Spend a week on the Sunshine Coast

Fly directly to the Sunshine Coast Airport in Maroochydore and pick up a hire car or take a transfer to your accommodation to drop of your bags and get ready for your Sunshine Coast adventure!

From the minute you enter the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, surrounded by the peaks of the Glass House Mountains, you will instinctively slow down to take in the view and start to take it easy.

On your way through the rolling hills of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, stop in for a light takeaway snack at Maleny Food Co. The team here offer a delectable cheese, dried fruit, cracker, and chilled drink picnic baskets, perfect to pick up and enjoy at a nearby waterfall.

Just a short drive from Maleny Food Co, Gardner’s Falls is an easy stroll from the carpark. With a wonderful bush setting complete with rockpools and rope swings for the more daring, this is the perfect place to set up a picnic, pop in for a quick dip and enjoy lush greenery.

After exploring the lush rainforest, head to Brouhaha to try their locally crafted beer featuring flavours of the Sunshine Coast. Brouhaha are famous for their Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Beer which features delicious Sunshine Coast strawberries.

For a spot of shopping, drive to Montville, a quaint Sunshine Coast Hinterland town where you will find chocolate shops, small boutiques, and beautiful views.

If you are feeling up for a bit of a hike, The Glass House Mountains’ peaks are calling for you. Mount Ngungun, is one of the most popular and easy hikes. It is a spectacular place to watch the sunset as it offers views all through the Hinterland.  

Start your day with a coffee and breaky from The Pocket Espresso Bar in Moffat Beach, Caloundra. We can’t go past the savoury muffins! Take the beautiful Coastal walk from Moffat to Caloundra and Golden Beach, where it is time to hit the water.

With stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and jet skis to hire, you’ll be all set to explore the pristine Pumicestone Passage which is the body of water between Bribie Island and Queensland mainland. You will want to keep your eyes peeled; the passage is teaming with wildlife.

For lunch, stop off at the newly opened Greedy Gringos’ for a taste of Californian-style tacos and a margarita or two before driving to Australia Zoo. Spend the afternoon with some of Australia’s most iconic animals. Get up close with koala’s, kangaroos, wombats, and many more native Australian animals. Australia Zoo is also home to an array of African and South East Asian animals.

Head back to Alexandra Headlands to catch a stunning Sunshine Coast sunset. As the sun sets in red and gold, enjoy watching local surfers lap up the last waves of the evening.

In the evening, discover Mooloolaba Wharf, which boasts a variety of dining options, bars, and pubs. Our personal favourite is Rice Boi, which features delicious Asian fusion meals and fresh cocktails. The Dock is also another restaurant loved by Sunshine Coast locals which has waterfront views and relaxing vibes.

For a great start to the day, journey to The Velo Project in Mooloolaba, one of the locals most loved breakfast spots tucked away.

If you enjoy spending time in the water, make your way to Sunreef Mooloolaba where you can choose your own ocean adventure! Sunreef offer amazing snorkelling and diving tours to Mudjimba Island and the HMAS Brisbane, where you can get up close to turtles, fish, and beautiful corals.

If you prefer to view the ocean from above, experience a once in a lifetime flight with Paradise Seaplanes. Flying high above the Sunshine Coast, Paradise Seaplanes will take you on flight over stunning beaches, lush Hinterland, and blue waters. Each seat on the plane has panoramic windows, so make sure you bring your camera for this experience!

In the afternoon, make your way to the Ginger Factory, to taste some locally grown ginger, experience the Ginger Train, and enjoy a tasty lunch looking out into their beautiful ginger gardens. We recommend saving room for their ginger ice cream – it’s amazing.

Spend your evening relaxing and enjoy dinner at Harry's on Buderim. Harry’s is an iconic restaurant, positioned on the edge of the Buderim Forest Park and offers contemporary Australian cuisine to be enjoyed in the setting of a 140-year-old, Heritage-style homestead. The wide veranda stages an authentic outdoor Queensland dining experience whilst offering stunning views of the rainforest.

