Burleigh to Coolangatta: Gold Coast Coastal & Surf Drive

The Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta drive follows the Gold Coast Highway south for about 15 km, from the Goodwin Terrace end of Burleigh Head National Park to Point Danger on the Queensland and New South Wales border. Google Maps puts it at around 20 minutes without stops in light traffic. Along the way you pass four of the Gold Coast's best-known surf spots: Burleigh Point, Currumbin Alley, Kirra Point and Snapper Rocks.

Start early at Burleigh for the headland walk and a parking space, cross Currumbin Creek for a paddle or a surf lesson at the Alley, then finish at Kirra, Rainbow Bay and Point Danger to watch some of the world's best surfers on the Superbank. Our Gold Coast branch is at the airport in Bilinga, right in the middle of this stretch, so it's the easiest surf trip on the coast to start and finish with a hire car.

Introduction: Cruising Queensland's Most Iconic Surf Stretch

You come out of the terminal at Gold Coast Airport, and Hardy from RaD Car Hire Gold Coast Airport is waiting with your keys. He takes one look at the boardshorts, the sunnies already on your head and the wax comb poking out of your backpack, and laughs.

"You're not here for the theme parks, are you?" he says. "You're here for the waves. Good. You've landed in exactly the right spot."

He's not exaggerating. The airport sits at Bilinga, between Tugun and Kirra, and from the car park you're only a few minutes from some of the most famous surf breaks in the world. "People fly in from everywhere to surf this bit of coast," Hardy says. "We get to drive past Kirra on the way to work. I still look every single morning to see what it's doing."

The plan he sketches out is simple. Drive north first, about a quarter of an hour up the Gold Coast Highway to Burleigh Heads, then spend the day working your way back south: Burleigh, Currumbin, Kirra, Snapper Rocks and the border. "You end the day at Point Danger watching the sun drop behind the hinterland," he says, "and you're ten minutes from us when it's time to bring the car back."

This guide is that conversation: the route, where to park at each break, which spots suit beginners and which are best watched from the sand, and how to keep a hire car looking like a hire car after a day of salt, sand and wet wetsuits.

Why a car is the best way to surf hop

The breaks work on different swells and winds. The council describes Snapper Rocks as being at its best on a southerly swell, while Currumbin Alley offers several take-off zones for different levels. With a car, you can check one, and if it's flat or crowded, be at the next in ten minutes.
Your gear comes with you. Boards, wetsuits, towels, a cooler bag and a change of clothes all live in the boot, not on your shoulder.
Early starts are easier. The best parking and the cleanest surf are usually first thing. Being on the road at dawn is a lot simpler in your own car than waiting for a bus.
It's short, but spread out. Fifteen kilometres sounds like nothing, but the stops sit on headlands, creek mouths and side streets, and you'll be moving between them all day.

If you're after the full beach-hopping guide rather than the surf-focused version, our Southern Gold Coast beaches guide covers Tallebudgera Creek and Palm Beach in more detail.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Check the surf report before you leave, not when you're standing on the sand. Once you know which way the swell's coming from, you'll know which end of the drive to spend the most time at."

The Route at a Glance

Distances and times below are Google Maps estimates for the fastest route when we checked, in light early-morning traffic. Allow more time on weekends and in school holidays, and check QLDTraffic on the day.

Leg	Distance	Drive time
Gold Coast Airport to Burleigh Heads (Goodwin Terrace) via the Gold Coast Highway	about 11.4 km	about 14 minutes
Burleigh Heads (Goodwin Terrace) to Point Danger via the Gold Coast Highway	about 15.2 km	about 20 minutes without stops

The whole drive follows the Gold Coast Highway (State Route 2) south, with short detours off it at each stop. You'll cross Tallebudgera Creek as you leave Burleigh, pass through Palm Beach, cross the Currumbin Creek bridge, and carry on past the airport at Bilinga to Kirra and Coolangatta.

