BURLEIGH HEADS, QLD

SORRY TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE if you’ve only just discovered this beautiful neck of the Gold Coast hood: the secret’s been out for a while. Holidaymakers have been flocking to Burleigh Heads for more than a century to embrace its sun, sand and sea. Early visitors would travel by coach, cross the rivers by ferry and be transported along the beach at low tide to arrive here. That’s dedication.

In the late 19th century, a railway line between Brisbane and Southport was built, easing travel to the area and increasing its popularity. It became so popular, in fact, that