Coffs Harbour to Hervey Bay road trip: Distance, time & best stops
Attractions between Coffs Harbour and Hervey Bay: The Sunshine Coast
Next up is the Sunshine Coast region, where most of the appeal lies in beach towns such as Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Noosa. Click on the links for separate guides, although if just picking one, go for Noosa.
Top things to do in Noosa include hitting the surf at Little Cove, browsing the boutiques on Hastings Street and finding koalas in Noosa National Park.
If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?
The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.
Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.
Alternatively, try marine life-viewing from a speedboat going on a cruise through the Noosa Everglades, a whale-watching tour, or a surfing lesson.
For good Noosa accommodation, take a look at Seahaven Noosa, Habitat Noosa and Sofitel Noosa.
Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into
- Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
- 4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
- Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
- Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
- Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
- Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.
There are still some attractions close to the highway, though. You might be interested in the Aussie World theme park near Caloundra or Buderim Falls in Buderim.
Yandina brings up Asian cooking classes at Spirit House, walks on Mount Ninderry, all things ginger on tours of the Ginger Factory and picture-perfect swimming at Wappa Falls.
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.
You can also shop at the Yandina Markets, but the Eumundi Markets are a better experience.
Click for the next section: Gympie and Rainbow Beach attractions.