Things to do on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland

The best things to do on the Sunshine Coast include surfing in Noosa and swimming with whales in Mooloolaba. The Sunshine Coast hinterland also offers Australia Zoo, the Kondalilla National Park from Montville and the Eumundi Markets.

The Sunshine Coast isn’t quite as well known as Queensland’s most famous holiday strip, the Gold Coast. But it arguably offers a better holiday experience – particularly for those who prefer nature and laid-back beach towns.

The Gold Coast is to the south of Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast is to the north. The Sunshine Coast is very accessible from the Queensland capital, too. The drive from Brisbane to Noosa at the top of the Sunshine Coast takes just under two hours, and the region makes a logical stop on the Brisbane to Hervey Bay drive. The Sunshine Coast airport also has direct flights from Melbourne and other Australian cities.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

Things to do on the Sunshine Coast: Mooloolaba vs Noosa

If you are going to stay on the Sunshine Coast, the question is where to use as a base. There are several beach towns along the coast with merit – Coolum, Kings Beach in Caloundra, Marcoola, Mudjimba Beach have their own fans. The same applies to Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach and Peregian Beach.

Of the Sunshine Coast bases, however, Mooloolaba and Noosa have the most appeal.

Mooloolaba is affordable, family-friendly and fairly central to everything else on the Sunshine Coast. You can get good meals overlooking the beach at the Mooloolaba Surf Club (although the beers are better at the Moffat Beach Brewing Co). There are also plenty of things to do in Mooloolaba, including waterways cruises on the Aquaduck, submarine tours, island snorkelling tours, diving on the HMAS Brisbane and swimming with humpback whales. Buderim Falls is also a ten minute drive away. The Aussie World theme park is to the south, back down the Bruce Highway towards Caloundra. You can also go kayaking amid the sand bars of the Pumicestone Passage from Golden Beach in Caloundra.

Things to do on the Sunshine Coast: Noosa and Rainbow Beach

Noosa is generally more expensive, even if staying in a caravan park. But it’s a bit special. It’s arguably the best beach town in Queensland. Highlights include the shops and restaurants of Hastings Street, surfing lessons on one of Noosa’s numerous beaches, such as Little Cove, and stand-up paddle-boarding along the waterways. The walking trails of the Noosa National park are prime koala spotting territory and the Laguna Lookout offers tremendous views. Meanwhile, Noosa Everglades cruises up the Noosa River are one of the very best things to do on the Sunshine Coast.

At the very top of the Sunshine Coast is the small Queensland town of Rainbow Beach. This is one of the two main gateways to Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. Rainbow Beach is worth visiting in its own right, though. Driving a 4WD vehicle down the beach past multi-coloured sand dunes to the lagoon is a spectacular half day out. Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours offers 4WD tours from Noosa for those not confident driving themselves – it’s one of the more unusual things to do on the Sunshine Coast. These tours cross the river on the Noosa North Shore Ferry, then head up Teewah Beach to Double Island Point.

Four wheel driving on Rainbow Beach, Queensland's Sunshine Coast — Four wheel driving along Rainbow Beach is one of the best things to do on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Things to do on the Sunshine Coast: Hinterland

The Sunshine Coast isn’t just about the beach towns, however. A very different experience awaits in the mountains and rainforest of the hinterland.

Most visitors to the hinterland make it as far as Australia Zoo in the Glasshouse Mountains near Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Ngungun. It vies with Taronga Zoo on Sydney Harbour for the title of Australia’s best zoo, and is famous largely because Steve Irwin ran it.

Sunshine Coast Hinterland: Montville vs Maleny

Spread your sights a little further, however, and there’s more to the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Montville is a charming, hilly town lined with galleries, cafés and fudge shops. It is also the gateway to the Kondalilla National Park, which offers a series of delightful rainforest walking tracks.

Maleny is the alternative hinterland base. A little more functional than Montville, it still offers Gardners Falls, tours of the Maleny Dairies factory and the Maleny Botanic Gardens.

Sunshine Coast national parks and markets

For something altogether more adventurous, you can go camping at Booloumba Creek in the Conondale National Park. This requires a strong degree of self-sufficiency and a high clearance 4WD vehicle.

Then there’s Eumundi, one of those really touristy places that are still worth visiting. The massive Eumundi Markets draw in thousands of people every Wednesday and Saturday. But the focus on locally made arts and crafts is admirable, while food stalls and musicians make for a fabulous atmosphere. For more of a Sunshine Coast flea market vibe, try the Yandina Markets in Yandina on a Saturday morning. You can cool off at the nearby Wappa Falls in the afternoon or learn Asian cooking at Spirit House.

You’re best off driving to the Sunshine Coast. But the Nambour to Brisbane train is an option for non-drivers.