Start the day off with an early morning hike up Mount Coolum. It is a short 20-25 min walk to the peak of Mount Coolum and is a great spot to spot whales in the distance towards Mudjimba Island. Featuring sweeping coastal views, this walk is not one to be missed!

Pop into the Coolum Surf Club for some breakfast or a takeaway coffee. This iconic surf club features some of the best ocean views on the Sunshine Coast.

Head north towards Noosa, out to the beautiful Habitat Noosa, where you can experience the Noosa Everglades - the only Everglades in Australia. Join an Everglades Eco Safaris tour which offers you an unforgettable wilderness cruise into one of Australia’s most pristine regions. Swim in tea tree infused waters, canoe through the mirrored waterways or simply relax in this unique natural environment.

In the evening, explore Noosa’s Hasting Street home to fairy lit walkways, boutique shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Our recommendation for dinner would be Bistro C; their menus are inspired by the amazing local produce of the Sunshine Coast. Their menus include favourites such as succulent steak, locally caught fish, oysters, and signature dishes such as the caramelised pork belly and a coconut chicken salad, as well as calamari that will melt in your mouth.

A trip to Queensland's Sunshine Coast is not complete without indulging in a unique once in a lifetime four-wheel drive tour experiencing the Great Beach Drive from Noosa to Rainbow Beach with Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours. More than just a drive, this tour is an unforgettable experience of the natural beauty and rich history of this unique coastline, with knowledgeable and passionate guides.

Explore idyllic National Parks, the Great Sandy Biosphere, the coloured sands at Teewah, and stunning views at the Double Island Point lighthouse. Travel on more than 70 kilometres of iconic beaches so you can soak in the scenery and wildlife, such as dolphins, manta rays, turtles, soldier crabs, bird life, and whales (whale season is June to October). This is a full day activity so be prepared to relax in the evening!

Our dinner recommendation would be The Surf Club at Sunshine Beach. This stunning surf club enjoys unparalleled views of the coast from its position set above beautiful Sunshine Beach. From the spacious Ocean Deck and Seaside Deck with unencumbered views to their unique dining areas and booths where diners can taste the best the sea has to offer, their seafood dishes are not to be missed!

Throw on your trainers and head to the Noosa National Park. Nestled on the doorstep of Noosa, this popular park features some of South East Queensland's most picturesque scenery. Discover secluded beaches, rugged coastal features, and views from the iconic headland at Noosa Heads. Spot dolphins frolicking in the ocean at Boiling Pot and Dolphin Point and be thrilled as thunderous waves crash into the rocks below Hell's Gates. Wind through lush rainforest, fragrant open woodlands and heathlands exploring 15 kilometres of walking tracks. Walk along clifftops boasting unforgettable coastal views before leaving your footprints on pristine sandy beaches.

Spend your afternoon relaxing at the award winning Ikatan Spa. Massage and treatments are created based on wellness and stress-relief for body, mind and soul using Balinese traditional techniques as well as spice and herbal recipes for body treatments. Bali village style, where life is at a slower pace and your therapist has ample time to prepare and care for you with packages, massage, facials, body treatments, pedicures, manicures, and head massage treatments. Unlike other day spas, the tropical gardens at Ikatan are part of the relaxation experience for guests. Enjoy high tea, platters, light lunch, or taster plates in their garden and let the afternoon drift away.

When the sun has gone down, drive to Spirit House in Yandina. Clustered around a tranquil pond, the restaurant setting is magical - a temple style main building with covered courtyard tables nestled amongst lush tropical gardens with towering palms and stands of bamboo. Their menu focuses on local ingredients creating amazing Thai inspired dishes. A visit to the Spirit House is a treat for all your senses, sight, sound, scent and of course, taste.

Enjoy the sand between your toes

Stroll along the beach and have a quick dip in the ocean before breakfast at Aromas Noosa. Aromas  is the best spot to people watch whilst you enjoy your breakfast! Enjoy watching the local surfers head to the beach for their first wave of the day and locals going for their morning stroll as you tuck into an amazing meal.

After breakfast, start your journey back to the Sunshine Coast Airport in Maroochydore for your departure.