Top 25 Must-Experience Activities in Sunshine Coast, Australia

A favorable climate, expansive sandy shores, major attractions, sophisticated resorts, lush rainforests, and dramatic mountain landscapes: The Sunshine Coast boasts a multitude of strengths, and there’s far more to explore than can be achieved in a single visit.

For those with a spirit of adventure, opportunities abound for traversing dense rainforest valleys, scaling majestic mountains, and venturing to the pristine Fraser Island.

Nevertheless, many visitors may find themselves reluctant to depart from the Sunshine Coast’s pristine white beaches.

Families will find limitless entertainment at various theme parks, globally recognized zoos, natural discovery centers, and unique museums.

1. Noosa National Park

The stylish yet relaxed town of Noosa serves as the gateway to its namesake national park.

Spanning 4,000 hectares and comprising four distinct sections, Noosa National Park features secluded beaches, cliffs, rocky headlands, and viewpoints at Dolphin Point and Boiling Point, ideal for spotting dolphins surfacing in the waves.

Unpatrolled Alexandria Bay stretches for over a kilometer, fully exposed to the Pacific’s elements.

Within the park, one can find rainforest, heathland, and fragrant woodlands.

Many of the trails in the most frequented Headlands section converge at the Noosa Headland day-use area.

Conversely, the Peregian section is celebrated for its spring wildflowers, including Christmas bells and the rare swamp orchid, while stunning views of the coastline can be enjoyed from Emu Mountain’s peak.

2. Mooloolaba Beach

Mooloolaba Beach is a premier coastal destination, extending along a sandy spit sheltered by Port Cartwright.

This luxurious white beach angles away from the Pacific Ocean, resulting in gentle, manageable waves and an extensive stretch of shallow water.

The Esplanade, elevated slightly at its western end, features shaded footpaths beneath tropical trees, with the vast expanse of the Pacific glistening in the sunlight.

Numerous cosmopolitan restaurants and bars are just a couple of streets away from the waterfront.

Behind the sandy spit lie affluent residential neighborhoods along canals at the mouth of the Mooloolah River.

3. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve

Ecotourists have been drawn to this remnant rainforest in Maleny since the 1940s.

The Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve serves as a natural time capsule, preserving subtropical rainforest species that once flourished throughout the Blackall Range.

Recently, the reserve has been enhanced with a modern Discovery Centre featuring interactive, multisensory displays that introduce visitors to the fragile rainforest ecosystem.

The boardwalk guides you past strangler figs and buttressed roots, while the viewing platform offers stunning views of the enigmatic Glass House Mountains to the southeast.

4. Noosa Main Beach

Several factors contribute to the allure of Noosa Main Beach, located on Laguna Bay.

Most notably, it is one of the rare Australian beaches that faces north.

Noosa Main Beach is sheltered from the full force of the Pacific Ocean, resulting in gentle waves suitable for those intimidated by larger beach breaks.

Surf lifesavers patrol Noosa Main Beach every day of the year, ensuring safety for all visitors.

This makes it an excellent choice for individuals taking their first steps on a surfboard.

For others, Noosa Main Beach provides opportunities for sunbathing, wading in the shallow waters, and frequent excursions to Hastings Street for shopping and refreshments.

5. Kondalilla Falls

When coastal temperatures rise, you can retreat to this mountainous paradise in the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland.

Within the national park of the same name, Kondalilla Falls features a series of cascades dropping 90 meters into a verdant rainforest valley.

The transformation of the forest from dry grass trees and casuarinas in the escarpment to the easternmost stands of bunya pines, ferns, piccabeen palms, and pink ash in the sheltered valley is particularly striking.

To view the waterfall optimally, embark on the Kondalilla Falls Circuit, which involves descending and then ascending more than 300 steps.

6. Kings Beach

In the southern region, the Sunshine Coast culminates in splendor at the town of Caloundra.

If one were to envision the ideal tourist beach, Kings Beach in Caloundra would be a strong contender.

The sandy bay slopes gradually into the ocean, allowing waves to break further out, ensuring a safe environment.

Kings Beach offers a broad expanse of soft white sand and a saltwater swimming pool situated right on the oceanfront in case conditions appear a bit tumultuous.

As the tide recedes, children will delight in exploring the rock pools, while a child-friendly fountain with sudden jets of water provides additional fun along the foreshore.

7. Bulcock Beach

Bulcock Beach, located just along the coast, is connected to Kings Beach by a continuous boardwalk.

