Things to do in Coolangatta, Queensland

The best things to do in Coolangatta include surfing the Superbank from Snapper Rocks, surf lessons and walking along the Oceanway to Froggy Beach and Tweed Heads.

Coolangatta is the southernmost town on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It’s right on the New South Wales border, forming a twin town with Tweed Heads.

Famously, it’s possible to walk over the border from Tweed Heads to celebrate the new year twice – due to New South Wales imposing daylight saving time and Queensland not. The hour’s time difference on December 31 means you can have two midnight parties simply by crossing the road.

Best day trips from the Gold Coast – 7 ways to improve your stay

The Gold Coast is a destination in its own right, but there are several excellent day trips you can do while using it as a base.

Deluxe Tamborine Mountain winery tour – with gourmet lunch.
Full day Springbrook National Park tour – with waterfalls and bush tucker tasting.
Snorkelling with turtles at Cook Island.
Evening glowworm-viewing experience – with guided stargazing.
Lady Elliot Island day trip – with glass bottom boat & guided Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tour.
Hopping between microbreweries – with lunch included.
Northern Rivers fruit & distillery tour – with Tropical Fruit World and Husk Distillers.

Flights to Coolangatta Airport

If you’re flying from Sydney to the Gold Coast, or taking a Melbourne to Gold Coast flight, Coolangatta is right on the doorstep. The entrance to Gold Coast Airport is in the suburb of Bilinga just to the north, but it used to be known as Coolangatta Airport for a good reason. The IATA code for Gold Coast Airport is OOL, which is derived from Coolangatta.

Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast — There are plenty of things to do in Coolangatta, but you come to the southern end of the Gold Coast for the surf. Photo copyright 2017 Getty Images.

The southern stretch of the Gold Coast is heavily built up. But Coolangatta has a much stronger surf focus than other Gold Coast suburbs. This is partly because there’s a collection of beaches, facing in slightly different directions. Coolangatta Beach is the biggest, but it forms part of a sweep with Greenmount Beach, Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks. Facing east on the other side of Point Danger is the tiny Froggy Beach. After that, you cross the border onto the Tweed Coast and encounter Duranbah Beach.

Things to do in Coolangatta, QLD: Surfing the Superbank from Snapper Rocks

Greenmount Beach is home to the oldest surf club in Queensland, but Snapper Rocks is the big draw for surfers. This is the starting point of the Superbank surfing break, created by pumping sand from the Tweed River. The sand removal was primarily designed to keep the river mouth safe for shipping, but it has created a two kilometre long sand bar.

The Superbank takes in Snapper Rocks Point, Rainbow Bay, Greenmount Point, Coolangatta Beach and neighbouring Kirra. Surfers love the numerous barrel sections of the Superbank, and it’s the reason Snapper Rocks hosts the annual Corona Open Gold Coast surfing event.

Things to do in Coolangatta, QLD: Surf schools

The waves at Coolangatta Beach tend to be fairly gentle, which make it a good spot for learning to surf. There are two Coolangatta surf schools to choose from. Coolangatta Learn To Surf and Walkin On Water Surf School both operate here.

Coolangatta Learn To Surf offers two hour group lessons for $50. Walkin On Water Surf School is aimed more at children, but does offer adult lessons. It’s $55 for a two hour beginner lesson. As with surf lessons at Clifton Beach in Tasmania, Scarborough Beach in Perth or Maroubra Beach in Sydney, you should be standing on the board at the end of the two hour session.

Other things to do in Coolangatta

Surfing is definitely the primary focus, but there are other things to do in Coolangatta. The Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club offers two championship courses across 36 holes. You can also take on the easy Oceanway Walk. This is eventually going to be a 36km walk along the Gold Coast. The best bit in Coolangatta goes from Snapper Rocks, over Point Danger, to Froggy Beach. You can continue the coastal walk along the clifftop parks to the Captain Cook Memorial in Tweed Heads.

Should you wish to stay, there is plenty accommodation in Coolangatta. Options include the Mantra Coolangatta Beach, Oaks Gold Coast Calypso Plaza Suites and the Pink Hotel.