There are plenty of amazing things to do in Coolangatta Australia. If you are planning a holiday or getaway to this east coast Australia town, you are probably going to spend most of your time at the beaches, learning to surf, or just kicking back. But in between beach lazing, there are some great local restaurants and music venues, classes you can partake in and even some local organic farms close by that offer great experiences.
Check out the 21 best things to do in Coolangatta, Queensland.
Table of Contents
1. Learn to Surf
Coolangatta is a town that is built around surf culture. With some of the best waves in the world, it has also produced some of the best surfers in the world. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced professional, one of the best things to do in Coolangatta is to go surfing. Learn to surf with one of the popular surf schools, or if you are experienced already, simply hire a board and take to the waves!
2. Admire the view at Point Danger
Want some free things to do in Coolangatta? Grab a picnic blanket and take it to the lookout at Point Danger for epic views of the ocean below. There’s a great grassy area, and some lookout spots where you can watch the surfers catch waves or see the whales and dolphins passing through. You can even put a foot in QLD and NSW at the same time at the Captain Cook Memorial Light, which showcases the demarcation line between Queensland and New South Wales.
3. Dine and Wine at Siblings
Siblings in Coolangatta is perfect for those endless lunch gatherings that you wish would never end. With its amazing location boasting unbeatable Kirra views, it’s clear why this spot has topped many ‘best of’ lists. The modern Australian cuisine served here is award winning, and the vegans among us are well taken care of with a dedicated menu! Truly, Siblings stands out as a highlight of Coolangatta’s restaurant scene, and you’ll want to make sure you book ahead.
4. Go on a morning stroll along the ‘Superbank’, winding from Kirra beach to Duranbah beach
One of the best things to do in Coolangatta is to stroll along the Oceanway walk that stretches from Kirra around Rainbow Bay and Greenmount Beach to the Superbank (where they hold the surf competitions), right around to the Duranbah Beach. You can even walk out to the end of the seaway entrance wall (rock) and look across the entrance to NSW and the long, empty stretch towards Fingal Head.
Depending on where you start and finish, the walk is around 1.5 kilometers (Coolangatta Beach to Duranbah). If you follow Coral Street it does a loop back into town so you don’t have to walk all the way back.
5. Admire the surfers from Rainbow Bay surf club
A visit to the Rainbow Bay surf club is one of the iconic things to do in Coolangatta. The Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSC) along the Gold Coast beaches are some of the best places to experience, real Australian beach culture.
Each surf club has a restaurant/bar associated with it which helps to fund the lifesavers on the beach. The Rainbow Bay Surf Club has a nice outdoor sitting area with a view, has cold beer on tap, and pub-style food.
6. Listen to live music at the Coolangatta hotel
The ‘Cooly hotel’ is an iconic venue has undergone several renovations over the years but it is still one of the best places to see live music around. It attracts mostly Australian artists, but international bands also play.
The Band Room is located above the main hotel/pub floor which is a classic Australian pub.
7. Enjoy the beautiful beaches (Kirra, Rainbow, Snapper)
One of the top things to do in Coolangatta with kids is to visit the beaches. The beaches in Coolangatta are some of Australia’s best. With plenty of white sand, surf, and stunning backdrops it’s very easy to spend most of your time relaxing on these beautiful beaches.
Kirra Beach is a wide flat beach that can offer nice waves for beginners at the point. If you prefer tucking in behind some beach rocks for a bit of shade or privacy, check out the little space between the natural rocks and rock groin (divides Kirra and Coolangatta Beaches).
Coolangatta Beach is really wide! Make sure you bring some kind of footwear on a hot day as you can burn your feet walking across the sand to get to the water. There is a nice protected area by the headland with some shade (but it is also where most people tend to gravitate to).
Rainbow Bay normally gets the bigger surf waves. But in the shallows, the water is generally pretty calm. You can walk right up to Snapper Rocks and jump into the rock pools. Just beware of large waves that can crash over the rocks and knock people over.
