The Sunshine Coast is a must-see destination if you are visiting Australia! At just an hour’s drive from Brisbane, you’ll be glad to have included this iconic destination in your holiday itinerary. The area is popular with nature lovers and hosts an extensive list of activities for singles, couples & families.
The Sunshine Coast lives up to its name with sunny weather almost all year round, golden beaches, and family-friendly attractions. What makes it special is its rich diversity in its natural attractions, its food, and its culture. It also has wildlife-rich national parks, world-class surf breaks, and a variety of tourist attractions.
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- Enjoy Sun, Sand, and Sea at Noosa Main Beach
- Roam through Noosa National Park
- Delight in the Ginger Factory Attractions
- Explore the Sea Life Sunshine Coast Aquarium
- Glass House Mountains
- Explore the Australia Zoo
- Discover the Charming Mountain Villages at Maleny and Montville
- Dine at Green Zebra
- Explore the Great Sandy National Park
- Immerse in the Wonderland of the Original Eumundi Markets
- Visit the Eumundi Brewery
- Go on the Saltwater Ecotours Cultural Tour
- Learn How to Prepare an Authentic Thai meal at the Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School
- Surf at Coolum Beach and Explore its Hidden Bays
- Hike the Summit of Mount Coolum
- Tour the Noosa Regional Gallery
- Visit the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
- Explore the Queensland Air Museum
- Transport to Another World at The Majestic Theatre
- Explore the Glass House Mountains National Park
- Discover the wonders of the Everglades
- Mooloolaba Beach
- Bulcock Beach
Enjoy Sun, Sand, and Sea at Noosa Main Beach
What makes Noosa Main Beach special is that it’s one of Australia’s few beaches that’s north-facing. This means it’s protected from fierce waves and rough weather, which makes it an ideal swimming location for the entire year. With the calm waves and relaxing ambience, it’s one of the most popular beaches in the region. It’s also patrolled all year round so there is the assurance of more security.
Hastings Street along the beach is famous for its cafes, restaurants, arts and crafts businesses, and boutiques — a terrific spot to browse and experience Sunshine Coast culture. You can hire a scooter to explore more of the stunning coastline. When the sun sets, enjoy the thriving nightlife on the coast, too!
Private bays formed by Noosa Main Beach’s rocky headland are perfect surfing areas. If you’re new to the sport, you can take your first surfing lesson here too!
Because of the calm waves, you can also go fishing or paddleboarding.
Noosa Main Beach is part of Noosa National Park, therefore it’s a lovely beach surrounded by nature. You can have a picnic as you take in all the Australian natural beauty surrounding you.
Noosa Main Beach, in Noosa Heads, is a popular destination for sunbathing and water sports. Only the areas east and west of the groyne are patrolled by lifeguards, but you can swim in other areas as well. It’s recommended to stay between the lifeguard flags at all times.
Noosa Main Beach is a great place to take novice / young swimmers because it is monitored by surf lifesavers.
Roam through Noosa National Park
Noosa National Park is known for its scenery, dolphin and whale watching, and wildlife. It’s between Noosa Heads and the Pacific Ocean on the Sunshine Coast.
For a scenic walk to reach it, take the Accoya tree boardwalk along the coast from the town. The Noosa National Park Information Centre offers free walking maps and koala sightings. The kiosk next to it brews great coffee. The park envelops almost 4,000 hectares of paperbark forests, rainforests, dunes, heathlands, and pristine beaches.
Tea Tree Bay has beautiful views and dolphins; picnic along the surf breakers. The rock pools close to the water are fun to explore at low tide. You will find myriad marine life like anemones, crabs, and a variety of fish.
The most popular trail is the Coastal Walk because of the iconic scenery it provides. As you wander along the trail, you will see gorgeous views of the aquamarine sea peeking through the pandanus trees. You might see a dozing koala in a eucalyptus tree or a black cockatoo nearby. Prepare your smartphone for those precious Instagrammable moments!
Class 3 rapids are found along the 2.4 km section of the Noosa National Park, between Boiling Point and Hell’s Gates. It is paved and free of obstacles to Dolphin Point, with inclines of up to 1:10 (5.7 degrees) in spots.
Noosa National Park, Noosa Heads, terminates at the main entrance parking lot for the Headland portion. There are a lot of cars parked here because it is so convenient. Headland may be reached via Parkedge Road or the northern end of Sunshine Beach. We have a little parking lot.
