Cheap flights to Coolangatta from £1,120

In 1770, Captain Cook navigated along this part of the Gold Coast and named the land Point Danger and Mount Warning. In 1846, one ship – the Coolangatta – didn’t heed the warnings and sank, but it gave the town its name.

In the intervening couple of centuries, Coolangatta has become a popular resort town and each year families visit Coolangatta to revel in the glorious climate – about 300 sunny days per year – and laze on the beautiful beaches.

Coolangatta is the most southerly town in Queensland and forms a twin town with Tweed Heads in New South Wales. If one stands at Point Danger, the headland where the Captain Cook memorial lighthouse stands, they’ll be in two states at the same time. Or, come on New year’s Eve and watch two sets of fireworks – one hour apart (New South Wales observes Daylight Saving Time but Queensland does not).

As well as family fun on the beaches, things to do include surfing (Snapper Rocks is a great point break) and fishing (Snapper Rocks is a draw for fishermen too, there for the bream, dart and taylor). Diving with the sharks on Cook Island is a must-do and whale watching is popular between June and November.

Coolangatta climate

The sun shines almost every day of the year. The climate is humid subtropical, cooler inland than on the coast. The range of temperatures in spring (September to November) is 15-25 C (60-77 F), climbing to 28 C (82 F) or so in summer (December to February). During autumn (March to May) temperatures are between 16 and 26 C (60-80 F) and down to 11-21 C (50-70 F) in winter (June to August).

Getting around Coolangatta

There are lots of options for getting to Coolangatta from the airport. Gold Coast Airport has a Transport and Information Desk outside International Arrivals and there are several car-rental companies represented at the airport. Shuttle buses and taxis are also options for the short trip to Coolangatta.

Car is the easiest option for getting around, but Surfside Buslines operates a good, inexpensive service throughout the Gold Coast, 24 hours per day.

What is good to know if travelling to Coolangatta?

• Coolangatta is an excellent starting point for the theme parks in the GC area. 
• On the second Sunday of every month, local handicrafts are on sale along the beachfront. 
• Off Tweed Heads (Coolangatta’s twin town), Nine Mile Reef is known by the locals as a “sharky” spot. Wobbegongs, blind sharks, bronze whalers, leopard sharks (in summertime) grey nurse sharks (in wintertime) all swim around here. 
• Surfers Paradise lies between Coolangatta and Southport. It has been the magnet for surfers for many years.