g'day, you made it!

Sandhaus

Your mate's guide to the Goldie. Beaches worth the walk, where to catch a wave, what's on and where to eat after.

you're staying here

Your patch: Burleigh

Everything here is a walk or a short drive from your door.

  • Echo BeachAround the headland
    A little cove you can only reach on the national park track. Quiet even when the main beach is packed.
  • The headland walkAbout 3km, 1 to 2 hrs
    From the Pavilion around the point to Tallebudgera Creek. Whales in season. Wear your swimmers, it finishes at the creek.
  • Tallebudgera Creek
    Clear, calm water for a swim, a paddle or a kayak. Best around high tide.
  • Jellurgal Cultural CentreFoot of the headland
    Guided rainforest walk with local Aboriginal guides. Yugambeh stories, bush tucker and the headland's history. Compare
  • Learn to surfNorth Burleigh
    North Burleigh is where beginners learn. Leave the Point to the locals. Compare
  • Greenhouse The BathhouseTallebudgera Valley
    Sauna, steam room, magnesium spa and a cold plunge, then lunch on the deck. A good rest day after a big one.
  • David Fleay Wildlife ParkWest Burleigh
    Platypus, crocs and wallabies. Smaller and calmer than the big parks. Compare
round the corner
  • Burleigh Hill sunset. Grab picnic bits from Golosi on James St and get up there an hour early.
  • Sunday arvo at Justin Park. Drum circle and fire twirlers on the foreshore. Free.
  • Saturday market at Burleigh Heads State School, roughly 7am to noon.
  • Coffee on James St. Social Brew, Quest or Commune. Paloma for a wine after dark.
  • Paddock Bakery. No bookings. Go before 9 on weekends to skip the line.
  • Rick Shores for Asian right on the sand (book ahead). Burleigh Pavilion for pizza and weekend DJs.
  • Justin Lane rooftop for cocktails and pizza with the whole coast in view.
  • Breweries. Black Hops (try the ginger cider) and Burleigh Brewing (live music on weekends, dogs welcome).
no gear? no worries

Beach day, sorted

Leave the gear at home. Locals will drop it at your door or put you on a board.

  • Third Ave Beach HireDelivered to your stay
    Brollies, cabanas, chairs, boogie boards and a wagon to cart it all. They drop off and pick up. Have a look
  • Go Ride A WaveSurf lessons & hire
    Never surfed? Their beginner lessons get most people standing up on day one. Have a look
  • More surf lessons
    Group or private, at Surfers, Broadbeach or Currumbin. Compare times and reviews. Compare
salt water fixes everything

Pick a beach

All of these have patrolled areas in summer. Check where the flags are when you get there.

Burleigh Heads

Surfers on the point, the grassy hill above it, and a rainforest walk around the headland.

go for: sunset on the hill
Currumbin

Where the creek meets the sea, the water's calm and shallow. Climb the Rock at the end of the beach.

go for: little ones
Kirra

A long sweep of sand near Coolangatta with cafes right across the road.

go for: a long walk, then a swim
Broadbeach

Patrolled beach with restaurants and bars a few steps back from the sand.

go for: swim, then dinner
Main Beach

Quieter than Surfers, just north of it, near the Tedder Avenue cafes.

go for: a calmer city beach
Surfers Paradise

Busy, central and well patrolled, with the beachfront markets close by.

go for: people-watching
send it

Get amongst it

Check times, prices and reviews before you book. Lots of these have free cancellation.

  • Whale watchingonly till Nov!
    Humpbacks cruise past the coast in winter and spring. The season wraps up in November. Compare
  • Jet boat on the Broadwater
    Fast, wet and loud. Teenagers love it. Compare
  • Hinterland day trip
    Rainforest, waterfalls and the glow worms at Springbrook's Natural Bridge. Compare
  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
    Koalas, roos and the lorikeet feeding. Easy to pair with a swim at Currumbin. Compare
  • Snorkel with turtlesFingal Head
    Little Cook Island sits just off Fingal Head, 10 minutes south of Coolangatta. Green turtles hang around its reef all year. Compare
  • Tamborine Mountain40 min inland
    Rainforest skywalk, treetop ropes course, Gallery Walk and the distillery tastings. Go on a weekday, weekends get packed. Compare
  • Climb the outside of Q1Surfers Paradise
    The SkyPoint Climb goes up the top of the tower, 270m above the beach. Book a twilight slot. Compare
  • Brewery hop
    Balter in Currumbin, Burleigh Brewing and Black Hops in Burleigh. Take a tour bus so nobody has to drive. Compare
hands up on the drop

Theme parks

Buy tickets online before you go. It's usually cheaper than the gate.

