Sunshine Coast Regional: Coast, Trails and Culture

More than 100 kilometres of coastline define Sunshine Coast Regional. Possible leisure activities include swimming and surfing, as well as whale watching and diving. On land, a 73-kilometre coastal pathway and a Great Walk in the hinterland taking at least four days sit alongside gardens, historic buildings and aviation history. When planning your stay, you can organise these different highlights according to what you want to experience on your trip.

Coastal pathway or Great Walk?

The Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway runs for 73 kilometres from Bells Creek in the south to Coolum in the north. Beaches, parks and recreational facilities lie along the route. The pathway can be used for walking, jogging or cycling. Its length, endpoints and possible uses give you a clear overview of this route without mistaking it for a single destination.

The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk offers a different way to plan: it covers 58.8 kilometres through the Blackall Range and takes at least four days. The route passes through three national parks and has three bush campsites. The time commitment is especially clear when comparing the two trails: the Great Walk is listed as taking at least four days, while the Coastal Pathway is described by its total length and possible uses. This can help you weigh up which route better suits the time you have planned.

Gardens, museums and aviation history

Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World combines a garden covering almost 18 acres with four walk-through aviaries. More than 600 native and exotic birds live there. The garden area and bird population offer two different perspectives on the same place: the aviaries are a particular draw for anyone interested in birds, while the size of the grounds indicates their scale.

Landsborough Museum is housed in the heritage-listed Landsborough Shire Council Chambers, dating from 1924. The museum’s location and the building’s year of construction are directly connected here. The Queensland Air Museum in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast presents Australia’s largest and most diverse historical aviation display. Anyone interested in aviation history will find another clearly defined cultural and historical highlight here, alongside the museum in Landsborough.

Waterways, First Nations culture and markets

Saltwater Eco Tours travels the waterways of Mooloolaba and combines its tours with First Nations culture and maritime history. The Bushtucker Cruise includes a menu of native ingredients, as well as local seasonal produce and bush tucker ingredients. Seasonal produce is a distinct part of the culinary theme; this tour brings waterways, cultural connections and maritime history together.

The Eumundi Markets are open in all areas on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As market hours can change, check the current opening times before your visit. This lets you take market days into account when planning your trip without assuming a visit on another day of the week.

Getting there and planning your hotel stay

Sunshine Coast is about an hour’s drive from Brisbane. Sunshine Coast Airport is accessible to wheelchair users; trained staff can assist with luggage, wheelchair transfers and boarding the aircraft. These details offer different kinds of guidance: the approximate driving time from Brisbane and specific assistance available at the airport.

Tailor your search to the places and activities that matter to you, rather than assuming there is one main attraction across the entire Sunshine Coast.

Explore more destinations: Wurtulla, Mount Isa City, Southern Downs Regional, Gladstone Regional, Townsville City, Moreton Bay Regional, Sunshine Coast Regional, South Burnett Regional

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.