With more than 37 km of unspoilt coastline, quiet estuaries, charming villages and a subtropical climate, the Tweed Coast drive is a comfortable distance from the Gold Coast just across the New South Wales/Queensland border in Australia.
Roadside Fruit & Vegie Stall, Wooyung
After you cross the Tweed River you take the Tweed Coast Road exit off the highway at Chinderah and head in a southerly direction towards Cudgen and Kingscliff. Once you drive past the new beachside development of Casuarina the road becomes noticeably narrower and the landscape transforms from lush farming land to coastal vegetation.
The first of a string of small coastal villages is Cabarita Beach, which was once known as Bogangar, an Aboriginal word meaning ‘place of many pippies’.
Cabarita Main Street
With large areas of protected wetlands, Cabarita Beach has only limited development, creating a quiet, relaxed holiday atmosphere where the main activities are surfing (with a long right hand point break), swimming, beach and estuary fishing and canoeing.
Cabarita Beach
The shopping centre is small, but well-equipped. Lake Cudgen, around behind the Cabarita Ski Gardens site is a particularly good area for children and families enjoying boating as the water is quite shallow.
Cabarita Beach Surf Club
Cabarita Beach is renowned for its surfing and hosts many surfing events during the year and has fabulous walking and cycling tracks.
Cabarita Headland
Hastings Point is the smallest coastal settlement of the Tweed Coast and is surrounded by national park. The hamlet is nestled between the ocean on its east and a beautiful but delicate estuary on its west.
Hastings Point Beach
With a safe creek feeding onto the beach, Hastings Point has provided a wonderful playground for local families for years. The Cudgera Creek estuary provides an ideal place to swim, snorkel, stand-up paddle board or to kayak and explore the estuaries. Fish from the beach or estuaries or explore the rock pools on the seaward of the headland at low tide.
Hastings Point Estuary
Humpback whales can be seen from the Hastings Point Lookout during their annual migration. Accommodation ranges from a variety of beachfront units, holiday apartments, holiday homes, caravan parks, and beachfront camping during school holidays.
Fishing off the rocks Hastings Point
A quiet village situated on the banks of Mooball Creek with pristine beaches, a safe swimming creek, great fishing and ample walking tracks in the Environmental Gardens. Enjoy BBQ and picnic spots under shady trees by the river and stay at the caravan park on the creek or the motel.
Mooball Creek, Pottsville
Currently serviced by a small shopping centre with takeaway food, restaurants, beachside motel, supermarket and surf and fishing supplies. There are also tennis courts, sports club with lawn bowls, football club and a nearby golf course for sporting enthusiasts.
Pottsville Beach
Pottsville is famous for excellent beach fishing from both beaches and estuary, and is an ideal place for canoeing.
Pottsville Caravan Park
The name Wooyung is a Bundjalung word meaning ‘slow’, which pretty much sums up the small village which is the last stop on the Tweed Coast Road. Initially established by timber getters, dairy farmers and sand miners and eventually there was a motel and caravan park constructed, which still remains today. It is a quiet beachside location popular with surfers and fisherman or just a secluded location for a beach break.
Wooyung Beach
For the nature lovers the Wooyung Nature Reserve consists of 87 hectares of coastal land bisected by the Tweed Coast Road. The reserve contains littoral rainforest, lowland rainforest on floodplain, coastal wetland and coastal dune vegetation communities.
From Wooyung the road takes a sharp right hand turn snaking it’s way through farmlands of sugar cane and banana trees. It rejoins the highway and you can either travel further down the NSW coastline to Brunswick Heads or Byron Bay; or alternatively drive via Mooball, Buringbar Ranges to Murwillumbah and back to Tweed Heads.
On your next Gold Coast holiday make sure you put this picturesque coastal drive on your agenda. You will not be disappointed.
Comments are closed.
Nancie
December 5, 2014What a gorgeous area! Do tell…What is pippy? :)
Thanks for linking up this week. #TPThursday
Kathy
December 5, 2014The Tweed Coast is one of my favourite unspoilt coastal destinations. There are lots of little villages to stay at with lovely beaches and estuaries. A Pippy is an edible shellfish that resembles a clam. I’ve never eaten one but they are supposed to taste ok.
