Tallebudgera Creek Beach

"Tally Creek" sits between a calm tidal estuary and a sandy surf beach, all in one walkable precinct. The turquoise creek water against Burleigh Head National Park's rainforest headland is the kind of scenery that ends up on postcards. Head along the wide boardwalk and you'll reach a rock groin lookout with 360° views from Palm Beach to Coolangatta.

The estuary is one of the safest places to swim on the Gold Coast, shielded from ocean swells. A seasonal floating safety boom marks the swim zone, and Neptune Royal SLSC patrols during summer and school holidays. Keep to the shallows near the bank. The middle of the creek drops off sharply with a strong current, and the creek mouth is dangerous at any tide.

Cross the creek and you're on Tallebudgera Beach, part of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve. It fires best in winter (June-July) with westerly winds and a south swell. Surfers Paradise is 15 minutes north.

Parking fills from 11am on weekends. Arrive early or take a bus along the Gold Coast Highway.