locals guide to the
southern gold coast
map.
the southern gold coast
palm beach
the pines
shopping
centre
currumbin
surf club
currumbin
tugun
fruit + veg
market
currumbin
rsl
currumbin
waters
tugun
bilinga
eat.
breakfast
Loren Cafe: 5 Toloona St, Tugun [lorencafe.com] $ - $$
The yummiest breaky to be had here and good coffee. They also do a fancy
lunch too. Good food every time + a lovely atmosphere. They are licensed for lunch.
Currumbin Surf Club: Pacific Pde, Currumbin $
They serve a surprisingly good breakfast at the surf club. All the breakfast
classics. They are busy on the weekends, so best to book for a group. They also
serve lunch and dinner - again it’s always busy at the weekends so best to book.
The Deck Cafe: 794 Pacific Pde, Currumbin [thedeckcafe.com.au] $ - $$
A little cafe along Currumbin Beachfront - good coffee, great eggs benedict +
nice little sweet starts for the day. They serve lunch also.
Little St Kilda Cafe: 7th Ave, Palm Beach $ - $$
They serve a wide range of breakfast options in this quirky little cafe. It’s only a
small place so get in early or a bit later. Breaky served until midday. Lunch and dinner
available too. They are licensed.
Red Frog Cafe: 1863 Gold Coast Hway, Burleigh Heads
[redfrogcafe.com.au] $ - $$
A busy little cafe on the Gold Coast Highway just opposite Burleigh Primary
State School where they do some amazing home made baked beans if you’re into
that sort of thing. Different combinations of your regular breakfast meals.
$: Average Meal $12.00
$$: Average Meal $15.00 - $20.00
$$$: Average Meal $25.00 >
lunch
Raw Energy: 110 Marine Pde, Coolangatta [rawenergy.com.au] $$
The place to go for a healthy, fresh lunch. Yummy sandwiches, massive
burgers and all day eggs for the health conscious. They also serve the biggest
selection of juices and smoothies you’ve seen, plus raw cakes and treats.
Currumbin Surf Club: Pacific Pde, Currumbin $$ - $$$
All your surf club classics - a steak dish, a chicken dish, salads, chicken parmi
etc. - it’s always busy at the weekends so best to book.
The Beach Shack: 818 Pacific Pde, Currumbin [thebeachshack.com.au] $$ - $$$
A busy, popular cafe along Currumbin Beachfront - good cafe style lunches.
Plantation House Cafe: 1/43 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, West Burleigh $$
This cafe is a popular pick among Southern Gold Coasters but is not so
well known yet that it is super busy. They do yummy lunches and delicious all day
brekkies. They also do some tasty gluten, dairy and egg free slices etc.
dinner:
Currumbin RSL: 165 Duringan St, Currumbin [currumbinrsl.com.au] $$ - $$$
Restaurant style food is served at our local RSL and it’s delicious every time.
The Alley’s Restaurant uses local and fresh produce, grown themselves wherever
possible. There is also a cafe style area open during lunch too.
Simply Thai: 4/102 Griffith St, Coolangatta $ - $$
Our go-to for Thai food. Best as a take away option.
Aztecs: 1st Floor, Showcase Building, Coolangatta $ - $$
The best Mexican food down this end of the Coast. Lunch time is buy one main
meal and get one 1/2 price. Two-up Tuesdays is also a winner - 2 main meals for the
price of one (this doesn’t usually run during school holidays). Best to book!
Luna Rossa: 1/489 Gold Coast H’way, Tugun [lunarossaitalian.com.au] $$
Yummy little Italian restaurant in Tugun, next to a few other great Indian +
Malaysian restaurants. Dine-in or take away. Best to book if going Friday or Saturday
night. Closed Sunday nights.
Pablo Pablo: Shop6/5th Ave, Palm Beach [pablopablo.com.au] $$ - $$$
A great Spanish restaurant with delicious tapas just up the road. Great beer,
great atmosphere. It’s just yum! Bookings essential on the weekends.
Hachi: 1/1136 Gold Coast H’way, Palm Beach $$
A great family style Japanese restaurant which is very popular.
Mikes Kitchen: 2 Gooding Dr, Merrimac [mikeskitchen.com.au] $$ - $$$
Let me say one word - Ribs. They do the best kilo of ribs on the Coast. A good
challenge for one, or best to share if you aren’t absolutely starving! Ok, so it’s not
super close to us here but it’s worth it. Bookings are essential every day of the week.
CAFES + TREATS:
Woodbox: 15/33 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, West Burleigh [woodboxcafe.com] $
A little bit off the beaten track but this is great for vegan preferences and those
with food allergies (but always double check what’s in the drink/food as we have
been caught out once or twice). Lots of alternative food here and a lovely cafe.
Barefoot Barista: Palm Beach Avenue, Currumbin $ - $$
A bustling cafe in the heart of Palm Beach with delicious coffee. Snacks and
lunch is available - they cater to those with gluten + wheat intolerances.
Max Brenner: Robina Town Centre, Robina [maxbrenner.com.au] $
If you love chocolate and make the trip out to Robina Town Centre for a spot
of shopping, then make sure you have morning or afternoon tea here. They do an
amazing fondue (best shared as it’s quite big, but we won’t judge if you have one to
yourself), serve hot chocolates and coffee in fancy named mugs and have yummy
looking treats. It’s located around the lake with a number of other restaurants. For
those who have dairy intolerances - there are 1 or 2 drinks on the menu which are
dairy free and keep in mind they put chocolate in their coffees too.
