Sunshine Coast Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

The Sunshine Coast, or the Sunny Coast as it's colloquially known, is a peri-urban area and a holiday city comprising of several settlements in South East Queensland. It has a population of around about 400,000, making it Queensland's third largest settlement behind Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and the ninth in Australia.

If the Sunshine Coast had to be described in six words, it'd be "budget alternative to the Gold Coast". Though it used to be a relatively quieter beachside destination, since the 2000s, the Gold Coast has been getting more expensive and almost unaffordable for budget travellers, popularising the Sunshine Coast into a popular holiday destination as it is now.

Renowned for its relaxed approach to Queensland life, the Sunshine Coast is famous for its uncrowded white sand beaches and green scenery. Stretching for nearly 70 km (43 miles), the Sunshine Coast falls within the Sunshine Coast Council's jurisdiction and provides for a great (and popular) escape from Brisbane, or the Gold Coast. The city is also a holiday spot even for Queenslanders and the Sunshine Coast is a great place to relax, unwind and taste the amazing local produce.

One notable difference from other cities is that the Sunshine Coast is not one city, but rather a series of towns and cities that make up the settlement. Some parts of the Sunshine Coast like Caloundra, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba or Mudjimba can be described more as suburbs, while other parts like Maleny, Montville or Beerwah resemble more like towns, not suburbs, while some like Coolum Beach or Marcoola are somewhat in-between.

The first bit of the Sunshine Coast that was explored by Europeans were the Glass House Mountains which were sighted by Captain James Cook from the deck of the HM Endeavour in 1770 when he was sailing along the East Coast.

Many of the Sunshine Coast's towns began as simple ports and jetties for timber industry during the 1860s and 1870s, as the area once had magnificent stands of forest. Likewise, the region's road biggen snigging tracks for hauling timber. Timbergetters used the region's creeks, rivers and lakes as seaways to float out their logs of cedar - the resultant wood being shipped far afield as Europe.

Today, the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. As the region became increasingly residential, most of the district's small farms, especially tropical farms have now disappeared. Instead business concerned with retail, catering and tourism are now of greater interest in this region.

The Sunshine Coast is mostly flat near the coastal areas, where most of the population lives (within 10 km from the coast). It's roughly between the -26th and -27th degree line from the equator, meaning that it's subtropical, but the Sunshine Coast does cop a lot of bad weather events which often happen in the tropics, such as cyclones.

A bit west of the coastal areas, is the Glass House Mountains, which can be said to be Queensland's most iconic mountains. The mountains are part of a now extinct volcanic range, and are today a sacred site for the Indigenous peoples. A little further west is the Great Dividing Range, the world's third longest mountain range, but unlike a bit further south in New South Wales, the elevation change when travelling is relatively lower, and the range is not the most obvious range at sight.

This article covers the areas of the Sunshine Coast, except the Glass House Mountains. which is on the border between Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast. Similarly, other destinations often thought to be part of the Sunshine Coast but are not part of the local government area such as Noosa are also covered in separate articles.

The Sunshine Coast has several visitor centres, but there are only three in the major built-up coastal areas; one near the airport, the other in Buderim and a third in Caloundra, which is temporarily closed. The others are all in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. For online information, see the Sunshine Coast tourism website.

In the coastal areas:

• -26.6054153.08861 Sunshine Coast Airport Visitor Information Centre, Friendship Ave, Mudjimba, ☏ +61 7 5448 9088. 24/7, staffed between 9:30AM–3:30PM. A small airport visitor centre between all the rental car companies in the arrivals hall with plenty of maps and brochures about things to see and do with some itineraries in the Sunshine Coast. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.6859153.05022 Buderim Information Centre, 4 Burnett St, Buderim, ☏ +61 7 5477 0944. M–F 9:30AM–3:30PM Sa 10AM–12:30PM. A small regional visitor information centre in a 1937 post office. It's the closest visitor centre that is outside the airport and in the population centre. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.798528153.1143063 Caloundra Tourist Information Centre, 7 Caloundra Rd, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5458 8846. 9AM–3PM but temporarily closed. (updated Apr 2022)

In the hinterland:

• -26.898932152.9584184 Glass House Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre (see Glass House Mountains). (updated Apr 2022)
• Kenilworth Visitor Information Centre, , 9 Elizabeth St, Kenilworth (near Gum Nut Park), ☏ +61 7 5446 0122. Daily 10AM–3PM. (updated Apr 2022)
• Maleny Visitor Information Centre, 2/23 Maple St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5499 9033. M–Sa 9:30AM-4PM, Su 10AM–3:30PM. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.691827152.8944375 Montville Visitor Information Centre, 198 Main St., Montville, ☏ +61 7 5458 8845, 1300 847 481 (domestic). Daily 10AM–4PM. A small visitor centre with specialised information about the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Apr 2022)

Other sites:

• Sunshine Coast tourism website
• Council website
• Queensland tourism website
• Australia tourism website

• -26.603333153.0916671 Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY  ^IATA) (10 km north of Maroochydore), ☏ +61 7 5453 1500. Has daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne. The airport has good facilities for an airport of its size, with multiple ATMs, rental cars, transfer services, and food and shopping outlets.  

There is a small cafe in the arrivals area, selling coffee and snacks, open from the first flight to the last. Most of the facilities are located after clearing security in the departures area, there is a cafe, a salad store, jewellery store, bookstore and a bar. There is an outside area next to the tarmac which can be an area to enjoy a drink while waiting for your flight.

The Translink (Sunbus) 622 bus services the airport terminal hourly between Maroochydore and Noosa Junction, but somewhat inconveniently stops before the last flights arrive from Sydney and Melbourne. The 620 bus runs later and with greater frequency, but only stops on David Low Way outside the airport precinct. It is just over 1 km to walk from this stop to the airport terminal. Walk along Friendship Drive out of the airport, turn right onto David Low way and walk the short distance to the stop. Change at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore for points south. Change at Noosa Junction for Noosa Heads and Noosaville.

The rental car chains are located in arrivals.

Door to door transfers are available to the entire sunshine coast area, but should be pre-booked. Henry's operates north (to Noosa and Coolum), and Sun-air operates south to Maroochydore, and Caloundra. Discounts are available for groups - expect to pay around $20 per person. If you haven't pre-booked, Henry's has a desk inside the arrivals area, where you can see if there is availability on the next shuttle. Sun-air has no presence at the airport, and you'll have to call them to see if you can arrange a pickup.

Sunshine Coast Taxis are available and operated by Suncoast cabs (☏ 131 008 (domestic)). It can cost up to $100 to get to Noosa by taxi from the airport.

From Brisbane, a trip to the Sunshine Coast usually takes an hour mostly done on motorways, though this could be longer depending on where you are going. From the CBD, use the M3 Riverside Expressway north for a few metres until the motorway ends. Once it ends, turn right onto M3 Hale Street which becomes the M3 River City Bypass. Just before the M3 becomes the A3, exit onto the M7 AirportLink Tunnel until the A3 Gympie Road. Once at the exit, take the exit and continue A3 until the next motorway. After about 10 kilometres, the road becomes the M3 Gympie Arterial Road which later merges with the M1 Gateway Motorway.

