Coolangatta

Coolangatta sits right on the Queensland–New South Wales border, so seamlessly joined to Tweed Heads on the NSW side that most visitors don't notice crossing the state line. It's the Gold Coast's southern anchor, home to the airport and some of the most famous surf breaks in Australia.

The surf

Snapper Rocks, at the very southern tip, is a genuine world-class point break and part of the "Superbank" — a run of connected breaks (Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay, Greenmount, Kirra) that on the right swell can produce some of the longest rideable waves in the country. It's a serious surfers' stretch, often crowded when it's working.

The town

Coolangatta's town centre is smaller and considerably less built-up than Surfers Paradise, with a beachfront that feels more like a classic Australian seaside town than a resort strip. Greenmount Beach and Rainbow Bay, tucked either side of the headland, are more sheltered and swimmer-friendly than the open point breaks.

Should you stay here?

Coolangatta makes sense if you're flying in or out and want to minimise transfer time, or if surfing (or watching it) is the main point of the trip. It's a longer commute to the northern theme parks — budget 35–45 minutes by car.

Getting there

Gold Coast Airport (OOL) is right in Coolangatta, a short walk from parts of the beachfront. There's no tram this far south; buses connect Coolangatta to Burleigh Heads, Surfers Paradise and beyond.