A note on the light rail. Since August 2026, G:link trams have been running along the Gold Coast Highway as far as Burleigh Heads, with the terminus just south of Goodwin Terrace. If you're new to driving alongside trams, stay out of the tram lanes, only turn across the tracks where signals allow it, and keep an eye out for pedestrians heading to and from the stations.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Drive up the M1 to Burleigh in the morning if the highway's busy, then come back down the coast road. That way you're doing all your stopping and starting heading south, on the beach side of the road."

Stop 1: Burleigh Heads, National Park Walks & Cafe Culture

Morning walk: the Oceanview track

Burleigh Heads is where Hardy tells everyone to start, and the headland is the reason. Burleigh Head National Park is a patch of rainforest and basalt sitting right on the edge of the city, and it's one of the best spots on the coast to watch Burleigh Point break.

Queensland Parks lists two main walks on the park's things to do page:

Oceanview track: about 1.2 km one-way, allow around 30 minutes. It follows the rocky foreshore around the headland from the Burleigh Heads end to Tallebudgera Creek, past the tumbled six-sided basalt columns, and down to Echo Beach. It's wheelchair-accessible with assistance.
Rainforest circuit: about 2.3 km return, allow around 45 minutes. It's mostly easy, with a steep section up to Tumgun Lookout, which Queensland Parks recommends for spotting humpback whales during their winter and spring migration.

Two things to know. Queensland Parks says a section of the Oceanview track closes during high winds, heavy rain and other high-risk conditions because of the risk of boulder falls, so check park alerts before you go. And access to the boulder fields, including Cannon Rock, is prohibited, with penalties for anyone who climbs off the track.

Local Reddit users agree this walk is the highlight. In an r/GoldCoast thread on tips for Burleigh, user billyblazerr described the headland hike as nice, and suggested that if you want to walk for longer than an hour, you can carry on up Tallebudgera Creek towards David Fleay Wildlife Park. Another local, dinosaurtruck, recommended Echo Beach on the national park side of Tallebudgera Creek, along with a guided tour with the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. That thread is around five years old, so check anything time-sensitive.

Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre sits at the Tallebudgera Creek end of the headland and rates 4.8 stars from around 500 Google reviews. Google listed tickets from around $73 for a guided experience when we checked. Prices and tour times change, so book directly.

Parking tips at Burleigh Heads

Burleigh is the busiest stop on the drive for parking, and it's the one place where you'll almost certainly pay. According to the City of Gold Coast's Burleigh Heads parking page when we checked:

Free beachfront parking: the council says there are more than 430 free spaces along the beachfront, with a three-hour limit along The Esplanade.
Justins Park Carpark: free, with a three-hour maximum between 9am and 5pm, and unrestricted outside those hours.
Metered parking runs seven days a week, 9am to 7pm, on James Street, Park Avenue, the Gold Coast Highway, West Street, Connor Street and Goodwin Terrace, the road out to the headland. Goodwin Terrace is 3P, and the council's metered parking page notes that some meters there only take card.
Prices vary by street and time of day. At the time of writing, the council listed Goodwin Terrace at $2.20 an hour, and James Street at $2.90 to $3.50 an hour depending on the time of day. The council reviews these prices four times a year, so treat them as a guide only.
Public holidays aren't free here. Normal charges and time limits apply in Burleigh Heads on public holidays.
You can't shuffle spots. Once your time is up, you need to move your car out of the timed area entirely, not just to another bay.

You can pay with cash, card or the EasyPark app, which sends a reminder 15 minutes before your time runs out. Queensland Parks lists the park's northern entrance car park at the end of Goodwin Terrace, and its southern entrance off the Gold Coast Highway at the traffic lights immediately north of Tallebudgera Creek.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Get to Burleigh before 8 and you'll beat the meters and most of the crowd. Walk the headland, have a coffee, watch the point, and you're back in the car before the paid hours start."

Local recommendations: eating and drinking in Burleigh Heads

All ratings are from Google Reviews when we checked in October 2026. Opening hours vary, so check before you go.