Gelatissimo: 2 Marine Pde, Coolangatta $
Hands down the best place for gelati down this end of the Coast. Lots of
sorbets for those with dairy intolerances (their chocolate sorbet is the best!). You
can’t make a trip to Coolangatta without getting a gelati.
Cold Rock Ice-cream - Burleigh, Coolangatta + Palm Beach
to do.
LOCALS FAVOURITES:
LOCAL FOOD SHOPS:
Coles: The Pines Shopping Centre, KP McGrath Drive, Elanora
5th Ave, Palm Beach
Local Farmers Market: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Throwers Dr
Saturday Mornings 6am - 11am
Woolworths: The Pines Shopping Centre, KP McGrath Drive, Elanora
19th Ave Shopping Centre, Palm Beach
Local Farmers Market: Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Thrower Drive,
Palm Beach (Every Saturday morning 6am - Midday)
The Village Store: 66
Teemangum St, Currumbin
Tugun Fruit Market: 499 Gold
Coast Highway, Tugun
Miami Marketta Street Food: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
Saturday Nights 4pm - 10pm
Beachside Craft Markets: Alternate weeks at Broadbeach, Burleigh + Coolangatta
Every Sunday morning
Paddleboarding/Tinnies/Canoes: Currumbin Boat Shed - 2 Throwers Dr, Currumbin
Open 7 days a week 7am - 5pm
farmers
market
Surfing: Surf Easy Surf Lessons + Hire. Located at The Alley.
Bookings at www.surfeasy.com.au or call 0413 333 602
palm beach
Local Food Store (IGA at time
of print): 459 - 461 Golden
Four Drive, Tugun
THE
VILLAGE
STORE
Captain Hooks Seafood: 451
Golden Four Drive, Tugun
tugun
fruit + veg
market
currumbin
Aldi: Showcase on the Beach,
72-80 Marine Pde, Coolangatta
9/11 Machinery Drive,
Tweed Heads
Currumbin Rock Pools + Slide: Situated on Currumbin Creek Rd. You can’t miss
these fresh water pools. Currumbin Rock Pools are about 12km from Currumbin
Beach and the Rocks Slides are at the very end of Currumbin Creek Rd past Camp
Eden - quite literally the end of Currumbin Creek Rd.
LOCAL
FOOD STORE
Burleigh Headland: Burleigh Head National Park. Take a short walk in this national
park in the middle of Burleigh and check out the stunning views down the Coast from
a few of the tracks and lookouts. Entrances from Burleigh Point + Tallebudgera Creek
tugun
Mt Tamborine: Lovely for a drive out this way. Wine tasting, local cheeses + markets
on Sundays. (55min drive. 62km from Currumbin)
CAPTAIN
HOOKS
currumbin
waters
bilinga
Natural Arch: Springbrook National Park. (50min drive. 55km from Currumbin)
play.
kids things:
RAINY DAY OPTIONS:
Mrs Reds Art Room: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami [mrsredsartroom.com]
A place where kids can create to their hearts content. Holiday programs also
available. Check out the website for opening hours and booking details.
Every day cheap Movies - 54 Minjungbal Dr, Tweed Heads [www.hoyts.com.au] At Tweed City Shopping Centre they have cheap movie tickets every day. Tickets are only $8.90 for adults + children. It’s just $3.00 extra for 3D.
Eco Rangers: Tomewin St. [www.cws.org.au]
This is a holiday program run by the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. They have a
hands-on experience and behind the scenes look at the park and animals. Prices and
booking online.
Gold Coast Library: The Pines Shopping Centre, KP McGrath Dr, Elanora
Why not spend a rainy day in the quiet of a library. You are only able to borrow
books if you ask us prior to write you a letter saying you are staying in the area, but
you are free to read to your hearts content in the library. They have a computer area
just for the kids and a number of sitting/reading areas.
Surf Groms: Currumbin Alley [www.surfgroms.com]
A range of surfing programs to give your child the best head start at learning
this sport. Programs include hire of all surfing products. Visit the website and search
Currumbin or the postcode - 4223 - to view pricing along with the range of programs
for offer. This also shows vacancies.
Green Challenge: Tomewin St [www.adventureparcaustralia.com.au]
This is a section of the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary with 65 challenges over
4 separate high ropes courses for both adults and kids. Courses range in difficulty.
Prices and more information on the website.
Pirate Park: 945 Gold Coast Highway
This parks official name is Palm Beach Parklands but is locally known as “the
pirate park”. It’s a mecca for kids and families, especially on the weekends. There is
also a cafe just next to the park - the Dune Cafe.
Doodlebugs: 6/54 Paradise Ave, Miami, 4220 [doodlebugs.com.au]
An indoor play and party centre with a great cafe, fully air-conditioned with free
wi-fi. This centre also features a separate toddler centre and a “non-walker” area for
the little ones.
DVD Library:
There are a number of DVD libraries/kiosks in our local area. There is one
outside the IGA in Tugun, one also outside the Tugun Fruit Market.
Tenpin Bowling:
There are a number of bowling alleys on the Gold Coast. Our favourite one to
go to is AMF Robina at Robina Town Centre.
Infinity: Chevron Renaissance Centre, Surfers Paradise Blvd & Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise. [www.infinitygc.com.au]
This is an indoor maze of multi-sensual experiences. Some scary, some fun,
some overwhelming weird. While it’s not on the Southern end of the Gold Coast, it’s a
good rainy day activity. Prices are online and tickets are cheaper if bought online.