The Sunshine Coast is situated an hour north of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. The spot is blessed with year round sunshine and has a warm climate that allows for outdoors activities and swimming throughout the year. There is a great range of Sunshine Coast accommodation available to meet all budgets and preferences.
Both the Sunshine Coast to the north of Brisbane and the Gold Coast to the south of Brisbane are two of the top vacation spots in Australia, but their vibe is totally different. The Gold Coast has a lot of razzle dazzle with casinos and clubs and the Sunshine Coast’s forte is the stunning natural beauty and a more relaxed and family centered feel.
There is a lot to do on the Sunshine Coast, and a lot of it revolves around the incredible natural beauty of the coast and hinterland. You can enjoy a lot of water sports and opportunities to discover stunning coastal rainforests. When your vacation on the coast finishes you will be relaxed and ready to take on the challenges of everyday life once again.
One of the most popular attractions on the coast is Australia Zoo. This is the crocodile hunter Steve Irwin’s zoo and it is now run by his widow Terri and his children Bindi and Bob. There is much to see at the zoo and you can easily pass the whole day feeding the kangaroos, tickling the koalas, seeing the crocodiles, Tasmanian devils, wombats and other native animals at the zoo as well as international residents like the Asian elephants. Located at Beerwah, the iconic Glasshouse Mountains are right nearby where you can undertake a number of nature walks.
Further north of the zoo is Noosa, which is also well known internationally for its exceptionally beautiful beaches, river and rainforest. Noosa Main Beach is very protected and safe place for people of any age to go swimming. Right nearby is Noosa National Park, where you can often see wild koalas in the gum trees and enjoy a relaxing bush walk through coastal rainforest and past little beaches that have very few people on them.
Mooloolaba is another very popular beach on the coast, where there are wonderful swimming spots, barbecues and parks, cafes, restaurants and shopping. This is also one of the centers of nightlife on the Sunshine Coast and you will find a number of night clubs along The Esplanade. For something a little quieter, Cotton Tree is a great place to stay being nestled between Maroochydore beach and the Maroochy River.
Close to Maroochydore and Mooloolaba is a small mountain called Buderim and there you will find a lovely waterfall park. You can stroll through lush, dense jungle to a small waterfall where you can swim and then bathe in the creek. The walk is easy and can be done by anyone, even small children.
While staying at Sunshine Coast accommodation you should also visit the hinterland towns of Maleny and Montville. There are plenty of quaint shops in Montville and the area is also famous for its produce particularly cheese. The hinterland also has several waterfalls such as Gardener’s Falls, which are great for swimming in.