Quest Coffee Roasters at 20 James Street rates 4.7 stars from around 380 reviews. It's billyblazerr's go-to coffee in a street he says has around a dozen coffee shops.
Canteen Coffee and Kitchen at 23 Park Avenue rates 4.5 stars from around 270 reviews, and is dinosaurtruck's pick for coffee.
Burleigh Baker on James Street rates 4.4 stars from around 450 reviews. Dinosaurtruck describes it as super popular and busy, but delicious.
Goukai Ramen on the Gold Coast Highway rates 4.7 stars from around 430 reviews, and is described in the same comment as a small menu, done well, in a laid-back setting.
Govindas rates 4.6 stars from around 970 reviews. Billyblazerr urged visitors to eat there at least once, praising the vegetarian food as delicious and very affordable.
Justin Lane Establishment rates 4.1 stars from around 1,260 reviews, and is recommended by both locals in the thread for pizza and a drink.
Jimmy Wah's rates 4.7 stars from more than 1,800 reviews for Asian fusion, and Rick Shores, right on the sand at Goodwin Terrace, rates 4.5 stars from nearly 2,000 reviews. Billyblazerr recommends both if you're happy to spend a bit more on a special meal.
Burleigh Pavilion next door rates 3.7 stars from more than 2,800 reviews, so opinions are mixed. Dinosaurtruck called both it and Rick Shores popular, but noted they can be busy and loud.
For value, billyblazerr says the surf club, the RSL and the bowls club give you the best bang for your buck. Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC on Goodwin Terrace rates 4.1 stars from around 1,950 reviews.

Staff tip from Hardy: "If anyone in the car isn't surfing, Burleigh's the place to leave them for an hour. Coffee on James Street, a wander through the shops, and they'll have the best seat on the hill when you paddle in."

Stop 2: Currumbin Alley & Creekside Cruising

The coastal drive south

From Burleigh, head south on the Gold Coast Highway over Tallebudgera Creek and through Palm Beach. The highway then crosses the Currumbin Creek bridge, and from here it's a short hop down to the beachfront and Pacific Parade, where the creek meets the sea. That spot is Currumbin Alley.

The Alley: a surf break for every level

The City of Gold Coast's Currumbin Alley page calls it one of the most exciting surf breaks on the Gold Coast, and a great place to learn or improve. The council describes three sections:

Currumbin Rock, or "Behind the Rock", the first take-off point, which it says is usually steeper and more intense.
The Alley itself, which it describes as the most consistent section and particularly popular with longboarders.
Lacey's, north of the creek entrance.

This is where a Currumbin Alley car hire drive really pays off. If you've never surfed, this is the spot to book a lesson. Currumbin Alley Surf School, at Duringan Street and Pacific Parade, rates 4.9 stars from around 370 Google reviews. Dinosaurtruck also mentioned that you can get lessons at the Alley if you're a beginner.

Swimming safety: the council lists Currumbin Alley's lifeguard tower (Tower 12) as surveillance only, with no flagged swimming area. Lifeguards are on duty from 8am to 5pm every day, and the nearest flagged area is about 500 metres south at Tower 11, Currumbin. The council also notes that the Alley is a launch point for small fishing boats, so keep an eye out in the water.

Stand-up paddleboarding on Currumbin Creek

Just inland of the breaking waves, the creek is calm, sheltered water that the council describes as a haven for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. It's perfect for anyone in your group who'd rather stay out of the surf. Google ratings when we checked:

Stand Up Paddle Currumbin at 139 Duringan Street rates 5.0 stars from around 40 reviews.
Currumbin Creek Hire at 158 Duringan Street rates 5.0 stars from around 25 reviews for canoe and kayak hire.

Both have a relatively small number of reviews, so check their latest reviews and opening times before you go.

Elephant Rock lookout

A short walk north along the beach from the Alley, Elephant Rock at 741 Pacific Parade has stairs up to a viewing platform that, according to the council, looks north to Surfers Paradise and south to Coolangatta. It rates 4.6 stars on Google and it's the best free view on this stretch of coast.

