Burleigh Heads (including Nobby Beach, Miami, Palm Beach and Robina)
A national park and an unspoilt headland surrounded by the tourist development of the Gold Coast.
Located 89 km south of Brisbane and midway between Coolangatta and Southport, Burleigh Heads is one of the few points on the Gold Coast where the visitor can actually experience what this beautiful coastline was like before it was invaded by high-rise development and millions of tourists. This is largely to do with the preservation of the terrain around the Tallebudgera Creek estuary, especially on the northern side where a National Park has been declared on the headland, after which the settlement was named.
Things to see:
Beaches and Foreshore
Nobby Beach, immediately north of Burleigh Heads, has a surf lifesaving club with picnicking facilities opposite Lavarack Rd. At the southern end of Nobby Beach there is a strip of foreshore parkway (missing at the northern end) and a caravan park at the southern end of Marine Parade, which follows the foreshore. Picnic facilities are located adjacent Marine Parade, almost opposite the end of Santa Monica Rd.
South Nobby marks the end of Nobby Beach and to its south is North Burleigh Beach. A narrow strip of foreshore parkland, decorated with pandanus palms and pines, abuts the beach on one side and The Esplanade on the other. It extends southwards along Burleigh Beach to the actual headland (after which the suburb is named) at the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek. There are barbecue, picnic and parking facilities at several points, and toilets opposite Second Ave. There is a surf lifesaving club opposite Kratzman Ave and another at the southernmost end of the beach, on Goodwin Terrace, which runs past an ocean pool, more toilets and picnic/barbecue facilties, to a parking area at the northern end of the National Park.
Burleigh Beach is well known as a fine surfing venue and, as such, it hosts major international surfing tournaments.
Tallebudgera Creek offers calm waters and an estuary beach beneath the Highway Bridge which is ideal for families. It is patrolled in the holidays by a volunteer group which began as an all-female patrol. Further downstream, on the southern bank, is Tallebudgera Creek Environmental Park.
The creek is a popular spot for kayaking and boating. There are two boat ramps inside the mouth of, and on either side of, Tallebudgera Creek: one off Awoonga Ave and the southern ramp is off Murlong Crescent. There is a caravan park adjacent the southern ramp and Tallebudgera Recreation Camp is located on the other (eastern) side of the Gold Coast Highway to the tourist park. Another surf lifesaving club is situated on the same patch of greenery as the camp, by the roundabout where the highway meets Tallebudgera Drive. The adjacent beach is known as Tallebudgera Beach which continues south as Pacific Beach then Palm Beach, ending at the mouth of Currumbin Creek. This southern strand is noted for its gentle surf and its rock pools. It has no real foreshore but there are two surf lifesaving clubs: one at Pacific Beach (near the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Nineteenth Ave) and the other at Palm Beach (corner of Jefferson lane and Seventh Ave). Palm Beach has won cleanest beach awards on more than one occasion.
Fishing is popular along Currumbin Creek which has a boat ramp in the parkland adjacent the Thrower Drive bridge.
For information on beaches and foreshore to the north see entry on Surfers Paradise and, for information on beaches to the south see entry on Coolangatta.
Burleigh Head National Park
This small 27.6-hectare national park is actually an isolated extension of a huge volcano which was centred at Mount Warning 22 million years ago. Despite the development that has gone on around it, the park has managed to preserve a small portion of coastal rainforest and heathlands, incorporating such flora as mangroves, eucalypts, and pandanus and faunal species such as reptiles, wallabies, bandicoot, koalas, bush turkeys and other birds, though some of these species are nocturnal and elusive. There is a short, well-maintained, 2.8-km ocean-view circuit which offers superb views of the coast from Turngum Lookout, as well as a 1.2-km rainforest circuit. For more information contact the Burleigh Heads Information Centre (07) 5535 3032 or check out: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/burleigh-head/index.html
Fleay's Wildlife Park
A couple of kilometres west of the coastline is Fleay's Wildlife Park which provides an opportunity to observe the native fauna of the area in its natural habitat. The centre is home to dingoes, kamgaroos, koalas, salt and freshwater crocodiles, cassowaries, brolgas and more. There are optional guided tours, wildlife talks, an Aboriginal program and a special area for children. The Nocturnal House has a platypus, as well as bilbys. quolls and dunnarts. It is situated on Kabool Rd, which runs off Tallebudgera Creek Rd, and is open from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily. For more information contact Fleay's on (07) 5576 2411 or check out: http://www.fleayswildlife.com.au/index.html
Balloonwalk
Balloonwalk is the first permanently moored, passenger carrying, observation balloon in Australia. It operates day and night, offering spectacular views of the Gold Coast from an elevation of160 metres and it is located in the Robina Town Centre shopping complex, tel: (07) 5593 2244.
