This post is a collaboration with Destination Gold Coast
This was our first stay on the southern end of the Gold Coast and it’s easy to see why it’s Australia's favourite playground. We usually stay in the Surfers Paradise area, but after experiencing what the southern end has to offer, it has become our new family holiday spot! The area is known for being quieter and more relaxed, but is still close to everything including the Gold Coast airport which is a short 10 minute drive away.
Here are 5 reasons why you need to pop a visit to the Southern Gold Coast on your holiday list!
THE BEACHES
There are so many amazing places to swim on the southern Gold Coast, but my favourite has to be gorgeous Coolangatta beach which has a patrolled swimming area - a must if you have kids. Another favourite swimming spot is Currumbin, where you’ll find both Currumbin Beach and Currumbin Creek (which is more of a relaxed area for kids to swim without the waves).
THE ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at Reflections Coolangatta Beach in a 2-bedroom water view apartment. The view was just amazing! We were lucky enough to watch whales right from our balcony and bedrooms. Reflections is situated right across from patrolled Coolangatta beach, which is an easy five minute stroll (perfect when you are going with the kids to the beach). The apartments are fully self-contained with full sized kitchens, which just perfect for families that don’t want the expense of eating out for every meal.
THE WHALES
We really didn’t expect to watch whales directly from our apartment balcony! It was an absolute highlight of the trip. All day long, we watched them jump and put on a show for us. There is a lookout area nearby (Point Danger) where you can sit and watch them go by as well. I recommend you bring some binoculars for the kids so they can view the spectacular whales close up.
THE FOOD
I’m all about the food! One of my favourite things about being on holidays is trying new restaurants and new foods with my family. On this trip, we ate out for all our meals, and we were more than spoilt for choice and good food for the entire trip! Here are some of our favourites:
Breakfast
Dune Café – This is right next to the popular Currumbin pirate ship park making it the perfect place to eat breakfast with kids. I recommend you try the organic spelt pancakes and dune big brekkie.
Café D’bar – The secret is out! This is a popular breakfast spot for the locals and it’s easy to see why. I promise you won’t find breakfast with a view quite like this anywhere in the world. As we ate breakfast, we watched a pod of whales put on a show for us right outside!
Lunch
Baskk – They really know how to do cocktails and pizza here! You’ll also find a good kids menu with chicken and seafood choices too. The concept behind Baskk is all about sharing dishes, which is the perfect way to taste a little bit of everything.
Currumbin Vikings SLSC – It’s easy to see why this club is so popular! The view is perfect- right on the popular Currumbin rocks. With fresh seafood options, kid’s meals and a relaxed vibe, it’s a fantastic spot for lunch with the family.
Dinner
Frida Sol – My favourite food is Mexican, so I was excited to try this place out and let’s just say, it didn’t disappoint! I’m still craving the Chimmichangas I had as my entrée. If like me, you love Mexican food, you should pop this on your list to visit.
The Collective – The concept behind this eatery is fantastic. There are 5 different kitchens to choose from all under the same roof. You can place your order via a tablet from any of the 5 food outlets and it will be brought straight to your table. There is literally food the whole family will love here!
THE FUN AND ATTRACTIONS
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
It’s been a few years since I visited Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, so it was good to go back and see how much it has changed. What a fantastic place for the whole family! There really is something for all ages to see and do. My kids loved the playground and water play area, but also watching and learning about each of the animals that call Currumbin Wildlife sanctuary home. It was a lovely family day out full of learning and exploring!
Parks
The Gold Coast boasts some of the best parks for kids, and you won’t struggle to find one because they are quite literally everywhere! One thing I noticed was how well some of the parks are lit up of a night, so it’s perfect for the kids to have a play late afternoon to burn off energy before dinner or even post meal.
Festivals
Depending on the time of the year you visit, you might be able to explore some of the local festivals, there is always something exciting on. We were lucky enough to visit during the SWELL Sculpture Festival, we enjoyed walking along the beach checking out all the creations.
Surf Lessons
If you want to experience action packed fun in the iconic Gold Coast waves, you could try some surfing lessons! Walkin’ on Water Surf School is located right on Greenmount Beach Coolangatta and offers surf lessons for the whole family.
A big thank you to Destination Gold Coast who organised the itinerary for our trip. You can visit their website for some amazing holiday deals on accommodation, attractions, tours and more. If you have any questions about our getaway or questions about the Gold Coast, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer them for you!
Nicole
I loved visiting SWELL (purely by coincidence!) when I was on the Gold Coast last too!
Hopefully can return in the next year or two to see the incredible works of art.