Welcome to the Sunshine Coast!
‘Paradise’ is not a word we throw around lightly, but given our home is brimming with pristine beaches, subtropical rainforest and ancient mountains - we reckon we’ve earned it.
Journey beyond our beautiful backyard and you’ll quickly find that here on the Sunshine Coast we’re not just sunny by name, we’re sunny by nature.
Everyone who visits here is met with a warm welcome and friendly smile, and our natural landscape offers a range of experiences accessible to all travellers.
Swap your front yard for our great big blue one, with many of our beaches offering accessible beach matting, wheel chairs and life jackets during patrolled hours to make your beach day a breeze. We hope don’t you don’t mind sharing it with the locals…the humpbacks, turtles and dolphins that is.
If exploring the coastline is what you’re after, feel the salty breeze whip through your hair as you take on the new Mooloolaba Boardwalk. The wheelchair-friendly path stretches 3.7km from the Mooloolah River to Alexandra Headland.
Once you have had your fill of sun and sand, make your way to our leafy backyard where you can swap screen time for green time and get up close with nature. Explore the rainforest with views of the Glass House Mountains along the wheelchair-friendly Mary Cairncross Interpretive Boardwalk, or discover the marvellous Maroochy River wetlands along a 2km boardwalk.
There’s lots to seek and so much to find on the Sunshine Coast, including a thriving food and drink scene with accessible restaurants, cafes and bars where you can devour fresh produce, before sipping your way through our burgeoning craft beer scene (we are Australia’s Craft Beer Capital after all).
For more inspiration (and insider tips), check out the Must-see accessible attractions of Noosa blog from the team at Travel without limits and Channel Seven's Weekender episode that profiles the accessible Sunshine Coast!
Getting here
Make your flight here as comfortable as possible by arranging special assistance through the region’s very own International airport, Sunshine Coast Airport (SCA). Located in the heart of the destination, Sunshine Coast Airport is wheelchair accessible and serviced by a team of trained staff who can assist you with your baggage, transfers via wheelchair and accessing the plane. Being a regional airport they do not have aero bridges, so people using a wheelchair can access the plane by a lift.
If you’re travelling by road, the Sunshine Coast is just over and hours’ drive north of the state’s capital Brisbane. Having access to your own vehicle is a great way to explore the region, and there are some wheelchair friendly car hire operations here, including Access Car Hire and Nationwide Mobility Vehicles.
Getting around made easy
Sunshine Coast Council has partnered with Briometrix to build a mobility map across popular areas of the Sunshine Coast, making getting around that much easier. Before you head out for the day, you can consult the map to check out footpaths, shared pathways, and trails that are accessible for people of all abilities. The paths have also been graded, so you can plan your journey based on your level of mobility.
If you need help planning your visit, the experienced team at Supported Travel eXperiences are experts in designing and arranging personalised travel experiences for people with disabilities.
Once you’re here, Suncoast Cabs are ready to transport you around the coast with a fleet of 28 wheelchair accessible vehicles that can transport a mobility scooter or up to two wheelchairs at a time. You could also reach out to Sunshine Coast Wheelchair Transfers. Public buses are also available, and for wheelchair accessible service enquires, you can contact Sunbus.
And if you’re looking for more ideas on things to do - or after some local tips - our team of passionate ambassadors at our Visitor Information Centres on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa can help point you in the right direction.
To help you get started, check out these places to stay, play, visit and eat. Our operators are committed to improving the accessibility and inclusivity of their experiences so be sure to reach out to them directly for the most up to date information.