The council's parking advice for both Elephant Rock and the Alley is the same: limited parking at the surf club, with on-street parking in the surrounding streets. Read the signs and line markings before you leave the car.

Local recommendations: eating in Currumbin

Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, right next to Elephant Rock at 741 Pacific Parade, rates 4.5 stars from more than 3,500 reviews. Google describes it as a bistro with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large balcony over the beach.
Tarte Beach House on Thrower Drive, beside the creek, rates 4.6 stars from more than 1,800 reviews for pastries and brunch.
The Salt Mill at 784 Pacific Parade rates 4.6 stars from around 440 reviews, with reviewers mentioning its spot right in front of the beach.
Kinship Currumbin at 766 Pacific Parade rates 4.6 stars from around 125 reviews.

Something different: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a short drive away. In an r/GoldCoast thread on family stays, local TGin-the-goldy called it fantastic and said the bird show is a must. Dinosaurtruck felt it was more aimed at children, so it's probably best for families.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Get the beginners in a lesson at the Alley in the morning and the rest of the crew on a paddleboard up the creek. Meet on the balcony at the Vikings club for lunch and swap stories. Nobody gets left on the sand."

Stop 3: Kirra, Snapper Rocks & Greenmount

Kirra: the spiritual home of Gold Coast surfing

Back on the Gold Coast Highway, you'll pass the airport at Bilinga before the road drops down to the beachfront at Kirra. The City of Gold Coast's Kirra page calls it the spiritual home of surfing on the Gold Coast, and says Kirra Point, between Kirra Beach and Coolangatta Beach, is considered one of the world's premier surf breaks. It's also home to the Kirra Surfriders Club, whose best-known member is three-time world champion Mick Fanning.

The council says Kirra Point produces a long, hollow, barrelling wave for experienced surfers on big swells, while the break further north suits intermediate surfers when it's smaller. If you're not at that level, this is a place to watch from the shore. And if you're swimming, the council lists Tower 4 on Marine Parade, near Kirra Surf Life Saving Club, as patrolled from 8am to 5pm every day of the year. Swim between the flags.

Kirra Beach parking guide

Kirra is generally easier than Burleigh. According to the council, there are car parks at the Kirra and North Kirra Surf Clubs, plus on-street parking in the surrounding streets. When we checked, Coolangatta and Kirra didn't appear among the council's listed metered parking areas, but time limits and no-stopping zones are signed in places, so read every sign before you walk away.

For the best view of the whole bay, drive up to Kirra Hill Lookout at 6 McLean Street, which rates 4.8 stars from around 430 Google reviews.

Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay by car

From Kirra, follow Marine Parade along the beachfront past Coolangatta and Greenmount to Rainbow Bay. This is the end of the line, and arguably the best bit. If you're searching for a Snapper Rocks drive by car, this short run along Marine Parade, with the surf on your left the whole way, is it.

The City of Gold Coast's Rainbow Bay page says that on a southerly swell, Snapper Rocks is renowned as one of the world's best right-hand point breaks. It's commonly known as the Superbank, and the council names Stephanie Gilmore and Joel Parkinson among the professional surfers who call it home. Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and Kirra Point are all part of the Gold Coast's World Surfing Reserve.

The council describes the break as fast and best suited to experienced surfers. For everyone else, Snapper is the best free show on the Gold Coast. Grab a spot on the grass or the rocks and watch the locals link waves along the point. If you'd like to swim, Rainbow Bay's Tower 1 on Snapper Rocks Road is patrolled from 8am to 5pm every day of the year.

Parking: the council says there's limited parking at the surf club, with on-street parking in the surrounding streets. On a good swell or a sunny weekend, this is the hardest place on the drive to park, so arrive early or be ready to walk a few streets.

Local Reddit users love this end of the coast. In the same family thread, mitvh2311 described Coolangatta as cleaner, quieter and nicer, with beaches that are usually less packed, and recommended the walk from Kirra to Rainbow Bay. That thread is around two years old.

