Here on the Gold Coast we are not only blessed with a wide selection of stunning beaches – twenty at least, but we also have two wonderful estuarine creeks that provide a safe haven for all types of water activities – Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks.

Currumbin Creek towards the southern end of the coast and Tallebudgera Creek in the middle of the Gold Coast at Burleigh Heads. Both of these creeks are extremely popular with locals and holidaymakers equally.

Tallebudgera Creek

Views of Tallebudgera Estuary

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 board or taking a relaxing stroll.

Tallebudgera Creek Scenes

On the northern side of the creek is Burleigh Heads National Park, which 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 the water and if you are lucky, you could end up with your own private beach.

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.

Walking Path through Burleigh Headland National Park

The southern side of the creek near the Tallebudgera Recreation Camp, is the more popular area where there are shallow waters and sandy beaches which are very safe for small children to swim in. They have loads of picnic tables, BBQ areas, a large beach area with lots of natural shade, a great playground for the kids, they offer all kinds of water sports, plus the Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club is a great dining, drinking and gaming venue.

Shallow Beach

The flat shallow and deeper water in the creek together with the clear sky, create the most gorgeous mix of aqua blue colours. More often than not dolphins swim into the creek for a frolic in the shallower waters and hunt for small fish to eat.

Family Friendly

For those that prefer the waves – on the other side is the beautiful Palm Beach, the high rocks of the breakwall and path which separates the creek and Palm Beach is an excellent fishing spot, in fact Tallebudgera Creek translated in indigenous language means “good fishing”. There is also a dog off-leash area on the beach adjacent to the breakwall.

If you walk under the Tallebudgera Creek bridge and past the Tallebudgera Caravan Park you will come to a large calm water lake which is very popular for water skiers and wake boarders. Novice stand-up board paddlers also like to practice in this area before taking on the waves that roll into the mouth of the creek.

Tallebudgera Creek Lake

Take a drive out along West Burleigh Road, to the 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

Along the boardwalk, there are excellent examples of mature grey mangroves, some growing amongst natural exposed rock formations at the far end. These, and the stilt mangroves, are inundated by clear ocean waters. There are wonderful views of Tallebudgera Creek through the mangroves, and of the creek mouth at the end of the boardwalk. Along the walk, there are useful interpretive signs with information on mangrove ecology and physiology, fisheries value and indigenous use.

Currumbin Creek

The Alley, Currumbin Creek

Currumbin Creek is a waterway of contrasts, with its extremely popular swimming and surfing beach at the Alley (or river mouth) with ideal waves for surf novices; the calm waters of the Estuary for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and swimming; and the trickling cascades and rocky pools of the upper reaches of the Creek into Currumbin Valley and Mt Cougal National Park.

Currumbin Creek ‘Pelicans’ Sculptures

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

There is a walking path and boardwalk along the southern shores of the creek which takes you from the estuary bridge to Currumbin Alley and Beach, which forms part of the Gold Coast Oceanway.

On the southern shores of the creek, between the two bridges, is the large grassed area of Winders Park which has great family facilities for picnics and barbecues, with children’s playground, toilets, a boat ramp and sandy shores into the shallow waters.

Winders Park, Currumbin Creek

Further along the creek there are boat sheds, a restaurant, kiosk and the very popular Currumbin RSL Club, before it disappears into the residential area and housing estates consisting of tidal canals.

On the north side of the creek near the estuary is a calm lagoon for families and children to play in, which also features a pirate ship playground, wide open lawn areas, picnic tables and a cafe.

Calm Water Lagoon

A boardwalk winds through the small Boree Bodalla Mangrove Reserve on the northern side of the creek with two fishing platforms. It is a popular cycling, running, and walking track and is a serene setting along the creek shore.

The boardwalk forms part of a well maintained, 2m wide walk along the banks of Currumbin Creek, passing through healthy mangrove communities growing mostly in sand that typifies local estuaries with their sand ridges and bars. The extensive tidal flats are covered at high tide by beautiful turquoise waters flooding through the mangroves dominated by Avicennia.

Boree Bodalla Mangrove Reserve

The creek winds it way out through Currumbin Valley where it forms rock pools, a popular spot for tourists to take a refreshing dip in the heat of summer. Eventually it rises into the Gold Coast Hinterland and the Mt Cougal National Park amongst verdant green rainforest.

Mt Cougal National Park

Both of these ocean estuaries play an integral part in the Gold Coast outdoor lifestyle that is enjoyed by thousands of locals and visitors all year round. I know this because I make use of these water playgrounds almost every weekend by either walking along the scenic pathways, swimming, standup paddleboarding or snorkelling in the crystal clear waters. This is what I love about living on the GC!