If you are coming from Logan or the Gold Coast, use the M1 Pacific Motorway north and just as the road becomes the M3 Pacific Mwy, exit onto the M1 Gateway Motorway until the end of the motorway which eventually merges with the M3 Gympie Arterial Road. Do note that the Gateway Motorway is tolled.

Once the two motorways have merged, you will be on the M1 Bruce Highway, and continue on that road for 50 km (31 mi). After that, you'd have entered the Sunshine Coast region, though the exits to the major population centres only come after another 10 km and the two major exits include Exit 188 onto Caloundra Road (SR 6) which is the exit to use if you're heading to Caloundra, Beerwah, Beerburrum, the Australia Zoo or the Glass House Mountains and Exit 194 onto the Sunshine Motorway (SR 70), 6 km after Caloundra Rd, used to get to Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Coolum, Mudjimba or anywhere that falls along the "motorway".

It is also possible to take a coach from Brisbane and/or the Gold Coast. There is a cheap, regular local bus connecting the population centres of the Sunshine Coast, with possible plans to build a tram line in the future.

Queensland Rail operates the Sunshine Coast line from Brisbane to -26.8081152.96572 Landsborough railway station with connecting buses to the population centres of Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa.

Translink is responsible for all trains, buses, ferries and trams in South East Queensland and regional urban buses. The website and app can be used to plan a journey, including full navigation and real time updates. Apple Maps and Google Maps provide a similar experience.

A 50-cent flat fare applies to any journey, regardless of mode, distance or transfers. The only exception is an Airtrain journey to or from Brisbane Airport which costs $21.90. Refer to the website for discounted fares.

A contactless credit or debit card, go card, or paper ticket is required to travel.

A Visa, Mastercard or American Express is accepted, including those in a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your fare is deducted from your card as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. Trains and trams have fare gates or distinctive pink validators to touch before you board and after you alight. Buses and ferries have validators to touch as you board and alight. A failure to touch off each mode of transport will result in a fixed fare of $2.50 being charged. You can be fined $261 for travelling without a valid fare.

A go card is available at train station ticket counters, busway and tram fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores. The card requires a $10 deposit. The card can be topped up with travel credit at the same locations, including train station fare machines. The maximum travel credit you can top up is $250. Refunding the deposit and travel credit can be a hassle. If you last topped up using cash it can be processed at Brisbane Airport and selected newsagents and convenience stores. If you last topped up using credit or debit card it can only be processed via an Australian bank account transfer.

A paper ticket is available at train station ticket counters and fare machines, and busway and tram fare machines.

Car is by far the easiest way to see most attractions in a short amount of time, or at your own pace. Larger car hire companies may offer relocations to Brisbane Airport or the Gold Coast. Try the major national renters with services at Maroochy Airport or other local independents that rent new cars.

• Cut Price Car Rentals
• East Coast Car Rentals
• Suncoast Car Rentals^{[dead link]}
• Select Rent A Car
• Thrifty Car Rental

In practice, there are three major roads that traverse the Sunshine Coast used to get around. One of them is a motorway, another only partially a motorway and the other just a normal urban arterial road. The other roads in the region are all otherwise local roads.

The first one is the Bruce Highway (M1) which starts from Brisbane and has several exits in the region, though the main exits are ones used to go to Yandina, Eumundi, while the southern gateway from the area surrounding Maroochydore and Caloundra. This road is a motorway for the entirety of its length in the Sunshine Coast.

The second is the Sunshine Motorway / Emu Mountain Road (SR 70) which is only partially a motorway. It starts at Sippy Downs, then makes its way up to Mooloolaba. At Mooloolaba, you'd hit the Nickelin Way Interchange, and make sure to exit (to stay on the motorway) as otherwise you may end up on busy urban streets where the motorway's direction suddenly changes. After the exit, it heads north parallel to Bruce Hwy but passing the population centres of Maroochydore, Pacific Paradise and Mudjimba before becoming a one-lane motorway. Continue on the motorway up to towns like Coolum which eventually goes up to Noosa.

The last is not one road, but a series of roads, State Route 6 starts from Beerwah, and runs parallel to the former route but rather goes within the population centres. It is convenient if you're just intending to go from one population centre to another without going on motorways.

26°41′22″S 152°57′40″E

Map of Sunshine Coast

• -26.8014153.13761 Caloundra Lighthouses, 3 Canberra Terrace, Kings Beach. Two lighthouses both quite historic (at least, in Queensland terms), that were designed to light up the passage to the North-West channel. There's a volunteer organisation that manages the lighthouse, and on occasion, you can pay $2 to go to the top. (updated May 2022)
• -26.4772152.95212 Eumundi Museum, 73 Memorial Dr, Eumundi (corner of Gridley Street and Memorial Dr), ☏ +61 7 5442 8762. Tu–Sa 10AM–3PM. A local history museum with many old photographs of historical Eumundi, Indigenous artifacts from the region, old documents etc. There is also a small art gallery, but behind the museum. (updated May 2022)
• -26.8094152.96483 Landsborough Museum (Landsborough Historical Museum), 4 Maleny St., Landsborough, ☏ +61 7 5494 1755. W–F Su 9AM–3PM. A local history museum established in 1976 which preserves some collections on what life used to be like on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, including plenty of old machinery from the farmlands. $5 per adult, seniors and pensioners. Children under 15 can enter free.  
• -26.759189152.8535614 Maleny Light Horse Museum, Maleny RSL Club at Bunya St., Maleny. Commemorates the traditions and skills of the Queensland Mounted Infantry (which were part of the Queensland Police Force) and the Australian Light Horse, a military force noted for its contribution to the Boer War and World War I. Open Sundays, ANZAC Day, Australia Day, Remembrance Day and by appointment. 
• -26.655541153.0934125 Maroochydore RSL Museum, 105 Memorial Ave, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 7 5443 1719, [email protected]. M–F 9AM–4PM. A military museum inside of Maroochy RSL, with a large collection of memorabilia and remains as a legacy for the Australian Defence Force. Items on display include frigates, gunships, aviation instruments and bomb casings. (updated May 2022)
• -26.679706153.1384586 Point Cartwright Lighthouse, Pacific Blvd, Buddina. A 32-metre lighthouse constructed in 1978 marking the entrance to the North-West Channel. Unlike most other lighthouses, Port Cartwright has always been automatically operated owing its recent completion date. As with most other lighthouses, the outside is free to enter, but the inside of the tower is closed to the public. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.798153.10967 Queensland Air Museum, 7 Pathfinder Dr, Caloundra West (in Caloundra Aerodrome), ☏ +61 7 5492 5930. 10AM-4PM. Great collection of aircraft and a place to learn more about aviation history, especially considering the nondescript location and good price. $15.  
• -26.620192152.8656438 Seaview House (St Isidore's Farm College), 40 Post Office Road. Most historic house in the region, built in the early 1900s by Mapleton orchardist William James Smithnow, and later bought by Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane for tertiary training. Now privately owned. 
• -26.62353153.03979 Sunshine Castle, 292-296 David Low Way, Bli Bli, ☏ +61 7 5448 4477. M–Sa 9:30AM–4:30PM, Su 10AM–3PM. It is not the most historic castle that you could find, but the inside resembles very much a typical European medieval castle. (updated May 2022)

