Main Beach is a fairly flat beach at the moment.  The swell was up for most of the weekend which made travelling on the beach a little difficult if you hadn’t worked around the tides.  However, most of the debris has gone with only the odd large tree logs scattered along the beach.  Watch out for these when driving at night, as although most are up high near the dunes, there are some large logs near the waters edge.  There are large drop offs from the sand dunes to the beach, due to the big swells of late and most of the nice fishing gutters have been washed away.  There is a large gutter that runs from about 5kms south of Point Lookout, through to the start of the camping areas (8kms south of the causeway).  All camping tracks are accessible although camper trailers should still avoid campsite 8, as the incline is too steep, try using track 7 instead.   The weather forecast is cold and windy weather for the rest of the week with the winds moving from the west through to the east and back to the west again by end of the week, as the high is moving fairly quickly.  15 knots seems to be the average with slightly windier conditions throughout.  The last quarter moon is approaching which should see the high tides drop a little and by Thursday night a change should move across Brisbane which hopefully should bring on the fish for the weekend, so if you are around, Thursday beach conditions should be fairly nice for the family with the Northerly winds bringing in some winter relief.  The weekend weather at this stage is also looking great for a bit of a fish and a relax.

Flinders Beach

Flinders Beach is slowly repairing itself.  There is still a large lagoon at the entrance of the Adder Rock (Point Lookout end), and you will only be able to access Flinders Beach from here 2 hours either side of low tide. Locals now call this ‘Lake Adder’, because that is a fairly good description of what you will encounter when entering the beach from this point. From Adder Rock there is a sand spit that runs approx 500 metres north, and over the last week some sand has built up enough, to be able to drive from the spit to the beach, without too much trouble, but make sure you are travelling around low tide, otherwise it is blocked off by water.  Be careful of the melon holes on the spit, closer to the lagoon side, they are still soft and you could be easily bogged in these, if you are not careful. Travelling on Flinders Beach should be done at the most 3 hours either side of low tide.  If travelling from Adder Rock, you can still get around the trees up to campsite 1, but again, low tide travelling is the go, otherwise you will find yourself driving in salt water, which is not the best for your car.  Access from Amity end is a lot better than it has been over the last month.  Sand has built up around the point and has also started filling up some of the better northern gutters, so you can access the beach up to 2 hours either side of high.  However, Flinders Beach access track (at the Beehive turnoff in Amity) still seems to the best access at the moment.   

Please let me remind you on the ‘No cars permitted zone’, outside of Adder Rock Camping Ground.  If you are accessing Flinders Beach from Point Lookout, you are not permitted to turn right and park your cars near the headland.  This area is designated for sunbathers alone and it is a fineable offence of up to $375.00 if ‘RCC Local Laws’ see you.  Lately, I have made an extra effort to inform our tourist friends of this ruling.  Although the beach has got a rather large sign erected at the entry to the beach, most people are oblivious to the sign.  Please pay attention to signs as they are erected for a reason, and should be taken seriously, otherwise your holiday may turn out to be a fairly expensive one.  On that note: “High tide ruling” – please do not drive your car on the beach 1 hour either side of high tide.  Again it is a fineable offence and I have noticed that the Local Laws Officers are policing this ruling every day, (not just on weekends).  So be aware.  That doesn’t mean that you are not able to park your car on the beach at high tide, you just aren’t allowed to drive on it during those two hours.

The professional fishermen (netters) are also netting on Main and Flinders Beach, so please be aware of them when they are netting, and keep yourselves and your vehicles well clear.  Of late, I have noticed a lot of people driving up to them and park their car in the middle of where they are working.  These guys need a lot of space around them when they start their haul, and will get quite upset if you purposely place your car in their way.  If you want to have a look, just keep your car, dogs and children well away until they have finished.  Have an enjoyable holiday folks and please remember basic road rules apply on our beaches.  Please be careful and keep you and your family safe.

GOLD COAST BEACH & SURF REPORT FROM DARREN SIMONDSON - SURFIN SNAPPS


IMAGE: Blake Ainsworth smashes off a Snapper lip