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Sunshine Coast - Queensland
Looking from Caloundra to Glasshouse Mountains. Sunshine Coast © Tourism QLD
Scroll down for details of Sunshine Coast Beaches and Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Sunshine Coast - Introduction

 Boxing kangaroos near Noosa, Sunshine Coast © Noosa Tourism
The Sunshine Coast is immediately north of Brisbane and officially begins at Caboolture, running northwards as far as Noosa Heads. It has long been an Australian family holiday destination and is now a busy, rapidly growing with residential and high rise hotel development (although not as high rise as the Gold Coast),

Sunshine Coast Beaches

The main resort beaches and towns are:

BRIBIE ISLAND  Connected to the mainland by a bridge and has the first surf beach north of  Brisbane.  Although there is a sizeable number of permanent residents, much of the area is undeveloped - see Bribie Island Recreation Area www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park(Bribie).  Has both camping and resort-style accommodation.

SS Dicky shipwreck (1893), Dicky Beach, Caloundra, Sunshine Coast © Truly AustraliaCALOUNDRA  Still retains some of its old low key atmosphere, notwithstanding ongoing development.  The Moffatt Beach area to the north of the town is a pleasant location with a more protected beach than elsewhere in Caloundra.  Adjoining Moffatt Beach is Dicky Beach, named after the SS Dicky which ran aground there in 1893 (some of the wreck still remains - pictured).
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND  A former tiny holiday hamlet which has expanded into a bustling holiday and surf resort with a very attractive beach

MOOLOOLABA  Expensive residential developments, shops, boutiques and a rather self conscious wharf area.

Noosa beach scene, Sunshine Coast © Tourism QLDMAROOCHYDORE  More moderately priced accommodation.
COOLUM BEACH  Mixture of residential and a range of hotels and other accommodation
NOOSA  The most northerly beach resort on the Sunshine Coast with access to some beautiful beaches (as pictured).  Noosa is definitely the posh end of the Sunshine Coast resort towns, with exclusive residential development.  From here you can access the Cooloola National Park and Rainbow Beach, where there is a ferry to Fraser Island - for more details see our Fraser Coast/Fraser Island section

Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Driving in the Blackall Ranges, Sunshine Coast hinterland © Tourism QLDInland is the small town of Woodford which has a popular annual folk festival. Also worth noting is Maleny, a very pleasant little town with some good cafes and a relaxed 'alternative lifestyle' feel - a major supermarket chain has established a store here and it is stolidly being boycotted by locals who object to what they see as commercial vandalism.  Palmwoods and Mapleton are also attractive small villages.  The pretty Blackall Ranges www.epa.qld.gov.au (pictured) encompass several reserves and parks and make for a relaxed and enjoyable day out if you are staying at a Sunshine Coast beach.
The two largest inland towns are Nambour and to the north, Gympie.  Also inland are the Glasshouse Mountains, nine volcanic plugs like rocky mini-mountains which rise dramatically out of an otherwise flat area.
 
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Truly Australia have attempted to give an honest and objective description of the topics covered on this page and have deliberately avoided regurgitating tourist office media releases. The information shown has been compiled from a variety of reputable sources and our own experiences. We check and review this information from time to time, but we assume no responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the details given.