVER CURRUMBIN WATERS

Currumbin Waters residents enjoy a quality lifestyle in harmony with nature, in a village that has a perfect balance of bushland and open green spaces as well as a large, multi-faceted commercial hub.

Only minutes from surf beaches, Currumbin Creek, the Estuary and Wildlife Sanctuary, and surrounded by rolling hills and sparkling canals, Currumbin Waters is considered one of the most desireable, affordable and centrally located residential communities on the Southern Gold Coast.

Currumbin Waters is also home to a long-standing commercial and industrial area, with a multitude of industries located within a relatively small area. One of the largest family owned corporations on the Gold Coast, the Neumann Group of Companies, has been based in Currumbin Waters for over four decades. These days it shares its location with many major national companies and a diverse array of industries, including foundries, timber mills, automotive, surf wear and surfboard manufacturing, furniture, trades suppliers and food and retail.

Many elevated streets of Currumbin Waters have sweeping views of the Gold Coast skyline; other hillside areas abundant with tall gums are home to large colonies of koalas. The local council and the community are working side-by-side to preserve and protect the koalas’ natural habitat in the area.

Currumbin Waters is a pivotal region for economic development on the Southern Gold Coast and an ideal choice for those considering setting up a business. The established yet affordable residential area is ideal for those retiring to the Southern Gold Coast or young families looking to enter the property market. The local community is well resourced with schools, shopping centres, sporting fields and plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy.

DISCOVER CURRUMBIN VALLEY

Currumbin Valley is a nature-lover’s paradise. Carving its way through the mountain ranges of the Queensland/New South border region, the Currumbin Valley follows the course of the Currumbin Creek, 20km west to its source at the base of Mt Springbrook. A sub-tropical rainforest environment abounds, with a World-Heritage-Listed rainforest walk, the Cougal Cascades (waterfalls) and abundant, native flora and fauna. This pristine rainforest is part of the eastern section of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and is the showpiece of Australia’s Green Cauldron.

No other Gold Coast Hinterland destination is accessible from the coast within a 10 minute drive. Currumbin Valley is accessed via Currumbin Creek Road, just off the M1 (Pacific Motorway), via Stewarts Road.

It’s the perfect spot for a family picnic and a refreshing dip at the rockpools, or bushwalking through the native rainforest. Taking the high road won’t leave you disappointed either, travelling up Tomewin Mountain Road for spectacular views of the Valley below.

Tomewin was named after Sir Thomas Tom Ewing (1856-1920), who was the chief surveyor of the Qld/NSW border in the late 1890s. Steeped in farming tradition, and home to the region’s original banana growers, the present-day Tomewin Mountain community has continued the legacy. A thriving organic farming community has sprouted, with a number of businesses cultivating the Mountain’s fertile volcanic soils to produce some of the finest organic produce grown locally on the Gold Coast.

DISCOVER TUGUN

As a central hub of the Southern Gold Coast, Tugun Village is home to a busy retail, dining and business precinct. Always a popular choice for Gold Coast holidaymakers, Tugun has plenty of accommodation options in beachfront low-rise apartments and holiday flats, all of which are family friendly and affordable.

One of the Gold Coast’s original villages, Tugun has maintained the spirit of a beachside community. Tugun Beach stretches between Bilinga to the south and Currumbin in the north, separated by Flat Rock Creek and its beautiful beachside park. This is a favourite picnic spot among locals, and is a great venue for beachside weddings.

Families with young children will find the convenience of having everything on their doorstep an added attraction of this relaxed and casual beachside location. Regular public transport is available throughout the Southern Gold Coast, and organised shuttles can take holidaymakers to theme parks and other Gold Coast attractions if required.

Like most Southern Gold Coast villages, Tugun has its own beachfront surf club and patrolled beach, plus an extensive strip of shops, restaurants, hotels and retail stores, as well as local sporting clubs and parklands to enjoy.

Tugun is also home to one of the Gold Coast’s largest private hospitals, John Flynn Private Hospital. It offers a comprehensive range of health care services, including 24 hour emergency clinic.

DISCOVER BILINGA

The sky is the limit for the beachside village of Bilinga. This destination is a launching pad for Gold Coast holidays, business and leisure activities, and is home to some of the Southern Gold Coast’s key economic drivers.