This path leads through Happy Valley and Clarke Place Park, which are perfect for picnics and barbecues.

Direct your gaze southward, and you can discern the slender northern tip of Bribie Island, as well as the extensive Pumicestone Passage separating the island from the mainland.

Bulcock Beach truly shines during low tide.

The ocean recedes, leaving small, warm pools basking in the sun, and at the southernmost tip of the beach, there’s a decent surfing break.

Behind the western end of the beach, a variety of bars, ice cream parlors, and cafes can be found, along with companies like East Coast Kitesurfing and Caloundra Jet Ski, catering to adventure sports enthusiasts.

8. Glass House Mountains

This cluster of 13 volcanic peaks punctuates the coastal plain along the Sunshine Coast and is recognized on the National Heritage Register as a landscape of significant national importance.

The prominent rocks are the remnants of volcanic vents that were filled with magma and cooled, subsequently revealed as the surrounding sandstone landscape eroded over millions of years.

The most striking is the 364-meter Mount Tibrogargan, which, when squinting, appears to resemble a face gazing toward the ocean.

Visitors can walk around the base of this peak or opt to hike the 253-meter Mount Ngungun.

Adventurous bushwalkers can challenge themselves on the newly opened Yul-yan-man track, a rugged Grade 5 path weaving through the range.

9. Tewantin National Park

The adventure continues at Tewantin National Park, a mere 20-minute drive west from Noosa Heads via David Low Way.

A must-see is the 265-meter Mount Tinbeerwah, which was shaped by volcanic activity millions of years ago.

This peak offers breathtaking views over the Noosa coast and river systems and showcases rare and endangered trees, including swamp stringybark, wallum heath, and cabbage-tree palms.

Numerous amphibians such as the wallum froglet, green-thighed frog, and giant barred frog inhabit the park, alongside around 70 bird species, including the red-browed treecreeper, which thrives in the mature eucalyptus forests.

The Wooroi day-use area caters to families, providing picnic and barbecue facilities under bloodwoods and she-oaks.

10. Maleny Botanic Gardens & Birdworld

Spanning 110 acres, the Maleny Botanic Gardens & Birdworld offers an extraordinary setting amid ponds, cascades, and a variety of themed environments.

Located on a terraced escarpment facing southeast toward the coastal plain and the Glass House Mountains, the gardens welcome visitors with meandering trails that lead to beautifully planted spaces showcasing roses, camellias, desert species, orchids, rainforest plants, and more.

The site also features four walk-through aviaries hosting 700 native and exotic birds, in addition to a petting zoo with domesticated animals.

At the gardens’ summit, visitors can take a moment to enjoy the stunning landscape over a warm beverage.

11. Australia Zoo

Known as “The Home of the Crocodile Hunter,” Australia Zoo in Beerwah enjoys international acclaim, thanks in part to its former owner, Steve Irwin.

The zoo was opened in 1970 by his naturalist parents Bob and Lyn, with Steve growing up surrounded by the reptiles.

Profits earned from television ventures have been invested back into the zoo, transforming it into a sprawling, world-class zoological institution.

This facility is currently operated by Steve’s widow, Terri, and houses over 1,200 animals across 1,000 acres.

Visitors can enjoy crocodile and bird demonstrations at the 5,000-capacity “Crocoseum,” explore a Rainforest Aviary containing over 150 birds, observe Sumatran and Bengal tigers at the Tiger Temple, experience the 12-acre “Elephantasia,” and explore a dedicated area for Southeast Asian wildlife such as Komodo dragons and Asian small-clawed otters.

Numerous interactive opportunities abound, allowing guests to pet koalas, hand-feed kangaroos, walk alongside wombats, and tour the zoo’s animal hospital.

12. Queensland Air Museum

For a unique experience, Caloundra features the largest heritage aviation museum in Australia.

This nonprofit attraction is operated almost entirely by volunteers, who ensure its accessibility every day throughout the year except Christmas Day.

The museum showcases a wide variety of jet and propeller aircraft, particularly highlighting the immediate post-war years.

This period includes notable aircraft such as the Vickers Viscount, Lockheed Neptune, two Hawker Hunters, Gloster Meteor, two de Havilland Caribous, and two Sea Vixens, among many others.

The museum’s calendar is filled with events, including the Open Cockpit Weekend in July, where guests have the opportunity to take the controls of various aircraft.

13. Maleny Dairies

The picturesque hills of Maleny, located in the Sunshine Coast’s pastoral hinterland, provide the backdrop for an award-winning family-owned dairy farm.