• -26.760355152.81011810 Howells Knob Lookout, Reeseville Road (off Maleny-Kenilworth Road). One of the highest points in the Maleny area, with good views of the Glass House Mountains and islands off the coast. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.718948152.81718911 Witta Lookout, 460 Maleny-Kenilworth Road, Witta (7 km from Maleny, opposite Gumland Drive.). 24/7. Overlooking the Conondale Valley with Mary Valley and Conondale Ranges in the western distance. Great place at sunrise to catch the spectacular dawn colours across the ranges and the spectacular sunset views. 
• See the Glass House Mountains page for lookouts in the Glass House Mountains.

• -26.8366152.959512 Australia Zoo, 1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, ☏ +61 7 5436 2000. Daily 9AM–5PM. Owned and run by the family of the late Steve Irwin, is a popular tourist drawcard. The site tends to be frequented more by overseas visitors.  
• -26.672672152.99078113 Wildlife HQ Zoo, 76 Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye, ☏ +61 428 660 671. Daily 9AM–4PM. Although this zoo is not as famous as its other Sunshine Coast Counterpart, this is a zoo with a ZAA Accreditation Program, which means they have animal welfare in mind. There is also a greater focus on Australian wildlife rather than what you'd find in any other zoo. (updated Sep 2020)
• -26.6828153.12114 Sea Life Sunshine Coast (SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium), Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, toll-free: 1800 195 650. Daily 9AM–3PM. A fantastic aquarium located adjacent to the Wharf. Popular with tourists and local alike, you can catch the seal shows, swim with sharks, and learn more about the sea life that so amazes many city visitors. One of its exhibits includes the Ocean Tunnel, an 80-m oceanarium with three separate marine habitats. (updated Apr 2022)

• -26.8039153.130815 Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Ave, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5420 8299. Tu–F 10AM–4PM, Sa Su 10AM–2PM, closed Mondays. The Sunshine Coast's local art gallery with several exhibitions, collections and programs. It can be a bit hard to spot though, as it's not very prominent on the street despite its good-looking building. There's 2-hour street parking just in front of the gallery, so parking should not pose an issue. (updated May 2022)
• -26.521609153.05572916 Coolum Art Picture Framing and Gallery (Coolum-Art Picture Framing and Gallery), 5/43 Access Cres, Coolum Beach, ☏ +61 7 5471 7366. Tu–F 9AM–5PM, M Sa 9AM–2PM. While this may be a framing shop, this place also has an interesting contemporary art gallery featuring contemporary and post-modern artworks. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.808386152.96316517 Landsborough Galleries, 18 Maleny St., Landsborough, ☏ +61 7 5439 9943, +61 428 955 588 (mobile). W–Su 9:30AM–4:30PM. A small regional household art gallery with a range of artworks from different time periods. 
• David Hart Galleries, Malibu Resort, 81 The Esplanade, ☏ +61 7 5452 5600. Noosa branch: Shop 10, Noosa on The Beach, 49 Hastings St. Noosa. ☏ +61 7-5449-2100 
• University of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery. (updated May 2022)

• -26.7032152.86818 Baroon Pocket Dam and Lake Baroon, Baroon Pocket Road (off North Maleny Road). A popular scenic location for picnicking, swimming, fishing, sailing and canoeing. Viewing platform near the spillway, with barbecues and toilets. There are bushwalks through rainforests and Obi Obi Gorge.  
• -26.6727152.99119 Big Pineapple, Nambour Connection Road, Woombye. A 16-metre (52-ft) tall pineapple that is one of Australia's big things. The pineapple contains many retail and restaurant spaces, train ride and nutmobile, crops, rainforest, the Macadamia Nut Factory, the Big Macadamia, a "Tomorrow's Harvest greenhouse", farm show, wildlife gardens, and an animal nursery. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.55455152.959720 Buderim Ginger Factory (The Ginger Factory), 50 Pioneer Road, Yandina, ☏ +61 7 5446 7096, toll-free: 1800 067 686. Daily 9AM–5PM. Yandina. Mini-theme park based on ginger. Cane Train through rainforest and a couple of rides and features to entertain children, including a boat ride with animate characters - like a Ginger "It's a small world". Claims to be biggest selection of ginger products anywhere in the world. Cafe for meals and snacks.  
• -26.6751153.057721 Buderim House, 10 Orme Road, Buderim. Buderim House is a heritage-listed homestead designed by George Trotter and built arounnd 1915 by Christian Schriver. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 2 March 1993. (updated May 2022)

• -26.785152.71422 Crystal Waters Ecovillage, 65 Kilcoy Lane, Conondale, ☏ +61 7 5494 4620. More than 20 km outside the main centre of Maleny, in Conondale. Famous intentional community started in 1987. A permaculture village working toward a balanced natural ecology. 200 permanent residents. Regular markets (1st Saturday of each month), festivals, workshops and permaculture training courses. Campground, bunkhouses and cabins for visitors. Tours available.  
• -26.7333152.96723 Eudlo. Serene historic timber town in a rural valley below the Blackall Ranges. Eudlo features a general store, a café, a hall and has a single railway station that fits four carriages on a platform. Nearby is Chenrezig, a Buddhist meditation retreat that oozes with nature and is known to be the largest Buddhist centre in the Western World.  

• Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. 58 km walk through the Blackall Ranges, starting from Lake Baroon near Montville. Subtropical rainforest, tall open eucalypt forest and picturesque waterfalls. Entire walk takes 4-6 days. Call ☏ +61 13 13 04 to book campsites, which have water, toilets and platforms. 
• Sunshine Coast Skydivers. 
• Go Karting. 
• Maleny Community Centre, ☏ +61 7 5499 9033. Maple Street right in the centre of town. Movies, plays, weekly Sunday markets, annual May Maleny Arts and Crafts Fair and many other activities. Information centre open daily 
• Maleny Dairy Tours, ☏ +61 7 5494 2392. 70 McCarthy's Road. Tours Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Appointment necessary. 
• Mystic Mountain Tours, ☏ +61 7 5435 2881. 5 Glasshouse Parade. Various tours of the Blackall Ranges, Saturdays, Sundays or by appointment. Known for Winery and Gourmet Foods Tours. Free pick-up in Brisbane for groups of 12 or more. 
• Mary Valley Rattler, ☏ +61 7 5482 2750, [email protected]. Tozer Street, Gympie. Steam Locomotive Scenic Tours operated from Gympie, slightly more than 1 hr drive north of Maleny. The Mary Valley Heritage Railway runs steam, railmotor and diesel passenger tours on the Mary Valley Line of Queensland Rail as a non profit venture, owned and operated by the local community. 
• Woodford Folk Festival. In nearby Woodford, is a very famous annual musical event, held in late December. (It began in Maleny but moved to Woodford some years ago.) 
• Cycle. The Sunshine Coast boasts over 80 km of coastal cycling paths and these run right through the heart of Maroochydore and surrounding suburbs. (updated Sep 2020)
• Tree tops challenge. Treetop walking experience. See some wonderful Queensland fauna in the process. (updated Sep 2020)
• Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.

