With a name like ‘The Sunshine Coast’ how can you not want to head straight here! Golden sands, sleepy towns and incredible fresh food – it’s a holiday must destination.
There’s approximately 60 beaches on the Sunshine Coast in Australia, plus tons of coastal towns, parks and tourist trap centres spanning over 40 miles. So you could be there months exploring it all. But I’ve kept this write up to three of the most popular towns and their surrounding attractions.
Discover the Sunshine Coast
How to get to the Sunshine Coast?
Like most places in Australia flying or driving is preferable – though the greyhound coach service has improved enormously if on a budget. It really depends where you are coming from. I have either flown to Brisbane from Sydney and then driven up or to Byron Bay and driven up. When I was living in Brisbane it was always by car – what a life to spend every weekend with this accessible. Not sure why I left!
You can also fly direct into the Sunshine Coast airport (on Friendship Avenue – love that name) but you will still need a car to get around, unless you are simply going to one spot – to flop and drop! Then a taxi or Uber it is.
Visit Moololabar
I’ve been here many times, mainly when I lived in Brisbane – which was a long time ago. So I don’t have current restaurants to recommend but I do remember the very chilled vibe. More like the Nice of France rather than Cannes! It’s where the Brisbane city folk head to on the weekends. Which makes Moololabar really popular as it’s closest to the city for day trips. A great seaside town with a stunning beach that I also liked it for the phonetic spelling!
If you have kids or just want to say you saw a shark while in Australia then Mooloolabar is also home to the ‘Sunshine Coast Sea Life Centre‘. (I may have had a small panic when a shark swam over me! But no I wasn’t in the water – I was safe in the sea life Centre!)
Visit Maroochydore
If you carry on driving north from Mooloolabar you get to Maroochydore – I’ve only ever driven through here but my last trip we stopped for a little lunch break because tucked away on a quiet street there’s a great rooftop bar called the very helpfully, ‘The Rooftop Bar’. Even their glasses as branded so. You can read more it here.
Visit Noosa
This is Sunshine Coast’s sophisticated version south of France – low key elegance and understated wealth, chilled with a slight pretentious edge but packed with surfers and yogis to balance it out. Sandwiched between Noosa river and the ocean this gorgeous get away has something for everyone.
A popular destination for Brisbane and indeed many Aussie families to flock to in the summer. So do note in school holidays not only is it extortionate to stay you may not even find anywhere last minute. From great restaurants, beautiful beaches and heritage hikes you can see why it’s become so popular.
Where to stay in Noosa?
This really is a seaside town at heart. It’s all about units and self catering rather than hotels as people come for weeks at a time. (If you love a rose and rest break then this is for you. If you get restless then a lazy long weekend would probably suit better).
I have in two hotels, both I would recommend. The OutRigger was great value plus it had 2 bedrooms with the hugest bed however it was up the hill and whilst there were buggies we wished we had booked to be on Hastings Street. This is the street with the majority of the bars and restaurants are, so if you want to ditch your car while you are here then stay in walking distance of the street. That said Uber is limited but definitely available if you want to pop to different places.
My last trip in 2023 I stayed at the Sofitel. The rooms were huge with dining tables and mini kitchen area. This is the hybrid of self catering and hotels! But with free bubbles on arrival and all day every day – we got our moneys worth! The staff were super friendly and excellent turn down service.
The pool was extremely popular (out of season). For many, it seemed the ambition of the day was to move from a sunbed to the swim up bar and back! Spending their days in the water just bobbing by the bar burning the calories as they drank their bubbles. If that’s you, then you will love it here.
Things to do in Noosa
For those active holiday makers, there is a hive of hikes and activities: You can learn to surf, have yoga by the pool, wander in the heritage parks or see koalas in the their natural habitat.
Definitely don’t miss a morning walk through Noosa’s National Park. I recommend morning as, especially in summer, it will be too hot by lunch. And ideally it’s cloudy! That scorching sun is hard to walk in.
The walk is really more an up hill hike up – to the charmingly named, ‘Hells Gates’. It wasn’t hell, it’s where the fairy pools and a dolphins look out are. More like heaven!
The path itself is pretty even and would be fine for most people. Some off the beaten tracks are less safe and certainly don’t attempt the fairy pools alone, it’s rocky all the way down and pretty tricky!
The walk up had seriously stunning scenery. Just take lots of water with you and have your phone charged – photo ops galore!
Alternatively there is the another exhaustive exercise – shopping! On Sunday’s there are the markets and all week long there is an array of expensive boutique shops. Even more can be found if you hop on a ferry and head down to Noosa junction.
If you go to the junction then do stay down for sunset – you won’t be disappointed. The aptly named ‘Sunset Bar‘ at Noosa Boathouse really is the perfect rooftop spot. Note you can’t book so go early to grab a seat.
Where to eat in Noosa
Noosa was a foodie haven and I actually think I developed an addiction to grilled calamari! It started in Brisbane at Maya rooftop bar and I just couldn’t get enough! In the UK it is always breaded (GF problems) and just isn’t as fresh as being caught the day you eat it.
Miss Moneypenny’s
With its sister restaurant in Gold Coast, Miss Moneypenny’s is one of Noosa’s boujee go to’s. Service was a bit sleepy but the food was incredible and they were so kind to take note of my requests for seating – was a vibey way to spend a Saturday night.
Sails Restaurant
Sails restaurant was my favourite spot in Noosa. Set on the beach, they have a note on their website to say first requested first to get one of the front tables. Which is fair. And phew I must have been early to book as we were sat in the prime spot.
Overlooking the ocean as the sun slowly set (note you can’t actually see the sunset this side of Noosa but you do get that gorgeous golden hour light). Pricey but so perfect for this being a special night with sensational sea food and service.
Bang Bang Restaurant
Bang Bang was so popular that even weeks before I left the U.K. this was booked up every day and night we were there!! It also has a sister restaurant in Byron but we didn’t have to wait till we went south as we did an impromptu pop in and it worked. Such delicate food and fabulous cocktails – I can see why it’s the place to go!
Café Le Monde
Café De Monde his was a popular brunch spot delivering great coffee and a chilled vibe. Ideal for those lazy mornings, we didn’t book but it was quite quiet.
Rococo Bistro
Rococo gives all the European café vibes and perfect for a champagne brunch. It did feel a bit hectic but it was a popular spot.
Bistro C Beachside Restaurant
Bistro C was a spontaneous stop after our hike. The front tables on the beach, on a Sunday, were obviously booked! But we could still see out to the ocean sat further back. Very low key decor but great food and very attentive waiter – who took a shine to every girl who entered! Was quite entertaining!
Heading back: Sunshine Coast stops to make
If you are driving back on a Wednesday or Saturday morning then a stop at the near by Original Eumundi Markets is a must – the biggest and self claimed best artisan market in Australia.
Once you are all shopped out, drive back down the coast take a detour to the Glass Mountains National Park. Cited as a spiritual site you can climb two of them or you can drive to the Lookout cafe and sit and admire them with a coffee! (No prizes for guessing which one I did!)
Taking this route you’ll also pass Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. Not my thing but for animal lovers or kids to entertain I imagine this would be a must. And watch out for koala’s and kangaroo’s as you drive!
The Sunshine Coast where sunshine isn’t actually guaranteed but it’s hard to leave without a refreshed chilled sunshine mentality.