Guernsey cows graze in these hills, producing milk used in Maleny Dairies’ range of natural and healthy products, including pasteurized milk, flavored milk, yogurt, cream, and custard.

Visitors can explore the farm through guided tours scheduled from Monday to Saturday.

The experience begins with a short film about the farm, followed by a visit to the factory floor.

Guests will meet Millie, the dairy’s “tour cow,” observe a milking demonstration, and sample fresh milk straight from the udder.

During the appropriate season, visitors may also have the opportunity to bottle-feed calves, and the tour concludes with tastings of the brand’s offerings.

Additionally, three times daily, tractor rides are offered through paddocks featuring playful calves and emus available for hand-feeding.

14. Point Cartwright

This coastal promontory extends into the vastness of the Pacific Ocean at Kawana Beach in Mooloolaba.

Behind it lies the final section of the Mooloolah River before it meets the ocean, and an operational lighthouse, standing 32 meters tall, was constructed in 1978.

From the headland, visitors can witness waves crashing against the rocks and enjoy views back to Mooloolaba, along Kawana Beach, and up toward the notable dome of Mount Coolum.

Contemplating an evening visit allows for splendid sunset views as the sun descends behind Mooloolaba.

Adjacent to the headland is an unpatrolled beach, popular among surfers for its point break.

15. Buderim Forest Park

Buderim Forest Park encompasses a 45-hectare oasis of rainforest, featuring waterfalls, cascades, and a labyrinth of trees, located just a kilometer from Buderim village.

It is no surprise that Buderim Forest Park attracts photographers and Instagram enthusiasts, as the park is best explored along trails with two entry points that wind through ferns and beneath ancient strangler figs, while the calls of rainforest avifauna, such as catbirds and whipbirds, resonate around.

Buderim Falls (also known as Serenity Falls) is particularly breathtaking, especially following rainfall that swells Martins Creek.

Even during drier periods, visitors can expect a gentle trickle cascading over the rocks.

16. Mount Coolum

This unique dome-shaped geographical feature rises inland from its namesake suburb, positioned approximately 100 kilometers north of Brisbane.

Protected within a small national park, Mount Coolum is a laccolith, formed approximately 26 million years ago when magma created a bulge in the earth’s surface and then cooled without breaching.

The 208-meter peak stands apart from the Glass House Mountains to the south and offers spectacular 360-degree views of the coastline, the Glass House Mountains, and the Blackall Range to the west, but only for those willing to undertake the climb.

Mount Coolum is one of just two locations along the Sunshine Coast that supports montane heath, which is comprised of rare and endangered plant species.

17. Rainbow Beach: Kayaking with Dolphins

Adventurous individuals may be eager to explore the national parks located north of Noosa Head.

The online tour platform GetYourGuide.com offers numerous experiences tailored for those wishing to delve further.

At the northern reach of the Great Sandy National Park lies Rainbow Beach, renowned for its 72 distinct shades of sand.

This captivating array of colors has resulted from erosion, which unveils sands colored by vegetable dyes and iron oxide.

The Rainbow Beach: Kayaking with Dolphins experience includes a 4WD journey along the beach followed by a leisurely kayaking trip around Double Island Point.

These waters are home to dolphin pods, stingrays, manta rays, and turtles year-round, which are likely to make an appearance.

However, those visiting between June and November stand a higher chance of witnessing humpback whales during their migration.

18. Aussie World

The only comprehensive theme park on the Sunshine Coast is conveniently located just off the Bruce Highway, approximately 15 minutes from Sunshine Coast Airport.

Over 30 years since Aussie World’s inception, the park now hosts more than 30 rides and attractions.

Some of these attractions promise exhilarating experiences, such as the roller coaster Redback, the log flume known as The Plunge, and the interactive thrill ride called The Wasp.

Nevertheless, the park also features numerous gentler options for families to enjoy.

This includes a restored carousel from 1927, a ferris wheel from the 1960s, mini-golf, the Leak’n Logs water play area, and Sideshow Salley, filled with carnival games.

A must-experience for those aged 12 and over is the Mayhem Maze, which is steeped in a spine-tingling horror theme.

19. Peregian Beach

Set against Noosa National Park, Peregian Beach is an exquisite coastal village adorned with local shops and cafes, an endless sandy beach, and expansive tracts of nature to explore inland.