• -26.733889153.1261111 Sunshine Coast Stadium, 31 Sportsmans Pde, Bokarina, ☏ +61 7 5437 7666. The Sunshine Coast's primary sporting stadium with a capacity of 12,000 where many of the city's soccer and rugby games occur. It will also be one of the primary home grounds for the new Redcliffe Dolphins NRL team once they enter the NRL in 2023. (updated May 2022)
• Golf: notable courses include Nambour, Caloundra, Horton Park and Cooroy.

• -26.7502153.0472 Aussie World, 73 Frizzo Road, Bruce Highway, Palmview (around 3 km from the nearest public bus stop; can be accessed by taxi or door-to-door services like Sunair), ☏ +61 7 5494 5444. A family fun-park, dodgem cars and the like, located next to the Ettamogah Pub.  

A visit to the Sunshine Coast is never complete without visiting its beaches, and after all, it is what makes the Sunshine Coast a popular tourist destination. Most of these beaches have lifeguards, though the number of lifeguards available may vary. As always, remember to swim between the red and yellow flags, while surf between the black and white flags. If you get into trouble, put a single hand up with a fist, and don't venture too far out into the open.

• Alexandra Headland Beach is comparable to most Gold Coast beaches, with tall buildings beside the beach. However, it's not as popular as some of the Caloundra beaches and the waves are not that large.
• Cotton Tree Beach is a northward facing river at the banks of the Maroochy River. As it is on the river bank, it means there is a lot of sand and not a lot of waves.
• Maroochydore Beach is the closest beach to Maroochydore town centre, and is patrolled almost all the time. The beach is quite long, and the waves make it good for surfing.

The major attraction of Caloundra is the beaches, some of the state's best. These include:

• Kings Beach, the main patrolled surf beach, even has a webcam. Also features a salt-water swimming pool (fed by the ocean). A number of cafes/restaurants and the Caloundra Surf Life Savers Club are nearby.
• Bulcock Beach, popular with families and is also patrolled by the Caloundra City Life Saving Club, but beware of the strong current along Pumistone passage. Bulcock beach also features a lovely boardwalk with bars and restaurants and also some very popular fishing spots. Accessible via a pleasant and popular boardwalk over the rocks from King's Beach.
• Moffatt Beach. Not patrolled, but good for walking.
• Golden Beach, popular with windsurfers and kite surfers. You will find a number of hire places offering kayaks, surf-ski's sail-boards, Hobie-cats, fishing dinghy's and pontoons.
• Dicky Beach, popular with families and adjoins a caravan park with lovely cafes
• Shelly Beach, popular for picnics and exploring the rock pools. Great venue for weddings

The only reason why many visit Coolum is its beaches. However, unlike Caloundra, Coolum only has one beach, but stretches from centre to north. Coolum Beach is patrolled in several locations, and has several locations for swimming, but beware, the waves can get very rough and water can go up to the end of the sand, where it becomes grass.

Though the most visited beaches in the Sunshine Coast are a part of a town/suburb, additionally, there are also the two beachside towns of -26.5833153.08324 Marcoola and -26.619153.09225 Mudjimba , which are both patrolled, and are a quieter alternative to the other beaches. The main downside to these though, is that facilities are somewhat limited (but still plentiful if you're going to compare it with a beach in the middle of coastal rural Queensland), and the distance between the beach and the carpark is – not a lot.

See also: Queensland national parks

The Sunshine Coast is home to many national parks, but the most important ones as follows:

• -26.9152.9226 Glass House Mountains (Glasshouse Mountains). Queensland's most iconic mountains, about 30 minutes southwest of Maroochydore and Mooloolaba mostly protected as part of the Glass House Mountains National Park. They're a series of dome-like mountains, that apparently looked like "glass houses" when Captain James Cook was sailing along the East Coast of Australia during 1770. Free.  
• -26.668056152.8583333 Kondalilla National Park, ☏ +61 7 5494 3983. On Western Avenue about 4 km north of the centre of Montville. 327 hectares of lush subtropical rainforest and tall open forest plus Kondalilla Falls dropping 90 metres from Skene Creek into water pools below. Parking area, picnic facilities, barbecues, shelter sheds, toilets, a lookout and three walking trails. No fresh water available. Can become quite crowded during peak holiday periods.  
• -26.617756152.8464084 Mapleton National Park (Mapleton Forest Reserve), ☏ +61 7 5494 3983. Just to the northwest of Mapleton. 11,000 hectares with several picnic areas and walks. Camping allowed in three areas (with permits).  
• -26.630556152.8388895 Mapleton Falls National Park, Obi Obi Rd, ☏ +61 7 5494 3983. The falls tumble 120 metres down the escarpment from Pencil Creek. 26 hectares with rainforest and nice views and typical Blackall Ranges wet eucalypt environs. Picnic area, toilets, shelters, barbecue facilities and walks. Can be crowded during holidays. No camping.  

Other smaller national parks of less importance include:

• -26.706944152.9619446 Eudlo Creek National Park. A very small tiny 0.43 km² (0.17 sq mi) park, protecting the last remaining habitats of the vulnerable tusked frog. (updated May 2022)
• -26.605278152.9638897 Ferntree Creek National Park. This park has no tourist facilities, so visiting inside is very hard, but this area is home to many different species of birds in such a small area surrounding the Maroochy River catchment. (updated May 2022)
• -26.721667153.0808338 Mooloolah River National Park. The Sunshine Coast's equivalent of Noosa's Noosa National Park, preserving one of the last remains of bushland in the Sunshine Coast. There are few developed facilities here, though. (updated May 2022)
• -26.563333153.0838899 Mount Coolum National Park. Very few people visit this park, but if you find that the Glass House Mountains are way too far away to see, here's just a mountain that resembles one of them. The impressive dome-shaped mountain can also be climbed via a 1.6-km trail from the park's east, but it is very steep and rocky, hence its Grade 4 rating under the AWGTS. (updated May 2022)

