Escape the Gold Coast crowds in Coolangatta

An easy going retreat can be found away from the Gold Coast’s crowds in Coolangatta, writes Rebecca Males.

Coolangatta offers a chilled out alternative to Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Here’s where to stay, eat and play.

STAY: Komune – Gold Coast

146 Marine Parade
Coolangatta, Queensland 4225
Ph: (07) 5536 6764
www.komuneresorts.com/goldcoast/

We stayed here for $24 a night last September. Having stayed in some crappy hostels, we were smitten with Komune.

Huge, bean bag sun loungers, a well-kept beach club and a nifty Mexican restaurant in the basement. Clean, comfy and quiet. That is, if you stay mid-week. On the weekends, the beach club transforms into a social hive for their Saturday night events and Corona Sundays.

Grab a beer, enjoy the sunshine, and socialise, snooze and surf your days away.

Creep on their Facebook for more photos. It’s now $35 a night (they realised they were onto a good thing).

Komune Resort

Cooly represents the other half of GC: the part that’s chilled out, has awesome beaches, and packs a foodie punch.

EAT: Burger Lounge

Shop 6b, 1 Douglas Street
Coolangatta, Queensland 4225
Open: Monday to Sunday, 11am – 9pm
Ph: (07) 5599 5762
http://burgerlounge.com.au/

A delectable burger from the Burger Lounge

Exactly what it says on the tin except it’s actually a place that serves oozy molten deliciousness in a bun. That’s what the menu should say.

The fries air on the right side of crispy, with a fluffy inside, and the Major’s will leave you cradling a burger shaped food baby.

However, when you sink your teeth into the Wagyu and Truffle Burger, you’ll know you’ve made the right decision.

Wash it all down with their fantastic drinks menu, it’s $18 for a jug of sangria.

Proceed to roll home, you greedy little thing.

Drool over the menu here.

PLAY:

Kirrasurf
8 Creek St
Coolangatta, Queensland 4225
Open: Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm
Sunday, 9am-5.30pm
Ph: (07) 5536 3922
https://www.facebook.com/kirrasurfshop

Peruse racks of discounted surf wear from labels such as Billabong, Roxy and O’Neill. They’re either factory extras or from past seasons, hence the discounts.

Kirra & Coolangatta Beaches

After you’ve shopped, drop on the beach. Kirra and Coolangatta are peachy beaches. There are some awesome waves at Snapper Rocks. Just don’t go too close with your SLR (I did).

Nightlife

Cooly really isn’t the hotspot for a thriving nightlife. It livens up on the weekends, but you can catch the 702 Bus up to Surfers Paradise if you want to catch more of the action.

The bus runs 24 hours and times can be found here. Go armed with goon, but prepare to return on the 6am bus, getting dirty looks from all of the city’s professionals.

Don’t overlook the southernmost point of the Gold Coast.

Cooly represents the other half of GC: the part that’s chilled out, has awesome beaches, and packs a foodie punch. Enjoy.

Images: Rebecca Males