Visitors can balance their time between the beach, a day spa, and cafe tables, followed by adventures in search of unspoiled natural surroundings, such as Lake Weyba.

Lake Weyba, surrounded by mangroves, open forests, and saltpans, is a shallow saltwater body notable for its serene beauty while serving as a vital breeding habitat for fish.

Birdwatchers can explore the bush via kayak or enjoy a refreshing swim in its clear, warm waters.

20. Hastings Street

Positioned just off Noosa Main Beach, Hastings Street presents a relaxed and upscale atmosphere, adorned with footpaths shaded by café awnings and the lush canopies of poinciana and pandanus trees.

At the base of the street’s low-rise buildings, visitors will find day spas, boutiques, gift shops, galleries, and surf stores.

The terraces bustle from morning until night with patrons indulging in coffee, champagne brunches, and evening cocktails.

As night falls, Hastings Street illuminates with fairy lights, becoming a vibrant, sophisticated nightlife spot.

Noosa Main Beach remains within a minute’s walk, and at the western end, visitors transition from the resort ambiance to the natural beauty of the gum trees in Noosa Woods.

21. The Ginger Factory

The suburb of Buderim boasts ideal conditions for cultivating ginger, a crop which thrives due to high rainfall and humidity levels.

This industry emerged during World War I, and today extensive hectares are devoted to ginger fields.

One of the companies producing ginger confectionery is Buderim Ginger Limited, which has established a visitor attraction adjacent to its ginger factory, located about 15 minutes away in Yandina.

Visitors can enjoy a ride on a century-old sugar cane train, wander through tropical gardens, and partake in a themed boat ride featuring over 200 animated puppets.

Additional offerings include live beekeeping demonstrations, and in the souvenir shop, guests can purchase ginger spreads, cordial, ginger beers, and of course, gingerbread.

22. The Original Eumundi Markets

The quaint town of Eumundi is renowned nationwide for its bi-weekly markets.

These markets are acclaimed as the largest and most prestigious arts and crafts markets in all of Australia.

Market days occur on Saturdays and Wednesdays, regardless of weather, showcasing a plethora of locally produced art, ceramics, jewelry, contemporary clothing, furniture, homewares, and much more.

Guests should come with an appetite, as a variety of delicious offerings such as loaded baked potatoes, artisan fudge, authentic Turkish gözleme, empanadas, and German bratwurst grilled to perfection await.

Entertainment is also provided via live musicians and street performers, and those seeking relaxation can take a moment for a massage.

23. Noosa Farmers’ Market

If Noosa seems tranquil on Sunday mornings, it is likely because the community is gathered at the farmers’ market beneath the gum trees by the Australian Football Club.

This market provides a unique opportunity for holidaymakers to connect with the Sunshine Coast’s premier producers.

Expect organic skincare products, olives, nuts, seeds, jams, herbs, marinades, sauces, fresh seafood, cheeses, tapenades, and baked breads and pastries.

Visitors are bound to become peckish, as plentiful food and drink options abound, including crêpes, German sausages, steamed dumplings, smoothies, and ethically sourced coffee.

24. Mooloolaba: Seafood Lunch Cruise

Situated in the Mooloolah Estuary, on the southern side of the Mooloolaba spit, lies a network of canals where opulent waterfront residences feature private jetties.

Jet skis dart by, and palm trees alongside luxury yachts complete the scene.

Only fleeting glimpses of Minyama and Mooloolaba’s canals can be seen from the minimal waterside parks available on land, making a cruise the prime way to appreciate this magnificent scene.

This 90-minute experience provided by GetYourGuide.com includes a delicious sit-down lunch, featuring freshly caught Mooloolaba prawns, calamari and chips, fish and chips, or hamburgers.

25. Fraser Island: 2-Day Grand 4WD Exploration Tour

While on the Sunshine Coast, visitors will find themselves tantalizingly close to Fraser Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest sand island globally, measuring 123 kilometers long and 22 kilometers wide.

With a population of less than 200, Fraser Island encompasses a world of rainforests, mangroves, sand dunes, peat swamps, heathland, and endless beaches.

A full two days are necessary to merely scratch the surface, and this 4WD adventure is available through GetYourGuide.com.

Participants will create lasting memories, from observing whales and dolphins breaching in the ocean to awe-inspiring vistas from Eli Creek and Indian Head Lookout.

The journey includes traversing canyons, driving along the untouched 75-mile beach, paddling in crystalline creeks, witnessing a century-old shipwreck, and exploring the island’s historical timber industry.