• -26.67913153.04813710 Buderim Forest Park and Falls, Quorn Cl, Buderim. A short walk through rainforest to enjoy a small waterfall. Swimming or getting into the water is not advised though, as stormwater is known to pass the creek. (updated Sep 2020)
• -26.62035152.8502311 Delicia Road Conservation Park, ☏ +61 7 5494 3983. Adjacent to Mapleton Forest Reserve, just to the northwest of Mapleton, protects remnants of rainforest. The park includes several bushwalking tracks, but there is no camping available.  
• -26.779646152.88093612 Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, ☏ +61 7 5499 9907. Corner of Landsborough-Maleny Road and Mountain View Road. Open daily. Well worth a visit to the 52 hectares of natural sub tropical rainforest and walking trails include many varieties of native fauna and flora, such as the pygmy mouse, possums, pademelons, wallabies, gliders, bandicoots, echidnae, bearded dragons, and a great many types of birds. Picnic tables, barbecue facilities, children's playground, toilets, a kiosk, a ranger in attendance. At the entrance is the Thynne Natural History Education Centre. Nice views over the Glasshouse mountains. Tours available.  
• -26.608258153.05475813 Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary, Sports Rd, Bli Bli, ☏ +61 7 5448 6723. 24/7. Has an easy access boardwalk through pristine wetland areas where fish, crabs, frogs, birds and other flora and fauna breed and feed. (updated Sep 2020)

There is only one university in the Sunshine Coast, though it is not the most attractive uni, even within Queensland. Under the Center for World University Rankings, it came 35th in Australia, and only 1467th worldwide. Many Sunshine Coast locals even choose to go down south to Brisbane to study in one of the state's top universities.

• -26.716944153.0622221 University of the Sunshine Coast (USC, Sunshine Coast University), 90 Sippy Downs Dr, Sippy Downs, ☏ +61 7 5430 1234. The Sunshine Coast's "local university" with degree programs available in various different sectors. (updated May 2022)

• -26.691688152.89421 Clock Shop, 194 Main St., Montville, ☏ +61 7 5442 9409. M–Sa 9:30AM–5PM, Su 12:30–5PM. It displays and sells various wall and grandfather clocks. The shop also has one of the largest ranges of cuckoo clocks in Australia, mostly from German-made cuckoo clocks. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.651268152.87732 Flaxton Gardens (Flaxton Gardens Sunshine Coast), 313-327 Flaxton Dr, Flaxton, ☏ +61 7 5445 7450. W–Su 10AM–3PM. Wine cellar offering tastings and sales, plus a pottery, cafe, and gift shop. Excellent views. 

• -26.804892153.1335483 Caloundra Street Fair (Caloundra Street Fair Markets), Bulcock St, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5492 5977. Su 8AM–1PM. Perhaps the most organised of all the street markets in the Sunshine Coast, there's plenty of arts and crafts, clothing, food trucks (mobile canteen) and live entertainment. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.47622152.95194 Eumundi Markets, 80 Memorial Dr, Eumundi, ☏ +61 7 5442 7106. Australia's largest outdoor market and one of Queensland's leading tourist attractions since 1979, held every Saturday and Wednesday. Arts, crafts, music, street entertainers, food, atmosphere. 
• -26.643438153.0560885 Fishermans Road Sunday Markets, Fishermans Rd, Maroochydore. Su 6AM–noon. From locally made items to fresh produce, this is one of the Sunshine Coast's largest markets out there. As Maroochydore is a major population centre, the markets get very crowded, but since few start their day in Queensland before 7:30, the early hours before 9 is a good time to visit and beat the crowd. (updated Sep 2020)
• -26.584382153.0964396 Marcoola Twilight Market, 10 Lorraine Avenue, Marcoola. F 4–8PM. Farmer's market with street food and music. The markets do get surprisingly crowded for a town of its size though, but that can be largely attributed to Marcoola being very close to the population centres of the Sunshine Coast. 
• -26.557808152.9541247 Yandina Markets, North St, Yandina, ☏ +61 448 990 061. Sa 6AM–noon. A great place to get fresh local produce, local crafts and second hand goods. They take place every Saturday 7AM to noon, at the Yandina sports grounds, off the Bruce Highway. (updated Apr 2022)

• -26.75829152.85198 Maleny Supermarket IGA Universal Providers, 26 Maple St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2257. Maple Street. (In the middle of town). Organic and other produce, plus gourmet cheeses. Open 7 days. 
• -26.7587152.85089 Maple Street Co-op, 37 Maple Street, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2088. A famous local co-operative started in 1979 that aims to supply high quality organic foods and products (vegetables and fruit) for a reasonable price to Co-op members and the community. Open 7 days. 
• -26.657744153.085910 Flannerys Maroochydoore, Plaza Markets, 45 Plaza Parade, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 7 5479 3522. A fresh food store with local organic produce mostly with unpackaged wholefoods. You can also find organic coffee here too, something that is not very common to find in Australia in urban areas. (updated Apr 2022)

• -26.6544153.08811 Sunshine Plaza, Horton Parade, ☏ +61 7 5443 4133. A shopping mall with large outdoor areas around a waterway. Normal chain stores are represented, but there are also paddle boats and quite a few eateries alfresco style.  
• -26.625847152.95872312 C-Square (Centenary Square Shopping Centre), 52-64 Currie St, Nambour, ☏ +61 7 5441 5766. Located on Currie Street, which is the town of Nambour's main street. The mall is just the standard kind of Queensland shopping complex in the centre of the settlement. 
• -26.625887152.961213 Nambour Plaza (Nambour Central Mall), 18 Ann St., Nambour (cnr Lowe, Short and Ann St, Nambour). M–Sa 8AM–9PM Su 9AM–6PM. A classic Queensland style plaza with a few specialty shops, though not a particularly large shopping centre. It's predominantly taken up by Woolworths and Big W, and aimed more at locals, but useful if for some reason you need to go to Woolies. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.7031153.13114 Kawana Shoppingworld, 119 Point Cartwright Dr, Buddina, ☏ +61 7 5444 1944. Buddina's local shopping centre with over 70 specialty stores, a 10-screen cinema/movie theatre and a large food court. (updated Apr 2022)

As befits a seaside city, seafood is very popular and there are many fish and chip shops around in every reasonably population centre situated along the coast.

Though the Sunshine Coast is a budget destination, everything in the Sunshine Coast is still very pricey if you're on a budget, and while you could certainly get away with a meal under $20 per person, if you add starters, dessert or soft drinks to your meal, it will certainly cost more than $40.

It's also a similar situation with mid-range restaurants, and likewise, it's very easy for your meal to just cost over $50, and if it's an upper mid-range restaurant, it can indeed go up to even $60!

