I’m walking on Sunshine
Keen to get out and explore, Craig Tansley checks out the best places on the Sunshine Coast to make you happy.
With the trans-Tasman bubble inflating, the Sunshine Coast has plenty of trendy cafes, hotels and spectacular coastal scenery waiting for visitors.
The one restaurant
Set in a temple-style building built around a pond and tropical gardens, eat some of the best Thai cuisine in Queensland at Spirit House at Yandina, with an outlook that’s as stunning as the menu. At night, the restaurant is lit up with flares across the water and croaking frogs are all you’ll hear. There’s a cooking school, too.
See spirithouse.com.au.
The one hotel
A decrepit 1960s motel has been transformed into the Sunshine Coast’s most stylish beach escape. Ten rooms look out towards a magnesium pool and green lawn stacked with lounge chairs. A vintage Citroen truck serves as reception and cafe at the Loea hotel. The owners say they were influenced by Malibu, yet Loea is by the river in Maroochydore. See loea. com.au.
The one cafe
There’s oodles of coastal chic in Vanilla Food’s decor, Noosa’s best cafes at Noosaville and Noosa Junction, but none of the pretentiousness that often goes with it. The food is organic and locally supplied – don’t go past the hot smoked trout with dill yoghurt – and the coffee’s good, too. See vanillafood.com.au.
The one national park
Noosa National Park is what defines Noosa. Stretching from the edge of town, the national park borders the ocean at Noosa Headland, offering hiking opportunities and some of the country’s most striking coastline. It’s home to all sorts of creatures, from black cockatoos to koalas, and goes nearly all the way to Coolum Beach.
See parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/noosa
The one family attraction
Sea Life Sunshine Coast Aquarium has been the Coast’s favourite family attraction for 30 years. Wander through 11 themed zones, including the Little Blue Penguin observatory, Seal Island and the 80-metre Ocean Tunnel where sharks swim above. You can also dive with sharks and swim with penguins. See visitsealife.com/sunshine-coast/.
The one brewery
They used to only drink XXXX, but now the Coast is one of the hottest craft brewery destinations in Australia. Sunshine Coast Brewery in Kunda Park was the first, in 1998. Don’t let the fact it’s located in an industrial estate put you off, every Friday and Saturday locals gather to socialise.
See sunshinecoastbrewery.com.
The one bar
This isn’t just any surf club. Built in the heart of Hastings St (Noosa’s main street), enjoy a drink (there are 30 beer taps) on a deck overlooking Noosa’s main beach, its national park and with water views across to Double Island Point beside Fraser Island. See noosasurfclub.com.au.
The one walk
If you’re game, the 58-kilometre Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk is a stunning trail that takes in the best of the Coast’s mountainous fringes. It can be done in four days, camping along the way, though you don’t have to do it all as there are half-day walks, too. See parks.des.qld. gov.au/parks/great-walks-sunshinecoast/about.
The one farm
ang out with some of the planet’s most intelligent and intuitive animals near the Glass House Mountains, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Every camel at QCamel has its own name and personality, and you will get to meet them as they roam freely around this organic camel milk farm. See qcamel.com.au.
– traveller.com.au
The writer was a guest of Visit Sunshine Coast, see visitsunshinecoast.com.
Fact file Carbon footprint:
Flying generates carbon emissions. A return trip for one passenger, flying from Auckland to Brisbane in economy class, would generate 371kg of CO2. To offset your carbon emissions head to airnewzealand. co.nz/sustainability-customer-carbon-offset