The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful coastal area that starts just north of Brisbane, Queensland. Beaches, hinterland, bush, forest, and villages merge to form the Sunshine Coast. An area that stretches from Caloundra in the south to Tin Can Bay in the North.
Alexandra Headland
Affectionately referred to as “Alex” by locals, Alexandra Headland is a suburb that is nestled between Maroochydore and Mooloolaba. Alexandra Headland is best known for its clean, open and patrolled the beach, which is a favorite for swimmers and surfers and boasts great wave breaks all throughout the year. If you want to enjoy a beachside barbecue without wrestling the crowds for a hot plate, then this is the place to come. There is a wide grassed area overlooking the beach where you can set up a picnic at one of the many tables or stoke a barbecue on one of the free to use hot plates.
Travel Tip: Just across from the beach there is a strip of cafes, restaurants, clothing shops and a news agency. The path leading from Alexandra Headlands up over the hill to Mooloolaba is a highly popular place for walkers and joggers to burn some calories in the early mornings and late afternoons. If you are more inclined to want to chill out than exercise, then the headland is an excellent spot to take a picnic and gaze out to sea enjoying the views up to Mt. Coolum in the north and Point Cartwright in the south.
Beerburrum
Beerburrum is located on the Glass House Mountains Road and a major pineapple growing area. The main attractions are the Queensland Reptiles and Fauna Park, Aboriginal Bora Ring, The Big Kart Track, Glass House Mountains National Park, State Forestry Lookouts, Matthew Flinders Park and the Wild Horse Lookout. Beerburrum is steeped in history because 500 blocks of land were allocated to returned servicemen from world war one. As you walk or drive through Beerburrum you will find a lot of old signage, which recognizes the town’s involvement in the soldier settlement scheme. You’ll also see the Avenue of trees which were planted in 1920 down Anzac Avenue.
Travel tip: You’ll find historical information near the Beerburrum state Beerburrum has pockets of rainforest, eucalypt, as well as pine forests. There are many walking tracks and lookouts that you can enjoy and there is also a camping area and picnic areas. Things to do around Beerburrum and the Glasshouse Mountains National Park include bird watching, mountain biking, rock climbing, canoeing, and camping.
Beerwah
Beerwah is a small town off the Bruce Highway on the Glass House Mountains Tourist Route. Good views of the volcanic peaks. Beerwah has a golf course, a train station, shopping centers, and Australia Zoo. It also has a sports ground with a youth activities center, a golf course, a hotel, and a motel. Beerwah also has 3 schools and a private college. Visit the Beerwah Aquatic Centre. Located on Roberts Road, Beerwah, the center has a 25-meter heated pool and offers learn-to-swim classes. Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo is one of Australia’s greatest tourist attractions, drawing people from all over the world and it is in Beerwah.
Local tip: Another tourist attraction, the Glass House Mountains are located nearby. Beerwah Market – 7-11 am the first Sunday of the month, Beerwah Marketplace (Woolworths) car park, Peachester Rd, Beerwah
Bli Bli
Bli Bli is a small community that is situated a few kilometers inland from the Maroochy area. It is now a small residential community and is minutes from the Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, Mudjimba Beach, and the Bruce Highway. Bli Bli rises above the wetlands, which were for many years the home of the Sugar Cane Industry. From the early 1970s until recent times, Bli Bli was most notable for the “fairy tale” castle that has been built as a tourist attraction in the village. Take a cruise through the Maroochy Wet Lands Sanctuary, or walk the boardwalks through the swamps and mangroves. Make sure you have insect repellent on though. Wheelchair access is provided via the boardwalk for part of the way.
Sightseeing Tip: Visit the Sunshine Castle and its many medieval features, including drawbridge and moat, dungeon, and torture chamber. Also located at Sunshine Castle is a doll museum featuring animated dancing dolls and dolls in national costume. Sunshine Castle, the Castle is filled with medieval displays and other exhibitions that you are able to explore at your own pace by walking around. Children are sent on a Treasure Hunt and are able to choose a free treat from the King’s treasure upon successful completion of their quest.
