Backyard tourist: Wooyung, south of the Gold Coast, is a great beach to take your dogs for the day

LOOKING to get away from the Coast with your pooch for a relaxing day out in the sun, surf and sand? HERE’S WHERE YOU SHOULD GO.

Gracey the greyhound naps in the sun at Wooyung Beach. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

Looking to get away from the Coast with your pooch for a relaxing day out in the sun? Here’s where you should go.

WOOYUNG BEACH

LESS than an hour away from the Gold Coast awaits one of northern NSW’s best natural beaches.

And you can take your dog too — just keep it on a leash.

Wooyung Beach is a relatively untouched slice of paradise, with few people around and few buildings.

Aerial view of Wooyung Beach, towards the left. Picture: supplied

Nestled between Pottsville and South Golden Beach, the golden sands and unkempt bush mean you can meander through the waves or the sand dunes at your leisure.

Speaking of which, it’s well worth taking out a few hours to explore this untouched area.

Watch the fairy wrens flit in and out of the trees, or the whales breaching on the horizon during the whale season.

Seagulls enjoying Wooyung Beach, south of the Gold Coast. Picture: Amanda Robbemond

The dunes are also a great spot for your pup to sniff out all the wondrous fishy smells.

And when they’re done sniffing, just pop them in the waves for a splash around in the water.

The area is not patrolled, so it’s not recommended to swim there, but it’s a great place to kick back and sunbake.

If you get too relaxed, there’s the Wooyung Beach Holiday Park just up the road.

And yep, it’s pet friendly. But don’t forget to book.

DISCOVER

View from Norries Head on the Tweed Coast. Picture: Getty

FOR some snap-worthy views, a quick side trip to Norries Head is worth a visit.

The small headland has stunning views of the azure ocean and sands of Cabarita Beach.

If you’ve kept a couple of snags handy, you can even have a barbecue at the picnic area.

Whales can easily be seen during the right time of year, while the untouched rainforest area offers yet another different landscape.

The area was once named the best of Australia’s 11,000-plus beaches.

EAT AND DRINK

Pet friendly Brothers Cafe, Restaurant and Bar at Kingscliff, south of the Gold Coast. Picture: supplied

THE Brothers Cafe, Restaurant and Bar at Kingscliff is a great little pit stop during the road trip down from the Gold Coast with your pet.

Located right across the road from Kingscliff Beach at 36 Marine Parade, you can grab a table, take your pup for a quick toilet break and then peruse the menu.

With the cafe being pet friendly with free Wi-Fi and beach views, your doggy friend is welcome to lie alongside you as you chow down on coconut pudding, lamb shoulder, baked eggs and gnocchi or a salmon bagel.

The indoor/outdoor cafe caters for vegans and vegetarians and provides gluten-free options.

If you’re there on a Sunday, you’ll catch a live music set.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE ... DO

Walk along the Tweed River with your pup off-leash.

LET your pooch have a run off-leash along the riverbank reserve at Banora Point.

Set along the Tweed River, your pup can chase after the ball or hang with you as you stroll along the riverside.

While it’s not a complete getaway, it’s a good spot if your dog needs to let off a bit of steam.

It’s also a picturesque point that is sure to keep you keen to explore the rest of northern NSW.