Delight in the Ginger Factory Attractions
Have fun with kids at the Ginger Factory in Yandina, Queensland. Home of Buderim Ginger, The World’s Finest GingerTM, the Ginger Factory welcomes visitors to explore its 9-hectare property encompassing its factory amidst subtropical rainforest gardens and its various tours and rides. The Ginger Factory has been the world’s largest operating ginger factory for over 40 years now.
Young kids will enjoy riding the little train through the tropical gardens as they learn about bees from a specially prepared beekeeper presentation and end the ride with a honey-tasting experience.
They will also delight in an indoor boat trip where they will try to find the gingerbread man among a cast of entertaining interactive puppets as they travel “around the world” on the boat.
While most of the attractions were designed primarily for younger kids, older children and adults will enjoy The Factory Tour where they learn about how ginger is produced from farm to factory. They can taste a sampling of its assortment of confections like ginger drinks, sweets, spreads, and specialty food. There’s also a cafe and ice creamery, as well as a boutique shop for souvenirs.
Explore the Sea Life Sunshine Coast Aquarium
Catch more than just a glimpse of life under the sea and in Australian freshwater habitats at the Sea Life Sunshine Coast Aquarium in Mooloolaba. Kids and adults alike love this tropical oceanarium as they explore the depths of the sea walking through its 80-meter-long Ocean Tunnel.
Through the tunnel, you will get to have close-up views of reef fish, rays, and several species of shark gliding around you. You will also enjoy the live shows, exhibits, and special presentations organized around themed zones. There’s a tidal touch pool zone, where little kids can learn about stingrays and feel the smooth, slimy, and slippery skin of sea stars. Other themed zones include freshwater streams, billabongs, a jellyfish kingdom, and a seahorse sanctuary. Shark dives and the seal show are all-time favorites.
After a fun morning at the oceanarium, you can take the kids to Mooloolaba Beach nearby for a picnic and a fun family swim.
Sea Life Sunshine Coast’s standard recommendation for a visit is 2 hours. You can take your time exploring the attraction, therefore that is a factor.
Sea Life Sunshine Coast lets you meet some of the cutest penguins, largest sharks, heaviest crocodiles, spookiest stingrays, and most numerous tropical fish in the world.
Glass House Mountains
The National Heritage Register lists this group of 13 volcanic peaks on the Sunshine Coast as a landscape that is important to the whole country.
Over millions of years, the sandstone around the monolithic rocks wore away, making them stand out more. After lava from a volcano cooled inside a vent, it left behind these rocks.
The most important structure in the area is the 364-meter-tall Mount Tibrogargan.
Mount Ngungun, which stands 253 meters tall, can be walked around or climbed.
Grade 5 hikers can now use the Yul-yan-man path, which goes all the way along the ridge.
Explore the Australia Zoo
North of Beerwah, the Australia Zoo is one of Queensland’s most famous tourist attractions. Founded by wildlife enthusiast Steve Irwin, the zoo has an incredible menagerie of over 100 different species including wombats and Tasmanian devils, with a Cambodian-style Tiger Temple, and the famous Crocoseum where you can watch The Wildlife Warriors Show.
You can also:
- Hand feed the kangaroos at Roo Raven;
- Pat a koala in the Koala Walk Through;
- Learn all about Steve’s favorite animal and croc research findings at the Crock School;
- Journey through a tropical paradise and find a 3-story treehouse at Bindi’s Island;
- Cuddle a koala and have your pictures taken at the Wildlife Photo Studio;
- Go behind the scenes and watch vets treat injured, sick, and orphaned Australian native wildlife at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital;
- Watch magnificent Bengal and Sumatran tigers interacting with their keepers or lazing by a pool at the Tiger Temple;
- Explore the multi-species African Savannah where you’ll find cheetahs, giraffes, meerkats, rhinos, zebras, and many more walking around.
The zoo operates a free bus to and from Beerwah train station. Plan to spend a full day here.
The waters of the Noosa River are safe and free from sharks. Even though it’s usually safe to swim in the ocean or a river, you should still exercise caution whenever you enter an unknown body of water.
Use of personal watercraft (PWC) for recreation is prohibited in the Noosa River between the Noosa Waters inlet and a line in Weyba Creek. This includes jet skis.
