Best of the Gold Coast 2018: the Coast’s best surf clubs as voted by you
WHERE else can you tuck in to a parmy and know that it’s helping save lives on the beach? After putting the Gold Coast’s best surf clubs to a vote, we can reveal the top 10.
Best of Gold Coast
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WHERE else can you tuck in to a parmy and know that it’s helping save lives on the beach? After putting the Gold Coast’s best surf clubs to a vote, we can reveal the top 10.
10. Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Corner 7th Avenue and Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach
Being so close to such an important ecosystem (the ocean), Palm Beach Surf Club knows taking care of the environment is paramount. Operations manager Lisa Lynch says the club was one of the first on the Gold Coast to go plastic straw-free. “We only have paper straws in our club. It’s 2018 — you have to do your bit.”
9. Nobbys Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Corner of Lavarack Rd and Albatross Ave, Nobbys Beach
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Describing itself as “the best kept secret on the Gold Coast”, this surf club is a hidden gem in hip Nobby Beach. It offers classic pub fare and superb ocean views from its second-level restaurant, as well as regular live music sessions, live screenings of sporting events and trivia nights. Wally Lewis was a nipper here as a young tacker.
8. Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club
Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach
Kurrawa Surf Club is still feeling the benefits of its $15 million renovation completed late last year. Marketing co-ordinator Tamara Aldous says the club’s membership skyrocketed following the relaunch. “We’ve got 25,000 members now. It’s one of the few surf clubs actually on the beach — no buildings or trees in front.”
7. Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club
Goodwin Tce and Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
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This club is gearing up for the annual Burleigh Ocean Swim next weekend. The event signifies the start of a busy Christmas period for manager Nick Owens. “We’re open Christmas Day,” he says. “Customers love sitting on the balcony and enjoying the view. The food’s amazing — we do a really good barramundi curry.”
6. Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club
7 41 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
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One of the oldest surf clubs on the Gold Coast, Currumbin Beach Vikings Club turns 100 next year. “The club was formed in November 1919, we’re coming up to the centenary,” Surf Club CEO Michael Sullivan says. Currumbin Surf Club recently won its fourth consecutive Australian Pool Rescue Championship.
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5. Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club (Club Talle)
1509 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
Club Talle is appealing to a broader audience with live music and a large undercover deck. “It’s really bringing some new life back to the club,” operations manager Sharna De Groot says. “We do live music on a Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. Prior to the reno, we didn’t have a lot of younger people coming though. Now we have this new deck it’s quite appealing. We’re trying to change our image and evolve who we are. We’ve got a new menu coming through in November to go with the new deck, too.”
4. North Burleigh Surf Life Saving club
293 The Esplanade, Miami
North Burleigh Surf Club takes pride in offering a venue that’s accessible to everyone. “Being a ground-floor club, people with mobility issues, wheelie walkers, wheelchairs, prams are all welcome,” marketing manager Carly Way says. “We’re the only one on the Coast with an alfresco beer garden. It’s really important for us to make sure we can offer something to everybody. Whether that’s young single people, families, people with disabilities, our retired or ageing citizens. With clubs, we have to look up and look out.”
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3. Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club
Corner of Dutton St and Marine Pde, Coolangatta
Fresh from the excitement of surf lifesaving competition Coolangatta Gold, the Surf Club Coolangatta is business as usual on the sand. “We’ve just had our (patrolling) season start again. All the guys are back into surf lifesaving mode,” general manager Steve Edgar says. Next weekend this surf club celebrates 60 years of saving lives on the beach. They are inviting members past and present for a Hawaiian-themed beach party to mark the occasion.
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2. BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club
51 Garfield Tce, Surfers Paradise
BMD Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club is an award-winning club both on the beach and behind the bar. Operations manager Lauren Hinds says they’re renowned for being unstoppable in the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, aka The Aussies. “We’ve won the Aussie Titles Championships every year, since 2004,” Lauren says. The Supporters Club won best club in Queensland five times since 2009 and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2011. The deck area is currently being renovated with plans to reopen by Christmas.
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1. Southport Surf Club
MacArthur Pde, Main Beach
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Surf clubs are a local institution and Southport Surf Life Saving Club’s general manager Martin Scanlan (pictured) embodies this.
“I moved to Southport in ’69, I was a nipper here in the early ’70s,” Martin says. “Then I left and came back, and I became a senior patrolling member. I always have really funny flashbacks — the fun times, the good times, the naughty times.”
Southport Surf Life Saving Club boasts 4000 active patrol members, upholding the claim of
no lives lost between the flags since 1924.
“You’ll find on a Saturday or Sunday there are 25 to 35 volunteers on the beach,” Martin says.
“That’s wonderful. They do a great job. A lot of other members play active roles within the club ensuring the club is managed and maintained. There are a lot of people behind the scenes.”
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