Coolangatta on the Gold Coast is a great family holiday destination
The Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia is a resort area stretching from the state capital
, Brisbane, down to the border with New South Wales. The Pacific coastline here is about 55 kilometres long, and is mostly covered with long, sandy beaches, famous for excellent surfing. Coolangatta is the last town or suburb before reaching New South Wales. The town was named after the schooner Coolangatta, which fell victim to a shipwreck here. At first the area was a convict settlement, but it soon became a port serving the timber (red cedar) and fishing industries. In Victorian times the area became a tourist destination, and it still remains so today. The Gold Coast's airport is just five minutes from the town centre, and most of the rest of Gold Coast can be reached in a short car journey.
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.
Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and Coolangatta beaches were the destination for the first tourists, who swam and surfed on these north facing beaches. In 1911 the first surf club in the state was founded here. Hotels and boarding houses developed in the area.
In modern times many tourists arrive by airplane, and Gold Coast Airport is only five minutes away from the town centre. Holiday visitors still enjoy swimming and surfing on the long, sandy beaches, and the GCCC Oceanway network, and the Southern Points Promenade network, mark out the best footpaths and cycle routes for exploring the coastline.
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.
There are many other things to see and do in other parts of the Gold Coast, and as it is a relatively small area, most attractions can be easily reached by a short car journey. The mountainous and tropical forest landscape of the hinterland is definitely worth visiting, and is protected by several national parks. The busy centre at Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise is Queensland's busiest shopping district, and can be reached along the Gold Coast Highway. There are some major theme parks in Gold Coast, and many sports facilities, including over forty golf courses.
Coolangatta on the Gold Coast is a great family holiday destination
By: Sidney Morgan
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