Coolangatta, the place to be.

By Bobbi-Jo // 1 April 2010 // Comments: 0 // Related Categories: Best Backpacker Job, Hostels, Nightlife, Scuba, Surfing, Things to do

As I mentioned, the longest stretch of time I’ve spent in any one place since arriving in Australia was the wonderful little town of Coolangatta. It’s pretty tiny, but packed with reasons to make you either extend your stay there as a backpacker or try to find work and bunker down for a while.

Whether you call it Coolangatta, Cooly, Cooli, or Coolie - this area happens to be one of the most overlooked by backpackers in all of Australia. That’s a bit strange because it’s home to the Quicksilver Pro, the numbers 1 and 2 pro surfers and heaps (heaps!) more. So much, in fact, that it makes sense to list the top 10 reasons to visit. So sit back, relax, and see what you’ve been missing!

10. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary/Green Challenge - I’ve written about Currumbin here, so check it out. But a part of the park that you’ll definitely want to shell out a few extra bucks for (<$25) is the Green Challenge. I ended up going back and doing this ropes course a few days after I initially visited the park and it was well worth the trip. Not even my minor (major) fear of heights could stop me from having a pretty good time climbing from tree top to tree top in this commando style ropes course. Business and other groups use the course as a team building exercise, but you and your friends can have challenges or simply have fun up in the trees for a few hours. Between the Tarzan swings, the zip lines and the ladders suspended way up in the air, you’ll get a great workout and maybe learn a little bit about how tough you are.

9. Footy - Footy (Footie? Footi? These are the types of spelling problems you have when it’s second nature to abbreviate everything :) ) is extreme. If you’re in the Gold Coast, go check out expansion team The Gold Coast Titans. We saw them when they took on the Canberra Raiders and there are two reasons that footy rivals* American football. 1) The players are extremely approachable. Walking up to Esikeli Tonga, asking for and being granted an interview was demonstrative of the kind of access you would never see at an American football game. Because if you could? Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen would never have happened. 2) The game is a bit more action packed. Without anywhere near as many of the starts and stops that are in American football, you’re really forced to stay involved in the action and really get into the game.

8. Crab Racing - If you’re looking for a night in at the hostel (even if it’s not your hostel), Tuesday nights at The Sands Bar is a great place to check out. It’s a hybrid of a backpackers and uni night, and hostel manager Adam steps up what can be a boring night of the week with music and bringing out his army of hermit crabs for contestants to race. Bar prizes and a few good laughs included.

7. Dive sites - Take a trip out to Cook Island (the 2395th island or landmark I’ve been to in Australia named after Captain Cook) for a truly special diving experience. Cooly Dive, operated by Aquatic Blue Charters and owned by Tony combines a unique diving experience with incredibly friendly staff that will ensure you have a safe time but also a fun time diving. From the time you set off on the boat, the biggest dive boat in operation on the Gold Coast, to the time you’re back on shore after your dives, there are lots of laughs to be had while the staff tells you about the area and leads you on your dive. I didn’t see as many leopard sharks as I did in Byron Bay, but the turtles alone (so many of them) are reason enough to go diving in this site.

6. Neverland - the Neverland Bar, located just across the street from Sands, is home to some of the best live music in the Gold Coast and local indie art splashed on the walls. On my trip there we saw the Killer Queens, an Australian rap band who unfortunately (and for unknown reasons) had to cut their set short but had the crowd moving nonetheless while they were performing. It’s a good vibe, and while the drink prices can be steep - as they are anywhere in Australia - it’s a must-see for the local party scene, the music, and especially the art.

5. Sands - There are so many great things to say about Sands. Sunday - Saturday there are themes, prizes, DJs, live music, crab racing, pool, and of course, adult beverages to literally make each night fun and different if you had the desire to go to the same bar 7 nights a week. Drinks are pretty reasonably priced, however, like Neverland, there is a cover charge. Sands is one of the most affordable of the nightlife spots in the area, but interestingly enough has the tightest security. So don’t forget your ID if you want any chance of getting in, and don’t start a brawl outside of the club, but do go and have a great night with your friends without breaking the bank.

4. Scenery - The beaches that stretch along Coolie are like nowhere else in the world. Words can’t even describe. Pictures can’t even really, either. Huge waves that you can enjoy even if you’re not surfing and 4+ beaches to experience during your stay are huge draws. Also? Because of the way the coast is shaped, you can see the sunrise in the morning, then walk a bit up the beach and catch the sunset at night. How cool is that?

3. You can party like it’s 1999. Twice. - Coolangatta is the first city when you leave New South Wales and enter Queensland. With one state practicing daylight savings time and the other not, this means (drumroll) you get to celebrate New Year’s Eve twice in one night. Yep, that’s right, party at Twin Towns in NSW, then at 12:05 get yourself up to Sands or Neverland, hang out for the remainder of the hour, and then countdown all over again. This is a tradition in the area and one that it’s worth even planning your trip around to take part in.

2. Eye Candy - Surfers. Hot, shirtless surfers. Everywhere.

1. Surfing - For so many of the permanent residents, this is what brought them to Coolie. The surf breaks one of a kind, there’s a reason surfing world champ Mick Fanning chooses this as his place of residence. On any given day, there are dozens and dozens of surfers in the water taking advantage of the amazing surf and beautiful backdrop. Make sure you’re part of an organized lesson if you’re going to try to learn to surf in the area, as you might get run over by a pro if you’re not careful.

So there you have it, the Top 10 reasons to visit Coolangatta. If you’re backpacking and doing the Gold Coast, and you make the mistake of skipping from Byron Bay up to Surfers Paradise without seeing this spot, you’re not doing it right. You won’t regret burning a few days here, in fact, you’ll probably come back again and again. Trust me.

Are there any other spots on the East Coast that are overrated? Let me know and I’ll be sure to hit them on my way up to Cairns!

*Rivals does not equal better than. I have no comment on which sport is better or tougher. I'm Switzerland.

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