Boundary lookout: Point Danger and the state border

Right at the end, Point Danger sits on the headland above Snapper Rocks and Duranbah Beach, and rates 4.7 stars from more than 2,400 Google reviews. The Queensland and New South Wales border runs across the top, and the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse, built for the 200th anniversary of Cook's 1770 voyage, sits astride the line. Visit NSW says you can often spot dolphins from here, and on a clear day see from Surfers Paradise to Byron Bay.

Here's the bit visitors love. Queensland doesn't observe daylight saving, but New South Wales does. Between 4 October 2026 and 4 April 2027, the New South Wales side of the border is an hour ahead, so you can stand with one foot in each state and in two different time zones.

TGin-the-goldy, who says they live in Coolangatta, recommends Point Danger for its cafes and breathtaking views, as well as Froggy Beach just around the corner.

Staff tip from Hardy: "If your phone suddenly says it's an hour later up at Point Danger, don't panic. It's grabbed a New South Wales tower. Just double-check the time before you head back for a flight or a car return."

Local recommendations: eating in Kirra, Coolangatta and Rainbow Bay

Haig Street Cafe Kirra on Musgrave Street rates 4.4 stars from around 1,300 reviews, and Google lists it as opening from around 4:45am, ideal for a dawn patrol breakfast.
Cafe All Sorts Kirra at 34 Musgrave Street rates 4.6 stars from around 380 reviews, with reviewers mentioning the ocean view.
Kefi Cafe on the corner of Griffith and McDonald Streets in Coolangatta rates 4.7 stars from around 320 reviews.
PointBreak Cafe & Co on Marine Parade at Greenmount rates 4.8 stars from around 210 reviews, and Vanilla Lily at 110 Marine Parade rates 4.7 stars from around 280 reviews.
Black Dingo Cafe on Tweed Terrace, right by Point Danger, rates 4.4 stars from around 400 reviews, with reviewers mentioning tables that look out over the coast.
Rainbow Bay Surf Club Bar on Snapper Rocks Road rates 4.1 stars from around 900 reviews. The council calls the balcony one of the best places to watch the surf, with views all along the point towards Burleigh and Surfers Paradise.
Bellakai at 82 Marine Parade rates 4.4 stars from around 400 reviews, for modern Australian food with ocean views once the sun goes down.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Finish with a drink on the Rainbow Bay surf club balcony as the light goes. You've got Snapper right in front of you and the whole coast you've just driven lined up behind it. Then it's ten minutes back to the airport."

Vehicle Advice for Beach Goers

Carrying surfboards in a hire car

This is the question Hardy gets asked most by surfers, so here's the honest answer.

Check your cover. RaD's terms and conditions exclude damage caused by accessories such as soft roof racks and surfboards, as well as roof damage, from the insurance indemnity. If you strap a board to the roof and it scratches the paint, that may be on you, even with the top level of cover.
Carry boards inside where you can. A shortboard or a mini-mal will often fit inside an SUV or a people mover with some rear seats folded, depending on the board's length. Measure your board, tell the team when you book, and they can suggest the right vehicle. Longboards generally won't fit inside a standard car.
Hire boards locally. If you're flying in, it's often simpler to hire a board or book a lesson that includes one, like the surf schools at Currumbin Alley, and leave the logistics to them.
Protect the interior. Put a towel or old blanket under the board, pad the fins, and make sure nothing can slide forward under braking.

Managing sand and wet gear in a rental car

A day on this stretch means salt, sand and wet wetsuits. RaD's terms say a cleaning surcharge of $100 to $350 may apply if a car comes back in a condition that needs extra cleaning, so a few minutes of prep is worth it.

Rinse off first. The council lists beach showers at Currumbin Alley, Kirra and Rainbow Bay. Use them before you get back in the car.
Bring a tub or a big plastic bag for wetsuits and wet towels, and keep them in the boot, not on the seats.
Sit on a towel for the drive between stops.
Bang out the sand from your feet, shoes and floor mats before you get in, and give the mats a shake at the end of the day.
Don't drive on the sand. RaD's terms exclude damage on unsealed roads, so keep the car on the bitumen and walk the last bit.
Keep valuables out of sight, and take your keys with you. Don't leave them hidden at the beach.

