Ask Australians where they'd live if they could pick anywhere, and the Sunshine Coast comes up more than almost any other answer. It's not hard to see why — 60 kilometres of golden beaches, a rainforest hinterland rising 450 metres behind them, and the eleven volcanic Glass House Mountains rising abruptly from the coastal plain in the south. This is your complete 2026 guide to touring all of it.
Why the Sunshine Coast?
The region stretches from the canal suburbs of Caloundra in the south to the headland elegance of Noosa in the north, with 60 km of beaches in between — surf breaks, sheltered coves, tidal rock pools, and long flat stretches of sand patrolled year-round by lifeguards. But the coast is only half the story. Turn inland and within twenty minutes you're climbing through dairy country into the Blackall Range — a spine of subtropical rainforest that runs parallel to the coast, named in 1874 after Sir Samuel Blackall (Governor of Queensland 1864–1871), and reaching a maximum elevation of 450 metres. Its eastern edge is lined with lookouts that offer one of the great panoramic views in Queensland.
The villages up here — Maleny (population 3,959), Montville (1,092), Mapleton, and Flaxton — feel like a different climate and a different century: art galleries, cheese makers, fudge shops, second-hand bookshops, and cafés that source from the farms next door. Average temperatures up here run 5–8°C cooler than the coast, with a long-term annual average of 24°C max and 14°C min.
The Sunshine Coast is where Australia's beach culture meets its hinterland soul — and the two are never more than twenty minutes apart.
Further south, the Glass House Mountains — eleven volcanic plugs left over from eruptions 26 to 27 million years ago — rise dramatically from flat sugarcane and pineapple country. Captain James Cook named them on 17 May 1770 because their conical shapes reminded him of glass-making kilns ("glass houses") back in Yorkshire. Today the lookouts here are among the most photographed viewpoints in South East Queensland, and the peaks are National Heritage-listed for their cultural significance to the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) and Jinibara peoples, who have used them as places of spiritual ceremony and trading for thousands of years.
All of this sits within easy reach of Brisbane — about ninety minutes north, with Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games bringing growing international visitor interest. That proximity, combined with the region's variety, is what makes the Sunshine Coast such an effective touring destination. In a single day you can swim in the ocean, walk through rainforest, lunch in a mountain village, spot a koala, and browse an artisan market. In a week, you can do all that at a pace that actually lets you enjoy it.
Noosa & the Headland
Noosa sits at the northern tip of the Sunshine Coast and operates on a different frequency to the rest of the region. Hastings Street — the main drag — is a low-rise, tree-lined avenue of restaurants, boutiques, and gelato bars that opens directly onto Main Beach, a north-facing crescent of golden sand with some of the calmest, clearest water on the coast. There are no high-rises. No neon. Just a village-scale beach town that happens to have exceptionally good food and one of Australia's most beautiful national parks on its doorstep.
Noosa National Park occupies the headland east of Main Beach. The Coastal Track is 5.4 km one way (around 2.5–3 hours), starting at the Noosa Heads day-use area and finishing at Sunshine Beach. The route contours the cliff edge past a series of named landmarks: Boiling Pot lookout, Tea Tree Bay (a perfect sheltered beach and the best section for koala spotting), Dolphin Point (dolphin sightings year-round), Granite Bay, the famous Fairy Pools tidal rock pools (around 2.5 km in, accessible at low tide), and Hell's Gates — a dramatic rocky bluff where the tide crashes against the cliffs. Beyond Hell's Gates lies Alexandria Bay ("A-Bay" to locals), a beautiful clothing-optional beach with golden sand and crystal-clear water.
For walkers who want shorter options, several alternatives exist. Palm Grove Walk is an easy 1.1 km return through rainforest. Noosa Hill Walk is a moderate 2.8 km return with hinterland views. The Tanglewood Walk can be used as an inland return route from Hell's Gates back to the day-use area — cooler, greener, and the best section for koala spotting. Your guide will know which trees the koalas favour on the day; sightings occur on approximately 90% of walks. Back at the car park, Main Beach and Hastings Street are a two-minute walk — swim, lunch, browse, or grab a flat white and watch the world go by.
The Noosa River
South of the headland, the Noosa River empties into the ocean through a wide, calm estuary lined with restaurants, kayak hire, and pelican-feeding spots. Gympie Terrace — the river's main promenade — is the place to end a Noosa day: golden-hour light, dolphins in the shallows, and a pace that makes you wonder why you'd ever leave. Optional kayak hire lets you explore upstream where the river narrows into mangroves and birdlife. Noosaville's restaurant strip rivals Hastings Street for food quality at a slightly more relaxed price point.