  • Dreamworld & WhiteWater WorldCoomera
    Big rides, Aussie animals and the water park next door. SkyPoint in Surfers is part of the same group. Tickets
  • Movie World, Sea World & Wet'n'WildOxenford & Main Beach
    Single-park tickets or a multi-park pass if you're doing a few. Compare
from the locals

Local tips

  • Burleigh Hill at sunset. Grab fish and chips on the way up.
  • Slip, slop, slap early. The sun here is strong well before lunch.
  • Go early on weekends. Beach car parks fill up by mid-morning.
  • Summer storms roll in fast in the arvo. Hear thunder? Out of the water.
  • Thongs are fine almost everywhere, even the nicer bars.
  • Surf clubs are the cheapest feed with an ocean view. Rainbow Bay's parmi is a local favourite.
  • Hot day? Beach before 10, somewhere shady or indoors through the middle, back out late arvo.
  • Skip driving around 2:30 to 3:30pm on school days, and the M1 at peak hour.
  • The hinterland runs about 5 degrees cooler than the beach. Chuck a jumper in the car.
costs nothing

Free & golden hour

  • Sunrise at Snapper Rocks or up on Point Danger, right on the NSW border.
  • Elephant Rock, Currumbin. Short steep climb, big view. Whales go past July to October.
  • Burleigh Hill sunset. Get there half an hour early with a blanket. The grass fills up.
  • The Spit, Main Beach. Walk to the end of the jetty at sunset and watch the boats come in through the Seaway.
  • Tallebudgera Creek. Clear, calm water for a swim, with the Burleigh headland walk right across from it.
  • Currumbin Rock Pools. Freshwater swimming holes up the valley. Great after a hot day at the beach.
  • O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk. Swinging bridges through the rainforest canopy in Lamington. Free to walk.
hungry yet?

Feed time

Market days change now and then, so check before you head out.

  • Miami MarkettaMiami
    Street food and live music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
  • James StreetBurleigh Heads
    Brekkie, coffee and dinner, a short walk from the beach.
  • Nobby BeachNobby Beach
    A little strip of bars and restaurants with a relaxed local crowd.
  • The Village MarketsBurleigh Heads
    Local makers, fashion and food trucks on the first and third Sunday of the month.
  • Carrara MarketsCarrara
    Hundreds of stalls on Saturday and Sunday mornings, with stuff for the kids.
  • Paddock BakeryBurleigh Heads
    Old timber cottage and garden, serious pastries. There's a queue, but it moves.
  • Franc Jr'sCoolangatta & Nobby Beach
    Thick, square, Detroit-style pizza. No bookings, so just turn up.
  • Yatala PiesOn the M1
    A road trip tradition for generations. Stop in on the drive from Brisbane airport.
rain? still good

Rainy day plan B

  • Theme parks
    Plenty still runs in light rain, and the queues are shorter. Compare
  • Indoor stuff
    iFLY indoor skydiving, Holoverse VR, axe throwing, escape rooms and bowling. Compare
  • Gold Class at Pacific FairBroadbeach
    Recliners, a blanket and dinner brought to your seat. Book ahead on rainy weekends, they sell out. Session times
  • Waterfalls in the hinterland
    They're at their best after a downpour. Compare
hit the road

Getting around

  • Hire a car for the day
    The hinterland, Byron and the southern beaches are easiest with your own wheels. Compare
  • G:link tram
    Runs along the coast between Broadbeach, Surfers and Helensvale, where you can catch the train to Brisbane.
  • Walk or ride the coast path
    A beachfront path runs most of the way from Coolangatta to the Spit. Great for an early walk or a hire bike.