Sunrise to Sunset: A Gold Coast Day Out – From Captain Cook Lookout to Currumbin Wildlife and Burleigh Bliss

 

Sunrise to Sunset: A Gold Coast Day Out – From Captain Cook Lookout to Currumbin Wildlife and Burleigh Bliss 

 

It was still dark when we hit the road, heading southbound from Brisbane to the Gold Coast for a full day of adventure, good food, and furry encounters. The air was crisp, with the first hints of daylight brushing the horizon as we rolled into Coolangatta. 

Sunrise Under the Lighthouse: Captain Cook Memorial & Black Dingo Café 

Our first stop was the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse in Point Danger, perched right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales. The sky was breaking into pastels over Duranbah Beach, with surfers already carving up the early sets below us. Locals were out walking dogs, stretching into yoga poses, and sipping takeaway coffees—this place was alive and buzzing well before 6:30am. 

Tucked just beside the lighthouse is the Black Dingo Café (2 Boundary St, Rainbow Bay QLD), a cosy, pet-friendly café with front-row seats to the sunrise. The tables were mostly taken, a sign of a local favourite. We managed to grab one tucked to the side, watching the waves and the light slowly spilling over the ocean. 

The Black Dingo serves up classics with a local twist—think smashed avo with macadamia dukkah, spiced pumpkin toasties, and smooth, rich coffee that hits the spot after an early start. Kim got chatting with a couple who had the cutest puppies curled in a basket at their feet—Dingo/Kelpie crosses, their ears perked and eyes bright. Kim was instantly smitten. She half-joked about taking one home. (Honestly, I’m not sure it was a joke.) 

Packed with no seating, making sure Kim didn’t sneak a puppy in fer bag we left and wandered over to Awaken Café, nestled right on the corner at 275 Boundary Street, where the old Café DBar once stood. With its big windows and relaxed coastal feel, the place was already humming with quiet energy. Locals in wetsuits trickled in for their post-surf flat whites, and a few regulars had already claimed their favourite seats overlooking the ocean. 

The smell of fresh coffee and toasted sourdough floated through the air as we settled into a cooling table inside. The breeze carried that salty scent only a seaside morning can offer. We both ordered our favourites—eggs our way and bacon. As we waited, we people-watched—an older couple walking their whippet in matching sun hats, a kid chasing his flip-flop down the path, and a trio of cyclists laughing over their long blacks. The vibe was unmistakably Coolangatta: unhurried, friendly, and full of light. 

Breakfast arrived like a reward—vibrant, fresh, and plated with care. The flavours were just right, the coffee bold, and we lingered longer than we planned, soaking it all in. Kim mentioned how she could sit there all day with just the view and a second cappuccino. I couldn’t argue. 

It was the perfect start to a day on the coast—uncomplicated, nourishing, and quietly beautiful. Just the way we like it. 

 

 

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary: Wild Encounters Close to Home 

Bellies full and caffeine-fueled, we continued up the coast to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (28 Tomewin St, Currumbin QLD). It’s a Gold Coast icon—a wildlife park filled with native Australian animals, set within lush subtropical forest. 

General Entry: 

Adults: $59.95 

Children (3–13): $47.95 

Family Pass: $189.00 

Open daily: 9:00am–4:00pm 

We’ve had free family passes for over a year, tried giving them away a few times, but finally decided: why not just go ourselves? We’ve been several times, so we skipped the full circuit and stuck to the classics. 

First up: the famous Lorikeet feeding at the front gate. The colourful birds usually flock in for breakfast, landing right on your arms and heads—but with nearby trees in full bloom, they gave the official feeding spot a miss. A letdown for the first-timers hoping for the classic photo, but that’s nature for you. 

We strolled through the park, visiting the Koalas, the ever-hungry Kangaroos, towering Emus, and the friendly farmyard animals. The Dinosaur Island Trail was a detour for Kim’s selfie mission—life-size animatronic dinos make for epic Instagram moments. 

Just as we were about to move on, we saw something wild—a group of Dingoes had cornered a cheeky scrub turkey and chased it out of their enclosure. Pure chaos. Then, to our surprise, a usually shy Tasmanian Devil was pacing in plain sight—these guys tend to stay hidden during the day. A rare treat! 

A few hours were plenty for us. With the sun getting high, we decided to finish the day with lunch by the sea. 

 

Wildlife Encounters 

 

Lorikeet Feeding: Participate in the iconic daily feeding sessions at 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, where wild rainbow lorikeets descend to feed from visitors' hands.  

Koala Experiences: Get up close with koalas through photo opportunities and learn about their conservation.  

Kangaroo Feeding: Wander through open enclosures and hand-feed friendly kangaroos and wallabies.  

Diverse Fauna: Encounter a variety of animals, including emus, wombats, echidnas, saltwater crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, red pandas, and ring-tailed lemurs.  

 

Unique Attractions 

 

Lost Valley: Explore a rainforest environment housing exotic species like capybaras, binturongs, and tree kangaroos. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary 

Outback Springs: Experience an Australian outback setting with farmyard animals, gem panning, and traditional billy tea.  

Currumbin Wildlife Hospital: Observe the care and rehabilitation of over 12,000 animals annually through live-streamed procedures and educational displays.  

 

Adventure Activities 

 

TreeTop Challenge: Engage in high ropes courses and zip-lines suitable for various age groups.  

Segway Safari: Embark on a guided Segway tour through the sanctuary's grounds.  

 

Astra Lumina Night Walk 

 

Experience the sanctuary after dark with Astra Lumina, an immersive light and sound show that transforms the park into a luminous night-time journey. This 1–1.5 hour walk features cosmic-themed installations and supports the sanctuary's conservation efforts  

 

Lunch in Burleigh: Chillin' at Local 

 

We cruised north again and landed at Local Burleigh (1744 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD), a laid-back venue with an urban-meets-beachside vibe. The interior was cool and airy, with ocean breeze filtering in from open doors. 

The steak sandwich hit the mark, and the beef burger came stacked and juicy. Washed it all down with a couple of crisp, cold ales—exactly what we needed after a few hours of walking. 

After lunch, we strolled down James Street, Burleigh’s boutique shopping strip. Kim ducked into a few local stores, picking out pieces and chatting to shop owners. The vibe here is relaxed, creative, with a touch of luxe—perfect for a slow wander. 

 

Final Thoughts: 

 
From sleepy sunrise to beachside beers, this was one of those low-effort, high-reward kind of days. We didn’t do much we haven’t done before, but sometimes that’s the beauty of it—just soaking in the Gold Coast’s best bits and loving every moment of it. 

Chasing the first light at #PointDangerViews with a stunning #GoldCoastSunrise and brekkie at #AwakenCafe – nothing beats #BreakfastWithAView and a peaceful #OceanSunrise. Spent the day exploring #CurrumbinWildlifeSanctuary, feeding kangaroos, spotting koalas, and catching those classic #AussieAnimals moments. Loving the #GoldCoastLife, soaking in #BeachMorningVibes, and making the most of our #WeekendAdventures in this #CoastalEscape. #SunriseMagic #LorikeetLove #TreeTopChallenge #ExploreCurrumbin #WildlifeEncounters #CoastalBrunch #QLDGetaway #NatureAndNourish #WanderQueensland