The Best Picnic Spots Around Tugun and the Southern Gold Coast

Some of the best meals on the southern Gold Coast happen sitting on a rug with sand between your toes. We're lucky down this end — between Tugun and Coolangatta there's a string of beaches, headlands and rock pools that are made for a long, slow graze. Here are our favourite picnic spots within a short drive of the shop, plus what to grab from us on the way through.

Where to spread the rug

Tugun Beach

Our home stretch. The grassed foreshore behind the dunes has shade, easy parking and a gentle beach break, so it's relaxed for families and quick to get to from the shop. Grab your picnic and you're set up within ten minutes.

Bilinga

The quieter neighbour just north of the airport. Wide, uncrowded sand and big sky make it a good pick when you want space to breathe and a long flat patch to lay everything out without elbows everywhere.

Currumbin Beach and Elephant Rock

One of the prettiest pockets on the coast. The grassed area near Elephant Rock looks back over the alley and the estuary, and it's a lovely spot to watch the light change late in the afternoon. Get there early on weekends for a shady table.

Currumbin Rock Pools

Head inland a few minutes and it's a different world — freshwater pools, gum trees and a swimming hole that's a hit with kids. Bring sturdier footwear and pack everything in, because there's nothing to buy once you're there. Worth the short walk.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary surrounds

The parklands and reserve around the Sanctuary give you proper greenery, picnic tables and shade. Easy to combine with a morning at the Sanctuary, then unpack lunch nearby once the little ones have run themselves out.

Point Danger and Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta

The southern tip, right on the border. Big headland views, whale watching in season and that famous Superbank rolling below. It's exposed up top, so pick a calm day, find a sheltered nook and settle in for the show.

What to pack from Quince

A great picnic is really just good things in a basket, so we keep it simple. The easiest route is to grab a ready-made hamper or build your own — pick the bits you love and we'll put it together.

• Cheese and deli. A soft, a hard and something with a bit of character travels well. Add some charcuterie, olives and a few crackers. Come and see us in store and we'll talk you through what's tasting best that week.
• Wine. A crisp white, a rosé or a chilled natural are all easy outdoor drinking. Browse the full cellar and we'll point you to something that suits the spread.
• The little extras. Quince paste, a good chutney, marinated bits and a small oil for dunking turn a plate into a proper graze.

One honest note on the wine: alcohol rules in public spaces vary spot to spot, and some council areas and beaches are alcohol-free or have restrictions at certain times. Check the signage where you're headed, and either way, please drink responsibly.

The kit that makes it easy

The difference between a good picnic and a great one is usually the setup. A proper picnic rug keeps you off the damp grass and sand, and a serving board means you can actually present the cheese rather than balancing it on a napkin. We keep both in store alongside the food, so you can sort the whole lot in one stop.

One stop on the way through

You'll find us at Shop 5, 570 Gold Coast Hwy, Tugun, inside Cornerstone Stores — minutes from every spot on this list. We make our cheese platters and grazing boards fresh in store (they're not something we ship), so the easiest plan is to swing by, tell us where you're heading and roughly how many you're feeding, and we'll build you something to match.

Open Sunday to Thursday 9–4 and Friday to Saturday 9–6. Give us a call on 0406 802 323 if you'd like a board put together for a particular time, or just wander in and have a browse. Pack well, find some shade, and enjoy it.