• -26.5285153.09051 Coolum Thai Spice (Coolum Thai Spice Licenced Restaurant), 1812 David Low Way, Coolum Beach, ☏ +61 7 5446 2488. A budget Thai restaurant, fully licensed but with few options and unfortunately the restaurant doesn't have much of a range, but that is what you get in a budget restaurant that cannot spell licensed properly. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.5314153.09172 Hanami, 9/1778 David Low Way, Coolum Beach, ☏ +61 7 5471 7091. 11AM–3PM, 5–8PM (closed Tuesdays). Has some surprisingly good Asian (in particular, Japanese) food albeit being budget. There are some Korean options too. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.6437153.06853 Maroochy Waters Seafood, 10 Denna St., Maroochydore, ☏ +61 7 5479 4949. M 3:30–7:30PM, Tu–Th 10AM–7:30PM, F 9:30AM–7:30PM, Sa Su 10:30AM–7:30PM. A classic Australian fish and chip shop, except while most fish and chip shops in coastal cities tend to be by the beach, this one is by the river! Otherwise, there's some excellent burgers and wings if you're not a fan of fish (but for some reason wanted to come to a fish and chip shop). (updated May 2022)
• -26.6524153.08984 Pum's Kitchen, Shop 8, 2 Beach Rd, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 435 508 101. A budget Thai restaurant with lots of prawn meals. Otherwise, there are plenty of chicken, pork and vegetarian options, plus as with every Thai restaurant, fried rice is not to be missed. (updated May 2022)
• -26.7527153.12885 Thai Lotus, 1/56 Moondara Dr, Wurtulla, ☏ +61 7 5437 7066. Has the typical Thai food found pretty much in any Australian Thai restaurant, but with an emphasis on local seafood. There are also some specials in this restaurant, such as chilli noodles. (updated May 2022)

• -26.758714152.85116 Colin James Fine Foods, 29 Maple St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2860. 9AM–3PM (closed Mondays). Located on Maple St, Maleny's main street, this place is known for gelati, an extensive range of cheese, with a cafe which caters to a gluten free diet. 
• -26.808546152.9657 Da Marino Italian restaurant, Shop 9/1 Maleny St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 8333. 2–9PM (closed Mondays). An Italian restaurant but with very Australianised replacements. The most notable of all is probably the fact that a lot of meals contain barbecue sauce, something that's not the most Italian. (updated Sep 2021)
• -26.78165153.13818 Dicky Beach Surf Club, 1A Coochin St, Dicky Beach, ☏ +61 7 5491 6078. Daily noon–2PM, 5–8PM. A beachside restaurant managed by the local surf club with some classical and modern Australian cuisines. Has some excellent burgers, seafood and pizzas with a particular emphasis on local ingredients. (updated May 2022)
• -26.6899153.11489 Flaming Sushi House, 2/132 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba, ☏ +61 7 5444 6366. M–Th 11AM–2:30PM, 5–9PM, F–Su 11AM–3PM, 5–9PM. A sushi shop that sells not only sushi, but nearly all the important meals of Japanese cuisine found in Australia, in a cosy setting. The interior of the restaurant is very Japanese-themed, and it's reflected in its walls, paintings and statues inside. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.657728153.09111410 Giddy Geisha, 8 Market Lane, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 7 5452 4301, [email protected]. Has a mix of Asian-fusion dishes, including Asian cocktails too. The range of Asian food ranges from Japan, down to Indonesia, but as the Australian definition of Asian food only refers to East and Southeast Asian food, that's what you'll find in this restaurant. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.80435153.130311 India Today, 2/79 Bulcock St, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5438 9599. Excellent quality Indian cuisine in a unique setting. Great service. The tandoori chicken is a very tasty and filling choice. (updated May 2022)
• -26.7798152.85717412 King Ludwig's Restaurant, 401 Mountain View Rd, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5499 9377. W Th Su 11AM–4PM, F Sa 11AM–11PM. German cuisine with spectacular views of the Glasshouse Mountains, but unlike most views where you see the mountains from the east facing west, it's the opposite here. Fully licensed and has a good range of Bavarian beers. 
• -26.5325153.092413 My Place Restaurant (My Place Restaurant & Bar), 1768 David Low Way, Coolum Beach, ☏ +61 7 5446 4433. 7AM–9PM. A restaurant with great food, service, atmosphere and the best views of the coastline from Noosa to Mooloolaba. 
• -26.664696153.104814 Sang's East Asian Cuisine, Alexandra Parade, Alexandra Headland (cnr Okinja Rd and Alexandra Pde), ☏ +61 7 5475 4412. Dinner Tu-Sa, Closed Sunday & Monday. A budget BYO specialising in East and Southeast Asian cuisines though modified to suit the Australian tastebud though there's a great deal of seafood owing to the fact that the Sunshine Coast is located along the coast. 
• -26.8049153.132215 Tasty Thai, 9/50 Bulcock St, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5491 8666. 5–8:30PM (closed Tuesdays). A very tasty Thai restaurant with takeaway, dine-in and BYO (bring your own) with all the typicals of a Thai restaurant, though the restaurant is a bit compact. (updated May 2022)

• -26.758438152.853516 Cappriccios Italian Pizza Restaurant, Riverside Centre, 7/4 Maple St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5499 9444. A classic Italian pizza restaurant specialising in pizza (obviously) along with many other Italian dishes and specialties. The variety available resembles more like the one you would find in southern Italy, like most other Italian restaurants. The restaurant is also fully-licensed, and has both dine-in and takeaway. 
• -26.68441153.131517 Fish on Parkyn, 25 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, ☏ +61 7 5444 4711. Sa–Th noon–2:30PM, 5:30–10PM, F noon–2:30PM, 5–10PM. A fine-dining seafood restaurant with a waterview with nearly all of its menu based on seafood. While this is a seafood restaurant, if you're a vegetarian, this restaurant has a surprisingly good amount of options that are vegetarian – not something you would expect from a seafood restaurant. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.6713153.048118 Harry's On Buderim, 11 Harrys La., Buderim, ☏ +61 7 5445 6661, [email protected]. W–Su noon–2PM, Th–Sa 6–8PM. A modern Australian restaurant though presented in a very rural rainforest area (and that's why it's located on the edge of Buderim Forest Park), with many rainforest ingredients, local seafood and has a surprisingly good vegan menu. It's inside a heritage listed building over 140 years old, and is fully licensed too. Strangely, the restaurant has led to some maps incorrectly labelling the nearby park as "Harrys Restaurant Park". (updated May 2022)
• -26.67812153.116819 Spice Bar Restaurant, 123 Mooloolaba Espl., Mooloolaba, ☏ +61 7 5408 4361. F–Su noon–3PM, W–Su 6PM–late, closed M Tu. Lots of good Asian fusion meals. Be aware though, that the dishes are very large, so don't underestimate the sizes of their "Large Plates" section on their menu. Otherwise has some good wine and seafood too. (updated May 2022)
• -26.77579152.892220 The Key Restaurant Maleny, Cairncross Corner, Cnr. of Maleny Landsborough Rd and Mountain view Rd, ☏ +61 7 5429 6537. W-Su, lunch and dinner. 11AM-till late. Relaxed atmosphere, sunny terrace. Blend of African, Creole and Mediterranean culinary influences. Friday night buffet, local produce, chicken and meat are hormone free. Caters for vegetarian diets and for people with gluten intolerance. From $16.50. 
• -26.7758152.892121 The Terrace Seafood Restaurant of Maleny (Terrace of Maleny), cnr Landsborough-Maleny Rd and Mountain View Rd, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 3700. W–Su noon–3PM, 5–9PM. When you first think of going to a seafood restaurant, that's also fine-dining too, ideally you'd often think of the coastal areas, as with practically every seafood restaurant in Australia. But strangely, this restaurant is rather nestled on the mountains of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, making it an unusual combination. 
• -26.80669153.132322 Tides Waterfront Dining, 26 Esplanade Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5438 2304. Daily noon–8:30PM. A waterfront seafood restaurant with some great views of the ocean! There is a bit of emphasis on local southeast Queensland seafood, particularly from the Sunshine Coast region, and there is a good range of wines available. Lunch Specials from $32, while "Locals Dinner" from $49pp. (updated May 2022)

