Burleigh Heads is a lovely beach town on the stunning Gold Coast in Australia. I am lucky enough to be living only an hour drive from this pretty little place after moving to Australia to be with my partner (I’m originally from the UK in case ya didn’t know!). Here’s some lovely things to do in a day at Burleigh Heads…
So, what can you do in Burleigh Heads?
Relax on the Beach
Ok, a fairly obvious one! The beach at Burleigh stretches for miles and is a great place for catching a few waves, surfing, or body surfing hehe. I have been here a few times and there are usually some decent waves.
Remember to be careful in the water as the rips can be very strong in Australia (although there will be lifesavers on duty during the day). If coming in summer the UV rays are extremely high so I would recommend the shoulder seasons for lovely weather. These pics were taken in winter and I still managed a swim!
Walk to Tallebudgera Creek
This is probably my favourite place in Burleigh. Tallebudgera Creek is perfect for families with young kids (or people who don’t like big waves) as the water is so still. It is formed as part of the estuary and is easily accessible via a walkway from Burleigh beach. When I visited recently the water was just beautiful, sparkling in the sun and crystal clear. The white sand and blue waters can easily be mistaken for somewhere super tropical like a beach in Thailand or somewhere (great for those insta pics).
Hike to the Lookout
From the path from Burleigh to Tallebudgera, you can also divert and walk up to several lookouts. There are two ways up here, I took the forest path, which was a lot quieter for some reason (situated towards the end of the creek, near the bridge). Here you can walk through pretty woodland, eventually leading to a stunning lookout. There are smaller lookouts along the way, all just as nice, overlooking the deep blue ocean. At certain times of the year, you can even spot humpback whales, dolphins, and turtles. The walk is super easy, taking around 15 to 20 minutes to the top.
Watch the Surfers
If you are having a chill day, then right at the end of the beach is a little lookout point (on the way to the Tallebudgera Creek path). Here you can sit on the benches or grass and watch the surfers catching some waves, something which I find quite relaxing haha. This would also be a beautiful spot for a picnic.
Grab Yourself an Acai Bowl or Smoothie
Head over the road from the beach to The Fruit Shop. Here they do amazing acai bowls (VERY Aussie!) and smoothies for great prices. Be warned, there may be a queue, but it is definitely worth it for a refreshing smoothie in the sun. Head to Burleigh on a weekday to beat the crowds.
Fish & Chips on the Beach
Very handy, next door to the smoothie place is the Fishmonger, selling delicious fish, chips, calamari, and all things seafood. Usually busy as well, this is a popular place to grab some salty chips and head straight to the beach. I mean, you basically have to when you’re at the beach right?!
Pstt….And what about coffee?
Nook Espresso is well known by locals to do the best coffee around (but beware the queues get LONG). There are also many cafes on the main street and in the little alleyways of you don’t fancy waiting- most places in OZ do a decent coffee (compared to the UK at least!).
So that’s how to spend a day at Burleigh Heads. If you are making it a weekend trip, you could also combine the beach with the rainforest. Mt Tamborine is under an hours drive from the beach and offers great walking paths with lookouts and waterfalls.
Hope you enjoyed this post. Have you been exploring your own backyard a bit more during the pandemic? What have you discovered? Comment below!
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