Noosa, Byron and now Kirra… Why Kirra is becoming the most sought-after beachfront destination on the east- coast
For years Gold Coast locals have been drawn to Kirra, a small pocket within the wider Coolangatta suburb. Its beautiful beach, quiet, laid-back lifestyle, and also being recognised as Australia’s spiritual home of surfing, makes it now one of the most popular spots across the whole of the Gold Coast.
But it was only the pandemic that highlighted all of the above to the rest of the country, and even a few locals, with Kirra one of the most in demand areas across the country, as the Gold Coast enjoyed a property boom like no other region. Sydneysiders and Melburnians descended on the area, seeking a change in lifestyle that only somewhere like Kirra can bring.
Anyone with a board knows Kirra Beach. It is part of the Gold Coast World Surf Reserve, one of only eight in the world. Kirra Point, separating Kirra Beach to the West and Coolangatta Beach to the East, is one of the Gold Coast’s and the world’s premiere surf breaks.
It’s not just surfers who are taking advantage of what Kirra has to offer, albeit every new apartment development must have surf racks and a beach shower.
Families young and old have shown significant interest in Kirra, due to the beach being one of four (Coolongatta, Greenmount and Rainbow Bay), all within easy walking distance. Kirra’s rare north-facing beach, only really comparable with the likes of Byron Bay and Noosa, provides beautiful turquoise water, protected from the elements.
Azura Griffen, who heads up sales for the prominent local Gold Coast developer Marquee Development Partners, said that despite being a lifelong Gold Coast local, she had only recently discovered how special Kirra is.
“It’s truly the hidden gem of the coast,” Griffen suggested.
“Sitting at the southern end of the Gold Coast, nestled within Coolangatta, and just a stone's throw away from northern NSW, Kirra has a vibrant, relaxed village atmosphere filled with beachfront cafes, restaurants and parks.”
The village vibe will be heightened with the $385 million redevelopment of the Kirra Beach Hotel retail & entertainment precinct, which is currently being undertaken by the same team behind the popular, award-winning hotel and spa Elements of Byron.
The access to the airport compared to some of the more headline grabbing area of Main Beach and Broadbeach has proven to be another drawcard for those looking for weekenders and future retirement homes, with the proximity to the M1 also presenting direct access to Brisbane, Surfers Paradise, Byron Bay and the Gold Coast airport.
Lack of high-end stock is expected in the incredibly tightly held area, with construction costs soaring to record highs and land values also hitting records. The area is so tightly held, Marquee Developments, who recently sold-out SOL Kirra to their database, spent years working on creating a development site which they knew would bring one of the best apartment projects to Kirra.
Monterey, set at the quiet northern end of Musgrave Street, is just a stroll down the popular strip to the cafes and restaurants, and the brand- new beachfront Siblings Restaurant and Bar. To the north is the upcoming Native Stage Fitness and Wellness Centre, which is set to open in 2023, as well as the North Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club.
What’s most special about Monterey is what is directly in front of it. Marquee put together 12 individual apartment owners to create a site with the largest expanse of beach frontage on the southern Gold Coast. The site is half the size of a footy field.
Each apartment in Monterey, a maximum of just three per floor, will have views both along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise or over the Pacific Ocean to Snapper Rocks. Traditionally developments along the Gold Coast beachfront offer one or the other, nowhere else do you enjoy both the iconic skyline and Snapper views.
Surf racks and surfboard wash station on entry, Monterey offers just 35 three, four and five-bedroom apartments and penthouses, designed with the open plan kitchen living and dining space, as well as the master bedroom suite, to open up to the postcard views.
Marquee knew they would get extensive enquiry from Sydney and Melbourne, which has also been met with prospective buyers from the US and New Zealand, so they have strict agreements with owners that the apartments are not available for short-term letting, a move in which they believe will make for a more community-focused building of likeminded residents.