Australia’s Gold Coast has some of the best beach towns to live in and best places to surf in the world, however, as ironic as it is “Surfers Paradise” is not top on the list. Why? There simply to many other surf towns that have a better vibe.
Dark erie Surfers Paradise in the distance. Really looks creepy….its ok there are great ones nearby…we are gonna show you.
Lifeguard Station in Surfers Paradise….a mecca of high rise condos and endless beach breaks.
Australia’s east coast is littered with big headlands. These headlands create some of the world’s best places to surf (sometime seemingly endless right hand point breaks) and as with most of these places they come with an awesome beach town culture.
Often packed to the gills, Snapper Rocks is a surf mecca. Here you can see why, it can be a bit of a hustle and scratch to get a wave but once you are in its long….It’s not uncommon to see pro’s in the water here. 3x World Champ Mick Fanning was tearing up the Snapper Reserve this day taking off from the far rock and ending up on the left side of this photo.
Snapper Rocks is in the Kirra – Coolangatta area and is 100% one of the best beach towns. About 1 1/2 hour drive south of Brisbane.
Australia is outfit with “Surf Live Saving Clubs” that are supported by the earnings of the Bar/Restaurant most have – like this one which is a prime location to observe the activity. Its a real rad concept.
Burleigh Head Beach Town…on the way to Snapper Rocks – Coolangatta.
Coolangatta Sunset
Fire in the Sky Coolangatta – Gold Coast OZ
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Heading further down the coast south, you will run into Australia’s most easterly point, Cape Byron. There is a massive bay, Byron Bay, which like its best beach town counterparts up north boost an awesome surf town culture and long right hand point break waves.
Byron Bay, Australia. The wave down below is Wategos Beach.
“The Pass” – world class surf break in Byron
“The Pass” Byron Bay – super small swell this day.
Wategos Beach Byron Bay.
My favorite photo of the group. The old man and his surfboard bout to take some slides at Wategos.
Wategos has a pretty cool surf culture at the car park, folks are hanging out and there is a mobile coffee guy outfitted with goods.
Wategos Byron Bay Lining Up #RTW Surf Trip 2015
Wategos Dawn Patrol. I rented this 9’4″ LongBoard. It pays to have the right tool for the job…and it sure was.
Cape Byron light house is right up the hill on the headland.
Someone once told me I did not know what the hell a wallaby was….So I went out to find one…This guy was hopping all over the place…looks like a Kangaroo but just a bit smaller.
The whole Gold Coast of OZ is similar to Florida – stunning clear blue water, ironic that they have so many Great White Sharks buzzing peoples boards and feet. One of the days I was in the water for 4+ hours a local on a SUP had a close encounter with a Great White, which bit the front of his board. A quick drive on the left hand side of the road and you get to one of the best beach towns on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane, Noosa Heads.
Noosa Heads – ankle bitter waves….Yet another world class beach town and killer waves when its on.
This Nipper was on it. Noosa Heads Sunshine Coast.
If you like this post, check this one out “See How Easily You can Live Life & Experience the Best Beach Towns”