On the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia we are blessed with a plethora of natural attractions. No matter the season – summer, autumn, winter or spring, Mother Nature is at her best offering all types of activities whether it be on water or land.

So here are my top 10 Gold Coast Natural Attractions:

1.  Enjoy 21 Stunning Beaches

Starting from north to south the Gold Coast is adorned with the most stunning beaches where you can swim, surf, paddle, fish or dive into. And the good thing is that most of the beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers and are very safe.

Coolangatta, Burleigh Heads, Miami & Surfers Paradise Beaches, Gold Coast

2.  Explore Tallebudgera Creek

Located just off the Gold Coast Highway between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach, the picturesque Tallebudgera Creek (or Tallie) is the ideal spot for a picnic, water skiing, fishing, lounging on the sandy shores, playing with the kids, snorkelling, paddling a kayak or stand-up paddle boarding or taking a leisurely stroll.

Tallebudgera Creek

Or take a stroll from West Burleigh Road on a walking track and boardwalk which borders the Tallebudgera Creek Park and the David Fleay Wildlife Park, a popular spot to see some of Australia’s unique wildlife. There is a boardwalk which forms part of the walking track (1.5 km long) that ends at Burleigh Heads.

Tallebudgera Creek Boardwalk

3.  Spot a Humpback

There are many whale watching cruise boat tours that take you out into the waters of the Gold Coast to see these gentle giants of the ocean while they migrate up along the East Coast of Australia from June to October.

Whale Watching on the Gold Coast

Otherwise perch yourself atop one of the lookouts dotted along the Gold Coast including Point Danger, Greenmount, Kirra Point, Elephant Rock, Currumbin Ridge, Burleigh Head and Little Nobby Headland and see it you can spot a Humpback.

4.  Drive out to Currumbin Valley

Driving in a south westerly direction on Currumbin Creek Road, which roughly follows the Currumbin Creek, you will soon discover that the countryside changes to lush green pastures which soon transforms into rainforest. You’ll pass farms, eco villages, fruit stalls, bed and breakfasts, homesteads, gardens and cottages.

Currumbin Valley Scenes

The Currumbin Rock Pools are a popular swimming hole and picnic spot in the upper part of Currumbin Creek. Kids, big and small can explore the creek and have a play on the rock slides.

Mt Cougal Cascades Walk

Drive out further along Currumbin Creek Road to the Mt Cougal section of Springbrook National Park which sits at the end of Currumbin Creek Road, around 21 kilometres from the coast. You can follow the 800m Cascades Trail walking through subtropical rainforest beside Currumbin Creek to viewing platforms overlooking scenic cascades.

5.  Walk Burleigh Heads National Park

Burleigh Heads National Park offers scenic walks and a lush rainforest to explore. If you start on the Burleigh Heads side and take the walk through the National Park, you will end up at Tallebudgera Creek and if you are lucky, you could end up with your own private beach.

Echo Beach, Tallebudgera Creek

There are a few options for walks across the headland, including a flatter track tracing the shoreline around the hill or a more challenging walk up to the top of the hill which has several spots to stop and take in the magnificent views over Burleigh Beach and Tallebudgera Estuary.

Views of Tallebudgera Estuary

6.  Cruise Currumbin Estuary

Join the crowds that flock to this place and enjoy a range of watersports including kite-surfing, kayaking, board riding, surf skiing and stand-up paddle boarding. There’s even some decent fishing on offer in the Estuary.

Currumbin Estuary

The Currumbin Estuary is a popular family spot for safe swimming in the calm waters of the creek on the southern side of the creek between the new Estuary Bridge and the old wooden bridge. Alternatively the northern side of the creek on the Palm Beach side offers a safe haven for the kiddies with the bonus of the Pirate Park on the foreshore.

Currumbin Estuary

7.  Surf Iconic Surf Breaks

The Gold Coast is spoilt for choice for surfing beaches. Try:

• The artificial reef at Narrowneck, on the northern end of the Gold Coast, that helps create a quality wave.
• The Superbank at Greenmount on the southern end of the Gold Coast is where World champion locals Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning are often seen shredding the waves.
  

  Surfers at Snapper Rocks

• Snapper Rocks is home to the annual Quiksilver Pro World Surfing League competition. As well as being the first leg of surfing’s world tour Snapper is also the first section of the spectacular Superbank.
• Burleigh Heads, arguably one of the most consistent waves on the Gold Coast, is a high-performance break that offers perfect waves for surfers.
  

  Surfing at Burleigh Point

• A great place for surfing novices, is at the mouth of the Currumbin Estuary at Currumbin Alley.
• Kirra Point is also another superbank that has been created by sand pumping from the Tweed River.

8.  Boating on The Broadwater

The Gold Coast Broadwater stretches north from Southport to Paradise Point. The Broadwater is protected by The Spit (to the South) and South Stradbroke Island (to the North) and offers safe access to the Pacific Ocean through the Gold Coast Seaway (at the end of The Spit).

Boating in the calm waters of the Southport Broadwater

You can launch your boat or jet ski from either the south or north boat ramps at Southport Spit. Once you launch your boat out into The Broadwater, you can cruise in the calm waters and island hop to destinations such as Wavebreak Island and South Stradbroke Island.

There is good fishing with Flathead, Bream, Whiting, Tailor or a Jew Fish in the pristine waters of The Broadwater or try your luck from the breakwall at Southport Seaway.

9.  Hike or Bike the Oceanway

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a 36-kilometre network of coastal pathways stretching from the Gold Coast Seaway (The Spit) to the Point Danger Lighthouse (Coolangatta).

Oceanway at Burleigh Heads

There are nine segments that make the experience easy and enjoyable with navigable timber and stainless steel distance marker posts that provide information about where you are along the Oceanway.

For further information visit City of Gold Coast

10. Chillax in a Park

The Gold Coast has over 3800 parks covering 21,000 hectares and almost 700 children’s playgrounds. The parks include a range of facilities such as play and exercise equipment, barbecue and picnic areas, toilets, pathways and boardwalks for walking and cycling.

Free Yoga in the Park at Burleigh Heads

Bring a picnic hamper to Burleigh Headland Park and watch the sunset over the iconic surfing break with picture-postcards views of the highrises of Surfers Paradise to the north.

Two of the standout parks on the Gold Coast are the Pirate Park situated on the northern side of Currumbin Creek at Palm Beach and the Broadwater Parkland’s Rockpools with a water play area that is designed with cool water fountains and vibrant marine-themed equipment. It also includes a creek bed and several tidal rockpools for children to splash, dam and explore.

Palm Beach/Currumbin Pirate Park

So who said that the Gold Coast was too touristy and commercialised? With these great natural attractions you don’t need to spend a cent. Get out there and enjoy some of the Gold Coast’s best natural wonders!

Does your town or city offer some natural attractions that aren’t considered to be too touristy? I would love to hear about them.

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