Coolangatta occupies the southern tip of the Gold Coast, right at the Queensland–New South Wales border, and it has a different character from the tourist strip to the north. The pace is slower, the crowds thinner, and the surf is, by general consensus, better. Snapper Rocks, at the northern edge of Coolangatta, is the start of the Superbank — a sand-bottom right-hander that on a good day runs for several hundred metres and is one of the most-photographed waves in Australian surfing.
Rainbow Bay, a sheltered bay tucked behind the headland north of Snapper, is the most protected swimming beach on the Gold Coast. The headland blocks the prevailing winds, and the water is calm and warm. It has been popular with families for decades. From the headland, the coastal views are excellent in both directions: north to the high-rise towers, south to the New South Wales coast.
The twin towns of Coolangatta and Tweed Heads across the border operate as a single community despite different state administrations, and the border intersection on the main street draws curious visitors. The downtown is pleasantly unpretentious — surf shops, fish and chip shops, and a few good cafes. The Gold Coast Airport (formerly Coolangatta Airport) is right here, making it a useful starting or ending point for a trip.