With a mixture of relaxed beachside lifestyle and commercial activity Bilinga has plenty to offer on the Southern Gold Coast. Calm, uncrowded beaches form the perfect outlook for beachfront living and holiday apartments, and the peaceful atmosphere is enjoyed by people making the most of the outdoors either cycling, walking, running or, of course, surfing.

On the western side of the highway at Bilinga, a bustling commercial centre provides essential services to the Southern Gold Coast. The Gold Coast Airport is now Australia’s fifth largest international airport and sixth largest domestic airport, managing over five million passengers per year. There is also a growing airport precinct, not only with ancillary aviation services and standalone aviation businesses, but also restaurants, entertainment and retail.

The Southern Gold Coast campus of Southern Cross University is the only tertiary education facility in the region providing a diverse range of education options for local and international students.

These major industries position Bilinga as one of the key economic drivers of the Southern Gold Coast. Whether you visit for business or pleasure, you will find the best of both worlds combined at beautiful Bilinga.

DISCOVER KIRRA

Kirra is the spiritual home of surfing on the Gold Coast, and decades of laid back surfing culture can be still be felt in every corner of this trendy village.  With a world-class surf break and golden sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, it’s no wonder Kirra is one of the most popular destinations on the Southern Gold Coast.

The beachfront is the focal point, with locals and visitors alike enjoying all the outdoors have to offer. A sparkling ocean is perfect for swimming and surfing all year round, and an expansive beachfront parkland includes a walking and cycling track that stretches the entire length of Kirra. You can even watch skydivers land on the sand at Kirra Beach.

Kirra has a growing number of luxury and boutique accommodation providers, with popular cafes and gourmet restaurants lining the beachfront esplanade providing plenty of options for a casual meal or a fun night out.

The Surf Life Saving Clubs at Kirra and North Kirra both offer regular beach patrols, beachfront decks, dining, bars and spectacular ocean views. A great spot to grab some lunch or relax with a drink on the deck at sunset.

A walk around Kirra Point past the heritage-listed Kirra Pavilion is a must, and be sure to venture to the top of Kirra Hill and share the view of the iron eagle, a sculpture that stands on the lookout for the return of Kirra’s famous waves.

DISCOVER COOLANGATTA

Warm in the winter, and cool in summer. Coolangatta is the original Gold Coast beach destination and has grown from a tucked-away holiday village into the thriving Southern Gold Coast CBD.

Coolangatta is a hub of activity on the Southern Gold Coast, featuring an abundance of shops, essential services, al fresco restaurants, cafes, clubs, pubs, live entertainment, cinemas and beachfront markets. It’s also home to several beautiful beaches and a vibrant foreshore with extensive parkland, BBQ areas and pathways for locals and holidaymakers to enjoy.

There are plenty of beachfront accommodation options lining the esplanade, making Coolangatta a great base for your Southern Gold Coast holiday with ocean views stretching all the way to the impressive Surfers Paradise skyline in the north.

Dolphins can often be seen frolicking from the rocky headland that stretches past Greenmount Beach, and Coolangatta is a great vantage point for spotting whales out to sea as they pass by on their annual northerly migration from May to November.

The twin towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads have long lived synonymously side by side, with the best of both words to enjoy in the border region. To celebrate the warm winter days, every year Coolangatta and Tweed host Cooly Rocks On, Australia’s largest nostalgia festival celebrating the best of the 50s and 60s over 10 fun-filled days in June.

DISCOVER RAINBOW BAY

Rainbow Bay is widely regarded as one of the Gold Coast’s most beautiful beaches; a tranquil and picturesque cove nestled between two rocky outcrops, Greenmount and Snapper Rocks.

Gentle rolling surf, safe swimming conditions and year round surf patrols make Rainbow Bay a popular choice for families, or those who just want to unwind in a very special location. Drinks, lunch or dinner on the Surf Club deck is one of Rainbow Bay’s ‘must-do’ activities.

Rainbow Bay’s world famous surf break, Snapper Rocks, is one of the most consistent waves in the world, and hosts the annual Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, the first event of the year on the ASP World Surfing Tour. It’s also a favourite surfing spot of local world champions – Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore – who enjoy nothing more than surfing their own ‘local’ break when they’re at home.

A walking path up the grassy hill overlooking Rainbow Bay leads to Point Danger, named by Captain Cook as he sailed north along the coastline in May 1770. This steep rocky headland has spectacular views and marks the Queensland/New South Wales border. It is also the site of a historical landmark, the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse, which was the first lighthouse in the world to experiment with laser technology in the ‘70s.