At the southern end of the Gold Coast and not far from Coolangatta Airport, Tugun offers a Gold Coast holiday that's a far cry from the hectic pace of Surfers Paradise. There are the Gold Coast "must haves" - long, golden beaches and lots of water sports - but the pace of life is slower and more relaxing.
The surf beach is patrolled and a leisurely stroll north along Tugun beach will take you to Flat Rock, where there’s a park right beside the ocean.
Just a short drive south is Coolangatta at the mouth of the Tweed River, forming the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Visit the lighthouse and Captain Cook memorial at Point Danger. Across the border, Tweed Heads has some of the county's largest entertainment clubs as well as the innovative Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Just a few minutes to the north of Tugun on the coastal highway is Currumbin, where Currumbin Creek enters the sea. It's an ideal family spot, with calm water for swimming, sand for playing and plenty of room for sand and rock fishing, but it does get a bit crowded in summer. The whole family will enjoy a visit to the famous Currumbin Bird Sanctuary which is just up the road. Be sure to time your visit to catch the lorikeet feeding times. It is a truly remarkable sight to see great flocks of these cheeky and noisy birds descend for their daily feast.
Things to do:
- Fishing, swimming, surfing
- Walk along the beach to the park at Flat Rock
In the area:
- Currumbin Lagoon - popular family spot
- Currumbin Bird Sanctuary
- Coolangatta - lighthouse and Captain Cook memorial
- Tweed Heads - clubs for gaming and entertainment
- Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre
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