Coolangatta Beach is the most southern ocean beach in Queensland and is one of only two north facing beaches on the popular Gold Coast, the other being Kirra Beach.
Rainbow Bay 
and Flagstaff Beach at Point Danger are closer to the border but they are slightly north compared to Coolangatta Beach.
The Coolangatta Beachfront has a wide grass park area along Marine Parade before crossing to the wide stretch of its sandy beach. The western end of the park has the Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club and the Queen Elizabeth Park, an open grass area.
On the other side of the club is a playground and the odd bench seat. There are free BBQs for use and a couple of picnic tables, although the tables are mostly unsheltered. If you are not able to secure a picnic table, there is plenty of grass area to lay out a picnic blanket.
Continue further east and you will reach Greenmount Beach next to Greenmount Point, the headland that can be seen at the end of the beach area.
The beach is accessed via tracks, with much of the sand vegetation protected from access in-between. The entrances have outdoor showers, including showers for your feet, and drinking water fountains.
Coolangatta Beach is patrolled by the local life savers with flags for swimmers to swim safely.
Coolangatta is named after the schooner Coolangatta which wrecked between Kirra Beach and Bilinga Beach in 1846 during a storm. Government surveyor Henry Schneider named the area Coolangatta in 1883 while surveying the region.
To get there:
Heading north on Pacific Hwy from NSW, take the Tugun exit onto the Gold Coast Hwy. Follow the Gold Coast Hwy for 1.5kms and turn right into Coolangatta Rd, then immediately veer left following the sign towards Coolangatta into Musgrave St. After 400m you will reach a roundabout. Continue straight ahead following along Kirra Beach for 1.4km to a set of lights. Turn left and find a park anywhere along the parkland, with the Coolangatta Life Saving Club and park on the left.