If you are up for a drive, be sure to venture down to the Byron Bay beaches or Lennox Head.
8. Drink a tropical cocktail at Tupe Aloha
Tiki drinks meet tasty tacos in this Coolangatta go-to. Located on Main Street (Musgrave St), you can pop in for a tropical escape. There’s a range of Mexican food and many of the drinks come in Tiki mugs which add to the funky feeling. On Friday nights, they often have live music too which is well worth a listen to!
9. Try out some Light Meditation with the Kyma Wellness Lab
This is one of the most unique things to do in Coolangatta. Kyma Wellness Lab is a hub for alternative, wellness technologies. We tried the Psychedelic Light Therapy and experienced an intense meditative journey with some amazing visual scapes, and it left us in a deep state of relaxation. The couple behind it are super grounded and welcoming, and offer a free five minute demo if you are not sure if it’s for you.
10. Have a swim in the rock pool at Froggies hidden beach
One of the hidden things to do in Coolangatta is going for a dip in the man-made swimming pool on the rocks. Froggies Beach (officially called Flagstaff Beach) is a small beach cove south of Snapper Rocks. If you are a surfer also looking for a heavier shore break, this is the spot to go.
There are often bodyboard riders testing their luck in the heavy dumping waves.
11. Watch the whale migration
One of the best things to do on the Gold Coast between June and September is to watch the whales go by. This whale traveling magic happens every year. And it provides some of the most spectacular encounters with wildlife that you can find.
The whales come surprisingly close to shore and can breach often so it is pretty common to see a few whales jumping at the same time.
If you want to get up and close to the whales, you can join an organised whale watching boat tour. Also – keep you eyes peeled for the famous, white whale Migaloo!
12. Enjoy a night out at Eddie’s Grub House
Looking for things to do in Coolangatta at night? Eddies Grub House is a combination of American Style dive bar meet Australian surf culture. There is a brick and low light interior with a grungy edge to it. It gets a good crowd on the weekends and they often have live music and karaoke.
13. Visit the Love Street Store for some seriously good coffee
Located at Kirra, this local hot spot has some amazing coffee and food. Featuring bowls, smoothies, breakfast burgers and more, you’ll want to go back a few times to get your fix. While you wait for your coffee and food, you can also check out their cute store, which has swimwear, products, and local artworks. This is one of the Coolangatta attractions you don’t want to miss if you love coffee!
14. Visit the nearby Gold Coast waterfalls
The Gold Coast is home to some amazing waterfalls. They are scattered amongst the Hinterland and many of them are within around 30 minutes drive from the beach.
There’s a great experience that can take you through the rainforest and to a variety of waterfall stops. It’s a full day trip (around 7/8 hours). Otherwise, you can jump in a car and explore yourself.
Here are the 10 best Gold Coast Waterfalls to explore with details on how to get there and what to expect.
15. Enjoy the Local Coolangatta Restaurants
Looking for things to do in Coolangatta when raining? Experience the Cooly foodie scene. Some of the best restaurants on the Gold Coast are in this southern beachside town.
Over the past couple of years, there has been an influx of amazing restaurants setting up in Coolangatta. While you can still enjoy the local takeaway fish and chip shops, you can now also experience award winning dining. Here are some of our favourite restaurants in Coolangatta:
- Siblings: Incredible views and a modern Australian menu
- Kirra Beach House: Panoramic views with mediterranean grazing plates
- Clay Cantina: Delicious Mexican eats and Margaritas
- Franc Jrs: Some damn good old school pizza
- Bar Evelyn: Think sour dough pizza with inventive toppings
- Billy Chow: Pan Asian cuisine with coastal vibes
- Bread & Butter: A mouthwatering Spanish & Italian menu
16. Stay a night at the Pink Hotel
This iconic retro beachfront hotel is full of vibes, and our favourite place to stay in Coolangatta. It’s in the heart of Cooly and has an epic grassy rooftop area with views across to the beach. We stayed in the Pink Hotel’s ‘artist suite’ which had funky neon art, midcentury furniture, a white baby Grand Piano and a private deck!
