Palm Beach To Tugun Walk

This walk of approximately one hour return from Palm Beach to Tugun takes in some of the most beautifully diverse nature of the Gold Coast, including Currumbin Creek, Elephant, Currumbin and Flat Rocks, as well as beachfront cafes and surf clubs.

Start at Palm Beach Parklands, where there's a sizable free car park (though it gets busy on weekends) and Dune Cafe, with beautiful views over Currumbin Creek, a good place for a pre-walk coffee or bite to eat.

From Dune Cafe, take the path that runs parralel to the water, past the pirate park and amenities block and view left towards the scrubby bushland, where there's a path that leads through the bushes to a boardwalk.

Follow the boardwalk to arrive at one of the secluded little beaches fronting Currumbin Creek and keep walking past the picnic and BBQ tables to reach a car park at the base of the Currumbin bridge.

Don't walk under the bridge, but instead turn right and take the path upwards towards the highway before reaching a sharp bend where it turns back towards the Currumbin Bridge.

The shared pedestrian/bike path across the bridge affords stunning views of CurrumbinCreek and Alley out to sea as well as the parklands, and, on the other side, Currumbin Valley and the hinterland mountains.

Once across the bridge, turn left and follow the path down hill towards the southern shores of Currumbin Creek, cross the road and follow the creek towards the beach. Along the way are more secluded beaches and stunning vistas of Surfers Paradise in the distance, before arriving at Currumbin Alley beach.

From here you can take a detour across the sands to the gargantuan Currumbin Rock, where you can watch the waves break in spectacular style over the surrunding rock formations. Otherwise keep walking along the beachfront promenade, past Currumbin Beach's charming retro line-up of restaurants, cafes and beachy general store.

The next of Currumbin's iconic trio of rock formations lies behind the Vikings Surf Life Saving Club and it is worth a detour to climb to the top and check out the incredible views from Surfers to Coolangatta.

On the way you'll pass the famous Sun Spirit sculpture, which was winner of the annual Swell Festival in 2006 and has remained on its beachfront site ever since.

From here the path winds around, following the road as it takes in beautiful views across Currumbin and Tugun Beach before heading inland a little to cross the creek and back around tot the beachfront where there is a view across Flat Rock and after which Tugun Beach starts.

A short distance futher along you'll come to Tugun Surf Flife Saving Club, which has a small coffee and snack kiosk underneath for a refereshment, or treat yourself to a meal on the deck of the club before returning.