Although a great deal of our time at Kirra was taken up with the compliance plate matter, several re-supply trips to the local supermarkets and catching up with an old work mate, we did manage to get out and about a little. Our efforts with the camera were minimal to say the least, but hopefully the few shots we took will give you some idea of our environment.
Kirra Beach is at the southern end of the Gold Coast area, immediately north of the QLD/NSW border and the twin towns of Coolangatta (QLD) and Tweed Heads (NSW). For many years this beach has hosted the Australian SLSA Championships (when they are not in WA), and once I had seen the beach itself I could understand why.
One of our jaunts took us up to the lookout atop one of the many coastal hills which are a real feature of this area. From a spot next to the seriously impressive sea eagle statue
we could overlook the beaches to the north (here seen at low tide), including Kirra, North Kirra, Bilinga and Tugun
whilst to the south we could see along Rainbow Beach to the pines crowning the low peak of the Greenmount headland. Just beyond that is the mouth of the Tweed River and the northern coastal border of New South Wales.
From here too, well past the small surf breaking on Kirra Beach, the jagged skyline of the high rise buildings of Surfers Paradise stood out against the hazy horizon
as did the much closer apartment blocks of the Coolangatta beachfront in the other direction.
As we made our way down the path from the lookout, we had a good view of the gabled red roof of the building which houses a pizza palace, and more importantly
at the northern end, the Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club.
We ascended the roadside entrance stairs of this august old building on more than one occasion during our stay.
The clubhouses of the nearby North Kirra and Coolangatta surf clubs were larger and much more modern, but for us the 'lived in' feel of Kirra SLSC suited ideally. Here the drinks prices were reasonable, particularly during the regular afternoon happy hours, and the food was anything but yuppie!
For those with an inclination to ramble, which very much includes the Mobile Marshies (this time on foot), beach front walking paths extend in both directions from Kirra Beach. We managed to hoof it from Greenmount in the south to Tugun in the opposite direction (not on the same day) past the front yards of the lucky folk who can afford to live here.
At regular points along the walking path, access tracks lead down to the broad expanse of sand and for the time being at least, the blessedly benign breakers beyond. Looking out over this scene of seaside serenity, it was hard to grasp the fact that the most recent Australian surf titles being held here a month or so ago were actually washed out (Cyclone Debbie's reach was extensive!)
The surf can certainly pound in along this coast, and at each of these access tracks a cautionary notice details the potential dangers of the waves and rips and the distance in both directions to the nearest surf club and patrolled beach. I did mentally challenge the efficacy of these as a deterrent to those with limited swimming skills. From this point, for example, the nearest sets of red and yellow flags are more than half a kilometre in one direction and double that in the other.
As I mentioned before, we do plan to return to this area at some stage to socialise with old work mates and explore the 'twin towns' in more depth without the pressure of compliance plate business. Having previously spent some time at the other end of 'the coast' at Main Beach (Southport), we find this end of the strip much more to our liking.....still frightfully busy, but thankfully devoid to a large extent of the ratbags, hoons, bikies, druggies and spoilt brats who make the canyons of Cavel Street and beyond their stamping ground.
So for now, these few snippets are all we have to offer of our stay here in Kirra. By the time we had completed what we came here to do, we were more than ready to depart the 'big smoke' for the comparative comfort of a quieter beach well north of the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast. With one overnight en route, Woodgate Beach here we come!
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