• -26.763764152.885723 Cheese Stop Cafe, 1 Clifford St, Balmoral RIdge, ☏ +61 7 5494 2207, [email protected]. 10AM–3PM. Fully licensed cafe with espresso coffee, tea and cold drinks, special cheese dishes, cakes, scones & desserts. (Watch cheese & yoghurt being made on the premises.). Cheese is generally the European style, and you can watch cheese and yogurt being made. 
• Monica's, 43 Maple St, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2670, +61 460 002 227 (mobile). Cafe and BYO dining. 
• -26.6552153.092824 Scandic Cafe, 12 First Ave, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 428 858 533, [email protected]. M W–F 6:30AM–3PM Tu 6:30AM–3:30PM. A Scandinavian cafe (i.e. Norwegian, Swedish and Danish) with food and drinks surprisingly similar to what you would get in Scandinavia. Interestingly, the names of two of their smoothies are Viking and Midnight Sun. (updated Apr 2022)
• -26.5288153.090525 The Coffee Club, cnr Elizabeth St and David Low Way, Coolum Beach, ☏ +61 7 5455 7101, [email protected]. Daily 6:30AM–6PM. A cafe with an all-day menu ranging from bacon to sausages to great beverages. Apart from the coffee, which well is good in any cafe, there are many other cold beverages such as milkshakes, smoothies and frappés. (updated May 2022)

• Caloundra RSL, 19 West Terrace, ☏ +61 7 5491 1544. Winner Queensland Club of the Year for the 4th time (Clubs Queensland Awards). Winner Best Food Venue in Queensland for the 5th time (Clubs Queensland Awards). 
• The Barn on Flaxton (Country Cafe), 445 Flaxton Drive (4 km north of Montville), ☏ +61 7 5445 7321. 8AM-5PM. Home baking is their specialty - Home baked apple pie, scones, quiche or chunky beef pie with garden salad. 
• -26.759152.85421 Maleny Hotel, 6 Bunya St., Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2013. Su–Th 10AM–9PM, F Sa 10AM–10PM. A small bar with a beer garden. Cocktails start from $15, while there is a good range of all kinds of wines. 
• -26.681284152.8763442 Flame Hill Vineyard and Winery, 249 Western Avenue, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5478 5558. Award-winning wines. Open daily. 

Craft beer is a popular draw card on the Sunshine Coast and there are plenty of options in Maroochydore:

• Sunshine Coast Brewery in Kunda Park Maroochydore - They are boutique and serve all the favourites as well as their own ginger beer.
• Sunshine Brewery in Maroochydore - IPA’s, summer ale,
• Your Mates Brewing Company - Whether you go for the Larry, Macca, Sally or Eddie.
• Pig 'N' Whistle Sunshine Plaza. Brews their own IPA, available on tap. A rare find in Australia. 

• Avocado Grove Bed & Breakfast, 10 Carramar Court, ☏ +61-7-5445-7585. Off Ensbey Road. Tranquility on 1.4 hectares. Great views. 'On call' natural therapies professional. 
• Peppertree Cottage, 10 Glen Eden Court, ☏ +61-7-5445-7652. Air conditioned bed and breakfast on two acres. 
• Tanderra House, 11 Flaxton Mill Road, ☏ +61-7-5445-7179. Bed and breakfast. Also on offer is therapeutic massage and yoga classes, followed by a guided meditation in the garden. 
• Taman Sari, 226 Obi Obi Road, ☏ +61-7-5478-6868. Private, self-contained pavilions with tropical gardens and broadband internet. 

• -26.6475153.08821 Banyandah Towers, 150 Duporth Ave, Maroochydore, ☏ +61 7 5443 6911, fax: +61 7 5443 5841, [email protected]. A 15-storey waterfront apartment along the Maroochy River, with some good amenities, but none of the rooms have air conditioning though. 
• -26.803782153.12642 Caloundra City Backpackers (Caloundra Backpackers), 84 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5499 7655, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. dorm $18.00, twin (2 persons, 2 single beds) $42.00/room, double (double bed + ensuite) $52.00/room. 
• -26.785802152.7170563 Crystal Waters EcoPark, Lot 48/65 Kilcoy Ln, Conondale, ☏ +61 7 5494 4726. Bushland setting near the main Crystal Waters facilities and cafe. Powered and unpowered sites, plus bunkhouses available. 
• -26.621437152.86294 Lilyponds Holiday Park, 26 Warruga St., Mapleton, ☏ +61 7 5445 7238. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. Cabins, caravans, camping, swimming pool, camp kitchen, under-cover gas barbecues, TV lounge plus playground for children. With avocado orchard and Wi-Fi internet access. 
• Mapleton Cabins and Caravan Park, Obi Obi Rd, ☏ +61-7 5445 7135, [email protected]. 
• -26.793412152.9364715 Ocean View Caravan Park, 2 Old Maleny Rd, Landsborough, ☏ +61 7 5494 1171. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Self contained air-conditioned cabins with powered sites for caravans. There is an amenities block, and there's some great views over the coast from the Hinterland. 
• -26.628634152.8604576 QCCC Mapleton, 70 Obi Obi Rd, ☏ +61 7 5456 3600. Highly sought after conference and camping facility also boasting an outdoor education program. Accommodation for 240 guests, four swimming pools, meeting hall for 600 people, climbing wall, canoeing lake, abseil tower, archery. 
• Suncoast Backpackers Lodge, 50 Parker Street, ☏ +61 7 5443-7544. 
• -26.6662152.97197 Sunshine Coast Motor Lodge, 279 Nambour Connection Rd, Woombye, ☏ +61 7 5442 1666. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A motel that's a bit inland and quite a distance from the beach, but contains a pool if you don't feel like driving to the beach. Includes free Wi-Fi and free parking. 

