Point Danger Lookout: walk to New South Wales or return to Queensland?
Most people arrive at Point Danger Lookout by car or bus, and many visitors, particularly foreign tourists, do not realize that they are on the border of two states and that the invisible line that divides state and country all over the world it is always present. From this beautiful place you have two options to walk; you can take a few steps to the right and enter New South Wales or take a step to the left and head for the Gold Coast. Whatever choice you make is the correct one.
Point Danger was named by Captain James Cook in 1770, during his voyage up the east coast of Australia, this promontory served as a warning to sailors of this treacherous place. From a historical point of view, this place is packed with interesting facts about Australian maritime history. Take some time to look around Point Danger Lookout; Commemorative plaques are placed along the ‘Centaur Remembrance Walk’ for those who were lost at sea, take a moment to read them and enrich your visit with some local history.
To say that the view is spectacular at Point Danger Lookout is an understatement, you just don’t know where to look first. Duranbah Beach below can be packed with riders, keep your camera handy to capture some stunning shots. Get soaked and then make up your mind which state you are going to explore first.
Let’s go left and head to Duranbah NSW
After soaking in the view, start hiking the trail south of the Light House to the world famous Duranbah (D’bar) beach. What a treat, some of the best surfers in the world have ridden these waves. Continue south along the path to Tweed Bar, then turn left along the rock wall (groyne). Tweed Bar is famous for its dangerous crossing for all vessels, from small to large trawlers. At the end of the rock face is the bar, if the weather is harsh you can feel your heart pounding as the boats rock back and forth and disappear behind the rising sea level. Not a good place to be on a boat, but what a ride if you were!
The sea at the Tweet Bar can be a spectacular deep sapphire blue and churn like a cauldron. But look out the other side of the rock wall and Duranbah beach changes to an amazing clear blue sky when they are only a few meters away; board riders are so close. Watching them is hypnotic, the rhythm of the waves washing over them, the anticipation of whether they are going to take the next one, and the cries of frustration from others cutting them off are always evident. Looking back at the shoreline, you can see the Point Danger Light House towering over the rock face, a sentinel watching all the activities below.
Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay
Enough of New South Wales, back to the Gold Coast and time to get back up the hill; back to the Point Danger Light House. Once there, it is difficult to get away, the view is intoxicating, what luck for those of us who are lucky enough to live in this wonderful place. After turning away from Point Danger Look, head up the Centaur Remembrance Walk, towards the end of the walk you’ll be faced with views of Snapper Rocks with its swirling waters and the sea cascading over huge boulders that line the shoreline. Following the path, you will see an opening between the trees where you will notice a boardwalk attached to the hillside, this is where the walk continues. Start down the hill towards another famous surf spot.
Walk along the boardwalk to Snapper Rocks, this location is constantly changing based on weather and tides. Look up and you will see a large green frog painted on the side of the hill.
Continue along this scenic route that hugs the beautiful Pacific Ocean, past the rock bank and on to Life Guard Tower 1. You have arrived at Rainbow Bay, one of the safest beaches for families on the Gold Coast. From the path next to the Life Guard Tower, you have uninterrupted views of the entire Gold Coast.
We just started walking the Gold Coast, there is so much more to see, next to Greenmount Beach via the Gold Coast Oceanway.
See you on my next ride.