During my 6 months on the Sunshine Coast I was able to see lots of amazing places on and around it.
Oftentimes this area is skipped by backpackers, but I think there are many beautiful places you can visit when you are there.
These are the places I have visited and can recommend every traveller to see.
On the Sunshine Coast:
Noosa national park
Noosa national park is probably the only place that most of the backpackers visit, and it makes sense.
There are multiple beautiful walks on the coastline and inside the national park.
If you are lucky, you might spot koalas in the trees of the park.
Places you should definitely visit when you go to the national park are the fairy pools, which are natural rock pools, and I also loved Alexandria bay.
That’s a quiet beach on the bottom of the national park.
When I was there, there were spots of thousand of shells, which looked so beautiful, and you could collect some gorgeous ones.
Maroochydore Sunshine Plaza
The Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore is a huge shopping centre with a lot of stores of any kind and a food mall.
You will find whatever you are searching for.
They also have a high ropes course along the outside.
If you are up to go to a bar or a club afterwards on the weekend, you can walk to ocean street, which is right next to the mall.
There are more restaurants, many bars and a few clubs in that street.
Mooloolaba Esplanade
Mooloolaba Esplanade holds lots of stores and restaurants and is right next to the beach.
So it’s perfect to check out before or after a swim in the ocean.
For a great lunch or dinner, you can also walk over to Mooloolaba Wharf, with more restaurants and cafés.
Buderim forest park
In Buderim forest park you can have a short walk. There is a way you can walk to the end and back that takes about 1 hour.
After about 300 m you will have to pass the falls, that you can have a swim in before or after doing the walk.
It is usually pretty empty, so you might be able to be there all on your own to enjoy the Australian nature feeling.
Mount Coolum
Mount Coolum is a walk of 30 minutes up and is a common spot to look at the sunrise on the Sunshine Coast as the walk is easy to do.
You have a beautiful view on the coastline, the ocean and the glasshouse mountains from the top.
Close by you can do the coastal walk in Coolum beach which is a short drive from the mountain.
Around the Sunshine Coast:
Australia zoo
Australia zoo is known for the family Irwin that owns the zoo.
In the zoo you will find animals from all around the world, you can pet and feed kangaroos and also pet koalas.
They have small informative shows for the feeding time of some animals.
I loved especially the information about the koala nursery and seeing tiny koalas.
They are also specialised on crocodiles as Steve Irwin loved working with them and at certain times you can see crocodile shows, that sometimes his son or daughter do.
For just a few extra dollars, you can have a look at the animal hospital on the other side of the parking lot.
They take in wild animals that got rescued and help them get healthy again and put them back in the wild.
Gardener falls
These falls have to be one of my favourite falls, as they have a swing you can swing in the water with.
You can also just swim in the cool water or relax on the warm stones at the top of the little waterfall.
From the parking lot, it is only a walk of 200 m to get to the water.
Kondalilla National park
There are multiple routes you can walk in this national park depending on how long you want to walk for.
You can be at the waterfall with the water hole in about 45 minutes.
If you want, you can do a loop of 2 hours walking or add a one way return walk on top of that.
The water hole is pretty full during the weekend and breaks, so if you want to have it to yourself, you should go there during the week.
Mary Cairncross Scenic reserve
You can find a short, informative museum in the beginning of the park, which is free.
After that, there are multiple loops you can take through the reserve.
Keep your eyes open because there are a lot of wallabies on the side of the walkways.
Montville
Only a short drive from the reserve, you can find the scenic village, Montville.
Its houses look like out of a movie with cute little stores.
It’s perfect if you are looking to buy something special like crystals, a German clock or good chocolate.
Glasshouse mountains
There are several mountains that belong to the glasshouse mountains, and they are easily noticeable on the horizon.
Each mountain is different to walk up, if it is an easy walk up for 45 minutes or a hike that includes some climbing.
Nevertheless, the view from each of the mountains is worth it.
Eumundi market
Eumundi markets are open every Wednesday and Saturday from 7.30 am to 2 pm.
They have many unique stalls from handmade dog beds, to clothes, to food from different countries.
It is always worth to have a stroll around the stalls to see what all these people created themselves.
If you are ever on the Sunshine Coast, you definitely have to see those places.
They make this part of the coast a truly unique place that is totally worth a visit and also a longer stay.