Noosa & Coastal Explorer
The complete Noosa day — full Coastal Track, Fairy Pools, Tea Tree Bay koala spotting, Main Beach, Hastings Street, and Noosa River.
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Noosa National Park & Coastal Tours
Choose a focused half-day walk to Hell's Gates or the full Noosa experience to Sunshine Beach. Compare both options.
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Noosa Day Trip from Brisbane
Return transport from Brisbane, koala spotting, Main Beach, Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat), and the Noosa River.
View tourThe Blackall Range, Glass House Mountains & Waterfalls
The Sunshine Coast hinterland is the region's quiet counterweight to the beaches — cooler, greener, and slower. The Blackall Range rises to a maximum of 450 metres, and its eastern escarpment is draped in subtropical and temperate rainforest that has been protected in pockets since the early twentieth century. The two standout reserves are Kondalilla National Park — where Kondalilla Falls drops 90 metres over Skene Creek into a swimming hole surrounded by rainforest — and Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, a 55-hectare National Estate-listed remnant in Maleny with a 1.7 km wheelchair-accessible boardwalk and one of the best Glass House Mountains viewpoints on the coast. Some Mary Cairncross trees are 400–500 years old.
The villages strung along the range — Maleny, Montville, Mapleton, Flaxton — are what give the hinterland its character. Montville's main street is lined with heritage-style buildings housing art galleries, a clock shop, handmade fudge and chocolate stores, a bookshop, and cafés with views that stretch to Moreton Island on a clear day. The village was originally called "Razorback" for the ridge it sits on — renamed by Henry Smith in 1893 after his hometown of Montville, Connecticut, USA. Maleny, 14.6 km south, has a stronger agricultural identity — a cooperative community since its dairy days (first butter factory 1904), farm-gate produce, boutique dairies, and some of the best cheese on the coast. The name derives from Malleny, Scotland, adopted in 1890.
Read our dedicated Montville & Maleny Village Guide for the full breakdown of food, shops, and history.
Glass House Mountains
South of the range, the Glass House Mountains form one of South East Queensland's most recognisable landscapes — 11 principal volcanic peaks rising abruptly from flat farmland. Formed 26-27 million years ago from rhyolite and trachyte volcanic plugs, they've been exposed by millions of years of erosion of the softer surrounding rock. The headliners include Mt Beerwah (556 m, the highest, with a summit walk currently closed for safety), Mt Tibrogargan (the most identifiable shape, said to look like a person facing east), Mt Coonowrin (377 m, second highest, closed to climbing since 1999 due to rock instability), and Mt Ngungun (253 m, the easiest climb with 360° summit views).
The best panoramic viewpoints are accessible by car — Wild Horse Mountain Lookout in Beerburrum East State Forest and Glass House Mountains Lookout off Steve Irwin Way. The cultural significance of this landscape to the Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples is profound; your guide shares the Dreaming stories associated with the peaks where appropriate. The mountains were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 May 2007 and the wider area is National Heritage-listed.
Hinterland & Waterfalls Adventure
Kondalilla Falls (90m), Gardners Falls swimming, Mary Cairncross Reserve, Maleny & Montville villages, Glass House Mountains lookout.
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Hinterland Waterfalls
Kondalilla Falls, Mapleton Falls, swimming holes, and village stops — for dedicated nature lovers.
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Sunshine Coast Paradise Tour
Glass House Mountains, Mary Cairncross, Maleny, Montville, and Noosa Main Beach — both worlds in one day.
View tourFamily Beaches & Coastal Towns
The Sunshine Coast's beaches are remarkably varied. Noosa Main Beach is the glamorous headliner — calm, north-facing, and framed by national park — but the rest of the coastline holds its own. Mooloolaba, halfway along the coast, wraps around a protected bay with a fishing harbour on one side and a long esplanade of restaurants, ice-cream shops, and Norfolk pines on the other. The water is calm and warm, the sand is fine and golden, and the whole place has a relaxed family-holiday energy that's hard to beat. Mooloolaba is also home to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast (formerly Underwater World) — the multi-award-winning aquarium at The Wharf on Parkyn Parade, with 11 interactive animal zones, the 80-metre Ocean Tunnel, and the famous Seal Presentation.
Further south, Caloundra occupies a headland with multiple beaches — Kings Beach (patrolled, with rock pools and a saltwater swimming pool), Bulcock Beach (sheltered, ideal for toddlers), and Moffat Beach (a local favourite with a great café scene). Between Mooloolaba and Noosa, quieter stretches like Coolum, Peregian, and Sunshine Beach offer surf, space, and a more local feel. Just north of Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland ("Alex") is a lifeguard-patrolled family favourite with gentle waves and the famous concrete slide for the kids.