Boreen Point
Boreen Point is a small village overlooking Lake Cootharaba with sandy beaches and pleasant picnic spots and the historic Apollonian Hotel. A good sailing spot with easy beach launching. Boreen Point is the place that Sunshine Coast locals go when they want to escape. It is a tranquil little hamlet set on the shores of Lake Cootharaba and a wonderful place for a weekend getaway or day trip. If you are into fishing, sailing or windsurfing, then this is the perfect place to base yourself while exploring the possibilities on offer on the lake. Lake Cootharaba is a large and shallow lake that is well regarded on a national level for sailing and it makes ideal bathing for families with young children as the lake is shallow with a wide shallow space for bathing and an average depth of only 1.5 meters.
Local Tip: One of the favorite things to do here is to pack your tent and barbecue and set up camp here for a weekend of laid back swimming, fishing and total relaxation with friends or family. If camping is just not your thing, then you can also rent cottages around the area and enjoy a more luxurious trip away. Getting to Boreen Point is easy as it is only 20 km from Tewantin.
Buderim
Buderim sits on a mountain plateau with ocean views and is about 15 minutes inland from the coast. The name is derived from Budderam, an Aboriginal word for honeysuckle. The village has art and craft galleries and is known for its floral exhibitions. Buderim rainforest park has easy walks with waterfalls and picnic areas. Buderim is placed on and around a volcanic plateau, just 600ft above the Pacific Ocean. It is a lovely leafy area, lined with poinciana trees and flowering shrubs. Buderim does still have a significant heritage relic of the early days in the form of the Pioneer Cottage, which is restored and cared for by the Buderim Historical Society.
Sightseeing tip: Visit the Buderim Aquatic Centre. Located at Buderim next to the primary school, the center offers a flexible aquatic activities program for all ages.
Caloundra
Caloundra is at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast. Check out Dicky and Kings Beach and the more sheltered Bulcock and Golden Beaches. Fishing and boating is easy in Pumicestone Passage protected by Bribie Island. Caloundra has a full range of accommodation options and is popular with families. Caloundra has 10 excellent patrolled beaches, some rainforest areas and a number of national parks. Inland from the city is the popular attractions of Australia Zoo, Aussie World, Ettamogah Pub, Big Kart Track, and the Glass House Mountains. Captain James Cook named the Glass House Mountains in 1770 and Matthew Flinders was one of the early visitors and climbed Mt Beerwah in 1799.
Travel Tip: Take a morning cruise to explore the beauty and wildlife of the Pumicestone Passage or a lunchtime cruise from Caloundra CBD to Pelican Waters Tavern for lunch and view the canal homes. Every Thursday there’s an eco-adventure cruise to discover native flora and fauna.
Cooran
Cooran is a small village located at the bottom of Mt. Cooran. A good picnic spot is at Mothar Mountain Rockpools. The origin of the name is a dialect for tall, referring to local trees. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle then you could drive up to the Mothar Mountain State Forest areas where there are walking tracks and swimming holes. You might also enjoy looking at the view from the Cooran Tablelands lookout. Cooran Markets are held from 7 am-1 pm on the first, third and fifth Saturday of each month, in King St.
Local tip: Check out the Cooran Lagoon, which is not far from the train bridge on James Street. In 1870, the lagoon was also the site of the Half Way Hotel on the original Tewantin-Gympie Coach route. Sadly, only a faded plaque marks the site now.
Cooroy
Cooroy is a traditional country town with its prize-winning streetscaping and community artwork is worth a visit with its urban village-like atmosphere. Cooroy started as a camp for timber workers in 1863. The railway came to Cooroy in 1891 and soon after the main street started to develop. The town relied on the sawmills and local dairies and was a prosperous town until the collapse of the dairy and fruit growing industries in the 1970s. Cooroy is now famous for Cooroy Water which flows from Cooroy Mountain and sold all over Australia.
Local tip: Work commenced in 1987 on Lake MacDonald Botanical Gardens to create some magnificent botanic gardens on the site of a rubbish tip at Lake Macdonald. Around 80 percent of the plants in the garden are native species and home to tortoises and 40 varieties of birds make for a very pleasant place to walk around. The gardens are located on Lake Macdonald Drive just before you reach Cooroy from Noosa. Ida Duncan who founded the gardens had a vision that a rubbish tip was not the correct use of land and she planted native trees all over the land. The gardens cover 20 acres and have an amphitheater in the gardens used for concerts and weddings and other Noosa events.
