Coolangatta - Places to See

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This was published 15 years ago

Coolangatta - Places to See

Beaches and Foreshore

Between Coolangatta Beach and Snapper Rocks the coastline inclines in an east-west direction with protected beaches facing northwards. Coolangatta Beach and Greenmount Beach form a continuous strand backed by some foreshore greenery with picnic tables, a public telephone and markets along the foreshore on the second Sunday of the month. Greenmount forms the eastern end of the beach and Coolangatta the west. However, both have their own surf lifesaving clubs: the Coolangatta Beach club is on the foreshore, off Marine Parade, and the Greenmount club is by the corner of Marine Parade and Hill St.

To the immediate east of Greenmount Beach is a small rocky elevated headland topped by Pat Fagan Parkwhich offers fine views and picnic tables.

On the eastern side of the headland is Rainbow Bay which is but a smallish cove, although it has a surf lifesaving club and toilets. On its eastern side is Snapper Rocks, at which point the coast veers southwards again, opening out to Duranbah Beach which is a noted surfing location. Behind the beach is a foreshore area atop the rugged headland of Point Danger (named by Captain Cook), on which sits a lighthouse (at the end of Boundary St which forms part of the state border) that lays claim to being the first in the world to experiment with laser technology but the experiment - carried out in 1971 - proved unsuccessful and it returned to the more conventional mirrors, magnifying glass and powerful electric lamps. Nearby is an 18-metre memorial to Captain Cook which takes the form of a capstan moulded from cast-iron ballast jettisoned from the Endeavour and recovered in the 1960s. There are four supports that lie exactly on the compass points. There are picnic spots and a walk along the cliff-edge. Dolphins can sometimes be seen out to sea. There are views of the coastline from Surfers Paradise to Byron Bay.

At the western end of Coolangatta Beach is Kirra Point with its long breakwater forming a protective barrier for Coolangatta Beach. On the western side of Kirra headland is Kirra Beach which is the district's most notable surfing area, offering challenges for the expert, and smaller waves closer in to shore for beginners who can hire a long board for the day.

From this point the coastline veers in a north-westerly direction. The beach is continuous between here and the small mouth of Flat Rock Creek, although its name changes from Kirra Beach to North Kirra Beach to Bilinga Beach to Tugun Beach. There is a narrow foreshore area which slims to a sliver then virtually disappears at Bilinga Beach.

Each of these four designated beaches has its own surf lifesaving club: the Kirra Beach club is adjacent Marine Parade in Coolangatta, with toilets and public telephones nearby; the North Kirra club is on Pacific Parade, in Bilinga, with toilets and picnic tables nearby; the Bilinga Beach club is next to Golden Four Drive, in Bilinga, and the Tugun club is on O'Connor St, in Tugun, with toilets and telephones adjacent.

At the northern end of Tugun Beach is the small mouth of Flat Rock Creek which is named after a small rocky outcrop just south of the creek estuary. The creek forms the border between Tugun and Currumbin. Kropp Park lines the southern shore of the creek behind the beach while Currumbin Sanctuary (see entry below) sits on part of the northern shore.

On the northern side of Flat Rock Creek is Currumbin Beach which is noted for its rock pools and gentle surf. It is cut in two by Elephant Rock, on which sits the local surf lifesaving club (off Pacific Parade). At the northern end of the beach Currumbin Point, with its rock platform, extends outwards like a carbuncle, forming a natural breakwater at the mouth of Currumbin Creek which is popular with anglers. Behind Currumbin Point Pacific Parade coils westwards to follow the creek's southern shore. Inside the loop formed by the Parade's change of direction is Wallace Nicoll Park which has toilets, picnic tables and an air-sea rescue base.

For information on beaches and foreshore to the north see entry on Burleigh Heads and for information on the coastline to the south see entries on Tweed Heads and Fingal Head.

Currumbin Bird Sanctuary
To the north of Coolangatta is Currumbin, made famous by the excellent Currumbin Sanctuary which claims to be the home of the world's largest captive collection of Australian native animals, including 1400 species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Noted for the rainbow lorikeets that descend twice daily at feeding time, it features 27 hectares of lush gardens and an array of wildlife including rare and endangered species, such as the southern cassowary, Goodfellow's tree kamgaroo, the Tasmanian devil and the bilby, as well as kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, freshwater crocodiles, koalas, emus, waterbirds and the largest sub-tropical, walk--through, rainforest aviary in the Southern Hemisphere.

Other attractions include a 2.5-km miniature railway, koala photo opportunities, live animal presentations, a children's playpark, an animal orphanage, a bush tucker garden, nocturnal guided tours with Aboriginal corroboree, Flora Gully (which contains a range of rare and endangered flora species in a recreated subtropical rainforest environment),educational programs, a gift shop, eateries, and the transmission of Aboriginal myths and legends through song, dance and fire-making.

Located on the Gold Coast Highway it is open from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm daily and attracts about 500,000 visitors a year. The entrance charges, as of 2011, start at $49 for adults, $31 for children and $40 for pensioners. You can get a 10% discount on these prices if you order your tickets through their website. For more information, tel: (07) 5534 1266 or check out: http://www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au/

Olson's Bird Gardens

These lovely botanic gardens, situated in a subtropical rainforest valley, contain numerous exotic and indigenous birds, as well as deer and emus. It is located 9 km from Currumbin Beach. To get there turn off the Pacific Highway at Currumbin into Currumbin Creek Rd. The gardens are open from 9.00 am. to 5.00 p.m. daily. Refreshments are available and there is a gift shop. An entry fee is charged, tel: (07) 5533 0208.

Mt Cougal (Springbrook National Park)

This rugged and heavily vegetated section of Springbrook National Park, located in the Tomewin region behind the Gold Coast, centres on the two peaks of Mt Cougal. The only facilities and tracks are to be found at Cougal's Cascades where there is an old timber mill, mountain streams and pools, and walking tracks into the rainforest. For more information check out: http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/about.html

Tandem Skydive
Tandem Skydive operate out of Coolangatta Airport on a daily basis (weather permitting), tel: (07) 3204 1555.

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