Vacation Packages

Upon awaking this morning I promptly headed on over to Coolangatta Beach. A surf-rental client was leaving the area very early in the day and needed me to come by and pick up the equipment (a short board and a minimal) they had been using before they went ahead to check out. Hence I went for precisely that purpose, arriving a little earlier than 7am.

On the Australian Gold Coast, Coolangatta is roughly a 30 minute drive headed south out of Surfer’s Paradise, both places being world-renowned thanks to the impressive surf conditions they present. Surfer’s Paradise, located at the northern tip really does have some of the most spectacular of the Goldy’s beach breaks thanks to the shifting sand-based ocean floor, which gives a lot of swell.

Coolangatta on the other hand is at the south end of the Goldy is more famous for the world class point breaks of Snapper Rocks, Greenmount and Kirra. These points, though not able to pick up as much swell as the northern beaches, definitely host the best waves of the area. On their given day, the waves can bend endlessly around the points. A surfer can kick off a wave due to fatigue rather than the wave ending.

Not this morning though. This morning on arrival, the waves were less than a foot, clean as they get though with no wind to speak of. Having picked up the rented surfboard, I decided to have breakfast at a lovely little cafe on the beach front and see what happens at our beaches when there is no surf.

It didn’t take me long at all to realize just why the Australian Gold Coast, in the northern Queensland state, is among the most frequented beach destinations on the planet. At little past 7 o’clock in the morning the beach front is already thriving with activity; for sure, 24 water helps a lot just as the 26 air temperature does–who wouldn’t be inclined to spend a day on the beach in those conditions?

In the water, there are a couple of Polynesian style surfers out, with those big stand up boards and paddle, enjoying the tame conditions with a couple of long boarders. Also, there were a handful of swimmers swimming between the flags, trying to catch a little breaker on the shore edge.

The beach at Coolangatta spreads out to approximately 50 meters of gorgeous yellowy-golden sand, a perfect setting for the many ladies already out in their bikinis deepening their tans at such early hours. The really early tanners comically tend to always be the ones that are wrapping up their vacations and want to go home that much bronzer!

Along the bike and running paths designated in the park, tiny groups of cyclists and runners whiz by as they carry out their morning fitness program. Way out at sea a pod of whales is playfully splashing around as they follow their migration path, to the great amusement of the beach-bound passersby.

I take in this marvelous vista, bustling with activity, as I comfortably sip my coffee and eat my eggs benedict which a pretty waitress kindly has served me. Being a local from the area, it is so gratifying to be able to just sit back and bask in the glory that so many tourists have traveled half a world to see. Hopefully you too will one day discover the beauty of this our home–it really just doesn’t get that much better!

Damian Papworth knows that for holidays in the sun, with warm water, golden beaches and sun drenched days, nothing beats the Queensland Gold Coast.