Life Images by Jill
December 5, 2014we haven’t been to Queensland yet, but don’t worry it is on our list. Such a long way from WA, but worth the trip, as I can see from your post. I just can’t work out what is the best time of year to travel to Queensland. Happy travels Kathy.
Kathy
December 5, 2014It is a long way from WA Jill – I can definitely vouch for that! But I think there are many beautiful places that you could capture with your excellent photographic skills. Either March/April or October/November are good times to visit Queensland when the humidity is lower but the temperatures are in the mid to high 20’s.
Johanna
December 5, 2014This looks like a lovely place to have has your backyard. Ohh, so much discovering of Queensland yet to do.
Kathy
December 5, 2014Queensland and Northern New South Wales are very special and different to the West. There is so much to discover and explore in our own backyards. :)
Michelle Weaver (@pinkypoinker)
December 5, 2014When I first read “Place of many pippies” I thought it said, “Place of many hippies” and I thought to myself, well that makes sense with its proximity to Byron Bay. Then I read it properly. We’ll be down that way in a few weeks. Maybe we should take the puppies for a cruise. It looks dog friendly.
Kathy
December 5, 2014Ha ha. Place of pippies not hippies – but very close!! You should do this drive Pinky – it is only 37 Kms across the border. You won’t be disappointed and neither will your furry friends! :)
eileen @ FamiliesGo!
December 6, 2014The scenery in Australia and New Zealand always looks so wonderful. I just wish it were closer!
Kathy
December 6, 2014The world is getting closer and closer all the time. I’m sure you would enjoy a trip down under. Put it on your bucket list! Thanks for dropping by Eileen. :)
Rae Hilhorst
December 6, 2014Back in the day when we were kids, a Sunday treat was gathering sacks full of pippies, taking them home, cooking them in a pot and leaving covered in vinegar to share. Brings back many memories. I haven’t had any since, miss them x
Kathy
December 6, 2014What a lovely family tradition Rae. I have never tasted pippies as I didn’t grow up near the seaside. My holidays were either on the Murray River in Victoria or at a place called Lake Victoria. We used to catch yabbies though out of dams and boil them up and eat them – Yummo!
malaysianmeanders
December 7, 2014The Tweed Coast looks like such a lovely place to visit and enjoy the beach. I think I’d enjoy the stand-up paddle board and looking for whales at Hastings Point.
Kathy
December 7, 2014The Tweed Coast does offer a lot of ‘beachy’ things to do and the beaches are less crowded than the ones on the Gold Coast further north. I lovely spot to get away from it all. :)
Red Nomad OZ
December 7, 2014I remember staying at Kirra Beach one New Years Eve with the state border at the back of the park – because of the time difference between NSW and QLD, we got to celebrate twice! I’m still not sure whether I preferred the southern Gold Coast or the Tweed Coast! They’re BOTH awesome!
Kathy
December 8, 2014What I like about the Tweed Coast is that it is part of the ‘Green Cauldron’ and is very hilly and lush with a sub tropical climate. It is also uncommercialised and unspoilt in most areas. The southern Gold Coast has become a little more developed and touristy but is still a great place to holiday. We often go down to Coolangatta on NYE and celebrate it twice – 2 lots of fireworks!
Johanna
April 27, 2016Cabarita looks like my kind of place. The Green Cauldron being hilly and lush with a sub topical climate is absolutely up my alley so to speak. Thanks for another great introduction :)
Kathy
April 27, 2016We have camped at Cabarita, which is only about a 20 minute drive from us here, many a time. It is a great little seaside town with something for everyone. :)
Life Images by Jill
April 27, 2016I’m looking forward to visiting Queensland one day. Actually I will need a lot more than 1 day!
Kathy
April 28, 2016Jill I think you would definitely need more than one day! How about a few months to travel from South to North Queensland? There is plenty to see. :)