Looking across the water to Surfers Paradise...
I’d wanted to go to Coolangatta – on the border between NSW and QLD – because I have a friend who’d raved about it previously, so I booked a place to stay a couple of days in advance.
Unfortunately I then booked my Greyhound bus journeys all the way down to Newcastle and totally forgot about Coolangatta! But no dramas…I cancelled the room and was about to get on the bus to Byron Bay. It’s always nicer to have something booked that you know you’re doing when you arrive, so while I waited at Brisbane bus station I started phoning hostels. The first option was full, so I tried the next option, that was full too, and so it went. I had thought it would be ok – the famous Blues Fest had finished a week earlier, and the rest of the coast was quite quiet as everyone was back at school and the weather was on the turn but no. Byron Bay was full. So in the 20 minutes before the bus left, I ran to the desk in a panic and asked if I could add a stop at Coolangatta, and while the lady typed I reinstated my night in the dorm at Komune.
Unfortunately I then booked my Greyhound bus journeys all the way down to Newcastle and totally forgot about Coolangatta! But no dramas…I cancelled the room and was about to get on the bus to Byron Bay. It’s always nicer to have something booked that you know you’re doing when you arrive, so while I waited at Brisbane bus station I started phoning hostels. The first option was full, so I tried the next option, that was full too, and so it went. I had thought it would be ok – the famous Blues Fest had finished a week earlier, and the rest of the coast was quite quiet as everyone was back at school and the weather was on the turn but no. Byron Bay was full. So in the 20 minutes before the bus left, I ran to the desk in a panic and asked if I could add a stop at Coolangatta, and while the lady typed I reinstated my night in the dorm at Komune.
The view from our balcony at Komune.
And how glad I was that this happened! Komune is easily the best dorm I’ve stayed in – it was more like a hotel, great ensuite bathroom WITH washing machine and free washing powder. I can’t tell you how exciting that is for a smelly backpacker! And the people in the dorm were lovely – all of them surfers apart from one dutch girl who had such a brilliant attitude towards job hunting and as a result some inspiring stories to tell. She was about to start work at an exclusive resort near Darwin where film stars go. Good work that girl!
I went for a little jaunt to the beach and that spontaneous hour I spent in the sea was one of the best of my whole trip. No jellyfish, waves that absolutely smashed you onto the beach, I even managed a body surf (sort of) but ended up with a lot of water up my nose. It was just divine. Also, you could see Surfers Paradise across the water – which looked stunning, and made me feel glad I hadn’t gone there – my friend Laura describes it as Miami meets Malia. Sounds horrific!
Later on I came back to the beach with my camera, and I decided to phone Laura. While I was on the phone I saw dolphins….exactly where I was swimming just a couple of hours earlier! I would recommend Coolangatta to anyone.
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