Fancy a fun game of beach volleyball? You can play every day of the week, for free, on the sands of Coolangatta – thanks to four semi-permanent courts set up across the road from The Strand, off Marine Parade.
To most of us, it’s a bit of barefoot fun on the beach – but for volleyball legend, Nat Cook, it’s a whole other ballgame.
The proud Queenslander and five-time Olympian won bronze and gold medals during her competitive career – and can now boast another win that puts her beloved sport firmly in the international spotlight.
Thanks to years of passionate and persistent lobbying, Nat succeeded in securing Beach Volleyball as a feature sport for the first time in Commonwealth Games history – and all the serving, digging and spiking action hits the sands of Coolangatta when the epic event comes to the Gold Coast this April.
The volleyball competition is a sell-out – but spectators and visitors alike are expected to make the most of Cooly’s vibrant dining and retail precinct, just a stroll away from the beach-side courts.
The Strand is home to popular eateries like Black Sheep Espresso Baa. The hole-in-the-wall café has gathered a loyal flock of followers who come for cracking coffee (Lamb, Sheep, Ram or Shepherd size?) and fresh, fun food – including locally made Cruffins (think croissant meets muffin meets doughnut).
Upstairs in The Strand, you’ll find Bin 72 – a stylish restaurant that opens for lunch and dinner. Sophisticated share plates and show-stopping cocktails combine with incredible ocean views to create a top-shelf dining experience.
Head up to Point Danger lookout and you’ll discover an icon of Gold Coast culture and cuisine – Café Dbar. The café has been under the stewardship of owner Steve Archdeacon and his family for 10 years and is a well-known landmark on the coast for its surf culture connections. The menu features dishes that are as fresh as an ocean breeze, with an emphasis on local produce and a nod to fun Aussie favourites. Take the Tim Tam Delight: a chocolate ice-cream confection that celebrates Australia’s favourite choccy bicky. It’s sure to be a hit with the throngs of international visitors who’ll be here for the Commonwealth Games.
Whether you come to Coolangatta for the beach volleyball during the Games or simply to enjoy the Cooly vibe, Destination Gold Coast is your ‘go-to’ resource for places to stay and things to do.
Destination Gold Coast
www.destinationgoldcoast.com
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Cafe Dbar
www.cafedbar.co
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BiN 72
www.bin72.com.au
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The Black Sheep Espresso Bar
5536 9947
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