Sunshine CoastTravel Guide

Noosa, slightly less than two hours' drive from Queensland's capital, Brisbane, is renowned for its luxury resorts and holiday apartments. Cruise or canoe down the Noosa River or hike across the forests of Noosa National Park. Swim in the ocean or relax on the area's golden beaches and spend your downtime perusing stores and shopping on trendy Hastings Street.

Drive for an hour and 15 minutes from Brisbane and you'll discover Moffat Beach, a great place for anyone who loves walking. There's also a great coastal path that runs straight to Kings Beach, and the area boasts a strip of restaurants and cafes bustling with both tourists and locals. Moffat Beach has great surf and some beautiful accommodation.

In the heart of the Sunshine Coast, charming Maroochydore is a pristine place designed for morning strolls, leisurely paddles, and rock pool exploration. When you're tuckered out after an active day in the sun swimming and fishing, wind down with a beer or wine at the surf club or with a meal at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Coolum Beach, about 90 minutes from Brisbane, is home to a variety of restaurants and cafes run by locals. This is a great place to stay if you love to shop and dine in, with the added bonus of stunning views of the ocean and majestic Mt Coolum. Enjoy a beautiful coastal town with leafy backstreets and a great sense of serenity.

Caloundra, around a 75-minute drive from Brisbane, has a laidback ‘60s feel to it. Laze about by your hotel pool or sit on your balcony or on the beach to spot whales and watch ships go by. Venture out to enjoy the second-hand stores in town, the eateries right by the beach, and the breathtaking views from the headland at sunset.

Peregian Beach, just south of Noosa, is home to beautiful, safe beaches and excellent walking trails. There's a real community feel to Peregian Beach, as it doesn't see as many tourists as some other major towns on the Sunshine Coast. Spend some time in the local park, as well as the many cafes, shops, and markets.

It's no wonder nature is integral to the lives of locals. The hinterland area is one of the most beautiful places in Queensland. Walk one of the many peaceful nature trails, observe the plant and animal life along the way, and reward yourself with a paddle under a cool rainforest waterfall. You can easily make a day of the hinterland, enjoying the varied landscapes and galleries, pottery studios, and cafes of Maleny and Montville.

Australia Zoo, the world-renowned vision of The Irwin Family, is a wildlife park with animals from all over the planet. Hand-feed kangaroos in ‘Roo Heaven', see Sumatran tigers in the ‘Tiger Temple', or get a taste of the African savannah with rhino, giraffe and zebra enclosures. You can also see roving wildlife at the zoo, the famous ‘Crocoseum', and tropical creatures on ‘Bindi's Island'.

Underwater World SEA LIFE Mooloolaba is an aquarium that houses over 10,000 creatures of the sea and rivers, as well as Australia's largest collection of jellyfish. With nothing but a bit of glass to separate you, you'll get to see sharks and stingrays like you've never seen them before. You'll also get to learn about rare creatures such as sea dragons and, if you're lucky, meet the resident seals and otters.

The Glass House Mountains, once used as navigational landmarks by Aboriginal people, are defining features of the Sunshine Coast landscape. Hike, rock-climb or abseil the mountains and you'll experience a stunning view over surrounding plantations and eucalyptus forests. If you're up for a challenge, Mt Beerwah and Mt Tibrogargan have steep tracks that require a good half-day to conquer.

Climb Mount Coolum for spectacular views of the Sunshine Coast. While it's a challenging climb, taking around 30 to 40 minutes each way, it's well worth the hard work. From the top, you'll experience 360° views of the Sunshine Coast, from Noosa to Point Cartwright and the expanse of the hinterland. At the right time of year, around May to October, you may even see whales.

Head to Noosa's Hastings Street by day for smoothies, ice-cream and fine-dining, and by night for a peaceful stroll along the fairy light-lined streets. For dinner, make your way to Noosa Heads, a seafood hot-spot, where you can enjoy Mooloolaba prawns, North Queensland reef fish, and Moreton Bay bugs. If you're looking for something a little more low-key, walk the stylish strip of Alexandra Headland, home to a diversity of take-away shops, friendly cafes, and great seafood restaurants.

The Sunshine Coast has a unique coffee scene, with many cafes doubling as roasters and gift shops. Sit back and relax as you're served up an exotic blend. Then stock up on sweet treats, bags of tea leaves, coffee beans, and handmade cups and teapots. Great coffee spots on the Sunshine Coast include Noosa's Hastings Street, Maroochydore's Ocean Street, and in the hinterland towns of Melany and Montville

Enjoy stunning views of the river and hinterland at one of Noosaville's waterfront bars, or enjoy a cocktail in the bustling nightlife of Maroochydore. On a warm summer afternoon, enjoy a glass of wine in Hastings Street – a mecca for all things food and drink. Alternatively, head to one of the coast's many surf clubs for a cold beer and a good-value meal.