Discover the Charming Mountain Villages at Maleny and Montville
Take a picturesque drive to the Sunshine Coastal Hinterland, and climb the Blackall Range to reach the “creative soul” of the Sunshine Coast — the Maleny and Montville villages. Especially ideal for romantic getaways, Maleny and Montville offer a relaxing and intimate retreat as you and your loved one explore their natural wonders and local culture and dine on local produce.
Maleny and Montville are just a 10-minute drive away from each other so most tourists visit them both on a day trip from the coast, usually for a change in scenery from the sun-kissed beaches. Because of their higher elevation, temperatures are cooler.
Maleny is an arts-and-nature town, with many art studios, workshops, and galleries.
- You can tour the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, which showcases an aviary, an animal enclosure, and Devonshire tea and scones in its beautiful gazebos.
- At Maleny Dairies, you get to experience milking a cow, petting farm animals, and tasting creamy cheeses and yogurt after the tour.
- Look for pademelons as you hike through the rainforest trails of the 55-hectare Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and bask in the sight and sounds of subtropical rainforests.
Montville offers European-inspired architecture, quaint cafes, gift shops, boutiques, hikes, waterfalls, secluded swimming holes, and an overall romantic ambiance that has made it a popular destination spot for weddings.
- Visit the Montville Art Gallery, housed in a charming 1890s Queenslander, and enjoy the works of 40 of the region’s best artists.
- Stop by the Elements Tea House where you can sample any of its 50 specialty teas and coffee in a charming setting.
- Immerse yourself in the great, wild outdoors at a Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat as you unwind from the hectic pace of everyday life. Awarded the 2021 Most Romantic Hotel in the World, the Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat is a boutique 4.5-star luxury rainforest retreat for couples on the edge of Kondalila National Park.
Dine at Green Zebra
Overlooking Double Bay on Kawana Island (also known as Parrearra) is the award-winning Green Zebra Restaurant and Bar. Green Zebra’s “eat local” specialization features Sunshine Coast vendors and fresh produce from local farms, plus drinks from local wineries and microbreweries.
Local food created with locally sourced resources and the energies of local producers is one of the best ways to learn about a culture.
Explore the Great Sandy National Park
This 54,000-hectare national park provides brilliantly colored sand cliffs, vast open beaches, virgin bushland, raw heathland, and a rainforest rich in various birds including the rare grass owl and red goshawk.
Trek through the national park on the walking trails starting from Elanda Point on the shore of Lake Cootharaba. This includes the 46-km. Cooloola Wilderness Trail to Rainbow Beach and the 7-km. the trail to Kinaba.
You can also explore the national park by canoe or boat along the many tributaries of the Noosa River.
Driving along the beach from Noosa North Shore to Double Island Point is amazing. A 1.1-km trail leads to a lighthouse with ocean views at Double Island Point. Between June and October, you’ll see humpback whales jumping out of the water and slapping the surface with their fins or tails.
This route is part of the Great Beach Drive, a breathtaking touring route linking Noosa and Hervey Bey. A 4WD track cuts across Double Island Point to a big tidal lake excellent for youngsters and beginners. Driving down Rainbow Beach to Rainbow Beach, you’ll discover 70-color sand cliffs. The black sand is rutile, previously locally mined to make titanium for American space technology.
The dog-friendly Noosa North Shore is located in Great Sandy National Park’s Cooloola Recreation Area, between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach on the Sunshine Coast (155–240km north of Brisbane). Cooloola’s dog-friendly Teewah Beach stretches southward from Noosa North Shore to Teewah Village.
Immerse in the Wonderland of the Original Eumundi Markets
Every Wednesday and Saturday, the Original Eumundi Markets in Queensland come alive with their global village vibes. Since 1979, it has developed into Australia’s largest and best open-air arts and crafts market, with 600-plus stalls. Original Eumundi Markets’ motto is “Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow It.” All things must be created, grown, or designed by the seller.
This bohemian wonderland features organic produce, artisan foods, home goods, designer clothes from local creatives, plants, jewelry, skincare creations, natural therapies, handcrafted toys, gourmet provisions, tarot card readings, street food like gozleme (Turkish stuffed flat bread), empanadas (Spanish pastry turnovers), gyoza (Japanese stuffed dumplings), or local artisan pastries, and more!
According to its website, the Original Eumundi Markets is “open rain, hail, or shine.”
Eumundi Markets is an eclectic collection of art galleries, taverns, shops, and one-of-a-kind craftspeople, and it is best known for its weekly markets. Visit museums, a brewery, and colorful shops as you take a leisurely stroll along historic Memorial Drive and enjoy the shade of the majestic memorial fig trees.
