Backpacking the Gold Coast, Australia: Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay

There aren’t many countries that have volcanoes, snowy mountains, white-sand beaches and fantastic cities; it’s for this reason why Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

As well as being a picturesque country, it’s also very unique; with the mainland being the the only continent to double as an island. It’s undeniable there are some beautiful spots across Australia. So here we take a look at what Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast have to offer.

Snapper Rocks

On the northern side of Point Danger at the southern end of Rainbow Bay on the Gold Coast is where you will find Snapper Rocks. It is a famous surf break and forms the beginning of the man-made ‘Superbank’ – which extends for a distance of around 2km from Snapper Rocks Point, through Rainbow Bay, Greenmount Point, Coolangatta Beach, and Kirra.

Snapper Rocks is a stunning beach that offers the chance to take to the sea and surf the day away (swimming is not recommended at Snapper Rocks Beach because of the rocks). As the name would have it, it also makes for a great fishing location.

Don’t worry about having to find a restaurant to have lunch; there are free BBQs available for you to grill a tasty meal to enjoy by the ocean.

If you’re not in the mood to hit the waves or sit on the beach, visit the headland of Point Danger which marks the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Here, one can expect to see amazing views of the coast. It’s also the perfect starting point to embark on some of the brilliant coastal walking routes in the area.

Point Danger has a scenic park, perched high on a peak, which offers panoramic views over the ocean and is the ideal spot for a picnic in the sun.

Rainbow Bay

Adjoined to Snapper Rocks beach is the equally beautiful Rainbow Bay – both the southernmost beaches in Queensland.

Thanks to its waves, it’s popular with surfers, however, it is also an incredibly popular swimming beach – the safest swimming is in the patrolled area on Rainbow Bay Beach.

Near to the coastal town of Coolangatta – the gateway to the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales – Rainbow Bay is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing holiday with the excitement of the Gold Coast nearby.

Gold Coast

To ensure you don’t miss out on some of the incredible experiences, look at car hire on the Gold Coast. You can visit the world’s tallest free-falling ride at Dreamworld; explore the iconic Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary where you can wander through 27 Hectares of rainforest; go on an adventure with the TreeTop Challenge, Australia’s largest TreeTop adventure park with over 120 activities; take to the skies with the Skypoint Climb. At 270m, it is one of Australia’s highest external building walks.

There’s so much beauty to be explored on the Gold Coast, where will you begin?