Coolangatta is the southernmost town in Australia’s Gold Coast. It is situated in the state of Queensland, just over border from its New South Wales “twin town”, Tweed Heads. Originally, a convict station, and named after a schooner which had sunk in the area, the town then developed as a centre for the logging of Queensland’s red cedar timber, and as a fishing port. Nowadays tourism is important to the area, but the good fishing remains, and provides fresh catches for the local speciality sea food restaurants. Coolangatta Airport, now called Gold Coast Airport, is near the town, and anyone holidaying here will be close to the many attractive localities around the Gold Coast area.
|
The history of the area hold some interest. James Cook came by here in 1770, and he added two important local points (Point Danger and Mount Warning) to his charts. Point Danger is a good spot for watching over the Pacific, and spotting dolphins and sea birds, and possibly migrating whales.
Coolangatta was at first a convict settlement, and after the convicts left, the Tweed River developed importance as a port. Logging industries (mainly red cedar), and fishing were important. Two twin towns developed at this time, facing across the state border: Tweed Heads, NSW and Coolangatta, Queensland. The railway brought the first tourists, making the region accessible from Brisbane, and from cities in New South Wales.
The early visitors went to the local beaches: Coolangatta Beach, Greenmount Beach and Rainbow Bay for swimming and surfing, and in 1911 the first surfing club in Queensland was established, the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta SLSC. At this time the first guest houses and tourist hotels started to be built in the area.
Nowadays Gold Coast Airport is found just five minutes drive from town. The local beaches are still enjoyed by swimmers and surfers, and other visitors choose to explore the coastline on foot, or by hiring bicycles.When it comes to accommodation, there is no shortage of Coolangatta qld accommodation on offer.
There are many lively clubs and bars, often with live entertainment in Coolangatta, and also some interesting shops and beachfront markets. Local restaurants and cafes are good places to try some of the locally caught sea food.
If you are in town on 31st December then you can experience two celebrations. The twin town (Tweed Heads, NSW) is in a different time zone, so you can watch their fireworks at 11 pm, Queensland time, before watching the Queensland display an hour later.
Other attractions of the Gold Coast are easily reached by car from the town. There are over forty golf courses in Gold Coast, some of Australia’s largest theme parks for families, and the Gold Coast hinterland is a World Heritage area, protected by several national parks.
