My A-Z of Australia
B is for Burrum Heads, Queensland
Can you imagine living in a small, out-of-the way seaside village where most of the locals know each other, take the time to chat over the garden fence, where there is a feeling of real community spirit, and where neighbours actually care about each other?
When I retired, I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I wanted to find somewhere quiet where I could relax, and also enjoy my passion for photography, somewhere I could listen to the birds sing and enjoy seeing and photographing some of our unique wildlife in their natural habitat. I love the ocean, so it had to be near a beach, a place where I could enjoy long walks with my dogs, and not too hilly so I could ride my bike in comfort.
I found such a place that has all that and more . . . a sleepy little fishing village called Burrum Heads, a four hour drive north from where I lived in the city, or three hours from Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. Peace and tranquility abound in this little backwater of only 1,200 residents.
Burrum Heads
It isn’t a town you pass through on the way to some other destination, so if you miss the turn-off sign from the highway, you miss the town – there is only one road in and the same road out! The town is surrounded by National Park right down to the beach, so wildlife abounds! My passion for animals will be quenched here!
Everyone is friendly and most people know one other, at least by sight, and there is always someone ready to stop and have a chat.
One Road In . . . One Road Out
The aroma of coffee filters through the air as you walk past the shops – go grab one and sit at one of the outside tables along the row of shops across from the beach and watch the world go by. Unwind and relax - it’s that kind of place!
There are not many shops here, but enough for the necessities of life – the nearest reasonable sized town is half an hour away.
Burrum has a
- Supermarket
- Post Office
- Pharmacy
- Medical Centre
- Gas Station
- Two Hairdressers
- Butcher
- Beautician (Nails)
- Fast Food Shop
- Hardware Store that sells everything
- A Bakery who make their own fresh bread and cakes daily. Their cakes are to die for!
- And of course, a Real Estate office
Fancy eating out? Try the Pub or the Bowls Club, both serve delicious meals. There is a Library in the Community Centre where you can take a Yoga Class, or enjoy Thai Chi on the foreshore and have a laugh with the others who can’t get their co-ordination right either!
There are two caravan parks to cater for the influx of tourists who return here year after year to enjoy the fishing and sailing for which Burrum Heads is renowned. One of the caravan sites is right on the beachfront so you can wake up to an amazing ocean view every morning!
A fishing competition is held annually at Easter over two days, and people come from far and near to try their luck, as there are tempting prizes to be won! Fishing is a serious business here – the place is buzzing!
There are a few stalls selling hot and cold foods, drinks, ice cream, cotton candy, beachwear, a jumping castle for the children – and you can even take your dog!
Have a boat? No worries – there are two boat ramps to choose from to get your boat into the water. Explore the rivers and creeks in a small boat (we call them tinnies), or canoe, or just take advantage of the clear, warm water.
Life is simple here, nothing fancy, no skyscrapers, no bright lights, no crime to speak of, no traffic jams – heck, we don’t even have any traffic lights! Nope, I don’t miss city life at all!
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