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Top 10 Gold Coast Natural Attractions

  • October 30, 2015
  • By 50 Shades
  • 18 Comments
Top 10 Gold Coast Natural Attractions

On the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia we are blessed with a plethora of natural attractions. No matter the season – summer, autumn, winter or spring, Mother Nature is at her best offering all types of activities whether it be on water or land.

So here are my top 10 Gold Coast Natural Attractions:

1.  Enjoy 21 Stunning Beaches

Starting from north to south the Gold Coast is adorned with the most stunning beaches where you can swim, surf, paddle, fish or dive into. And the good thing is that most of the beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers and are very safe.

Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Miami & Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Miami & Surfers Paradise Beaches, Gold Coast

  • Southport Spit
  • Main Beach
  • Narrowneck
  • Surfers Paradise
  • Broadbeach
  • Kurrawa
  • Mermaid Beach
  • Miami
  • Nobby Beach
  • North Burleigh
  • Burleigh Heads
  • Tallebudgera
  • Palm Beach
  • Currumbin
  • Tugun
  • Bilinga
  • North Kirra
  • Kirra
  • Coolangatta
  • Greenmount
  • Rainbow Bay

2.  Explore Tallebudgera Creek

Located just off the Gold Coast Highway between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach, the picturesque Tallebudgera Creek (or Tallie) is the ideal spot for a picnic, water skiing, fishing, lounging on the sandy shores, playing with the kids, snorkelling, paddling a kayak or stand-up paddle boarding or taking a leisurely stroll.

Tallebudgera Creek

Tallebudgera Creek

Or take a stroll from West Burleigh Road on a walking track and boardwalk which borders the Tallebudgera Creek Park and the David Fleay Wildlife Park, a popular spot to see some of Australia’s unique wildlife. There is a boardwalk which forms part of the walking track (1.5 km long) that ends at Burleigh Heads.

Tallebudgera Creek Boardwalk

Tallebudgera Creek Boardwalk

3.  Spot a Humpback

There are many whale watching cruise boat tours that take you out into the waters of the Gold Coast to see these gentle giants of the ocean while they migrate up along the East Coast of Australia from June to October.

Whale Watching on the Gold Coast

Whale Watching on the Gold Coast

Otherwise perch yourself atop one of the lookouts dotted along the Gold Coast including Point Danger, Greenmount, Kirra Point, Elephant Rock, Currumbin Ridge, Burleigh Head and Little Nobby Headland and see it you can spot a Humpback.

4.  Drive out to 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

Currumbin Valley Scenes

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.

Mt Cougal Cascades Walk

Mt Cougal Cascades Walk

Drive out further along Currumbin Creek Road to the Mt Cougal section of Springbrook National Park which sits at the end of Currumbin Creek Road, around 21 kilometres from the coast. You can follow the 800m Cascades Trail walking through subtropical rainforest beside Currumbin Creek to viewing platforms overlooking scenic cascades.

5.  Walk Burleigh Heads National Park

Burleigh Heads National Park offers scenic walks and a lush rainforest to explore. If you start on the Burleigh Heads side and take the walk through the National Park, you will end up at Tallebudgera Creek and if you are lucky, you could end up with your own private beach.

Echo Beach, Tallebudgera Creek

Echo Beach, Tallebudgera Creek

There are a few options for walks across the headland, including a flatter track tracing the shoreline around the hill or a more challenging walk up to the top of the hill which has several spots to stop and take in the magnificent views over Burleigh Beach and Tallebudgera Estuary.

Views of Tallebudgera Estuary

Views of Tallebudgera Estuary

6.  Cruise Currumbin Estuary

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 on offer in the Estuary.

Currumbin Estuary

Currumbin Estuary

The Currumbin Estuary is a popular family spot for safe swimming in the calm waters of the creek on the southern side of the creek between the new Estuary Bridge and the old wooden bridge. Alternatively the northern side of the creek on the Palm Beach side offers a safe haven for the kiddies with the bonus of the Pirate Park on the foreshore.