The trip from Sunshine Beach to Eumundi Markets takes about 23 kilometers by car. The trip from Sunshine Beach to Eumundi Markets takes around 20 minutes.
Visit the Eumundi Brewery
The Imperial Hotel now serves Eumundi Brewery’s eponymous beer.
Book a 20-minute sight tour and enjoy beer sampling at the conclusion. The beer is tapped directly from the brewery tanks.
Eumundi Brewery concentrates on pale ales and lagers, approachable varieties that suit Eumundi’s environment and lifestyle.
Built-in 1911, burned down in 1926, and rebuilt, the hotel looks, feels, and smells like the past. Taste history by drinking a lager on the balcony of a corrugated iron building or inside the pub adjacent to a collection of images and Eumundi Brewery artifacts, surrounded by faithful regulars “slamming it down gently.”
Tours run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the town’s market days. You must be at least 18 years old and wear closed-in shoes to join the tour.
In the Eumundi Brewery, the population and shops have a warm welcome for pets. Whereas, the brewery is not.
Go on the Saltwater Ecotours Cultural Tour
Soak in the ancient traditions, Dreamtime legends, beliefs, and stories of the Sunshine Coast’s first eco-custodians and eco-guardians — the Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi people — while cruising the Mooloolaba Canals aboard a restored, heritage-listed timber sailing vessel named “Spray of the Coral Coast”.
This 2-hour Mooloolaba Cultural Cruise begins with a moving Welcome to Country by Traditional Owner Aunty Bridgette Chilli. It then showcases the beauty of the Sunshine Coast through storytelling, music, food, and sightseeing.
Step back in time as you listen to a Didgeridoo playing while you feast on a delicious Bush tucker-infused lunch with Mooloolaba oysters and prawns, and finished with a Lemon Myrtle cocktail with gin. Guided by a local indigenous tour guide, join the interactive demonstrations and experiences onboard.
The tour is available on Saturdays. Confirmed passengers are picked up from the public Penny Lane Jetty.
Learn How to Prepare an Authentic Thai meal at the Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School
Step into an experience of Thailand not only by dining at the Spirit House Restaurant and Cooking School but also by learning how to cook Thai food. As soon as you set foot on its lush grounds, you will feel like you’ve entered a temple in a forest. Wind chimes tinkle in the breeze as fragrant incense wafts around you, while frogs trill in the palm-line pond and a garden waterfall burbles.
The cooking school offers weekday and Friday and Saturday night classes with a wide range of recipes for you to choose from. Learn chefs’ secrets in slicing, dicing, cooking, and other special techniques in preparing authentic Thai food. Cook your stir-fries, curries, soups, and other specialty dishes so you can wow your loved ones back home.
The restaurant offers award-winning contemporary Thai and other Asian food prepared by experienced chefs and served by friendly staff. Expect to spend 2 to 2.5 hours at the Spirit House for an enchanting dining experience. It is often full so you have to book online or call for a reservation in advance.
Surf at Coolum Beach and Explore its Hidden Bays
Halfway between Noosa and Caloundra, Coolum Beach is more exposed to swell, particularly southerly swells that are blocked further down, and it is considered one of the best surfing hotspots in Australia. A small headland provides a sheltered corner for beginner surfers while the foreshore skatepark gives you the chance to showcase your grab rail airs if you’re a more advanced surfer. When the conditions are right, take on the barrels at Stumers Creek.
If you wander south along the Point Arkwright Trail, you’ll find Bush tracks that lead down to hidden pandanus-fringed bays: First Bay, Second Bay, Third Bay, and Arkwright Beach. The bays are less crowded farther down south and on weekdays. These hidden gems are perfect for a romantic picnic, pottering in the rock pools, or casting a fishing line — all away from the madding crowd.
Just 20 minutes south of Noosa Heads, the coastal community of Coolum Beach is a popular destination for families and couples. It is the ideal place to get away from it all and enjoy the natural coastal environment, what with its year-round patrolled surf beach and lovely bays to explore.
The entire family may go swimming at Coolum Beach with confidence, as it is patrolled all year round. In addition, eateries and nightlife venues are abundant within a short distance.
