TALLEBUDGERA CREEK
The Tallebudgera Creek rises from the Springbrook Plateau below Burleigh Mountain in the Springbrook National Park near Upper Tallebudgera and north of the New South Wales/Queensland border. The creek flows generally north by east through the Tallebudgera Valley towards Burleigh Heads where it is crossed by the Pacific Motorway and the Gold Coast Highway, before reaching its mouth south of the Burleigh Head National Park and emptying into the Coral Sea. The creek descends 100 metres (330 ft) over its 25-kilometre (16 mi) course.
Tallebudgera Creek is known for good fishing, and its name even translates in an indigenous language to “good fishing”. Bream, flathead, whiting and the bull shark are common species that are found in the creek.
As well as the main creek there is an extensive canal system, whose shores boast some of the Gold Coast’s best housing It is one of the Gold Coast’s three main canal and creek systems, alongside the slightly smaller Currumbin Creek to the south and the much larger Nerang River to the north.
Dredging is carried out yearly in winter and spring to improve creek water quality and replenish sand on nearby Burleigh Beach.
Gold Coast Seaway
The Gold Coast Seaway or Southport Seaway is the main navigation entrance from the Pacific Ocean into the Gold Coast Broadwater and southern Moreton Bay and is one of Australia’s most significant coastal engineering projects. It is located at the northern end of the Southport Spit where the Nerang River enters the Pacific Ocean. The channel was constructed between 1984 and 1986, primarily to facilitate the safe passage of sea-faring vessels. The passage was previously known as the Southport Bar. The mouth of the Nerang River was once located further south in Broadbeach. The main driving force for this movement is the northward drift of sand along the coast. This northward drift was responsible for the unstable and shifting conditions of the bar, which made crossing it so hazardous for small boats. The southern training wall of the Gold Coast Seaway is the northern end of the Gold Coast Oceanway.
Snapper Rocks
Southbound or Northbound you can’t really miss if you start out at Snapper Rocks. Head North towards the Kirra end of things and you’ll find a large gutter. If you fish in here you have a chance at dart, flathead, tailor (in winter) and even the odd jewfish will make an appearance to get your reel screaming.
Head South towards Tweed Heads and you’ll find more gutters and the rock wall along the edge of the Tweed River. This can hide a large number of pelagic fish. Just be careful of the swell because this is Snapper Rocks after all. Surfers don’t flock here by the thousands because of the calm conditions.
