Coolangatta

Coolangatta is Queensland’s southern-most coastal town, and the gateway to the Gold Coast for those travelling north from New South Wales.

Serviced by the local Gold Coast Airport, domestic and international tourists can easily reach Coolangatta by plane, though it is also a popular destination for families taking road trips up or down the Queensland coast, often choosing to use the Pacific Motorway. With the Captain Cook Memorial sculpture signifying the divide between Queensland and New South Wales, many tourists visit or stop at Coolangatta for a photo opportunity and to experience being ‘in two places at once’.

Coolangatta offers a range of outdoor, shopping, sightseeing and wellness activities appropriate for adventurers, families or couples looking for a romantic getaway. Guests are particularly drawn to the stunning local beaches, including Coolangatta Beach, Kirra Beach, and Greenmount Beach, as well as local beachside sights such as Snapper Rocks, the Coolangatta Lighthouse, and Kirra Hill.

Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and segway tours are all popular activities for the more adventurous at heart, while families tend to spend time at local entertainment centres, the Strand Shopping Centre, enjoying the surf and sand, or riding bikes along the beachfront. 

With moderate temperatures throughout the year, and seasonal attractions such as whale watching during off-peak times, Coolangatta draws guests throughout the year. Peak tourism periods for the area generally fall within the school holidays, and with the Gold Coast’s theme parks just a short drive away, summer is a particularly busy time.

To keep up with such high demand, Coolangatta has an offering of 229 accommodation options and food services, with 9.8 percent of the local community being employed in these areas, and a further 11.9 percent employed by local retail trade. While Coolangatta is a popular tourist destination, drawing thousands of domestic and international visitors each year, it has a relatively small population of just over 23,350 residents.

As with a number of Gold Coast towns, Coolangatta is expected to experience a significant increase in bookings during 2018, with a number of popular local events taking place, including the Gold Coast City 2018 Commonwealth Games.