Superbee Honeyworld & Surf World

Currumbin Estuary

7.  Surf Iconic Surf Breaks

The Gold Coast is spoilt for choice for surfing beaches. Try:

  • The artificial reef at Narrowneck, on the northern end of the Gold Coast, that helps create a quality wave.
  • The Superbank at Greenmount on the southern end of the Gold Coast is where World champion locals Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning are often seen shredding the waves.

    Surfers at Snapper Rocks

    Surfers at Snapper Rocks

  • Snapper Rocks is home to the annual Quiksilver Pro World Surfing League competition. As well as being the first leg of surfing’s world tour Snapper is also the first section of the spectacular Superbank.
  • Burleigh Heads, arguably one of the most consistent waves on the Gold Coast, is a high-performance break that offers perfect waves for surfers.

    Surfing at Burleigh Point

    Surfing at Burleigh Point

  • A great place for surfing novices, is at the mouth of the Currumbin Estuary at Currumbin Alley.
  • Kirra Point is also another superbank that has been created by sand pumping from the Tweed River.

8.  Boating on The Broadwater

The Gold Coast Broadwater stretches north from Southport to Paradise Point. The Broadwater is protected by The Spit (to the South) and South Stradbroke Island (to the North) and offers safe access to the Pacific Ocean through the Gold Coast Seaway (at the end of The Spit).

Boating in the calm waters of the Southport Broadwater

Boating in the calm waters of the Southport Broadwater

You can launch your boat or jet ski from either the south or north boat ramps at Southport Spit. Once you launch your boat out into The Broadwater, you can cruise in the calm waters and island hop to destinations such as Wavebreak Island and South Stradbroke Island.

There is good fishing with Flathead, Bream, Whiting, Tailor or a Jew Fish in the pristine waters of The Broadwater or try your luck from the breakwall at Southport Seaway.

9.  Hike or Bike the Oceanway

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a 36-kilometre network of coastal pathways stretching from the Gold Coast Seaway (The Spit) to the Point Danger Lighthouse (Coolangatta).

Oceanway at Burleigh Heads

Oceanway at Burleigh Heads

There are nine segments that make the experience easy and enjoyable with navigable timber and stainless steel distance marker posts that provide information about where you are along the Oceanway.

For further information visit City of Gold Coast

10. Chillax in a Park

The Gold Coast has over 3800 parks covering 21,000 hectares and almost 700 children’s playgrounds. The parks include a range of facilities such as play and exercise equipment, barbecue and picnic areas, toilets, pathways and boardwalks for walking and cycling.

Free Yoga in the Park at Burleigh Heads

Free Yoga in the Park at Burleigh Heads

Bring a picnic hamper to Burleigh Headland Park and watch the sunset over the iconic surfing break with picture-postcards views of the highrises of Surfers Paradise to the north.

Two of the standout parks on the Gold Coast are the Pirate Park situated on the northern side of Currumbin Creek at Palm Beach and the Broadwater Parkland’s Rockpools with a water play area that is designed with cool water fountains and vibrant marine-themed equipment. It also includes a creek bed and several tidal rockpools for children to splash, dam and explore.

Palm Beach/Currumbin Pirate Park

Palm Beach/Currumbin Pirate Park

So who said that the Gold Coast was too touristy and commercialised? With these great natural attractions you don’t need to spend a cent. Get out there and enjoy some of the Gold Coast’s best natural wonders!

Does your town or city offer some natural attractions that aren’t considered to be too touristy? I would love to hear about them.

Linking up to Travel Photo Thursday

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By 50 Shades, October 30, 2015 Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.
  • 18

50 Shades

Kathy was a 50 something year old when she started up this blog 6 years ago, but has since turned over another decade and is now in her early 60s. She is married with two adult children and lives on the Tweed Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Kathy enjoys living life to the fullest and loves to keep fit and active by maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. Some of her interests include reading, photography, travelling, cooking and blogging! Kathy works part-time as a freelance writer but her real passion is travelling and photographing brilliant destinations both within Australia and overseas and writing about it.

