From the breathtaking Glass House Mountains... up the magnificent coast ... through the rolling hills... along the rivers to the Everglades and eventually to Fraser Island. Walk the Cooloola National Park, a living natural museum. Fossick for gold near Gympie.

Everybody loves the pristine beaches, but take a step beyond- the hinterland has a charming collection of villages full of craft shops and galleries. Walk through its lush rainforests and National Parks. Enjoy a picnic beside a country river. Observe the wildlife - in the wild. The animals, the birds and the flora. Fishing is unsurpassed. River, rock, beach or deep-sea.
 
 

Sunshine Coast Towns

Caloundra has more than 30 kilometres of beaches, stretching from Bribie Island in the south through to Kawana in the north. The beautiful Pumicestone Passage is an added attraction and a haven for lovers of all water sports. Certainly a top spot for fishing, it also harbours two of the most popular beaches on the Coast - Bulcock Beach and Kings Beach. For the surfers, Kings, Dicky and Kawana beaches are the spots to hit when you want to catch the waves. For a relaxing stroll, try areas such as Shelly Beach, Moffat Beach or Lake Currimundi.

Caloundra is also the gateway to both the stunning beauty of the Blackall Range, and the spectacular Glass House Mountains, which guard the southern approach to the Sunshine Coast and provide an impressive salute to motorists.

For unsurpassed views visit Mary Cairncross Park. near Maleny at the southern end of the Blackall Ranges and take in the Glass House Mountains with an uninterrupted panorama of the blue Pacific all the way to Moreton Island and the skyline of Brisbane.
 
 

Bribie Island
Bribie Island is a 32 kilometre stretch of coastline providing a mecca for fishermen and is separated from the mainland by Pumicestone Channel. A flora and fauna reserve, the island is largely undeveloped and offers a relaxing and peaceful environment. Caloundra City One of Queensland's favourite family holiday destinations is Caloundra. The big attractions are its special relaxed Sunshine Coast lifestyle, the sun, sand and surf.

Glass House Mountains
Comprising of four spectacular mountains - Beerwah, Tibrogargan, Ngungun and Coonowrin which are fully protected within separate National Parks - ideal for bush walking through open eucalypt forest. For the more adventurous, a climber's paradise. Incredible views can be experienced from the summits. They are the centrepiece of a visually fascinating and experiential region - with tropical fruit plantations, Pine forests, delightful tourist drives, scenic walks and an abundance of native flora and fauna. Wildlife is aplenty - including a family or two of wallabies which often rest up on the lovely golf links at Beerwah.

The townships throughout the hinterland each have a charm of their own, along with a wonderful range of restaurants and arts and crafts shops.

Maroochy
Right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast is Maroochy Shire, with its hinterland and mountain ranges offering sweeping views of beautiful white sandy beaches and a blue green sea.

From a coastal seafood lunch of prawns, bugs, or fresh fish to mountain-top devonshire teas, and ploughman's lunches, you have the choice of top dining at restaurants with beach, river or rural settings.

Mooloolaba
Perfect for riverside picnicking, lazing on the beach or strolling around the specialty shops and boutiques.

The Mooloolah River is the site of the Underwater World complex which houses The Wharf, many restaurants , shops and the renowned Oceanarium.

Maroochydore
Bordering on the Maroochy River, Maroochydore has shopping complexes, magnificent beaches and waterside accommodation, and is recognised as the Business Centre of the Sunshine Coast. With sea and river fishing, beach activities, parks along the river and beaches, it satisfies every experience desired.

Alexandra Headland is a renowned surfing beach, and from the headland one has sweeping views of awesome Mount Coolum, Mudiimba Island and Point Cartwright.

Buderim, with its quiet village charm boasts some delightful gardens displaying an array of native plants and annuals. Buderim Forest Park and Foote Sanctuary offer walking trails through rambling rainforests.

The coastline offers quiet unspoiled, patrolled beaches stretching from Mudjimba through Yaroomba and Coolum to Peregian. Perfect for that sunset stroll or early morning walk to gather your thoughts.

The hinterland township of Eumundi comes alive every Saturday morning with the Eumundi markets, where over 200 stall holders sell everything from leather hats to handblown glassware.

Other townships like Palmwoods, Woombye, Yandina, Chevallum and Eudlo have their own distinctive character and charm. Buy a variety of locally grown tropical fruits from quaint roadside stalls where honesty boxes are still common. Kenilworth (Bellbird) country via the Obi Obi Valley is an old pastoral area known for the Kenilworth Cheese Factory.

The rainforests provide camping, bushwalking, gem fossicking and fishing. Nambour, originally an early coach stop, is now known for its sugar cane processing, with sugar trains rattling through the township to the mill at harvest time.

Noosa
Noosa is from the Aboriginal word "Noothera" meaning "shaded place". Noosa is a place of natural beauty, a cosmopolitan village of restaurants, shopping boutiques and sidewalk cafes. It is minutes from some of the best of Australia's unspoilt environment: beaches, rainforest. bushland, everglades and lakes - couple that with world class food, at some of Australia's best restaurants, shopping and accommodation - there is nothing like it.

The forests and wetlands of the Noosa region provide a natural habitat for a diverse range of native wildlife - koalas, kangaroos, and a huge variety of bird species.

Visitors love walking the recently constructed boardwalk from Hastings Street to beautiful Noosa Heads National Park. Stroll past peaceful coves, spectacular cliffs and natural heathland to the secluded beaches of Alexandria Bay. Many make a morning or afternoon of it and continue through the Park to Sunshine Beach.

Take a 4WD to the North Shore and drive kilometres of beautiful deserted beach to the Coloured Sands of Teewah, the wreck of the "Cherry Venture" and eventually to Rainbow Beach, gateway to the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island.

Travel this region by road, along the beach or on the beautiful rivers.

Try a peaceful houseboat holiday meandering up the river to Lake Cooroibah and Lake Cootharaba. The Noosa River is a hive of excitement with catamarans, sailboards, jet-skis and "Tinnies", whilst the fishing is sensational.

Inland are the towns of Cooroy, Cooran, Kin Kin, Pomona and Boreen Point. These peaceful hamlets with old-fashioned pubs and marketplaces, are a world away from high-rise jungles, pollution and traffic jams.

Cooloola
Cooloola is nestled between Noosa in the south and Fraser Island in the north. One of the major features of the 55,000 hectare Cooloola National Park is the Noosa River, with its associated tributaries, lakes and adjoining wet heathlands.

40 kilometres from Noosa in the tranquil waters of the Noosa River is an area known as the Everglades - a must to experience with magnificent reflections mirrored in the dark tranquil waters.

Tin Can Bay is a fisherman's paradise and the surf at Rainbow Beach and nearby Double Island Point are worth a visit.

Try your luck fossicking for gold in areas around Gympie, such as Deep Creek or Kilkivan, or follow the original bullocky's trail which is now Gympie's main street. The high rise of the Cooloola region! They are the towering bunya pine trees throughout the State Forests... a beautiful natural area.

• Australia Zoo
• Big Pineapple
• Ginger Factory
• Mooloolaba Beach
• Noosa