Golf
Golfers can exhaust their wishes in the Burleigh district, which has no less than nine golf courses: the Robina Woods Golf Course at Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina (tel: 07 5593 1766), Paradise Springs Golf Course on Paradise Springs Ave, Robina (tel: 07 5593 2866), Glades at Glades Drive, Robina (tel: 07 5569 1900), Boomerang Farm Golf Course at 54a Boomerang Rd, Mudgeeraba (tel: 07 5530 5231), Burleigh Heads Golf Range at 164 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Andrews (tel: 07 5534 9344), Burleigh Palms Golf Course at 234 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Tallebudgera (tel: 07 5533 9732), Tally Valley Golf Course at 335 Guineas Creek Rd, Elanora (tel: 07 5533 9121), Coplick's Tallebudgera Golf Course at the corner of Guineas Creek Rd and Tallebudgera Connection Rd, Tallebudgera (tel: 07 5534 8484), and Meadow Park Golf Course at the corner of Connection Rd and Valley Drive, Tallebudgera, tel: (07) 5534 8444.
Tourist Information
Sop 14B
Coolangatta Place
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5536 7765
Facsimile: (07) 5536 7841
Motels
Burleigh International Motor Inn
1896 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 0033
Rating: **
Casino Motel
1761 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 7133
Rating: **
Elite Motel
1935 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 2920
Rating: **
Fifth Avenue Motel
1953 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3588
Rating: ****
Outrigger Motor Inn
2007 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1111
Rating: ***
The Gregory Motel
Cnr Ikkikna Rd & Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3282
Rating: **
Resorts
Aussie Resort
1917 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 2877
Rating: ***
Apartments
2nd Avenue Beachside Apartments
Second Ave
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 1033
Rating: ***
Ambassador Apartments
100 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 4086
Rating: ***
Esplanade Apartments
156 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 0855
Rating: ***
Gemini Court Apartments
45 Hayle St
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: 1800 636 036
Rating: *****
Southern Cross Apartments
114 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3266
Rating: ****
Burleigh Point Apartments
300 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 2233
Facsimile: (07) 5576 2650
Rating: ****
Cashelmara Beach Front Apartments
170 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 0311
Facsimile: (07) 5535 0954
Rating: ****
Hillhaven Holiday Apartments
2 Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1055
Facsimile: (07) 5535 1870
Rating: ****
Horizons Family Apartments
1945 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 6088
Facsimile: (07) 5535 6557
Rating: ****
Key Largo Apartments
1911 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 8022
Facsimile: (07) 5535 8080
Rating: ****
Holiday Homes & Units
La Pacifique
60 Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 0799
Rating: ***
Oceanside Cove
1 First Ave
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5520 0040
Rating: ****
So Na Mara
202 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1022
Rating: ***
St. Marie
1901 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 9006
Rating: ***
Wyuna
Cnr The Esplanade & Second Ave
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3302
Rating: ***
Burleigh Beach Tower
52 Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 9222
Facsimile: (07) 5576 1095
Rating: ****
Burleigh Gardens
1849 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5579 3955
Facsimile: 07) 5576 4372
Rating: ****
Le Beach
136 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 3777
Facsimile: (07) 5576 3777
Rating: ****
Pacific Regis
30-40 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1692
Facsimile: (07) 5535 6466
Rating: ***
Lodges & Chalets
Leyton Lodge
106 The Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 7577
Rating: ***
Caravan Parks
Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5581 7755
Rating: ***
Restaurants
Burleigh Chinese Restaurant
2 West St
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 8370
Lakeview Gardens
1705 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 0200
Liza's Garden Restaurant
1953 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3588
Masakan Indonesia Restaurant
1837 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 4699
Facsimile: (07) 5534 8988
Montezuma¹s Mesa Restaurant
Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1973
Pagoda Asian Buffet
1726 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 1308
Paragon Seafood Restaurant
4 Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 2300
Romanas Pizza Pasta Bar
1823 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 3433
Sibolts Hide-Away
1710 Gold Coast Hwy
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 1877
Tathouse Asian Restaurant
Treetop Plaza
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5593 6633
Tim's Malaysian Hut
66 Goodwin Tce
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 2366
Valentines
Cnr Bermuda St & Christine Ave
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 7666
Vecchia Roma Italian Restaurant
Cnr Gold Coast Hwy & West Burleigh Rd
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 5988
Cafés
Blue Onion Cafe Bar
12 Esplanade
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 7756
Burleigh Bluff Cafe
The Old Burleigh Theatre Arc.
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5576 6333
Lancasters Cafe
Big B Arc. James St
Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Telephone: (07) 5535 3277
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