Coolum Beach
Coolum Beach is a white beach with parkland, playground and barbecue areas. Coolum has cafes, restaurants and a variety of accommodation including the Hyatt Regency Coolum with a championship golf course. Coolum is between Noosa and Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. Coolum has a very popular beach and has a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Cafes, restaurants, and shops line the main street. Coolum has plenty of good value accommodation that faces the sea. It is easy to travel north to Noosa from Coolum and to the hinterland villages behind Coolum. Golfing enthusiasts will enjoy the proximity of golf courses at the Hyatt, Noosa Springs, Novotel Twin Waters, and Pelican Waters. Bushwalkers will enjoy Mt Coolum and the walks alongside the beach. Surfers will enjoy the waves and swimmers at the patrolled beach.
Locals tip: A favorite attraction located close to Coolum Beach is a climb to the top of Mt. Coolum. Aboriginal legend has it that Mt Coolum was a warrior who took a fancy to a fair maiden named Maroochy, but jealous Mt. Ninderry wanted her for himself and in the ensuing battle lopped off Coolum’s head. When you get to the top of the mountain you will see stunning views out to Mt Ninderry, along the coast and if you look out to the Pacific Ocean, you will see poor Coolum’s head in the water otherwise known as Old Woman Island.
Currimundii
North of Caloundra and south of Wurtulla and you will find it by driving along Nicklin Way. To access the Currimundi Lake Conservation Park, you need to be north of Currimundi. This area has a pocket of Wallum Health which once covered nearly all of the area. This type of habitat brings in amazing bird species and insects to feed and shelter. You can walk around the lake, picnic in the picnic area or you can walk through the Coongarra Esplanade to the beach. The picnic area has BBQs and Toilets. While you are walking you may see brown honeyeaters, fairy-wrens, native finches or noisy friarbirds. You can also see the wildflowers in late winter and spring. There is a real spirit of community in this little section of the coast and stay here on holidays is a good choice if you want to be close to the action and amenities, but far enough away to enjoy a “cruisy” break.
Family tip: If you have children, then Currimundi Lake is an excellent swimming spot with its calm and shallow waters perfect for little ones to bathe in. The Currimundi Conservation Park right next door to the lake is a rare pocket of coastal bushland that has survived development along the coast. It is a relaxing place to stroll amidst the banksias and take in a wide range of local birdlife and enjoy the lookout.
Cotton Tree
Cotton Tree is situated between Maroochydore and the mouth of the Maroochydore River. Cotton tree is a vibrant, growing area with lots of shops, holiday apartments, restaurants, and cafes. There are large parks along the esplanade suitable for picnics and BBQ’s and there are wonderful beaches nearby. Cotton Tree Caravan Park is a popular place to stay. Picnicking at Cotton Tree Esplanade, BBQs available, Fishing in the Maroochy River, Sunshine Coast library, Maroochydore RSL, Safe beaches. Cotton Tree Street Markets are held at7am-noon on Sundays, in King St, Cotton Tree.
Local tip: Visit the Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre located at Cotton Tree next to the picturesque Maroochy River, the three heated pools are ideal for year-round swimming.
Eumundi
James Gridley in 1873 settled in what became Eumundi a town about 20 minutes drive from Noosa. On your way into Noosa, Eumundi is often missed due to the bypass that skirts the town from the Bruce Highway. Eumundi comes alive every Wednesday and Saturday with thousands of visitors attending the Eumundi markets. A market that has grown as a major Queensland attraction. Eumundi combines old and new with its art galleries, restaurants, shops, strawberry farm and lots more. Eumundi started out as a timber and dairy town with many buildings constructed between 1890 and 1930. Some of the buildings that can still be seen are the bank building, Eumundi museum, old bakery and the School of Arts Hall. The railway came to Eumundi in 1891 which made Eumundi an important trading post. The construction of two butter factories one in Eumundi and the other in Cooroy in the 1920s established Eumundi as a dairy center.