Our Queensland road trip packing guide has more on boot space by vehicle class.

Choosing your vehicle

Solo surfers and couples will be comfortable in a compact hatchback, which is easy to park in the tight streets around Burleigh and Rainbow Bay.
A surf crew of three or four with boards and wetsuits will appreciate an SUV for the extra boot space and fold-flat seats.
Families and bigger groups can look at a people mover from our full vehicle range, which keeps everyone, and all the beach gear, in one car.

Our guide to choosing the right rental car for South East Queensland compares the options in more detail. And if more than one of you will be driving, the branch page says you can add up to four additional drivers to your booking.

Staff tip from Hardy: "Tell us what boards you're bringing when you book, not when you land. A 6'0" shortboard and a 9'0" longboard need very different cars, and we'd rather sort it before you arrive than have you standing in the car park working out angles."

FAQs

How long is the drive from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta?

About 15 km along the Gold Coast Highway from Goodwin Terrace in Burleigh Heads to Point Danger. Google Maps put it at around 20 minutes without stops in light traffic when we checked. With stops, most people make a full day of it.

What are the best surf spots between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta?

Burleigh Point, Currumbin Alley, Kirra Point and Snapper Rocks. Snapper Rocks and Kirra Point are best left to experienced surfers on bigger swells, while the City of Gold Coast describes Currumbin Alley as a great place to learn or improve.

Where can beginners surf on the southern Gold Coast?

Currumbin Alley is the best-known learner spot on this stretch, and there are surf schools based there. If you're new to surfing, a lesson is the safest way to start.

Where do you park at Burleigh Heads?

The council lists more than 430 free beachfront spaces with a three-hour limit, free three-hour parking at Justins Park Carpark, and metered parking from 9am to 7pm daily on streets including Goodwin Terrace and James Street. Pay by cash, card or the EasyPark app, and arrive early on weekends.

Is there parking at Kirra Beach?

Yes. The City of Gold Coast says there are car parks at the Kirra and North Kirra Surf Clubs, as well as on-street parking nearby. Always check the signs for time limits.

Can you drive to Snapper Rocks?

Yes. Follow Marine Parade along the beachfront from Kirra through Coolangatta and Greenmount to Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks Road. Parking at the surf club is limited, so arrive early on good surf days and weekends.

Is Currumbin Alley safe for swimming?

The council lists Currumbin Alley as surveillance only, with no flagged swimming area. The nearest flagged area is about 500 metres south at Currumbin. For calm water, try paddleboarding on Currumbin Creek instead.

Is Point Danger in Queensland or New South Wales?

Both. The state border runs across the headland, and the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse sits on the line. Because New South Wales observes daylight saving and Queensland doesn't, the two sides are an hour apart between October and April.

Where is RaD's Gold Coast branch?

At Gold Coast Airport in Bilinga, between Tugun and Kirra, with direct terminal pick-up and drop-off for both domestic and international terminals.

Plan Your Southern Gold Coast Surf Drive with RaD Car Hire

As you pull out of the airport, Hardy calls out one last bit of advice. "Look left at Kirra on your way past. If it's pumping, forget the plan and stop. The headland will still be at Burleigh tomorrow."

Whether you're a surfer chasing the Superbank, a family after a lesson at the Alley and a paddle on the creek, or a couple who want coffee with a view of world-class waves, this is the Gold Coast's best short drive, and our Gold Coast Airport branch sits right in the middle of it. Choose a hatchback for easy parking or an SUV with room for boards and wetsuits, tell us what you're bringing, and let the team help you plan your day on the coast. Every RaD booking includes unlimited kilometres, so a second lap to check Kirra again won't cost you anything more than the fuel.

Book your RaD Car Hire vehicle today

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