Looking for inspiration for a trip down the coast from Brisbane? Fingal Head Beach and Dreamtime Beach are my favourite coastal escape when we go south. As you pass the NSW border, it’s nothing like the busy Gold Coast anymore. You left the crowd behind you for a much more relaxing experience at Fingal Head Beach. Nearby, Dreamtime Beach is becoming increasingly popular since it was named Australia’s third best beach.

Why are Fingal Head Beach and Dreamtime Beach a perfect escape?

fingal head

1. Fingal Head Beach is charming and original

Sometimes, beaches can look all similar. I feel bad when I complain about the long white sand beaches in Australia, but I like to see something different. And Fingal Head Beach has its own charms that make it unique.

The unique rock formation in the Giants Causeway is my favourite. It’s there thanks to an eruption of Mount Warning a few thousand years ago. I love sitting on the edge of the cliff and watching the waves crashing on the beautiful column shape rocks.

A few hundred metres further in the background, Cook Island is a nice touch to add something distinctive to the ocean scenery. It’s a permanent home for green and loggerhead turtles and many other marine species. Click here for more details about our diving experience at Cook Island.

View of Cook Island and the causeway from Fingal Head
View of Cook Island and the causeway from Fingal Head

2. Fingal Head Beach offers various activity options

I like to do something more than just going to the beach and Fingal Head Beach is perfect for that.

The park at the end of Marine Parade, just next to the beach, has a barbecue and picnic tables. From there, you can wander on the beach and start the short and easy walk to the lighthouse. Views of Cook Island and of the Causeway from the headland are awesome.

The forest where you walk is one of the rare littoral rainforests left on the Tweed Coast.

When you’re done exploring the coast, you can enjoy the river views in Fingal Head.

3. Dreamtime Beach is Australia’s third best beach

View of Dreamtime Beach from Fingal Head
View of Dreamtime Beach from Fingal Head

Dreamtime Beach is on the other side of the headland. It was named the third-best Australian beach of 2018 by the popular 101 Best Beaches.

The 5-kilometre beach has been protected from development and the unusual rock formations of the headland give it a special look.

Dreamtime Beach seems to be a great spot for surfers. I prefer to go there just for admiring the beautiful views: the beach is unpatrolled and there’s a big warning sign about the dangerous conditions there. 

If you want to swim, you’ll be a lot safer between the flags at Fingal Head Beach.

Plus, the spot is getting more popular every year and is not a well-kept secret anymore. It’s not the best place anymore if you want to avoid the crowd during a sunny weekend. 

4. The day isn’t over when you leave Fingal Head Beach and Dreamtime Beach

coolangatta sunset
Sunset at Coolangatta

After a great afternoon at Fingal Head Beach and Dreamtime Beach, you can make the pleasure lasts a bit longer on the way back to Brisbane. Snapper Rock (Coolangatta) is not far and is a rare spot on the east coast to get a sunset on the ocean.

If there’s traffic on your way back, you can let the crowd go back to the City while you have a drink or dinner at Currumbin Surf Club near Elephant Rocks to enjoy the coast a bit longer even after it got dark.

Have you been to Fingal Head Beach or Dreamtime Beach? Or do you have another favourite place in this area? Leave a comment below!

Where are Fingal Head Beach and Dreamtime Beach?

It takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive down to Fingal Head Beach from Brisbane. It’s located just after the Queensland/New South Wales border, 100km south of Brisbane, near the Gold Coast.

Eloise

Eloise is the creator and writer of MyFavouriteEscapes.com. She writes about her experiences exploring exotic destinations and finding hidden gems closer to home. Her goal is to share tips and stories to inspire and encourage others to go on their own adventures. She loves outdoor and nature-based activities like scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, and sailing. She grew up in France and has lived in England and Turkey before calling Australia home for the past decade. So let's get ready for another adventure!

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