Tugun
Postcode: 4224
Tugun is a beachside suburb of the City of the Gold Coast, in the state of Queensland, Australia. Its name is believed to have derived from an Indigenous word of unknown dialect meaning “breaking waves”.[1]
Tugun is situated at the junction of the Pacific and Gold Coast highways 7 km north-west of Coolangatta and 96 km south of Brisbane, the state capital. The junction is notoriously traffic-clogged, however this situation will likely change upon completion of the Tugun Bypass by late 2008. Tugun is a popular holiday destination, with a number of holiday units and motels lining Tugun Beach. Tugun has many shops located on its Golden-Four Drive strip.
Locals fondly call Tugun, Tugz (pronunced choo-gs) and it is widely considered a Locals beach. In the sense that “If you don’t live here, don’t surf here”. It’s post code is 4224.
The surf beach is patrolled and a leisurely stroll north along Tugun beach will take you to Flat Rock, where there’s a park right beside the ocean.
Just a short drive south is Coolangatta at the mouth of the Tweed River, forming the border between Queensland and New South Wales. Visit the lighthouse and Captain Cook memorial at Point Danger. Across the border, Tweed Heads has some of the county’s largest entertainment clubs as well as the innovative Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Just a few minutes to the north of Tugun on the coastal highway is Currumbin, where Currumbin Creek enters the sea. It’s an ideal family spot, with calm water for swimming, sand for playing and plenty of room for sand and rock fishing, but it does get a bit crowded in summer. The whole family will enjoy a visit to the famous Currumbin Bird Sanctuary which is just up the road. Be sure to time your visit to catch the lorikeet feeding times. It is a truly remarkable sight to see great flocks of these cheeky and noisy birds descend for their daily feast.