Sunshine Coast markets are great places to connect with the culture of the region. At the Bulcock Street Markets, you'll find arts and crafts inspired by the surrounding landscape, as well as entertainment and local produce. For fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, head to Noosa Farmers Markets, or visit the famous Eumundi Markets in the hinterland to explore hundreds of stalls with clothing, toys, musical instruments, food, furniture, and everything in between.

Sunshine Coast shopping centres are perfect places to unwind after a morning in the sun. The Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre in Maroochydore is a stand-out with over 200 specialty stores, a cinema complex, and several restaurants and bars. Other centres in the region include Kawana Shoppingworld, which has around 100 stores, and Stockland Caloundra, a centre with a variety of fashion, food, homewares, and gifts.

From the laidback charm of boutique fashion and homewares retailers at Peregian Beach to the beachwear stores of Maroochydore and high-end retailers of Noosa's Hastings Street, you're bound to find a shopping strip to suit your interests. Once you've shopped beachside, escape to the cooler air of Maleny and Montville for something a little different: hinterland scenery, organic cafes, bookstores, boutiques, and galleries.

Sunshine Coast taxis are easily accessible, as they can be booked electronically or over the phone. Alternatively, you can wait at one of the coast's many taxi ranks. These are located mainly in the major towns, with a rank on Minchinton Street in Caloundra, a rank between Noosa Parade and Hastings Street in Noosa, and one also outside Oceans on the Esplanade in Mooloolaba.

There aren't many places in the world where you get natural sights and tranquillity quite like that of the Sunshine Coast. Sightsee at your own pace by renting a bike, available to hire from bike-hire stores in Coolum Beach, Peregian Beach, Sunshine Beach, Noosaville, and Noosa Heads. Pedal away and enjoy the ocean air.

Getting around Sunshine Coast towns is best done by car, as this gives you the freedom to explore the sights with ease and at your own pace. There are many great spots spread across the region, with some of the best trails and lookouts a long distance from town centres. If you plan to stay in a few different areas, hire a car, as there is a sizeable distance between some major towns. The drive from Caloundra to Noosa, for example, takes at least 45 minutes.

Most bus services on the Sunshine Coast are provided by Sunbus and are available seven days a week, with some regional links also available in the hinterland provided by private companies. Trains are run by Queensland Rail, with some major hot-spots on the Sunshine Coast included on the Sunshine Coast line (Eumundi, Nambour, Landsborough, and Glass House Mountains Station).

Walking Sunshine Coast streets, trails and beaches, particularly at sunset, is a wonderful way to enjoy the natural environment and laidback atmosphere of the area. You can do most beachside destinations and hinterland towns on foot and there are also many well-maintained tracks in the region if you're after more of a challenge. For experienced bushwalkers, the Sunshine Coast offers walks between major towns.

The clear, calm waters of Noosa Main Beach, paired with its warm white sand, are truly postcard-perfect. With lifeguards on duty and paddle boards available to hire, you're sure to have a relaxing day out. If you don't want to swim, you can stroll along the wooden boardwalk running the length of the beach, or shop on nearby Hastings Street.

Coolum Beach is a surfing and golfing mecca. The golf course in the area has both coastal holes and fairways surrounded by native bushland, and the beaches are a perfect place for a surf. Coolum Beach has a carefree atmosphere. Here, you can spend days strolling along the boardwalk, swimming, and shopping at nearby boutiques

Situated at the northern end of Kawana Beach, Point Cartwright is an unpatrolled beach at the base of coastal cliffs. From here, there are amazing views of Mooloolaba, Mount Coolum and the mouth of the Mooloolah River, so it's a great place to sit back and relax, spot whales, and watch ships leaving the Port of Brisbane. The slopes covered in lovely green grass are perfect places for a picnic. Plus, there's great fishing nearby on the banks of the Mooloolah River.

If you're looking for a quiet alternative to Noosa Main Beach, walk a little east and you'll soon arrive at Little Cove. The houses overlooking the beach, paired with the surrounding forest, make Little Cove feel like a private beach. The sun isn't as intense here, so it's the perfect place to spend a few hours fishing and exploring rock pools.

Mooloolaba Beach has all the qualities you're looking for. It's scenic with beautiful clear waters and clean beaches that rarely get too crowded. Laze about on the soft sand, or spend hours exploring the rock pools for shells and creatures. There are also plenty of dining options a stone's throw away, so when it gets too hot you can duck indoors for a cold one or an ice-cream.

Moffat Beach has some of the best surf around, making it a popular spot for jet-skiing, surfing, stand up paddle boarding and kite-surfing. It's not just for the active-holiday makers however, with a great strip of cafes and a brewery, it's also ideal for a long lunch or a picnic on the grass. From here, you can take a breezy, scenic walk along the headland all the way around to Kings Beach, a particularly beautiful walk at sunset.