Surfing is a popular activity at Kingscliff

Kingscliff
Quiet attractive holiday resort just south of the Gold Coast
Located 840 km north of Sydney, 120 km south of Brisbane and only 34 km south of Surfers Paradise, Kingscliff is a seaside holiday resort which lies just to the south of the Gold Coast. The area is sometimes known as the Tweed Coast and, while it is close to the highly developed Gold Coast, it has a simpler and less complex holiday ambience. It is nestled between the Tweed River (the mouth lies further north at Tweed Heads) and a run of attractive beaches which stretch from Cabarita in the south to Fingal north.

It is believed the Bundjalung Aboriginal people lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The area was so rich in food that they did not move great distances although there is evidence they travelled to the Bunya Mountains west of the Sunshine Coast for the annual bunya nut gathering.

As he travelled along the eastern coast of Australia in 1770, Captain Cook noted Mount Warning (the huge volcanic caldera) and very nearly hit reefs at the point north of Kingscliff he named Point Danger.

By the 1820 explorers were moving through the area (notably John Oxley and John Rous) and it was their reports which encouraged timber cutters. By the 1840s the cedar was being cut and being shipped out along the Tweed River. By the 1890s the railway had reached the area and by the 1930s the area further north, particularly Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, was becoming a popular tourist holiday destination.

The Kingscliff Main Street Festival is held each year in October.

Things to see:  

Beach Activities
This is a popular destination for surfers, sunlovers, people eager to do a little fishing and those who just want a lazy, family holiday. The beaches in the area are particularly beautiful and far less crowded than the more popular beaches further north.

Melaleuca Station
Located just south of the Kingscliff turnoff from the Pacific Highway, Melaleuca Station is a recreated 1920s Victorian Railway station which offers visitors a ride on a coal fired steam train which passes through a tea tree plantation and an animal nursery. The location includes restaurants and gift shops. For details contact (02) 6674 3777.

Tropical Fruit World
Tropical Fruit World is an agri-tourist destination based around a tropical fruit plantation. A visit begins with a tractor train-ride (with guided commentary) through the plantation which grows over 500 varieties of fruit including such exotics as acerola, babaco, sour sop along with the more common bananas, pineapples, guava and paw paw. The tour ends at Treasure Island where there are childrens' play facilities and a miniature train ride. Next is a riverboat cruise to the fauna park where the animals can be hand-fed. There is also a giant koi pond and the Gardens of the World. The latter is a series of gardens where the botany is based around specific geographical-historical themes. The Magic Garden Show is a discussion of the fruits which can be grown at home followed by tastings. There are also fruits and fruit products for sale, souvenirs and a restaurant. It is open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (02) 6677 7222.

To get there head west for about 8 km and turn left onto the Duranbah road (watch for the signposts).

Cudgen Nature Reserve
9 km south of Kingscliff, via the Tweed Coast Road, is Bogangar. Turn left here into Clothiers Creek Road. To the immediate right is Cudgen Lake (ideal for canoeing) and foreshores and, to the left, is Round Mountain: both are now part of Cudgen Nature Reserve (671 ha).

Cudgen Mountain provides excellent views across the lake, the ocean and the hinterland.

An Aboriginal stone quarry has been found on the edge of the lake and the area remains of significance to local Kooris. There are excellent views of Mt Warning from its eastern shore on a clear day.

The Cudgen Nature Reserve contains a variety of vegetation types which are home to a number of threatened plant and animal species. The reserve also supports a large koala population and picnic facilities are provided.

Pioneer Plantation
19 km south of Kingscliff via the Tweed Coast Road is Pottsville. The main road becomes known as Pottsville Rd. It heads south-west towards Mooball which is situated on the Princes Highway. 8 km from Pottsville is Pioneer Plantation, an award-winning agri-tourism complex based around a banana plantation. Highlights are the 6WD trip to the top of Banana Mountain, the Friendship Farm and the Wildlife Sanctuary - a free-range enclosure featuring kangaroos, wallabies, emus, koalas, wombats, pademelons and a lake with waterbirds. Other attractions are the Banana Garden, the Gardens of Australia, a family restaurant, walking tracks, and a giftshop. It is open from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. daily, tel: (02) 6677 1215.

	Motels
	Blue Waters Motel Cnr Wommin Bay Rd & Kingscliff St Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2999 Rating: ***
	Cabarita Beach Front Hideaway 21 Cypress Cres Cabarita Beach Kingscliff NSW 2488 Telephone: (02) 6676 1444 Facsimile: (02) 6676 1203 Rating: ***
	Cabarita Beachhouse Motel 39 Coast Rd Cabarita Beach Kingscliff NSW 2488 Telephone: (02) 6676 1633 Facsimile: (02) 6676 1622 Rating: **1/2
	Holiday Flats & Units
	Diamond Beach Resort 105 Coast Rd Cabarita Beach Kingscliff NSW 2488 Telephone: (02) 6676 3232 Facsimile: (02) 6676 0032 Rating: ****
	Motels
	Flag Cabarita Gardens Lake Resort Tamarind Ave Cabarita Beach Kingscliff NSW 2488 Telephone: (02) 6676 2000 Facsimile: (02) 6676 1108 Rating: ***1/2
	Kingscliff Motel 80 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1780 Rating: **
	Ocean Clipper Motel 198 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1590 Rating: **
	Pacific Sands Motel Cnr Wommin Bay & Murphy Rds Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2699 Rating: ***
	Pollys Motel 148 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2888 Rating: **
	Hotels
	Grand Pacific Hotel Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1406 Rating: *
	Apartments
	Astor Holiday Apartments 192 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2238
	Beach Pines Holiday Apartments 204 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1521
	Beachfront Holiday Apartments 194 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1822
	Orient Court Holiday Apartments 19 Orient St Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2107
	Cottages & Cabins
	Kingscliff Holiday Cabins 11 Pearl St Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1526
	Caravan Parks
	Chinderah Village 20 Chinderah Bay Dve Chinderah Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1536 Rating: ****
	Drifters Van Village Wommin Bay Rd Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2505 Rating: ****
	Homestead Holiday Park 200/25 Chinderah Bay Dve Chinderah Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1824 Facsimile: (02) 6674 5564 Rating: ***1/2
	Kingscliff Beach Caravan Park Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1311 Rating: ***
	Tweed River Hacienda Holiday Park 300/37 Chinderah Bay Dve Chinderah Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1245 Facsimile: (02) 6674 4836 Rating: ****
	Restaurants
	Blue Waters Motel Restaurant Cnr Wommin Bay Rd & Kingscliff St Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2999
	Grand Pacific Hotel Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1406
	Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant 94 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 1877
	La Cigale 1/26 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 5511
	Marine Restaurant & Bar 36 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 9100
	Pacific Sands Motel Restaurant Cnr Wommin Bay & Murphy Rds Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2699
	Tracie's Garden Restaurant 22 Marine Pde Kingscliff NSW 2487 Telephone: (02) 6674 2136