Best Things To Do In Coolangatta On The Gold Coast

Why visit Coolangatta

In many years of solo travels in Australia, I visited countless places and remote areas with secluded beaches and wilderness areas. Still, I discovered the Gold Coast in 2013 on a trip to Coolangatta. I was keen to see with my own eyes the place that attracts over 5 million tourists from all over the world every year. An exciting fact is that 15% of Gold Coast visitors return to visit or buy properties to become permanent residents. Here is my guide to the best things to do in and around Coolangatta Solo.

Where is Coolangatta

Coolangatta is located in Southern Queensland on the border to New South Wales, to the twin town Tweed Heads. It is quirky how this geographical border shapes the same place in two states. A sculpture at the roundabout on Boundary Street is the only visible sign of the geographical border unless you know about it. You could not tell you are in 2 different states just by crossing the road.

This means that during the six months of light saving, there will be two different time zones within the same towns. The funniest thing is on New Year’s Eve when you can celebrate the New Year twice by joining another club across the road…one hour after midnight.

Check Our Accommodation Guide: ➡️ Where To Stay In The Gold Coast

How to get to Coolangatta

You can get to Coolangatta by train, bus, or car. You can take the train to Cold Coast City and then the local bus to Coolangatta. Another option is to take a bus directly from Brisbane. If you want the convenience of a vehicle, you can hire a car in the city and drive approximately 100 km from Brisbane.

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What To Do In Coolangatta

Coolangatta is different from Surfers Paradise. Although there are high buildings in the town centre, the architecture has more gentle, soft contours. There are plenty of natural attractions, pretty surf beaches, and long, vast stretches of sandy beaches, offering excellent walking and sighting of Surfers Paradise from afar. It’s the perfect place if you travel solo. You don’t have to walk long distances to get to places.

Do The Long Beach Walk

I recommend doing the long walk from the Pacific Parade or a shorter one from the Marine Parade up to the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse. This walk takes you through the famous swimming beaches like Greenmount Beach to Greenmount Heathland down to Rainbow Bay, a trendy surfing spot, along with Snapper Rocks, the most eastern rocky point. From there, you have a spectacular north- and southbound view of Coolangatta. This is the no. one thing to do if you visit on a day trip from Brisbane.

Enjoy ocean views at Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse.

From the Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse, keep walking up the hill for a fabulous 180-degree view over the ocean to Point Danger. On the lookout, you can take photos of Captain Cook Memorial Lighthouse and enjoy a stunning view over the sea, the jetty and the lovely Duranbah Beach with the Tweed River Inlets. The whole area is green, ideal for a picnic, and has BBQ facilities.

Watch surfers catching a wave

From any beach in Coolangatta, you have a majestic view of the Surfer Paradise silhouette on the horizon. Kirra Beach and Coolangatta Beach are the best viewing points for watching surfers catch a wave. I could spend hours there watching surfers with the Surfer Paradise spectacular background.

Chill out at one of the Coolangatta Beachfront Cafes

The entire beach walk is quite a long one. While there are many benches to sit down on the walking and cycling path, don’t miss out on stopping for a coffee and cake at one of the excellent cafes and eateries on the Coolangatta promenade walk.

Enjoy the Cooly’s Rock Festival

It was just a coincidence that I visited during the Cooly’s Rock Festival. It is held annually in June and is one of the coolest things to do in Coolangatta. This is a unique festival not to miss out on if you are interested in vintage cars and memorabilia, as well as the finest rock music and dancing shows.

Fun Things And Activities Around Coolangatta

If you have more time and want to visit nearby places, hop on and off a bus from Coolangatta to Surfer Paradise and stop. You can also take a self-drive trip to the Gold Coast hinterland.

Visit The Currumbin Sanctuary

Next to the bustling beachside town with lots of shops, boutiques, cafes, clubs, pubs and live entertainment, you can visit the wildlife sanctuary in Currumbin, which is only a 7 km drive from town. If you need a nature escape at some stage, with a short drive inland (30km), you can reach the incredible rainforest and do one of the many walks.

Click To Book Your Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Entry Ticket

Go for a hike to Mount Warning’s Summit

The Lamington National Park and the Springbrook National Park are very close to Coolangatta and are home to an ancient volcanic area with beautiful walking trails. A popular hike from Coolangatta is up to Mount Warning’s summit. This is a must-do thing near Coolangatta. It is an excellent place to see wildlife and rare ancient trees, estimated to be 2000 years old.

While my two days in Coolangatta gave me a taste of the Gold Coast, I think this place is a great stopover if you plan a more extended East Coast trip of Australia. Walking along its beautiful beaches, watching surfers catching waves and taking photos of stunning Surfer’s Paradise on the horizon created long-lasting memories and the wish to revisit.

Where to Stay in Coolangatta

If you have not booked your accommodations yet, check the links below, or you can also check out our Guide To The Best Areas Where To Stay On the Gold Coast.

Best Places to Stay in Coolangatta

➡️ Coolangatta Hotels
➡️ Points North Apartment
➡️ Iconic Kirra Beach Resort
➡️ Sebel Twin Towers

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A Self-Drive of the Gold Coast Hinterland

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First published in 2013, last updated in Jan 2024

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