Hike the Summit of Mount Coolum
Only 5.7 kilometers away from Coolum Beach is Mount Coolum, the awe-inspiring volcanic dome that presides over the entire Sunshine Coast. Hiking to the summit of the 25-million-year-old laccolith is one of the top things to do in the region. There’s an 800-meter track to the peak which takes around 90 minutes to return, depending of course on your fitness level, as it involves climbing up hundreds of stone steps.
On your climb up, keep an eye out for wildlife — like echidnas, grey-headed flying foxes, northern brown bandicoots, and peregrine falcons– that could grace your hike.
The first phase of the track is a relatively easygoing stroll through native bushland and forest. Then, the path grows steep as it traverses the rock face. Pause for a while to catch your breath and take those Instagrammable shots of the spectacular coastal views. As you resume your hike, stay on the designated tracks and avoid the cliff edges.
Apart from toning your thighs and calf muscles, you are rewarded with breathtaking, panoramic views. To the east, you can take in all the sights from Double Island Point to Caloundra, especially on very clear days, once you reach the peak of Mount Coolum. The short track at the top offers the best views of the south, which magnificently display rolling hills and river valleys coursing through a patchwork of verdant cane land.
Hikes are best undertaken in dry weather as the steep rocks turn slippery after rains. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times for a hike, with enough sun to take in the path and the views but cool enough for you not to get too tired quickly. Weekdays are the least crowded if you prefer hiking with fewer people around.
The ascent of Mount Coolum requires a trek of 800 meters. In no more than an hour, depending on your pace, you can travel from the base to the peak and back again. Runners might be able to complete the path in under 20 minutes. But don’t forget to build in some extra time to take in the breathtaking scenery at the peak.
This is certainly possible! And without a doubt, Mount Coolum will be an amazing experience that everyone will remember for a long time to come.
Tour the Noosa Regional Gallery
Situated on the scenic Noosa River at 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin, the Noosa Regional Gallery showcases a richly diverse program of modern exhibitions featuring local, national, and international artists combined with a suite of public programs like artist talks, masterclasses, and workshops for all ages.
It also features a free Creative Space providing exhibition-related art-making activities for kids and families. Art Play Sundays are also free events outside the Gallery for art enthusiasts of all ages to create art as they enjoy the river views.
Established in 1981, the Noosa Regional Gallery is one of the oldest regional galleries in Queensland. It’s also responsible for the much-acclaimed biennial art and environment event, Floating Land, which was conceived in 2001 as an outdoor cultural program. Floating Land welcomes visitors to experience thoughtful, environmentally aware, and challenging works that sensitively engage Noosa’s breathtaking natural environment.
The Noosa Regional Gallery is just a stroll away from Noosa Marina restaurants and cafes and Tewantin’s main shopping precinct. Within 200 meters of the Gallery, you will also find the —
- Tewantin Splash Park, a free children’s water splash play facility with a public toilet, sun shelter, and picnic tables;
- Tewantin Skate Park, a small concrete park for skaters with banks, quarters, and rails;
- RSL Memorial Park is complete with picnic tables, sheltered BBQ facilities, a sheltered children’s playground, and public toilets.
Entry to the Gallery is free.
Visit the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum
The “town that saved Queensland from bankruptcy” and home to Labor’s 2nd Prime Minister Andrew Fisher, Gympie has an important and fascinating history. Discover more at the Gympie Gold Mining and Historial Museum located at 215 Brisbane Road, Monkland.
The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs dating back to the discovery of gold in 1867 by James Nash up to the recently closed operations of the Gympie Eldorado Goldmine.
The Gympie Steam Festival is also held at the museum every October. To celebrate the steam engine era, it features its unique 1899 Walkers Cornish Boiler which is believed to be the only such boiler still operating in Australia.
Enjoy a delicious meal and coffee at the Cafe at the Museum while chatting with your company and enjoying the relaxed ambiance overlooking the Duck Pond. You can also explore the Museum Markets surrounding the museum, with Lake Alford and its beautiful park and picnic areas as picturesque scenery in the background.
Explore the Queensland Air Museum
Discover the most diverse and largest aviation museum collection in Australia at the Queensland Air Museum, which occupies two hangars beside Caloundra airport.
Focusing on Australian aviation history, the museum features a collection of around 100 civilian and military aircraft, including a mid-century Douglas DC-3 (the world’s first mass-produced metal airliner) and a supersonic F-111 higher jet owned by the Royal Australian Air Force. Visitors can get up close to the featured aircraft and have their pictures taken with them.