Local tip: The famous Eumundi market operates every Saturday and Wednesday morning. Over 250 exciting stores offer handicrafts local produce and many other delights. A policy of careful selection of stallholders ensures only the best items and crafts are available for purchase.
Flaxton
Flaxton is a small village on the Blackall range in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Here you will find many bed and breakfasts, places that offer Devonshire teas and the odd restaurant or arts and crafts shop. There are many avocado and macadamia nut farms in this area. The Backall ranges are a wonderful place to drive, do some birdwatching, explore, look at the magnificent views or picnic.
Travel tip: The Flaxton Barn and Model Railway is a miniature railway with trains based on real German trains.
Foote Sanctuary
Native forest regeneration in this small park on the northeast slopes of Buderim mountain. Access is from Parkview Terrace, park Street and Grant Street in Buderim. The Sanctuary is situated in the heart of Buderim. It is an area of approximately 11 hectares of attractive rainforest and native bushland. It is a flora and fauna reserve known to support two hundred and seventy-two indigenous flora species, a haven for over one hundred species of birds and significant habitat for a range of large mammals, and swamp wallabies.
Local Tip: The Foote Sanctuary strongly promotes the future of the “Richmond Birdwing Butterfly” with a rigorous planting program. It has walking tracks, a picnic area with toilets, electric barbeques, and sections set aside as plantations with spaced trees.
Forest Glen
Forest Glen is just off the Bruce Highway on Tanawha Tourist Drive and home to Forest Glen Deer Sanctuary, Super Bee Honey Factory, and Buderim Forest Park. Forest Glen is a suburb in the Sunshine Coast near Buderim. Forest Glen is also the birthplace of Hugh Sawrey, a famous Australian artist and founder of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame, who was born there in 1919.
Travel tip: While at Forest Glen be sure to take a drive through Tanawha Tourist Drive, where you will find great attractions and wonderful scenery. Meander through Buderim Forest Park with its beautiful rainforest, barbecue picnic facilities, forest boardwalk, and unique flora and fauna. Forest Glen is also home to a large conference venue.
Kenilworth
Located in the verdant Sunshine Coast Hinterland on the Conondale Range, Kenilworth has a charming little village feel that makes it an idyllic place to spend time on your Sunshine Coast getaway. The town is a gourmand’s delight and most famous for its dairy products. The award-winning Kenilworth Cheese Factory is an excellent place for cheese lovers to try out some of the country’s finest gourmet cheeses. It is open seven days a week and offers cheese tasting and the chance to buy direct from the makers. Wine lovers will also enjoy a visit to the Blind Mans Bluff Vineyard in Kenilworth where you can sample locally produced wines, purchase from the cellar door and enjoy a drop of vino served up with local specialties. All around Kenilworth there are beautiful hiking and bushwalking trails and camping spots. One of the most popular locations to get into nature and get some fresh air is at Gheerulla State Forest, where there are trails, picnic and barbecue facilities to help make for a pleasant day out. Another impressive natural spot in the area is the Kenilworth State Forest with its tranquil streams, lush forest and deep gorges forming a backdrop along the bushwalking paths.
Sightseeing tip: A sojourn around the Kenilworth Historical Museum is an interesting way to pass a couple of hours as the museum charts more than 150 years of pioneering and local history.
Kin Kin
Kin Kin is a small village at the corner of Noosa Shire with an old and famous pub, the Country Life Hotel. Kin Kin is the aboriginal name for a species of small black ant that is common in the area. It grew in the 1870s into a settlement for bullock drivers hauling logs to the sawmill at Elanda point. The quality of the Kin Kin timber was famous throughout Australia. In the early 1990s, dairy farming flourished. Kin Kin is renowned for its great food, art, and scenery. Today it is a retreat for artists, foodies, and local farmers and is home to one of Australia’s premier health retreats as well as a residential massage school.
Local tip: If you’re looking to make a positive health change, combined with some pampering and relaxation, Living Valley Springs Health Retreat may be the perfect remedy.
