It's 7am under a blue sky punctuated with white candy-floss clouds hanging over the rolling waves of the Coral Sea, sliding into the sandy bay of Burleigh Heads. The dedicated board riders are out in numbers skimming over the beach breaks, while the hard-core, more experienced surfers are challenging the big waves at The Point. Morning's golden sunlight playfully dapples the leaves of pandanus palms and sky-reaching pine trees sitting in the lush grassland of John Laws Park.
The fit and the not-so-fit, many with dogs of all sizes and breeds, jog or walk along the pathway leading to Burleigh Hill and down into Burleigh Heads National Park. Only when you patiently wait in line for a coffee at the Surf Club building do you realize this morning ritual stars more body beautifuls than slouches. Females wear full makeup, complete with false eyelashes and sporting gear that accentuates bum cheeks and boobs. Their booty bouncing in symphony with their dogs prancing along the walkway. Muscley guys are typically bronzed with etched ink art that would make your eyes water when on the receiving end of a tattoo needle. Spasmodically, a not-so-beautified elderly citizen may slowly walk past with their aging dog on a lead. Well, it is the Gold Coast!
Burleigh Heads is the hot spot for cool kids and those with hefty wallets. It's wedged between Surfers Paradise in the north and Coolangatta in the south along the coastline of the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. 'Burleigh,' as the locals call it, has everything for the holidaymaker: incredible beaches under sunny skies, swish restaurants, designer-label boutique shopping, and plenty of cafes creating coffee masterpieces.
Its social vibe and beachside chic are only outdone by the opportunity to take leisurely walks (or running) through the stunning landscape of the national park wrapped around the headland of the northern end of the point: sea eagles beady-eye prey from above, ancient volcanic rocks greet surging water, and mangroves stand with their gnarled roots in the sea. The whiff of the eucalypt forest taints the salty air while pandanus groves create havoc on the ground. A rainforest circuit allows for sightings of majestic whales during the migration season, and Australian bush turkeys scurry around their earthen mounds. Saturated in mysticism, the National Park is a sacred area for the local First Nations people.
Burleigh is a worldwide surfing hub, the Gold Coast's most northern point break, and part of the World Surfing Reserve. With its constantly shifting sandbanks caused by the mouth of Tallebudgera Creek, the original local surfers know where the best waves are running. Running from Snapper Rocks to the Kirra Groyne, Kirra Beach is one of the best for fantastic breaks. If catching a wave is not your thing, sit and watch as you indulge in a drink or two, maybe a luscious lunch, at Siblings Beachfront restaurant. Currumbin Alley is great for the learners, apart from huge days in winter when it's a dramatic tow-out region. The heaviest breaks can be found at Sharkies, where southeast swells come through, whereas The Cove is out of the dominant swell and gives big barrels on a good day. The Point is the pièce de la résistance that draws the surfing crowds to Burleigh. Loads of fun can be had at The Spit, and Rock Break is unpredictable, depending on the tide.
When the need for sustenance makes your stomach growl in anticipation, head to one of the cafes lining the shopping hub of James Street, hang out at the Burleigh Heads Life Saving hub on the beachfront and take in the views, or indulge at one of the best restaurants to be found in Burleigh. Rick Shores is a seafood lover's dream of heaven, dishing up pan-Asian-inspired dishes created with the freshest local products—try the Moreton Bay bug roll, and you will sigh in appreciation. Chill out at the Local Burleigh, where a sunny beer garden at the back of the uber-styled restaurant will have you devouring a brekky of beetroot-cured salmon loaded with goodies such as pickled cucumber, shallots, dill, and wasabi mayo on sourdough. Jimmy Wahs is a must-do for a long lunch or dinner. Their modern Vietnamese concoctions will have you scoffing down soft-shell crab steamed buns or tempura barramundi.
If you can, snare accommodation along the beachfront in Goodwin Terrace, opposite John Laws Park. It's the perfect spot for a touch of beachside voyeurism.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
