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The coast they call Gold begins just south of Stradbroke Island and curves down for nearly fifty miles to Point Danger. Along this massive sandy stretch, the lava headland of Burleigh Bluff stands forth as the northernmost sentinel of a classic series of right points, and -- when it's on -- one of the most spectacularly beautiful waves in the world.
Burleigh relies for its magic on sandflow from the Tallebudgera Creek mouth just south of the bluff. This fine river sand is carried with the prevailing currents around the front of the bluff and down its rocky north-facing edge in a long thin shallow band. It's not always a consistent band; for months, Burleigh can be reduced to a closed-out mess by bad sand distribution. But more often than not, the sand line is relatively straight and laid on a perfect angle for any swell with a hint of southerly angle. Imagine a super hollow warmwater version of Rincon and you're almost there, though comparisons don't do justice to Burleigh's glassed-off sucking marvel.
There's several distinct sections. Outside you'll find Sharkies, the aptly-named first section, breaking across the front of the bluff; thick, hollow and often closing out down to the bowling pits at The Cove, where Burleigh point begins to curve back toward the beach. The Cove's standup barrelling peaks run 80 yards or so down to The Point, where Bureigh's legends reside; The Point is a long walling ride spinning along the fine sandbar edge, where on a reasonably good day, five to ten second tubes are harvested with almost every passing set.
Inside The Point, right along the bluff's rim, lies Rockbreak, a lesser longish wave, best at high tide and ridden mostly on smaller days -- chest high and less -- when The Point is just capping, not funnelling. Rockbreak is so named after the slimy basalt boulders over which it bumps and grinds. Very occasionally, The Point's sand line drifts right into Rockbreak, forming a disgustingly epic 150-yard-plus roping barrel (see photograph); don't count on this, but if you score it, you'll not soon forget it.
Many pleasant beachbreaks surround Burleigh, including the often super-fun peaks along Palm Beach, south of Tallebudgera Creek, and toward Nobbys headland north of the point. Go south beyond Palmy and you'll come across the coast's best kept non-secret, Currumbin Alley, a lovely rivermouth right sandbar and focus of huge tow-in activity during rare giant swells.
Burleigh has two important hangups. One: the aforementioned rock. Rock-jumping is often the only sensible means of access during a real swell, and by the Lord, it isn't too dang sensible at that. Take your time and watch a local before giving it a shot. And, two: those locals. Great guys if you know 'em, but they have black belts in Outwitting Newcomers for Position. Let 'em go and maybe they'll let you go next time.
-- Nick Carroll
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Medium low
SE
Shoulder-high to double overhead
South
9.5
Sand/rocks
Intermediate-advanced
Shortboard, longboard, "funboard", six-channel, whatever
Late summer/fall
Straight from the point parking lot.
Insanely packed.
Freakin' intense when it's pumping
8.5
2
3
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Lots of eat-ins and take-outs in Burleigh's James Street shopping center just across the Pacific Highway from the beach. Bakeries -- pies, etc -- abound, and the Montiet Thai up the street a ways is pretty good. Breakfast at the cafe just next to the newsagency, facing over toward the point, is excellent. Right opposite the point itself is a small shopping arcade which contains one of Burleigh's landmarks, Montezuma's Mexican restaurant -- good food at reasonable prices, just watch the bar bill. Further north along the Pacific Highway, the Magic Apple serves good super healthy food all day.
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One zillion choices. Across from the point is a caravan/camping site, Burleigh Beach Tourist Park. This little gem will run you $500 a week (off season rates) for a two bed cabin, from which you could throw a rock and hit a surfer running along the point track to the jump-off zone. Less ($125 per week) for a powered site if you have a campervan or caravan. E-mail to burly@qctp.com.au or call (07) 5581 7755. Step up beyond that to something like Burleigh Gardens holiday apartments, where you can get a two bedroom apartment for around $100 per day. Or go all the way to Gemini Court, overlooking the point, where the pros stay during big contests (!); their rate is $140 a day, but deals can be cut, (07) 5576 0300.
Or try
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Like much of the Goldie, Burleigh is really a sleepy coastal town under a tourist-whiz disguise; most of the stores (other than the pubs and the bottle shops) are shut by 7pm. Head north toward Surfers Paradise -- about a 25-minute drive -- for serious nightclub action. The Burleigh Heads national park, spread across pretty much the whole magnificent headland, is worth wandering through, and it's also worth driving south to Currumbin Sanctuary for a look at how beautiful this coast must once have been. Otherwise, just surf your brains out.
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Mt Woodgee, on the Pacific Highway opposite the pub, is good for just about anything. Drive out along the west Burleigh road and you'll find a range of board factories, including Phantom Surfboards -- run by the energetic Chris Garrett, Phantom is well worth a look if you're after a custom board or repair job, call 'em on (07) 5535-9956.
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