Its Historic Aeroplane Collection includes —
- Airliners;
- Armament;
- Bombers;
- Executive;
- Fighters;
- Helicopters;
- Recon;
- Replicas;
- Sports;
- Trainers; and
- Utility planes.
The museum displays feature various aspects of Australian and international aviation history, including women in aviation and wartime battles. It also showcases a compact collection of retro brochures, in-flight crockery, and cabin bags from the past and presents Australian airlines.
Entirely run by volunteers for the preservation of Australia’s aviation heritage, the museum has been sourcing, restoring, and rebuilding over 100 aircraft since 2974 and continues to maintain them in good condition.
Transport to Another World at The Majestic Theatre
Experience the world’s longest-running silent film theatre at The Majestic Theatre. Situated in the small, historic town of Pomona at the heart of the Noosa hinterland, The Majestic Theatre has been operating for more than 100 years as a community hall and a silent film theatre.
Check out their events calendar for silent films currently showing, plus other events like comedy nights; jazz, blues, other musical performances; and children’s shows. There are also public screenings of silent films every Saturday at noon.
Watching silent films is experiencing the living history of film. Ideally, the film should be accompanied by a good musician who expresses the film’s narrative and emotional journey well. Sadly, this experience is no longer available for most audiences.
The Majestic Theatre’s silent film screenings provide this unique authentic experience with its resident organist Ron West on their 1937 Compton Organ, of which there are only 4 existing in the world. If you can round up a group of at least 20, book their Special Film Screening where you can experience an authentic film screening exclusively with your group, complete with morning teas and lunches and a well-stocked bar with refreshments. Screening time varies from 40 minutes to 75 minutes.
The Majestic Theatre’s collection contains rare silent films that are even no longer available in the Silent Film Archives. Their catalog of films includes early Gothic, melodrama, and the always popular slapstick comedies.
A non-profit, community-run theatre and cinema, The Majestic Theatre also has a Members’ Page on its website, where you can join and share your love for film and entertainment with like-minded creatives and contribute to The Majestic Theatre’s vision by volunteering in your best capacity.
Explore the Glass House Mountains National Park
Discover the natural beauty and wonders of the remaining cores of 26-million-year-old volcanoes in southeast Queensland at The Glass House Mountains National Park, also called the Glass House.
One of the 7 national parks on the Sunshine Coast, the Glass House is an area encompassing 12 distinctive hills and mountain peaks with unusually cragged forms. They were named so by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770 as he sailed up the coast of Queensland, as they reminded him of the glass furnace chimneys in his Yorkshire homeland.
The Glass House is made up of 880 hectares covering 8 sections of parkland and mountains that have received heritage protection for their historical and cultural significance. Watch the wildlife, explore where the walking trails lead, go mountain biking or horseback riding, and climb some of the mountains at The Glass House Mountains National Park.
These are the 12 Glass House Mountains, listed in order of their heights, from the highest to the lowest:
- Mount Beerwah (556 meters)
- Mount Coonowrin (377 meters)
- Mount Tibrogargan (364 meters)
- Mount Tunbubudla (294 meters)
- Mount Beerburrum (278 meters)
- Mount Ngungun (253 meters)
- Mount Coochin (235 meters)
- Mount Tibberowuccum (220 meters)
- Mount Miketeebumulgrai (202 meters)
- Wild Horse Mountain (123 meters)
- Mount Elimbah (109 meters)
- Mount Cooee (106 meters)
Not all mountains are climbable, at least not by novices. But, most have lookouts, walking tracks, or circuits circumnavigating them. Some of the lower mountains may appear more like hills, except that their gnarly peaks are so ancient and distinguishingly distinctive that they deserve the grander name of “mountain”.
Shorter walking tracks can be found at Mounts Tibrogargan, Beerburrum, and Ngungun.
You can start at the base of Wild Horse Mountain which is on the seaward side of the highway. The walk is short at only 1.4km return but intense at 700 meters on the incline. Still, it’s worth it when you get to the fire tower at the top and enjoy the unobstructed panoramic views. There are information boards attached to the roof to guide you in what you are seeing in each direction.
As you head inland, you might come across some Bora rings, which are sacred places for the aboriginal peoples of Australia. They are often composed of inner and outer rings of stones surrounded by a mound of earth and a path joining the two rings. Never enter a Bora ring if you come across one, whether it’s marked or not, out of respect for the aboriginal peoples and their traditions.