17. Take a drive to the sunflower fields at Farm & Co
Situated in Kingscliffe, New South Wales (20-minute drive south), there is an iconic farm called Farm & Co. Here, you can either buy fresh produce, dine in at the restaurant (which makes some incredible meals) and take a walk through the sunflower field. This is one of the best Gold Coast farms to visit, but there are also a few other great ones in the area!
18. Join a beach yoga class
Yoga on the beach? This is one of the best activities in Coolangatta. Why not join a morning class or organise your own one-on-one session. Sessions can be tailored to your ability and often include meditation and a healthy snack to finish off.
During the whale season (July – Sept) you can even do the class from the Rainbow Bay point for better views of the whale breaches while you stretch.
19. Walk on water
Located around the corner from Coolangatta is Tweed Heads. Here you can admire the mangrove systems while strolling along the Tweed ‘walk on water track’. Experience Aboriginal cultural heritage, beautiful natural scenery, and bird watching. It’s a great way to get a different perspective and be up close and personal with a different range of wildlife.
Be sure to use a natural mosquito repellant if going in the late afternoon.
20. Go Skydiving
One of the best things to do in Coolangatta for thrill seekers, is to go Skydiving. Gold Coast Skydive operates from Coolangatta and offers a tandem skydiving experience. You’ll reach an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet, gaining some of the best views of the Gold Coast and beyond, and land right on the beach!
21. Check out the headland lookouts
Both the Kirra Hill lookout and the Rainbow Bay lookout offer amazing views and are fantastic things to do in Coolangatta at sunset. You get panoramic views of the stunning coastline, Surfers Paradise, and on clear days, you’ll see all the way to the Gold Coast. Right next to the Kirra Hill Lookout is the Queen Elizabeth Park which is a great place to bring kids to, as it has a nice playground, and looks across to the beach.
FAQ
Is Coolangatta a good holiday destination?
Absolutely! Even though we live locally (in Brisbane), we still think Coolangatta is the best holiday destination. Rainbow Bay has beautiful gentle waves for kids, and a great surf break for keen surfers. There are some great restaurants and bars in the area, a nice boardwalk and stunning views. We think this is the best holiday destination if you are after low key, casual beach vibes.
Can you swim at Coolangatta?
The beaches at Coolangatta are great for swimming, they are usually crystal clear, with gentle waves (generally sheltered from some of the south east swells). The beaches are patrolled by Surf Life Savers, and we recommend to always swim within the red and yellow flags.
How long is it from Coolangatta to Gold Coast?
It’s about a 30-35 minute drive from Coolangatta to the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise). If you’re flying into/out of the Gold Coast airport, Coolangatta is a 2-3 minute drive away.
What are some things to do in Coolangatta at night?
We definitely recommend visiting Eddie’s Grub House, it’s a rock and roll style dive bar with great live music on Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re looking for a great foodie experience, head to Siblings in Kirra Beach for dinner and cocktails.
Best places to stay in Coolangatta
Coolangatta is surprisingly small. You can walk around the town and surrounding beaches quite easily which makes it great for a holiday. It’s also conveniently located close to the Gold Coast airport.
Many of the apartment and villa rentals are within walking distance of the beaches. There are some beautiful and stylish Coolangatta Airbnbs to suit all budgets, or if you want to stay elsewhere, there are some great Gold Coast Airbnbs scattered along the coast.
This handpicked list offers a range of the most unique and memorable Coolangatta Gold Coast stays!
- Luxury Self-Contained House: a modern, chic apartment within walking distance of the beach
- Two-Level Penthouse in Rainbow Bay: stunning ocean views, a large entertaining deck, and surfboards to hire
- The Pink Hotel: A funky boutique hotel with an amazing grassy rooftop area
Want to experience more of Australia? Check out our Byron Bay guides:
- 21 things to do in Bryon Bay
- Byron Bay eco travel guide
- Best Byron Bay beaches
- Camping Byron Bay
- Byron Bay Airbnb and apartment rentals
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