|
The
Sunshine Coast
is a region you can't miss during your Australian
stay. It has perfect weather all year round with
unbelievably beautiful beaches and small towns
with great hospitality. It is completely different
from places such as Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.
On the Sunshine Coast, the life is quieter and
stress-free . It has an atmosphere of endless
holidays. The Sunshine Coast is located between
the parallels 26ēS & 27ēS, only 100 Km from
Brisbane, or two and half hours from the Gold
Coast. The region is made up of many small cities
that are joining each other as the region grows.
In reality they are only a few kilometres apart. Caloundra,
Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Coolum
and Noosa. Each one has its own importance
and unique charm. There are rivers, mountains,
lakes, beaches and heaps of wildlife. The people
are very friendly, most of them taking the time to
chat to you on the streets.
To
get there,
you leave Brisbane, and take the Bruce Highway
north. One of the first amazing sights you see
will be the Glass House Mountains (A name
given by Captain Cook when he saw them from the
sea). The mountains are a group of peaks that on a
clear day, are really impressive. If you wish you
can get off of the main highway and get really
close to them. There is also a road that goes by
the mountains which is called The Hinterlands
Circuit. The circuit passes waterfalls and
great little villages with rustic houses,
restaurants and Cafes that serve cottage style
meals.
| . |
 |
Caloundra
is the first city
on the Sunshine Coast with a large estuary
protected from the surf by a sand bar point. The
area is great for aquatic sports such as
windsurfing, water-skiing and sailing. Fishing is
very productive with great spots for Flathead and
Tailor. The Gold Beach (photo) is a family beach
with no waves. On the other side of the estuary,
there are many good open beaches with great Surf
for board riders. Caloundra lately had become the
preferred spot for retirees, with house prices
lower than other Sunshine Coast towns.
| . |
 |
Maroochydore
and Mooloolaba
are the following towns from Caloundra. They are
the biggest towns on the Sunshine Coast, with
everything you need including fantastic beaches
and great entertainment. For surfers and board
riders, Alexander Headlands has a very
famous right point break that produces great waves
all year round. The town also has an excellent
marina and a huge South Water Aquarium. These two
towns are literally joined together, and it is
difficult to know when you leave one and enter the
other. Night life, Restaurants and Cafes are
everywhere, and huge Shopping centres are also at
hand. Accommodation is plenty and easy to find
with prices for all budgets.
| . |
 |
Coolum
is the smallest town,
but it is one of the best kept secrets on the
Sunshine Coast. It has a large concentration of
hotels and five star resorts. The town is neat and
clean, with great cafes right in front of the
beach. For those who like to play Golf, it has one
the best circuits in Australia. The beach is
another beauty, with nice waves for surf and
spectacular fishing from the sand. Due to the
proximity from Noosa, Coolum is a much cheaper
accommodation alternative than its more expensive
sister city. Rainbow Beach is an open beach that
connects Coolum to Noosa. At this beach it is
possible to find cheap beach holiday homes for a
good price.
| . |
 |
Noosa
is the last
Sunshine Coast town, and the most glamorous. It is
sophisticated, with lot of rich people owning
holiday homes in Noosa. Hasting Street, is
one of the most elegant streets in Australia with
boutiques and eateries on both sides. It also has
an estuary, with great fishing, and a river that
has abundant wild life. Noosa has one of the best
Surf breaks for long boarders in Australia,
currently holding international contests. During
the holiday season, Noosa can become very
expensive and difficult to find accommodation, but
i don't think you'll have any problem on any other
time of the year. Anyway, any other town along the
sunshine coast has plenty of accommodation year
around.
| . |
 |
The
Noosa National Park,
is a reserve that contains some of the most
beautiful flora and fauna in Australia. The Park
has many beaches and native koalas, lorikeets,
plus many marsupials. The water is crystal clear
and warm and the surf is also very good. The park
has many trails to walk on, all with signs
containing directions and distances. There are
also small, hidden beaches that you can have to
yourself, but when the waves are big, a lot of
caution is advisable. The best time to see the
koalas is late afternoon around 3 PM because they
spend most of the day sleeping. This walk is
great with breathtaking views and nature to be
appreciated.
| . |
 |
20
km from Noosa,
and once a week, there is one of the biggest Arts
and Craft Markets in Australia. It is called Eumundi
Market and you will find more than 1000 stalls
selling everything you can imagine. It is so
famous that many Australian travel all night long
to be early at the market to get the best produce
and bargains. The
Sunshine Coast
is a region you can't miss during your Australian
trip. Ask them what they think about people who
live in Brisbane or Sydney and they will answer...
Crazy!
More
about the Sunshine Coast...
 |
| Oh
hard life, Oh cruel world! |
|
Home