Kawana Waters
Kawana Waters is a popular residential area just south of Mooloolaba with patrolled beaches at Buddina and Wurtulla, with a large shopping center and a marina. Kawana Waters Swimming Beaches and Surfing are extremely popular. You’ll find some of Australia’s best surfing beaches at Kawana Waters, where the beach is literally in your backyard. Tourists and residents alike are able to discover in excess of twelve kilometers of pristine protected beaches that share a border with the Coral Sea. Not only that, Kawana Island gives visitors and residents the advantage of direct ocean access from parklands, beaches and waterfront allotments.
Travel tip: The Lake is a huge asset to Kawana Waters residents attracting elite athletes and enthusiasts for a host of non-motorised water sports including rowers, kayakers and model boat sailers just to name a few. A 2.5-kilometer regatta course forms part of the Lake Kawana development and offers excellent access for athletes, a variety of vantage points for spectators and surrounding infrastructure such as hotels, shops, and restaurants for competitors and their families. In addition, Lake Kawana is surrounded by beautiful beaches, parks, and pathways for picnicking, jogging, cycling and a multitude of other activities.
Landsborough
Landsborough is an old inland town, just off the Bruce Highway that served the coaches running from Gympie to Brisbane. Named after William Landsborough a famous Australian explorer. The Landsborough Museum has a good social history collection and Australian memorabilia. Landsborough township has a shopping center, three churches, a memorial park, a pub, a school of arts, a hall, a historical museum housed in the heritage-listed former Landsborough Shire Council chambers (1924) and a scout park on the former racecourse.
Travel tip: Landsborough is situated on the main railway line from Brisbane and there are several services daily southbound to Brisbane and northbound to Nambour and Gympie. It is one of the main rail/bus interchanges for TransLink bus services to the Sunshine Coast.
Mapleton
Mapleton is one of the charming Sunshine Coast Hinterland towns that is well worth a day trip or a romantic weekend away to visit. One of the best things about Mapleton is the variety of lush green forest and nature reserves that can be visited nearby. One of the favorite local natural sites is Mapleton Falls National Park where the waterfall cascades 120 meters. The Peregrine Lookout provides an excellent view of the Obi Obi valley.
Sightseeing tip: If you have worked up a thirst exploring the area, then one of Mapleton’s best watering holes is the Mapleton Tavern, which boasts gorgeous views out over the hinterland all the way to the ocean. Mapleton is well known for its annual Yarn Festival during which poets and storytellers gather to battle it out for prizes and yarn spinning glory.
Maleny
Located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland overlooking the picturesque Glass House Mountains, it is no wonder that Maleny is one of the best-loved tourist destinations and local weekend getaway spots on the Sunshine Coast. The little mountain township has a very strong sense of community with a distinctly Bohemian feel and as such there are some interesting shops and art galleries to stroll around along the main street. The Art and Wood Valley View Gallery and Café are run by world-renown artist Randy DeGraw and besides his fascinating wood creations, there is lead lighting, jewelry, silks, and glassware.
Local Tip: There is nothing quite as refreshing as swimming in freshwater and one of Maleny’s hidden gems is Gardener’s Falls. Just outside of Maleny the falls are a short drive from the main road and have clear water babbling brooks and rock pools to swim in and a stunning billabong.
Marcoola
Marcoola is an area of fast-developing beach resorts just north of the Maroochy River. Very easy to reach from Sunshine Coast airport which is just a few km away. Most of the Marcoola accommodation is on the beach and there are a number of shops, restaurants, and the Marcoola Surf Club. Marcoola is a suburb of the Sunshine Coast that is nestled between the Maroochy River and the Pacific Ocean. As a result, there are plenty of water activities to be tried out all around Marcoola from kayaking and sailing on the river to surfing some of the Sunshine Coast’s best waves. Marcoola Beach is also one of the coast’s most uncrowded beaches with a wide expanse of fine white sands and the azure waters awaiting you, you could be mistaken for feeling like you are on a deserted island.
Travel tip: Marcoola is nearby one of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest resorts the Novotel Twin waters which boast world-class golf facilities and a range of other activities for guests and visitors. In recent years Marcoola has undergone a development boom and there are several accommodation choices available. The strip along the David Low Way is still dominated by Surf Air, which is the veteran hotel in the area and has a great bar and restaurant attached.