• -26.68053152.7955828 Bamboo Retreat, 949 Kidaman Creek Rd, Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 4172. 4.5 star king studio with private garden and outdoor hot tub spa, located on a secluded forest ridge overlooking Obi Obi Valley, adjacent to Maleny National Park. Breakfast in suite or private gazebo. Minimum stay 2 nights. No pets. 
• -26.757673152.8498599 Maleny Lodge, 58 Maple St., Maleny, ☏ +61 7 5494 2370, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. Located in a historic 1894 building near the centre of Maleny, bed and breakfast accommodation with an open fire in the winter. 
• -26.761821152.88647510 Maleny Hills Motel, 932 Montville Road, Balmoral Ridge, ☏ +61 7 5494 2551, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. A motel around 5 km from the centre of Maleny with some excellent rainforests just beside the motel's doorstep. However, the rooms are a bit small though. From $130. 
• -26.628365152.87942111 Mapleton Springs B&B, 87 Spring Pastures Dr., Mapleton, ☏ +61 7 5445 7751, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. New accommodation as of 2019, away from main roads. Solar heated infinity edge pool, spa with a view and sauna on premises. During the cooler months there is an open fire in the lounge room. Movies can be viewed in their cinema room. A selection of drinks and snacks are available for purchase. from $170. (updated Jun 2019)
• -26.739979152.89574212 Roseville House, 640 Maleny-Montville Road at Balmoral Lookout, ☏ +61 7 5494 3411. Bed and breakfast in a federation era (early 1900s) house. The house has some pretty impressive ocean and mountain views, but that should be no surprise given it's located on a lookout. 
• -26.6642153.104913 Oaks Seaforth Resort, 98-110 Alexandra Pde, Alexandra Headland, ☏ +61 7 5475 1100, 1300 766 950 (domestic), +61 7 2102 5719 (reservations using int'l number), [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A mid-sized coastal hotel with facilities such as a pool, a gym and some barbecue areas and includes complimentary parking plus free Wi-Fi. (updated May 2022)
• -26.718716152.85258214 Wittacork Dairy Cottages, 286 Tesch Road, Witta, ☏ +61 7 5494 4369. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Self contained western red cedar cottages, adjacent to a working dairy farm, set on a ridge overlooking Lake Baroon and the Obi Obi Gorge National Park, surrounded by rainforest. Watch cows being milked, feed the calves and collect eggs. 2 km (1.25 mi) of walking tracks in privately owned rainforest & waterfall viewing areas. 
• -26.805378153.126415 Watermark Resort Caloundra (Watermark Resort Caloundra Queensland), 38 Maloja Avenue, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5491 3300. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Watermark Resort at Caloundra on Queenslands Sunshine coast occupies a prime location right on the waterfront. The Resort is a perfect holiday destination for the whole family. With its own private fishing jetty at your back door, the Watermark resort is the envy of many other local Caloundra hotels and resorts. 
• -26.804227153.12816 Ocean Views Resort Caloundra (Ocean Views Resort - Caloundra Queensland), cnr Bulcock & Centaur Streets, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5491 1788, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Ocean Views Resort can boast one of the best holiday resort locations the Sunshine Coast has to offer. Situated right on Bulcock Street Caloundra, Ocean Views Resort is only metres from the waterfront boardwalk and just a stones throw from beautiful Bulcock Beach. 
• -26.8057153.122817 Rydges Oasis Resort Caloundra, Landsborough Parade, Golden Beach, ☏ +61 7 5491 0333, 1300 857 922 (local rate). Provides guests with a variety of accommodation ranging from Hotel Spa Rooms to Self Contained Apartments and Villas. Rydges Oasis Resort is located on the southern tip of Queensland Sunshine Coast at Caloundra. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Australian owned and operated company. 
• -26.8022153.141918 ULTIQA Shearwater Resort, 79 Edmund St, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5491 5355. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Another one of Caloundra's hotels that are close to the beach. Facilities include free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool, free breakfast, and free parking. 

• -26.64358153.05259719 Maroochy River Resort & Bungalows (Maroochy River Bungalows), 38-46 David Low Way, Maroochydore (behind the Waterfront Hotel & BWS), ☏ +61 7 5448 4911, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Self contained family holiday cabins. Private boat ramp, kayaks, tennis, bbqs, pools, sunlounges. Close to the action but away from the rat race. $350-1400 per week. 
• The Sebel Maroochydore, 20 Aerodrome Road, ☏ +61 7 5479 8000. Apartment-style accommodation on Maroochydore beach, views of the beach, river and hinterland. 

• -26.735973152.8994720 Lillypilly's Country Cottages, 584 Maleny-Montville Road, ☏ +61 7 5494 3002. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Luxury cottages with A/C overlooking Lake Baroon. Beautiful views. Therapeutic massage, special shiatsu treatments and reflexology available. from $320. 
• -26.775759152.89110321 Maleny Views Cottage Resort, 1 Panorama Place (Off Mountain View Road.), ☏ +61 7 5494 3943. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. A set of six cottages and a villa with great views overlooking the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. You might be able to spot some of the mountains in the Glass House Mountains Range though it depends on which direction your cottage is facing. 
• -26.713042152.82851222 Middleton House Maleny (Middleton Manor), 3 Middleton Rd, Witta, ☏ +61 490 252 222. 4.5 star bed and breakfast just outside Maleny in the locality of Witta. 
• Whispering Valley Retreat, Schultz Road, off Curramore Road, ☏ +61 7 07 5494 4367. Secluded cottages on 50 acres. 
• -26.8061153.131923 Rumba Beach Resort, 10 Leeding Terrace, Caloundra, ☏ +61 7 5492 0555. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A resort style hotel located near the beach in Caloundra, and includes a reasonably sized pool and a restaurant, but at a cost. It's also a bit more southerly, but a convenient walk to Bulcock Beach. (updated Apr 2022)

• The Sunshine Coast Daily Regional daily newspaper for the whole Sunshine Coast.
• Hinterlandgrapevine Online – news for the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
• View News Local news, events and information

Despite being a reasonably-sized city, there are no consulates in the Sunshine Coast and that can be attributed to how close the Sunshine Coast is to Brisbane.

There are several places of worship in the Sunshine Coast, but all are churches, though of different denominations.

There are several radio stations serving the region. Most are based in Nambour, but given the Sunshine Coast's proximity to Brisbane, most of Brisbane's radio stations should also work in the Sunshine Coast, though it can get a bit patchy when you go further north towards Noosa or west into the Hinterland.

The ABC Sunshine Coast is the region's share of the national Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which can be listened by tuning your radio to 90.3 MHz. Commercial local radio stations include 92.7 Mix FM (tune to 92.7 MHz), Hot 91 (tune to 91.1 MHz), and Sea FM (tune to 91.9 MHz), while smaller community radio stations include Salt 106.5 (tune to 106.5 MHz), and Sunshine FM (tune to 104.9 MHz). Noosa's 101.3 FM occasionally has coverage of the Greater Sunshine Coast as a whole.

If you're looking for a rather more upmarket town, and that has more of a "holiday" feel, just up the Sunshine Motorway a few minutes up north is Noosa. In some contexts, the Sunshine Coast also includes Noosa too, which has a more upmarket feel, including Queensland's equivalent of Bondi Beach, plenty of splurge restaurants and a national park.

Routes via Sunshine Coast

Brisbane ← Moreton Bay ←	S M1 N	→ Gympie → Cairns
Brisbane ← merges with M1 ←	SW  N	→ Noosa
Woodford ←	SW  N	→ Noosa