Sunshine, sand and surf

Discover Australia‘s hidden gem, the Sunshine Coast, one of the country’s most vibrant regions, whether for buzz-hunters or chill-seekers

Here’s the first thing you need to know: it’s called the Sunshine Coast for a reason. Statistics show that this part of Queensland basks in an average of seven hours of sunshine every day, even when you’re including the months that pass – rather laughably – for winter. It’s blessed too with the kind of location that could have been designed specifically with Instagram in mind, occupying the scenic hinterland and coastal strip between Brisbane and Fraser Island.

But it’s not just winning on aesthetics. The area’s also rammed to the gills with proper, trip-defining experiences: the food scene, the natural variety and the festival calendar are all top class, and having somewhere as incredible as Noosa up its sleeve gives it serious pulling power. What’s more, with activities ranging from kayaking with dolphins to swimming with whales, it ticks the adrenaline and wildlife boxes too. Australia’s best kept secret? Maybe. Just maybe.

Put simply, the subtropical climate here makes life enjoyable, no matter what your tastes. Yoga poses on a stand-up paddleboard? Go for it. Horse-riding on the beach? Saddle up. Helicopter flights above the landscape? Hop aboard. But it’s by no means obligatory to fill your days with heroic exploits, of course – a big part of the region’s appeal is how well suited it is to the fine Queensland art of doing very little but watch the world go by.

The region certainly invites wandering though, whether that's driving the road-tripfriendly countryside of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland ( pictured below), to experiencing the volcanic peaks of the Glass House Mountains; visiting the easy-vibe villages like Eumundi to traipsing the endless sands of Rainbow Beach. Call in at Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo for up-close animal thrills, take a fishing charter from Mooloolaba Spit to catch fresh seafood or walk the 25km trail from Kawana to Caloundra. Better still, do them all.

The Sunshine Coast boasts an astonishing 100-plus km of pristine beaches. This means that whether you want to wander, drive, surf, horse-ride, kayak, or just have a good old-fashioned swim, there’s a strip of sand that’s perfect for you. Fancy enjoying Australia’s celebrated multicultural cuisine? Try Mooloolaba Esplanade or The Wharf. Just want to chill? Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, has gentle waves, patrolled shores and a number of fresh eaterie options. Do you want to get adventurous? Noosa National Park ( pictured, main) has waves for surfers of all abilities.

Noosa itself certainly deserves a linger. If you’re looking for a coastal town that combines world-class nature with upscale comforts, this beach-fringed bolthole is the place. There aren’t many places that have wildlife-filled national parks sitting just ten minutes’ stroll from one of the country’s classiest shopping strips – in this case, stylish Hastings Street – and it’s only here in Noosa ( pictured right) that you’ll find two UNESCO Biospheres sitting next to each other.

The long sands of the Noosa North Shore are well suited to everything from camping to 4x4 adventures, while the scope and quality of the surf here saw Noosa named the planet’s newest World Surfing Reserve in December 2017. They call it the Relaxation Capital of Australia (and if R&R’S what you’re after, you’ve got happy days in store) but it’s by no means all about kicking back.

For sporty starters, it hosts the world’s largest triathlon (the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sports Festival, next scheduled for November 2018), the world’s largest longboard surf event (the Noosa Festival of Surfing, usually held in March) and one of Down Under’s best culinary events (Noosa Food & Wine, coming up in May) – the town has no less than five restaurants in Australia’s Top 100. Joining a kayak tour of the extraordinary Noosa Everglades, meanwhile, is one of Queensland’s most iconic activities.

Such is the draw of the place, in fact, that Sir Richard Branson himself owns an island resort – the exquisite, heart-shaped Makepeace Island – on the Noosa River. Australia’s hidden gem may not be staying too secret for much longer.