MaroochydoreMaroochydore
Maroochydore is in the center of the Sunshine Coast and acts as the commercial center for the Sunshine Coast. The Maroochy River is a pleasant place to walk, fish or swim. The Sunshine Plaza in the center of Maroochydore is the main shopping center for the Sunshine Coast. Cotton Tree Esplanade is on the Maroochy River and has safe beaches for children. On the seafront at Cotton Tree are open beaches and a number of caravan parks, motels, and apartments. Further down the river on Bradman Avenue boats can be hired and the area is popular for sailing, boating, fishing, and jet skiing.
Travel tip: Close to Maroochydore are Buderim Forest Park and Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary at Bli Bli. To the north of the Maroochy River are the resort area of Twin Waters and surf beaches. Noosa is about 30 minutes drive north.
Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba has a harbor with the fishing fleet, beach and well-landscaped esplanade with restaurants. Home to ‘Under Water World’ oceanarium with live sharks and daily shows located near the Wharf. Mooloolaba is a cosmopolitan beachfront resort in the center of the Sunshine Coast. Just over an hour from Brisbane and about 30 minutes from Noosa at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast. The Esplanade at Mooloolaba has cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues and shops that face onto the beach and bay. Mooloolaba even has a toilet block, known locally as the loo with a view, that has great views over the beach and ocean!
Local tip: The Esplanade at Mooloolaba has cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues and shops that face onto the beach and bay. Mooloolaba even has a toilet block, known locally as the loo with a view, that has great views over the beach and ocean!
Mooloolah
Mooloolah is located on Glass House Mountains Road and is the aboriginal expression for ‘black snake’. Famous for the Ettamogah Pub, a cartoon style building viewed from the Bruce Highway. Next door is Aussie World with a number of attractions. Mooloolah Valley is a small town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Mooloolah is located off the Glass House Mountains Road via Mooloolah Connection Road with Glenview and Palmview being located just off the Bruce Highway. Mooloolah is aboriginal for ‘black snake’. It is a peaceful, rural town with a variety of things to do. You can grab a pint at the Ettamogah Pub, a restaurant, and bar in an oddly proportioned cartoon-like architectural building which is a popular focal point for photographs.
Sightseeing tip: To learn more about Australian history take a trip to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Aussie World. Also at Aussie World, learn the art of sheep shearing, milk cows or feed the lambs in the Bush Camp.
Montville
Montville is the artistic and creative heart of the Sunshine Coast with a swathe of galleries, craft and gift stores located along the main street. It is a delightful place to spend a morning or afternoon exploring the boutiques and stores selling everything from locally produced art and fashion to exotic items from such far-flung lands as India and Peru. There is a delightful sense trail that begins near the Village Hall and extends down along a path and footbridge to Razor Back Lookout where you are treated to beautiful panoramic views. For an introduction to some of the region’s most talented artists and sculptors, you should visit the Montville Art Gallery located on Main Street. The gallery is housed in a 19th-century worker’s cottage, which adds to the ambiance and charm within its walls. The gallery manager, Lisa Powell ensures that there is a constant stream of fascinating visiting exhibitions as well as regular exhibitors’ work to keep visitors excited by the talent available on the coast.
Local tip: For an introduction to some of the region’s most talented artists and sculptors you should visit the Montville Art Gallery located on Main Street. The gallery is housed in a 19th-century worker’s cottage, which adds to the ambiance and charm within its walls. The gallery manager, Lisa Powell ensures that there is a constant stream of fascinating visiting exhibitions as well as regular exhibitors’ work to keep visitors excited by the talent available on the coast.
Nambour
Nambour is located to the west of the Bruce Highway in a valley just below the Blackall Range. Nambour was the original business center of the Sunshine Coast due to the railway line passing through and the Sugar Cane industry. Nambour was home to the Moreton sugar mill which provided prosperity to the town and is now closed. Sugar cane trains used to pass through the center of town. Close to Nambour are the Big Pineapple and the popular hinterland villages of Montville and Maleny.
Travel tip: Nambour is the main railway connection for the Sunshine Coast and bus connections operate to Noosa and Maroochydore on the coast. In the centre of Nambour is Petrie Park with its footbridges and Quota Park with a large adventure playground.