The Sunshine Coast has a beach for every mood — surfing, swimming, rock-pooling, fish-and-chips, or just sitting under a pandanus tree with a book.
Markets, Food & Local Flavour
The Sunshine Coast's food scene is driven by proximity to producers. The region's subtropical climate, rich volcanic soil, and dairy country produce everything from macadamias and avocados to artisan cheese, honey, coffee, and small-batch gin. The result is a café culture and market scene that punches well above its weight.
Eumundi Markets
The jewel in the crown is the Eumundi Markets — held every Wednesday and Saturday (7:30am–2:00pm) in the heritage town of Eumundi, inland from Noosa. Over 600 stalls sell handmade jewellery, textiles, ceramics, woodwork, skincare, fresh produce, gourmet food, and live music fills the tree-shaded lanes. It's the Southern Hemisphere's largest artisan market, established in 1979 with a strict "make it, bake it, grow it, sew it" stallholder policy. A highlight of most Sunshine Coast tours. Our Noosa Day Trip from Brisbane includes an Eumundi stop on Wednesday and Saturday departures. Read our full Eumundi Markets Guide for stallholder tips.
Hinterland Produce
In the hinterland, farm gates and boutique producers are scattered along the Blackall Range. Maleny is the epicentre — local dairies (Maleny Cheese is the headliner) produce rich cheeses, the co-op stocks seasonal fruit and vegetables, and cafés use ingredients sourced from farms you can see from the window. Montville's main street adds handmade fudge in copper kettles, native-ingredient chocolatiers (wattleseed, Davidson plum, finger lime), and preserves to the mix. Our Hinterland & Waterfalls Adventure and Paradise Tour both include village time in Maleny and Montville for browsing and tasting.
Wine in the Hinterland
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland and nearby South Burnett region produce remarkable cool-climate wines. Flame Hill Vineyard in Montville sits at 420m elevation — the highest point on the Blackall Range. Dusty Hill Vineyard in Moffatdale (South Burnett) is part of Queensland's largest wine-producing region. Our Sunshine Coast Wine Tours visit both regions.
Coastal Dining
On the coast, Hastings Street in Noosa is the fine-dining hub, but Mooloolaba's wharf and esplanade restaurants offer excellent seafood in a more relaxed setting. The Wharf Mooloolaba has everything from fish-and-chips kiosks to sit-down seafood with harbour views. The Mooloolaba Twilight Markets run Friday nights during school holidays. Caloundra's Kings Beach has a growing café strip. And every tour includes your guide's personal recommendations — the places locals actually eat, not just the ones with the biggest signs.
Wildlife
The Sunshine Coast is one of the best places in South East Queensland to see native wildlife in natural habitat — no sanctuaries or enclosures required.
Koalas are the headline act. Noosa National Park's resident population is one of the most accessible in the country — your guide knows which trees the koalas favour, and sightings occur on approximately 90% of walks. You don't need to go far: the inland Tanglewood Walk section, just a few hundred metres from the car park, is prime territory, as is the canopy above Tea Tree Bay.
Dolphins are regulars in the Noosa River estuary and along the headland, often visible from Dolphin Point on the Coastal Track. Between May/June and October/November, humpback whales migrate along the coast — Australia's east-coast humpback population now numbers around 40,000 — and can be spotted from elevated lookouts on the Noosa headland, from Point Cartwright near Mooloolaba, and from Caloundra's Moffat Headland.
Golf on the Sunshine Coast
With a subtropical climate that delivers golf-friendly weather year-round, the Sunshine Coast is home to some of Queensland's best courses. The range covers everything from Greg Norman-designed resort layouts to demanding championship tracks and relaxed coastal clubs — all set against a backdrop of hinterland mountains, river corridors, and Pacific breezes.
The standouts include Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort (a championship layout winding through bushland with a luxury spa on site), Palmer Coolum Resort (a former PGA Tour venue beneath volcanic Mount Coolum), Pelican Waters (Greg Norman Signature design with Glass House Mountains views), and Headland Golf Club (a challenging, great-value championship course near Buderim). For social rounds, Maroochy River and Caloundra offer scenic, relaxed play. Twin Waters Golf Club sits in a marina setting just north of Mooloolaba.