18 Comments
  • Johanna
    October 30, 2015

    I so want to come over Kathy! I’m making a list from your posts of all the places we must go see. Actually you are making me want to up sticks and come over to look for a place for when we retire! Any suggestions?

    • Kathy
      October 30, 2015

      You must come over for a visit Jo! As for a place to retire I couldn’t go past Burleigh Heads (where I live) because of it’s many natural attributes and ‘villagey’ feel. Otherwise Kingscliff, just over the border in NSW is a great little coastal town not too far away from civilization. But the Sunshine Coast is also pretty special. Noosa Heads is adorable, but also Maroochydore, Coolum or Mooloolaba. Coolum is where my daughter lives so we get up there often. :)

  • Jan at retiringNotshy!
    October 30, 2015

    Great post Kathy, I am sure lots of people only think, beach, cafe and theme parks when they think Gold Coast. As you say there is so much more (although the beaches definitely rate) and we also love that whole hinterland area up around Tamborine (including the distillery)

    • Kathy
      October 31, 2015

      Yes I think some people write off the Gold Coast as being to commercialized and touristy, but it does have a lot of natural attractions to keep you entertained either on the water or in the beautiful subtropical rainforests. I enjoy a drive up in the Gold Coast Hinterland areas such as Tamborine. I have written several posts about these areas. :)

  • seizetheday20
    October 30, 2015

    You’ve certainly highlighted many of the best natural attractions on the Southern Gold Coast Kathy. Aren’t we lucky to live here amongst such beauty?! :-)

    • Kathy
      October 31, 2015

      Thanks Lyndall. The southern end of the Gold Coast is my favourite as it tends to be less touristy in my opinion. We are very lucky to live here for sure! :)

  • Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
    October 30, 2015

    Great overview of a wonderful place Kathy. I wish they’d had that pirate park when my kids were little.

    • Kathy
      October 31, 2015

      Thanks Michelle. I’m just giving you some inspiration for when you move here. Ha Ha! The Pirate Park is amazing and always so busy. :)

  • Janet Camilleri (@middleagedmama1)
    October 31, 2015

    I’m a big fan of Tally, and the Broadwater – I’m not a very confident swimmer so the surf scares me. Currumbin Rock Pools look lovely, hubster and I will have to make a trip there xxx

    • Kathy
      November 1, 2015

      There are heaps of nice little spots to have a calm water swim if you don’t like waves. I used to take the kids to Tallie Creek when they were little for a safe swim. :)

  • Nancie
    November 1, 2015

    Hi Kathy. Impossible to choose the one that I would want to see the most. I could spend a couple of weeks (or months!) exploring each of these beautiful spots. I love those pelican statues at the Currumbin Estuary. Thanks for linking up this week. #TPThursday

    • Kathy
      November 1, 2015

      You could indeed Nancie. There are plenty of lovely places to explore that won’t cost you anything. The pelican statues were an entry in the Swell Sculpture Festival which is held on the beachfront at Currumbin each year and they more moved permanently to their spot on Currumbin Creek which really suites them. :)

  • budgettraveltalk
    November 1, 2015

    Great post from a gorgeous part of the world. We loved Tallie, Currumbin and Burleigh Heads. There is no doubt about it Australia has some of the best beaches in the world!

    • Kathy
      November 1, 2015

      Thanks Jan. I am obviously pretty proud of where I live and love this side of the Gold Coast so much more that the touristy side. :)

  • All Around Oz
    November 1, 2015

    We really do live in a fantastic part of Australia….so many beautiful spots right on our back door step.

  • Red Nomad OZ
    November 13, 2015

    A lot of people think the Gold Coast is too touristy and are surprised that someone like me who likes natural attractions actually LOVES it and can find plenty to do there! It’s just a shame that it’s been so long since we stayed :D

    • Kathy
      November 13, 2015

      Yes the natural attractions are the best part of the Gold Coast. I don’t particularly like Surfers Paradise or the touristy parts of the Gold Coast. But I love exploring the Hinterland and some of our National Parks. :)

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