Noosa
Noosa provides pleasure to all. A north-facing surfing beach, pristine river, fine restaurants, sophistication, national parks, plenty of action and you have the perfect holiday retreat. Visitors flock to Noosa from all over the world, many as frequent visitors and some returning to live in this exceptional coastal village. Noosa Heads is the resort area that contains Hastings Street and the main tourist area behind Hastings Street. The main beach fronts onto Hastings Street. At the end of Hastings Street is the Noosa Woods and Noosa Spit. At the eastern end of Hastings Street is the Noosa National Park. Noosaville is the area that borders the Noosa River with its riverfront precinct and street restaurants. Noosa Junction is the central shopping area with cinema and banks and located behind Hastings Street over Noosa Hill.
Local tip: The Noosa River system is very much part of Noosa life. The Noosa River is one of the most pristine in Australia. It stretches south to Lake Weyba and to the North passes through Lake Cooroibah and Lake Cootharaba to the famous Everglade regions.
Palmwoods
Palmwoods is nestled halfway between the Sunshine Coast coastline and hinterland surrounded by pineapple plantations and avocado orchards. The little community take pride in its strong village feel and there is a variety of local groups and organizations operating in the town that began life as a Cobb & Co wet weather stops en route to the Gympie gold mines in the mid 19th century.
Local tip: If you like cool blues music on a warm day, then head to the Palmwoods Hotel where there is live music every weekend. As well as being the spiritual home of blues on the Sunshine Coast the pub is also famous for its generous sizzling steaks. One of the best known and loved local Palmwoods restaurants is Clio’s, which features a delectable menu with a soothing ambiance and beautiful tropical gardens.
Peregian
Located just to the south of Noosa, Peregian is enjoying a renaissance at the moment as it emerges from the shadow of its northern neighbor and finds its own groove. Peregian does Sunshine Coast lifestyle extremely well-blending access to a stunning surf and swimming beach with casual dining, shopping and village life. Mooching around the shops at Peregian and refueling on a little something from one of the local cafes by day is a great way to while away the hours and melt away the stress. There are plenty of interesting boutiques, giftwares, and homewares shops to browse through. By night there are some charming local restaurants to dine in that ooze coastal casual ambiance and offer international menus.
Travel tip: Lake Weyba National Park lies at the western edge of Peregian and you can visit one of the coast’s best-kept secrets for eco-tours, bird watching tours or canoe tours, which can also be accompanied by a picnic on the lake’s shores.
Pomona
Pomona nestles in a beautiful valley at the base of 438 meters high Mt Cooroora, about 166 kilometers north of Brisbane. Once a timber and dairy town, Pomona now has become a popular area for those seeking a serene, rural lifestyle, with small farms and country homes. Memorial Hall Pomona has retained much of its quaint historical built character which the community fights hard to protect. The most iconic historical building is the unique and famous Majestic Theatre, built-in 1921, which is the only authentic continuously operating silent movie theatre in the world, with pictures accompanied live on the pipe organ.
Local tip: Within short driving distances are scenic lookouts, magical valleys, and mystical mountains, in which a number of charming B & B’s offer quality accommodation in idyllic locations. The undulating, fertile hinterland countryside abounds richly with a multitude of flora and fauna. The locals love where they live and it shows in their friendly reception to visitors.
Sunshine Beach
As the name suggests, one of the best things to do at Sunshine Beach is chill out and soak up the sun and surf on the beach. The wide expanse of beach here makes it the perfect place to pull up a patch of sand for your very own and relax to the max. The vibrant dining culture that has sprung up around Sunshine Beach has put this little surfing enclave on the local map and there are now boutiques and other retailers that are making the move to Sunshine Beach, particularly along Duke Street. While staying in Sunshine Beach you are only a 10-minute drive from all the action of Noosa, while enjoying the peaceful and more laid back surroundings on offer at this locale. Sunshine Beach is located at the southern point of the Noosa Heads National Park, a great place to take a casual beachside hike and spot some of the local community of koalas going about their lazy day rituals.
