Yes, Rockaway Beach actually exists, it’s not just a catchy Ramones song.
Rockaway Beach is on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, New York City. In 2015 it was voted best beach in New York City.
But it hasn’t always been plain sailing. The boardwalk was badly damaged by hurricane Sandy in 2012 and part of the beach was closed in 2018 due to erosion.
I would love to visit this beach some day.
Recently I re-watched the 1994 Australian film Muriel’s Wedding and was struck by the familiarity of the fictional setting of Porpoise Spit as Muriel’s hometown. Upon investigation I discovered that the hometown scenes were filmed at Tweed Heads, and in various parts of the Gold Coast including Coolangatta beach and Surfers Paradise, beaches I have visited a few times in recent years as I have family living nearby.
Coolangatta is the beach that can be seen in the background as Rhonda and Muriel drive around saying goodbye to their hometown at the end of this scene.
Cloudy Coolangatta in 2013
A beach a day 