FROM COAST TO COUNTRY IN SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
The Sunshine Coast, on the Traditional Lands of the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples, is one of the best places in Australia to enjoy winter sun. And while most road-trippers are drawn here for its epic surf breaks and beautiful beaches, the Sunshine Coast also extends into the rural hinterland, a brilliant emerald bangle of everglades, valleys and undulating hills. But first, let’s get back to those beaches. If you want to see the Sunny Coast with all its bells and whistles, head to the glamorous seaside town of Noosa. But if you’re after something altogether more lo-fi, change down a few gears and motor to family-friendly Kings Beach in Caloundra, or Coolum, which promises barefoot boho vibes. Cruise along the coastline between Caloundra and Noosa, before doing a brief inland loop to Rainbow Beach. Circle your way back through Gympie and the scenic Mary Valley and then retreat to the hinterland to explore a constellation of quaint country towns such as Maleny, Mapleton, Eumundi, Yandina and Nambour. Commit to conscious travel by hiring an ecoTekk electric bike and motoring along the Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway or visiting Big Heart Bamboo, a sustainable producer of bamboo shoots.
DISTANCE: It takes roughly two hours to drive the 166.8 kilometres from Caloundra to Rainbow Beach and a further 162 kilometres on a return loop through the hinterland. STAY: In HOLA boutique hotel (pictured), the new kid on the block in hippie-chic Eumundi or at the retro-cool Loea Boutique Hotel in Maroochydore.