Travel tip: The vibrant dining culture that has sprung up around Sunshine Beach has put this little surfing enclave on the local map and there are now boutiques and other retailers that are making the move to Sunshine Beach, particularly along Duke Street. While staying in Sunshine Beach you are only a 10-minute drive from all the action of Noosa, while enjoying the peaceful and more laid back surroundings on offer at this locale. Sunshine Beach is located at the southern point of the Noosa Heads National Park, a great place to take a casual beachside hike and spot some of the local community of koalas going about their lazy day rituals.
Tewantin
Tewantin is a small, friendly village located on the Noosa River and is the launching point for the vehicular ferry to the Noosa North Shore, the Great Sandy National Park, and Fraser Island. For some great views of the Noosa River, relax and enjoy a picnic at Memorial Park or head to Noosa Marina, a bustling complex on the river, for coffee, a drink, an alfresco lunch or evening meal, all with river views. The 40-berth marina is also home to the Noosa Marina Visitor Information Centre, specialty shops and a private gallery. For some great views of the Noosa River, relax and enjoy a picnic at Memorial Park or head to Noosa Marina, a bustling complex on the river, for coffee, a drink, an alfresco lunch or evening meal, all with river views. The 40-berth marina is also home to the Noosa Marina Visitor Information Centre, specialty shops and a private gallery, and each Sunday the Noosa Marina Markets display craft and produces stalls on the boardwalk.
Local tip: Don’t miss the Noosa Regional Gallery, home to beautiful, locally crafted gifts available for sale, and a host of changing exhibitions from local exhibits to national and international artworks.
Tin Can Bay
Tin Can Bay is a small fishing port in the picturesque Tin Can Inlet and is well known for its fishing and boating. It is at the far northern end of the Sunshine Coast close to Gympie. The seaside town is a popular holiday destination and launch pad to the aquatic playground of the Great Sandy Strait – a pristine waterway protected by World Heritage-listed Fraser Island. The area is a Ramsar Convention Wetland of International Importance. Other recreational facilities include hotels, holiday units, and caravan parks, with houseboats and yachts for hire and a marina. Active sports facilities include an 18-hole golf course, two bowls clubs, tennis courts, and an outdoor swimming pool. The Tin Can Bay Country Club is the main recreational focus for residents and visitors serving Tin Can Bay, Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach areas of Cooloola Shire, Queensland, Australia.
Sightseeing tip: Each September the town hosts the Tin Can Bay Seafood Festival a day of family fun, with entertainment, novelty competitions such as mullet throwing and prawn eating, helicopter joy flights over the bay, seafood and market stalls. Other events throughout the year include the Bay to Bay Yacht Race, Dragonboat Regatta, Cooloola Coast Flower Show and the Foreshore Family Carnival from Boxing Day to New Year’s Eve.
Woombye
Woombye used to be called Cobb’s Camp due to the fact that it was a staging post for the Cobb & Co coaches. The local pub celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2000 and is certainly worth a visit. Myriad delights await the visitor to Woombye. It is home to luscious sub-tropical fruit – and popular Macadamia Nut. The macadamia, of course, used to be known as the Queensland nut until some generous soul introduced Hawaiians to its taste and growth potential.
Local tip: Woombye used to be called Cobb’s Camp due to the fact that it was a staging post for the Cobb & Co coaches. The local pub celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2020, and is certainly worth a visit. Myriad delights await the visitor to Woombye. It is home to luscious sub-tropical fruit – and popular Macadamia Nut.
Yandina
The historic town of Yandina is renowned for its discrete location on some of Queensland’s prettiest land, and the world-famous Ginger Factory. The central hinterland town is rich with rainforest parks and reserves that are home to native Australian animals, and streets that offer preserved examples of early Queensland architecture. Away from the city lights, Yandina is a holiday spot to enjoy the fresh air and a night sky full of stars – the perfect setting for five-star alfresco dining.
Attractions tip: The Yandina Ginger Factory is a free admission theme park that provides a great day out. The newest ride “Overboard – Adventures of a Stowaway” will sail the whole family around the world with the Gingerbread Man. Just across the street is the Nutworks Macadamia Factory where you can indulge in everything from classic chocolate-coated macadamias through to spicy wasabi – not for the faint-hearted.