It was time to investigate our own backyard and after living on the northern Gold Coast for 6 years we were well and truly overdue for a visit. In the last set of school holidays we packed the tent and the kids and headed down the very short drive to Kingscliff, just 15 minutes from Gold Coast Airport in the Northern Rivers Region.
Kingscliff is a great coastal town with everything to suit all budgets, tastes and holiday types. It is very much a small beach community as well as a tourist destination that provides a beautiful ocean beach and fantastic estuary access for swimming, fishing and all water sports. Throw in the great cycle and walking tracks, fantastic restaurants, cafes and boutiques and you have one of the best beach holiday destinations in NSW. And to top that off, the Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park is situated right on the beachfront with the main shopping strip at its back door.
Kingscliff is one of those spots which is loved by caravanners, campers and motorhomers with everything within walking distance of your campsite, even the local bowling club and surf club which is a must when looking for lunch or dinner. So for a holiday where you can park the car and not have to use it again, Kingscliff is the spot.
The main attraction in Kingscliff, is the beach. It offers something for everyone, as you stroll along the beach on any given day you can see all the activity. From fisherman trying their luck catching a dinner of Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, Mulloway or Tailor. Or try the estuary entrance for some trevally along the rock walls but like all fish it is seasoned to the time of year.
Many people love taking the time out of a stressful day to sit back and admire the surfers and stand up paddle boarders and we are no exception. Or if you travel with an inflatable Sevylor paddle board like we do, then its time to hit the water. Everyday there are plenty of locals displaying their talents on surf boards, booggie boards and now of course stand up paddle boards. With all this activity going on right infront of your beachfront powered site and all priced from just $38 a night!
Even when it’s a little overcast and windy it doesn’t stop the tourists from enjoying this pocket of paradise. Family’s playing in the sand, walking the waters edge and of course swimming. We pitched the tent at Kingscliff Beach Holiday Park on their fantastic beachfront sites and decide to never leave!
Just a short walk along the beach you will come to River Inlet a great place to go fishing or look at the tide crash up against the walls which allows the water to flow into a calm water paradise, for those wanting to swim in a protected safe are. You pass the pelicans as they hang around for the boaties to come in from a good days fishing, with their afternoon tea.
A definite must do is to hire yourself a couple of bikes and ride the foreshore. Hire your bikes from The Water Sports Guru he has everything you need to entertain everyone – you can enjoy just about any water activity with The Water Sports Guru from snorkelling with the Turtles, scuba diving, whale watching, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, surf lessons right through to hiring fishing gear and bikes. We set out on our bikes from the Holiday Park and take the easy 30 minute ride to and then along, Cudgen Creek. It is a stunning ride with fantastic views along the way, after Cudgen Creek continue on through Faulks Park then back along Cudgen Creek. It’s an easy ride but do take your time as there are many other people out either riding or walking too.
Stop off and check out the local estuary with activity going on which ever way you look, or take your swimmers with you to enjoy a quick swim to cool off. You can ride for kilometres here along a stunning pathway but remember you have to ride back!
When it’s time for dinner there are plenty of options for us, but pizza is the perfect end to a big day. We walk the main strip Marine Parade and stumble across a little wine shop stocking so many great products from cheese to chocolates and wines. Some were local but many from places around the world. After stocking up we find Kingscliff Gourmet Pizzas and with an order of Chicken Tandoori & Hombre Pizzas and Nachos it is time to sit and reflect on what an awesome day we have had.
Next time you are driving southern Queensland or northern NSW remember to diarise a stopover in Kingscliff!