The next recommended stop is the Glass House Mountain Lookout, where you can take in more of the mountain views, watch the wildlife, and spot the birds. There are also covered picnic and gas BBQ facilities here, toilets, and an 800-meter walking track which you might want to use. Less than a kilometer down is the Lookout Cafe where you can have lunch if you didn’t bring any food with you for the picnic and BBQ facilities.
For different views, you may also drive through Blackall Range and find Malaney and Montville. Head for Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve to enjoy a more leisurely walk in the forest.
It’s best to use a private vehicle to get to The Glass Mountains National Park. Although train service runs to Beerwah and interconnecting buses ply nearby routes, they mostly serve the more touristy spots and not the park itself.
Any time is a good time to explore The Glass House Mountains National Park. In summer, the hills being slightly inland offer some rest from the heat and humidity. In winter, the views are clearer, with wildlife easier to spot, and there are fewer people so you can have the park almost all to yourself.
There are many sacred sites in the Glass House Mountains National Park that are still safeguarded because of their importance to the First Nations people. Many First Nation groups used the area as a ceremonial and commercial hub before European arrival.
The Glass House Mountains National Park is a 2.6-kilometer ascent to the peak often takes hikers three to four hours to accomplish. Bring comfortable but sturdy shoes for walking. Beerwah is not for novice climbers because of its dangerously steep and exposed rock sides and the sometimes severe winds.
Discover the wonders of the Everglades
Habitat Noosa Everglades EcoCamp is a 26-hectare National Park wilderness on the border of Lake Cootharaba that will show you a different side of Noosa.
Coothara BAR & Bistro and Eco Brewing Company serve 11 beers created at the on-site microbrewery, making this the ultimate luxury camping destination at the mystical entrance to the Noosa Everglades.
Kids of all ages are welcome to join Kanu Kapers on a guided kayak trip to Lake Cootharaba, one of the only two everglades in the world (and the only one without alligators).
Skin can benefit greatly from a soak in the tea tree-infused waters thereafter. The resident gigantic catfish will surely be a hit with the kids, and there will be an opportunity to meet him.
One of the most violent types of shark, the bull shark, lives in the freshwater of the Everglades, where it hunts other sharks and rays for food.
The Everglades is home to a wide variety of wildlife, so be aware that you could be in danger from some very real and ferocious animals. You shouldn’t worry, though, if you take the necessary precautions.
Mooloolaba Beach
Mooloolaba Beach is on a small sandy spit that sticks out into the water near Port Cartwright. On the side away from the Pacific Ocean, where the water is shallow and the waves are gentle, there is a white-sand beach. At the western end, there is a high area called the Esplanade.
It has tropical trees that provide shade from the sun, and the Pacific Ocean sparkles below. There are a lot of cool restaurants and bars close to the ocean. At the mouth of the Mooloolah River, there is a sandy spit that goes out into the ocean. Along its shores, there are high-end neighborhoods built along canals.
Mooloolaba Beach has calm seas, perfect for those who aren’t confident swimmers. The beach has plenty of places to swim in shallow water, as indicated by the numerous flagged sections and the mild slope. In the same vein as Noosa, Mooloolaba Beach is a popular vacation spot, but that shouldn’t put you off.
Mooloolaba Beach is a popular destination for families because it is less expensive than neighboring Noosa for a beach vacation without sacrificing the quality of the waves. Here are the top things to do in Mooloolaba, a beautiful seaside town on Queensland’s sunshine coast.
Bulcock Beach
Just off the coast, there is a long boardwalk that goes from Bulcock Beach to Kings Beach.
This sign is right outside of the beautiful Happy Valley and Clarke Place Park, where families go to picnic and have barbecues.
You can see the long Pumicestone Passage that separates Bribie Island from the mainland to the south, as well as the small northern tip of Bribie Island.
Bulcock Beach is a lot more fun to play on when the tide is low.
At the end of the beach that faces south, there is a great place to surf, and the water recedes into small, clear pools that get warm from the sun.
Behind the western end of the beach is a row of bars, cafes, and ice cream shops. Businesses like East Coast Kitesurfing and Caloundra, Jet Ski cater to people who want to try new things.
Having things to do while exploring the Sunshine Coast doesn’t mean they need to be stressful “To Do” things. Select the ones from this list that resonates with you most, because what instinctively resonates is where your heart and soul are guiding you. And when you follow your heart and soul when it comes to having fun, you’ll never go wrong.