There’s plenty to experience for lovers of art, culture and heritage on the Sunshine Coast. Explore the history of the region or join the locals at markets where you will find artisan products and fresh, local produce. Learn from the Traditional Owners and celebrate at our festivals.
A growing community of artists, creatives and performers call the Sunshine Coast home, with the natural beauty of the region, unique history and laid-back pace of life inspiring incredible talent.
Indigenous & Heritage
Take the opportunity to make connections with the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara people, Traditional Owners of the land.
Learn the stories, traditions and culture of the Sunshine Coast’s first eco custodians, the Kabi Kabi people, on board Saltwater Eco Tours.
Triballink is located in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Mapleton. Its day program includes a workshop on artefacts and traditional customs, live dance or storytelling, as well as a shared bush tucker experience tasting kangaroo, emu, local greens or traditional fruits and jams.
Biral Tours offer cultural and spiritual Bush Walkout Tours on the tribal lands and sacred waterways of the Undumbi and Giggabara language groups of the Kabi Kabi tribal nation.
Munimba-ja is an Aboriginal-run gallery, shop front and yarning place. The gallery hosts a thriving creative community and is a breeding ground for new ideas.
Uncover some more recent history at the beautiful heritage listed buildings and archives in Eumundi, the cane sugar history of Nambour, the celebrated Kilkivan Great Horse Ride, and the shipwreck of the ex-HMAS Brisbane off the coast of Mooloolaba.
Art, Galleries & Museums
Follow established arts and crafts gallery trails through the villages of Montville, Maleny, Flaxton and Mapleton in the hinterland.
Spaces are brimming with artworks in all mediums including paintings and drawings. Photography and print making extends into 3-dimensional art including ceramics and porcelain; hand blown glass; sculptures in bronze, sandstone and marble; wood; silk and textiles; jewellery and much more.
In Nambour, wander to discover the diverse styles and expressions of the street art or take in the spectacular artworks that dominate the streetscape and laneways of Caloundra. The 1.7-kilometre Caloundra Street Art Trail includes memories of old Caloundra like the city’s oldest structure, the lighthouse, a tribute to Ma and Pa Bendall - who were a cornerstone of Caloundra’s surfing culture - and a classic take on modern Caloundra.
Experience local and national art with constantly changing exhibitions showcasing leading artists at the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery, Noosa Regional Gallery or Gympie Regional Gallery. Learn local stories at one of region’s many museums. From Australia’s largest and most diverse historic aviation display at Queensland Air Museum to the heritage precinct at Bankfoot House to the quirks at Gympie Bone Museum.
Explore Arts, Galleries & Museums
Markets
Discover fresh local produce, handmade arts and crafts at markets right across the Sunshine Coast. With the ethos ‘Make It, Bake It, Sew It, Grow it’, The Original Eumundi Markets heads the list of market destinations on the Sunshine Coast, with the whole town revolving around the market held every Wednesday and Saturday. During the holiday season, you will find a number of twilight markets where you can enjoy live entertainment as you shop.
Festivals
Throughout the year, there are a range of arts festivals on the Sunshine Coast.
The biggest of them all is Horizon Festival. This is a region-wide event that celebrates the creative and artistic vibrancy including everything from visual art to film, literature, performance, street art and more. The Floating Land and The Curated Plate are other notable celebrations to put on the calendar or for a weekend of ultimate culture and entertainment, don’t miss Australia’s largest busking festival - Buskers by the Lake.
