Sunshine Coast

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.

Understand
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.

History
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.

Geography and orientation
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.

Visitor information
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: In the hinterland:

Other sites:
 * Sunshine Coast tourism website
 * Council website
 * Queensland tourism website
 * Australia tourism website

By plane


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. It can cost up to $100 to get to Noosa by taxi from the airport.

By car
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. 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".

By bus
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.

By train
Queensland Rail operates the Sunshine Coast line from Brisbane to with connecting buses to the population centres of Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa.

By public transport
South East Queensland's public transport network is run by a single provider known as Translink. The official website and app can be used to plan journeys. Google Maps also offers full navigation with real time information.

The region is divided into 8 concentric "zones" for fare purposes. Network maps clearly mark the zones and zone boundaries. Your fare is determined by how many zones you travel through. For example, travelling between zones 2 and 3 will cost you the same as travelling between zones 7 and 8. Major destinations like shopping centres are often used as zone boundaries. A station or stop within a zone boundary is considered part of either zone.

Fare payments can be made with a contactless credit or debit card (buses not available until 2025). Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted. Some prepaid cards may also work.

The fare is deducted as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. You must touch both on and off for all journeys regardless of the mode of transport. A failure to touch off will result in a fixed fare of up to $30 being charged. Train stations and tram stops have fare gates or distinctive pink validators located on the platform. Buses and ferries are fitted with validators as you board and alight.

Translink uses the word "journey" to mean end-to-end journey including any required transfers, and the word "trip" to mean a single point-to-point trip. A journey can be made up of one or more trips on any mode of transport. When making a number of trips to get to your destination it is still one journey if you touch on within 60 minutes of touching off on your previous trip.

Alternatively, fare payments can be made with a go card. The card costs $10 (refundable deposit) plus the travel credit you wish to top up (maximum $250). The card is available at train station ticket counters, busway fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores. The card can be topped up at the same locations, including train station fare machines. Applying for a refund of the deposit and any unused travel credit can be a hassle. If you have paid by cash it can be processed directly at a train station, including the airport train station. If you have paid by credit card it can only be processed by cheque or transfer to an Australian bank account.

Paper tickets are only available at train station ticket counters, train station fare machines and busway fare machines. Paper tickets are only valid for one way journeys and cost 30% more than a card. Buses are prepaid only so you will need to purchase a paper ticket beforehand or use a card instead.

If you are going to be travelling extensively and using the Airtrain, you can buy a 3-day or 5-day unlimited travel SEEQ Card for $79 and $129 respectively. SEEQ cards work like regular go cards and provide additional discounts at various tourist attractions around South East Queensland. You don't have to worry about topping up and refunds, but you'll struggle to get value out of it unless you are catching the Airtrain.

You can be fined $261 for travelling without a valid fare.

By car
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
 * 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.

Lookouts

 * See the Glass House Mountains page for lookouts in the Glass House Mountains.
 * See the Glass House Mountains page for lookouts in the Glass House Mountains.
 * See the Glass House Mountains page for lookouts in the Glass House Mountains.

Other






Do

 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.
 * Walk across the Maroochy River bridge to Chambers Island.

Sport

 * Golf: notable courses include Nambour, Caloundra, Horton Park and Cooroy.
 * Golf: notable courses include Nambour, Caloundra, Horton Park and Cooroy.

Beaches
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, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba

 * 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.

Caloundra
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

Coolum
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.

Elsewhere
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 and, 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.

National parks


The Sunshine Coast is home to many national parks, but the most important ones as follows: Other smaller national parks of less importance include:

Learn
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.

Eat
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!

Craft Beer
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.

Mid-range




Media

 * 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

Consulates
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.

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

Radio stations
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.

Go next
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.