Sunshine Coast Travel Guide
Facts on Noosa, Caloundra, Maroochydore & Mooloolaba in Queensland
Go-karting, learning to surf, shopping on Hastings St and Steve Irwin's zoo - there are plenty of activities and things to do an hour north of Brisbane, Australia.
The Sunshine Coast, an hour north of Brisbane, is packed full of activities and things to do, including Steve Irwin’s zoo, Australia’s biggest Go-Kart track and surf schools. Noosa, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba are the main hotspots, and they have plenty to see.
As the weather in the Southern states starts to taker a turn for the chillier, suddenly Queensland starts to look like an extremely attractive proposition. The constant monsoons are coming to an end, most of the evil things that will sting you to death are disappearing from around the coastal areas and, more importantly, the sun is blazing.
In fact, it is nearly all year round on the very imaginatively named Sunshine Coast, a strip of world class beaches just an hour north of Brisbane.
With beaches like this, it’s no wonder that the area is regarded as a bit of a surfing hotspot. From Caloundra in the south to Noosa in the north, it’s golden sands, warm seas and great waves. There are a lot of good breaks that are suitable for bumbling learner surfers, who have as much chance of carving up big waves with style and grace as Michael Jackson has of being approved by an adoption agency.
If you’re wanting to learn to surf, then the Maroochy Surf School (0409 101 922) is probably your best bet in the area. This is run by experienced surfers, and you’ll be standing up on your board, if not exactly doing Kelly Slater impressions, in no time.
Whilst Maroochydore and Mooloolaba are gorgeous seaside towns in themselves, Noosa is probably the main highlight.
At the northern end of the coastal strip, Noosa has a bit of a reputation as being full of old people, but it’s not exactly fair. It is a little upmarket though, and the main drag, Hastings Street is the most expensive strip of real estate in the whole of QLD. It’s great for shopping, mind you, and if you can’t get a decent coffee here you may as well stop looking.
Part of Noosa’s attraction is the contrast. It has the laidback, low-rise feel of Byron Bay, the shopping of a mini-Melbourne and the sort of stunning beach that should be hidden away in the middle of nowhere by rights. It’s also right next door to the Noosa National Park, which although small by Australian standards is still exceptionally pretty.
The Sunshine Coast isn’t all about the beaches though, and there is plenty to do slightly inland.
The most glaringly obvious of these attractions is Australia Zoo, which was owned by Steve Irwin until his recent tragic death. His family now run it, and there are plans to expand the operation.
It’s not just a collection of dusty animals rotting away in cages. The living conditions are good, and there are live shows almost by the minute, be it handling snakes or watching crocodile trying to tear chunks out of the mug zookeeper trying to chuck them a bit of chicken.
If after watching people brave hungry crocs, you fancy a bit of an adventure yourself, then the largest commercial Go Kart track in Australia is just up the road. The Big Kart Track in Landsborough is 1.2km long and 8m wide, so there is plenty of space for you to do a Michael Schumacher, and shunt your best mate off the track on the way to victory.