Planning Your Sunshine Coast Trip
When to Go
The Sunshine Coast is a year-round destination. Summer (December–February) brings warm water, long days, and Eumundi night markets; autumn (March–May) offers mild temperatures and clear skies ideal for walking; winter (June–August) is dry and crisp with crystal-clear hinterland views and the start of whale migration; spring (September–November) brings wildflowers, peak whale migration, and comfortable hiking weather. There is no bad season — only different highlights. The hinterland runs 5–8°C cooler than the coast year-round.
Getting There
The Sunshine Coast is approximately 90 minutes north of Brisbane by road via the Bruce Highway. Our tours include door-to-door pickup from Brisbane CBD hotels, Sunshine Coast accommodation (Caloundra to Noosa), and — on select tours — the Gold Coast. The Sunshine Coast also has its own airport at Marcoochydore with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and New Zealand.
How Long to Spend
A single day tour covers one theme well — a coastal day at Noosa, a hinterland waterfalls day, or a beaches-and-family day at Mooloolaba. Two to three days let you combine coast and hinterland comfortably. Our 6-Day Sunshine Coast Tour covers the full region at a relaxed pace, including Noosa, Mooloolaba, Australia Zoo, Eumundi Markets, hinterland villages, and SEA LIFE.
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip (for trails and rock pools)
- Swimwear and towel (towels provided on most family tours)
- Sunscreen (Queensland UV is high year-round), hat, and sunglasses
- Light jacket or jumper for hinterland mornings (5–8°C cooler than the coast)
- Camera and reusable water bottle
- Spending money for lunch, markets, and shopping
- Rash shirts for children at the beach
Who Are Our Tours For?
Everyone. We run family tours with toddler-friendly beaches, senior-friendly tours with flat boardwalks and relaxed pacing, active tours with 5+ km coastal walks, romantic couples' escapes, corporate golf days, and private group itineraries for celebrations and events. Small groups (max 12) mean personal attention, and every itinerary is flexible enough to adapt to weather, tides, and your interests on the day. ATAS accredited, Brisbane-based since 1989.
The Complete Sunshine Coast — Multi-Day
If one day isn't enough — and for most visitors it isn't — our multi-day options let you see the full Sunshine Coast without rushing. The 6-Day Tour is the flagship: six guided days covering Noosa, Mooloolaba, Australia Zoo, Eumundi Markets, the hinterland villages, SEA LIFE, and the Noosa River, with accommodation, daily breakfast, and selected meals included.
All Nine Sunshine Coast Tours at a Glance
Noosa & Coastal Explorer
Full 5.4km Coastal Track, Fairy Pools, Tea Tree Bay, Hastings Street, Noosa River.
ViewNoosa National Park Tours
Half-day Hell's Gates walk or full-day Coastal Track to Sunshine Beach.
CompareNoosa Day Trip from Brisbane
Koalas, Main Beach, Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat), Noosa River.
ViewHinterland & Waterfalls Adventure
Kondalilla Falls (90m), Maleny, Montville, Glass House Mountains.
ViewHinterland Waterfalls
Kondalilla Falls, Mapleton Falls, swimming holes, village stops.
ViewMooloolaba & Family Beaches
SEA LIFE (80m Ocean Tunnel), Alex Headland slide, calm beaches.
ViewSunshine Coast Paradise Tour
Glass House Mountains, Mary Cairncross, villages, and Noosa.
ViewSunshine Coast 6-Day Tour
The complete Sunshine Coast — Noosa, Mooloolaba, Australia Zoo, hinterland.
ViewSunshine Coast Golfing Tours
Noosa Springs, Twin Waters, Pelican Waters, Headland, and more.
ViewFor a full listing with images and pricing, visit our Sunshine Coast Tours directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on what you love. For coastal walks and wildlife: Noosa Coastal Explorer. For rainforest and waterfalls: Hinterland & Waterfalls. For families with young kids: Mooloolaba & Family Beaches. For the best of both coast and hinterland in one day: Paradise Tour. Staying in Brisbane? The Noosa Day Trip includes return transport. Want to see everything? The 6-Day Tour covers the full region.
Yes. Brisbane CBD pickups are standard on the Noosa Day Trip, Paradise Tour, and 6-Day Tour. All other tours include pickup from Sunshine Coast accommodation (Caloundra to Noosa). Gold Coast pickups are available on request for selected tours.
Most tours are designed for a relaxed pace. The Paradise Tour, Mooloolaba Family Beaches, and Noosa Day Trip involve minimal walking. The Mary Cairncross 1.7km boardwalk is wheelchair-accessible. The full 5.4km Noosa Coastal Track has stepped sections — a shorter, flatter option (e.g. Boiling Pot turnaround) is always available. Please contact us before booking if you have specific mobility needs and we'll advise on the best fit.
Day tours include bottled water and a light morning snack. