After 6 months of being ‘locked down’ within the Queensland borders and sailing in the Airlie Beach Race Week became a non event due to major rig failure, I needed a gulp of fresh air and a new focus.
Could a Rugby Test and a visit to the infamous ”Gold Coast” beaches do this?
Being a Kiwi who lives in Australia (many do) a grudge match between the All Blacks and the Wallaby’s’ at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium must be fun, testy and inevitably tough test rugby?
I arrived in Brisbane by train from Nambour, after enjoying three days of ‘beach life’ on the Sunshine Coast. Dressed in black, (of course) and enjoyed my pre match dinner and drinks at the casual Sushi Edo restaurant in the Barracks Entertainment Precinct near the Suncorp Stadium.
With Caxton Street closed off, everyone walked to the Stadium en mass and the “Aussie Aussie Aussie” gold and green human art was…perhaps, just a bit more prevalent than them in “All Black”.
My pre booked seat was well located behind the goal posts and mid way up the stairway to heaven, or hell if you purchased the cheapest seats?
With some Covid 19 restrictions still in place (social distancing etc.) and no NZ. travellers, the stadium was about 60% full, and became very rowdy after the game exploded into an electric tussle between the two teams. Eventually, producing two RED cards followed by two YELLOW cards and both teams playing ‘2 men down’ for a while at a FRANTIC pace.
Luckily, I was surrounded by Kiwi Black, and all the girls (and some guys) provided great rhythmic and raunchy dancing, and chanting every time the Boys in Black controlled the play. Drinking, Eating, Gesturing and more….it was FUN to be there and in the moment!
Two points isn’t much. But on the night the Wallaby’s deserved their win and the crowd seemed content with the final score. Stunned, we eventually moved out of the stadium to see both barracker’s camps happy and encouraging their ongoing rivalry and friendship with boisterous rugby chat and more beers in the balmy summer evening.
Caxton Street then became “party central” and I was lucky enough to squeeze onto the front of the grid at the stylish Gambaro Hotel to enjoy the human mayhem.
(and avoid the snake like queues to all the other post-event parties). Then the Pop was perky, the skirts short, and the stylish finger foods just yummy!
After my tasteless “loser’s brekkie” I caught a train from Brisbane Central to Helensville and connected with the Gold Coast light rail to my final destination Broardbeach South Station.
“Walk towards the beach, turn right (south), find the Kurrawa Surf Club and then look up” said Sis? The stylish apartment tower was on the front row, with uninterrupted ocean views over the manicured foreshore park and about 200 metres from the rolling breakers. Nice.
The “GOLD COAST” is a sun worshippers beach paradise and waterway region edging on the Pacific Ocean (about 58 ks long). With squeaky silicon sand and a restless rolling surf break from the Gold Coast Seaway down to Rainbow Bay-Point Danger on the border of New South Wales.
There are 21 different beach areas with the distinctive Red and Yellow flagged Surf Life Saving Club patrolled areas positioned daily and always subject to tides, rips and surf breaks etc.
There is also an excellent Light Rail and local Buses plying the region day and night and most of the beaches can be joined by walking at the waters edge.
Of course my travels are always “Gypsy” with little focus nor logic but ensures the less obvious creates surprises of intrigue and opportunity?
Main Beach fronts the schmick Southport Marina and is also close to the rather opulent and nouveau Palazzo Versace and the ‘nearly interesting’ Marina Mirage Mall and yacht charter hire. Main Beach streets are also where the popular Gold Coast V8 Motor Racing event is held, an ear shattering and spectacular crash n’ bash three day event.
Surfers Paradise may have coined the original generic name but its large commercial centre and now somewhat corny shopping mall looks a little jaded, and definitely lacked a tourist throng and hustle and bustle?
Personally I found the smaller but vibrant Broardbeach shopping Oasis and plazas more welcoming, stylish and certainly busier with the Queensland Only residents and locals.
And the popular Kurrawa Surf Club fronting Broadbeach is the busiest Restaurant and Bar (with killer ocean views) and a vibrant All Day Cafe down stairs leading to the beach.
Jumping off the bus at Miami Beach- Burleigh Heads proved enlightening, (as I had secretly made an appointment to see “a man about a car”, unfortunately sold three days earlier…
Anyway I found other great needs in life (not) including the original UGG Boot factory, the interesting ‘beach style’ Trader Trove furniture warehouse and a delicious breakfast and lunch restaurant “The Paddock Bakery” with it’s funky Horse Float coffee and take away bar.
It was Brunch time and busy as, (on a Monday?) but they squeezed us in on the breezy patio to indulge. Starting with a refreshing Aperol Spritz and then Doughnut French Toast topped with Maple Bacon and finally a cold Corona for more classic car chat.
To finish the day off I researched the ‘hot’ new water sport Hydrofoiling- eFoiling at the Foil Centre in Christine Ave, Miami Beach. They are similar but shorter than a paddle board, battery powered and have a hand held blue tooth remote to operate the speed and functions of the deep fixed-leg propeller.
Watch this Site for my learners review of E-Foiling!
Being based in Broardbeach was beaut. And each day I focused on a vague trip somewhere and always with my ‘eyes wide open’.
Currumbin looked a good day out, with a popular Beach, Wild life Sanctuary and the Surf World Museum, but I missed the stop and ended up at Tugun Village.
Then walked the beach back to the iconic Currumbin Surf Club on Elephant Rock with… perhaps the best water view restaurant-cafe on the planet?
Being the original Sandy Surfer (a.k.1961 on ‘popout’ long boards in kiwi land) The World Surf Museum was an amazing experience for me.
The comprehensive displays are generationally grouped with historic and important Australian surf boards, personal memorabilia, classic photography and other beach stuff from the leading Australian riders of the evolving eras. Including my late 60’s skiing buddy and ex World Champion surfer, Nat Young’s contribution.
WOW! This museum is a must for all surfing babes and Grom’s of every generation.
It also deserves a more prominent and visual location on the Gold Coast to record all Australian beach culture, art, design, fashions and life style choices enjoyed in the ‘down-under’ Surfing and Beach evolution. (that’s about 120+ years).
My final “Goldie” beach tour was south to the Coolangatta region near the International Gold Coast Airport. Here the important beach towers and safety flags flutter beyond the sand hills of Kirra Beach, Coolangatta Beach, and in the cute Rainbow Bay.
Including the famous Snapper Rocks surf break before Point Danger and the New South Wales boarder.
It’s a pleasant walk up to Point Danger and the endless pacific view, to watch the surfers and spy the southern beaches past Tweed Heads towards Byron Bay.
Eventually, I wandered back down the hill and arrived at cool n’ casual MALI Coffee and Bakery in the Little Rainbow Bay precinct.
Their fresh pastries, highly charged coffee and friendly service completed the day and are highly recommended.
The “last supper” or “the best brunch” is always a carefully orchestrated event and on this soiree of “Rugby and Gold Coast Beaches” it was was at the Hare Krishna CARDAMOM POD Restaurant. Nestled beside the tranquil park and opposite the globally trendy and illuminated B R O A D B E A C H sign.
It’s vegetarian, veganish, and refreshingly stylish and unpretentious.
Their popular evening ‘eat as much as you need’ menu is also an interesting catch and gave me the opportunity to enjoy small servings and a return plate to sample all the flavours of their four fresh and seasonal main dishes.
Including the brilliant Pasta n’ Pesto Salad, Roasted Vegetable Mix, a Vegan Lasagne and the yummy Tofu Curry. Then add a grilled Potato n’ Cheese slice, Kofta Balls (with Nepalese sauce) and aromatic Basmati Rice!
All Perfectly balanced with a decorative and deliciously fresh, made to order “Strawberry Fields Smoothie”….strawberry + mango + banana + protein powder + dates!
Life is good on the Gold Coast and the ocean breeze (and air con) keep’s it livable, and the many brochure promoted tourist activities are very accessible, if somewhat “old school”.
Broardbeach is central and civilised, but my return pick is Burleigh Heads or Currumbin for Fun in the Sun and a more relaxed Flip-Flop, Slop-n’-Slap and e Foiling good times.
