Currumbin Estuary

The southern Gold Coast suburb of Currumbin was named from an Aboriginal word meaning “high up” or “place where high trees grow” or “kangaroo”.  This certainly describes the hilly terrain that surrounds one of the most beautiful beaches on the Gold Coast. There are so many contrasts of Currumbin.

Currumbin Hill

Currumbin Beach & Creek

This place of contrasts has both beach, creek and lush countryside. There is the extremely popular swimming and surfing beach, the Alley with ideal waves for surf novices; the calm waters of the Estuary for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming; trickling cascades and rocky pools of the upper reaches of Currumbin Creek; the lush green pastures of rural Currumbin Valley; to the sub-tropical rainforests of Mt Cougal and Springbrook National Park.

Currumbin Beach

Currumbin Creek ‘Pelicans’ Scupltures

Along the Currumbin Beach foreshore you will encounter Elephant Rock – an iconic giant rock that as the name suggests, looks like an elephant.

Elephant Rock, Currumbin

Some of the coast’s best dining views can be experienced here at the Currumbin Vikings Surf Club perched right on the ocean or nearby Elephant Rock Café.

Currumbin Surf Club

Join the crowds that flock to this place and enjoy a range of watersports including kite-surfing, kayaking, board riding, surf skiing and stand-up paddle boarding. There’s even some decent fishing in the Currumbin Creek Estuary.

Currumbin Creek

Currumbin Things to Do and See

Local Attractions include:

• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary which has a range of wildlife dotted throughout 27 hectares of eucalypt and rainforest where you’ll find crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas and marsupials. A new addition is the Adventure Parc High Ropes course.
  

  Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

• Surf World Gold Coast, an attraction that pays homage to the coast’s surfing history.
• Superbee Honeyworld experience the wonderful world of bees, as they witness the amazing process from flower to flavour.
• Swell Sculpture Festival is held along the oceanway at Currumbin between Currumbin Creek in September each year.

• Talk a stroll along the boardwalk at the Beree Badalla Reserve on the northern side of Currumbin Creek.
  

  Beree Badalla Boardwalk on Currumbin Creek

• The Pirate Park children’s playground on the northern side of Currumbin Estuary is a popular family play and picnic area.

Currumbin Valley

Not far out from the coastal suburb of Currumbin is the area known as Currumbin Valley. Driving in a south westerly direction on Currumbin Creek Road, which roughly follows the Currumbin Creek, you will soon discover that the countryside changes to lush green pastures which soon transforms into rainforest. You’ll pass farms, eco villages, fruit stalls, bed and breakfasts, homesteads, gardens and cottages.

Currumbin Valley Scenes

Long before human intervention reshaped this area, Currumbin Valley was part of the extensive rainforests of South-East Queensland. It takes in the World Heritage-listed Rainforest mountains of Cougal and Springbrook.

Stop by what the locals call – The Duck Pond. This Council park is a popular spot for the local geese and duck population, who visit the park area daily. The park has all the amenities you need for a great day, including BBQ’s, kids play area, toilets and gazebo’s to sit under. You can even throw a line in the water and see what you can catch!

Currumbin Duck Pond

The Currumbin Rock Pools are a popular swimming hole and picnic spot in the upper part of Currumbin Creek. Kids, big and small can explore the creek and have a play on the rock slides.

Currumbin Rock Pools

If you take a left-hand turn in Tomewin Mountain Road you can drive to Arthur Freeman Lookout atop Mount Tomewin. Perched on top of Mount Tomewin, this little lookout has panoramic views of the Currumbin Valley and Border Ranges.

Views from Mt Tomewin

The Mount Cougal section of Springbrook National Park sits at the end of Currumbin Creek Road, around 21 kilometres from the coast. You can follow the 800 metre Cascades trail walking through subtropical rainforest beside Currumbin Creek to viewing platforms overlooking scenic cascades.

Mt Cougal Cascades Walk

There are also self-guiding signs to the historic sawmill where you can discover the park’s past.

Old Saw Mill at Mt Cougal

Currumbin is probably one of the Gold Coast suburbs that is overlooked by tourists when they come to the Coast. Visitors may take a drive to see the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary but more often that not not explore the remainder of what Currumbin has to offer. My advice is come and spend a few days here with the family as it really does have heaps of things to do and see. It is a place of intriguing contrasts and will give you the best family holiday experience ever!

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