Often overlooked for the more well-known towns on the Gold Coast, Kingscliff is the perfect spot for a quiet beach getaway and all the things that come with it: swimming, surfing, fishing, kayaking, and cycling. The town’s main thoroughfare, Marine Parade, lays out a tidy collection of cafes, casual restaurants, gift shops, and clothing boutiques. Depending on when you visit, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself in one of Kingscliff’s pop-up food markets, noshing on Chilean empanadas and listening to a live blues band.

But the main reason people escape to this laid-back hamlet just south of the Queensland border is to soak up the peace and quiet. And there’s no better place to do that than on Kingscliff Beach, a stunning crescent of white sand and turquoise water that, thanks to a local ordinance limiting building construction to three floors, feels the way the Gold Coast did decades ago. Nearby Fungal Head serves as the gateway to the Cook Island Marine Reserve, where you can spot stingrays, turtles, and wobbegongs.

The closest airport to Kingscliff is the Gold Coast Airport (OOL), located around 17 kilometres away. For more flight options, Brisbane Airport (BNE) is 125 kilometres away. While it is possible to access public transportation from the Brisbane Airport and Gold Coast Airport, it is a good idea to hire a car if you want to visit any other nearby areas. Once you arrive at Kingscliff, most of the important sites are within walking distance of one another. Kingscliff is an excellent place to cycle, with paths that cut both north and south. If you happen to be pedalling along the shoreline, make sure to keep an eye open for whales and dolphins.

Due to the beautiful weather year-round, there is no bad time to book a Kingscliff holiday rental. The town tends to be a bit warmer from December until February, and it cools off a little bit in the winter. Keep in mind that the hinterlands can actually get quite chilly in July and August; plan accordingly if you want to do any outdoor activities there during that time of year. The winter months in Kingscliff tend to be a bit busier, so it is a good idea to book in advance, especially if you are travelling over a holiday weekend. The spring and autumn are fantastic times to visit, when the weather and water are warm and the town is even less populated. The summer is also a bit slower, and if you visit on a weekday, you may even find that you have the beach all to yourself.

The Kingscliff Markets

Kingscliff hosts a variety of pop-up markets throughout the year, including the Kingy Night Market, which is held on the first Friday of every month and features live music and food trucks. On the second and fourth Saturdays, you can also visit the Kingscliff Lions Beachfront Market, showcasing an eclectic range of jewellery, crafts, artworks, apparel, and food stalls.

Kingscliff Beach

Kingscliff is surrounded by beautiful, white-sand beaches, but the town’s namesake beach is special in that it meets the calm waters of Cudgen Creek, creating a best of both worlds scenario. On one side of the beach, the waves are rough and rolling, perfect for surfers (Kingscliff Beach hosts an annual longboard surf open), while on the other, the water is calm and welcoming, well suited for families and paddleboarding.

Cook Island Aquatic Reserve

Located just a 10-minute drive from Kingscliff, the Cook Island Aquatic Reserve is home to a colony of sea turtles, pufferfish, groupers, stingrays, and leopard sharks. The nature reserve lies around 600 metres offshore; however, you can join a snorkelling tour to get close to the action.