When it comes to summer holiday planning, the Gold Coast tends to get all the love thanks to the sights and delights of Broadbeach and of course, the theme parks. But as much as we love a good surf and night out on the Gold Coast, there’s also a very strong case to be made for the Sunshine Coast and all its luxurious accommodations, eateries, and tropical delights.
With waterfront villas abound, great food, and brilliant beaches, it’s hard not to lounge in luxury when visiting the Sunshine Coast. To help kickstart your own travel planning, be sure to heed this luxury guide.
What sets the Sunshine Coast apart?
With a smaller urban centre than Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast offers all the fantastic weather of Queensland’s eastern coast without the hustle and bustle of city life.
Attractions like SEA LIFE, the Big Pineapple, and Aussie World make the Sunshine Coast an easy family-friendly destination. There are also plenty of waterfront golf courses and even scuba and boat tours that appeal to more adventurous travellers, plus spas and fine dining options for a more luxurious stay.
Where to stay
When visiting the Sunshine Coast, you can stay central in and around Maroochydore and the Maroochy River, or even go as far up as Coolum Beach or Noosa for a more serene stay and easier access to the connecting rainforests and national park areas. There is plenty of luxury accommodation in Noosa, with both riverside and coastal views on offer.
Seaside accommodation is very popular across the region, but there are also plenty of opportunities to book riverfront accommodation across the Mooloolah River in the south, or across the Maroochy River to the north of the city centre.
Note: be sure to book your accommodation and activities in advance if you’re travelling during the summer holiday months in Australia (i.e. December to January, generally), as the region can expect more tourist activity during these periods.
Where to eat and drink
Much like Adelaide, South Australia, the Sunshine Coast benefits from bordering on wine country, with plenty of upscale eateries serving Asian fusion and Australiana-inspired cuisines that pair perfectly with a locally cultivated glass of vino as well as the region’s tropical weather.
In Noosa, the Atelier Wine Bar is a must-stop for luxury travellers looking to indulge in a few delicious pairings including specialty bottles from Australia and abroad, with small plates like cheese boards and other appetizers.
For cider fans, a trip to Sunshine Coast Cider just to the west of the city centre is also sure to delight. Bottling up unfiltered organic apple and pear ciders as well as some cloudy apple juices, you’ll definitely be packing a few bottles with you to take back home.
Alongside breweries and distilleries, the Sunshine Coast is also home to some 5-star eateries, including the Bella Venezia Restaurant in Mooloolaba serving up traditional Italian cuisine, as well as the Psari Seafood Bar & Grill for locally caught seasonal seafood.
Must-do activities across the Sunshine Coast
A trip to the Sunshine Coast is incomplete without heading out on the water. The Sunshine Coast is blessed with pristine waterways, including the Noosa River and the Maroochy and Mooloolah Rivers mentioned above.
The Noosa River in the north is the widest of the three, and boasts fantastic views of not only the town’s waterfront neighbourhoods, but also the Great Sandy National Park on its northern banks. You can board the Noosa Ferry at select times throughout the day to take a full trip or cruise tour up and down the length of the river. For nature lovers who’ve already experienced all the coastal walks around the Gold Coast, you’ll be happy to hear that there are also plenty of coastal trails to be explored around Noosa as well, including the trails across the Noosa Woods leading to Sunset Cove, the Doggy Beach dog park and the sand islands that dot the rivermouth.
If you’re up for a go on the green, there are many lush golf courses across Noosa and the Sunshine Coast with varying course ratings. The Noosa Hills courses are adored by tourists from all over the world, including some PGA pros who’ve been known to holiday here, like Adam Scott.
And of course, there’s plenty for kids to enjoy in the area as well, including the aforementioned Big Pineapple and SEA LIFE in the heart of Mooloolaba. Kids and adults will also be sure to get a kick out of historical lookout points like the Point Cartwright Lighthouse and the HMAS Brisbane Lookout right by Alexandra Beach.
Best swim spots across the Sunshine Coast
The first stop is always Mooloolaba Beach! A wide and curving coastline which ends at the mouth of the Mooloolah River, Mooloolaba Beach always provides a safe and inviting surf with easy access to public amenities, like showers and public accessible lockers, thanks to the surf club.
Maroochydore Beach is also a popular spot amongst locals and tourists alike, thanks in part to its proximity to the holiday parks and hotels around Cotton Tree. For a more secluded beachgoing experience, there’s also Mudjimba beach which borders bushland conservation areas on the northern banks of the Maroochy River.
Even further north and right by the Sunshine Coast airport, there’s Marcoola Beach, then Coolum Beach, Sunrise Beach, and of course, the Noosa North Shore and Noosa Heads, which made history recently by becoming the 10th World Surfing Reserve. If you’re planning to stay in the Sunshine Coast for a week, you could do a different beach every day and still only see a fraction of the region’s gorgeous coastline.
Start planning your Sunshine Coast trip itinerary
With so much to see and do in and around the Sunshine Coast, the ideal trip length tends to be at least 1-2 weeks for most visitors. If you’re travelling from overseas, you’ll definitely want to carve out more time for yourself than less so you can spend a few days lounging around on the beach and soaking all that great Queensland sunshine and refreshing coastal air.
Got adequate inspo for your Sunshine Coast travel planning? Then let us know what attractions and activities caught your eye across today’s guide.
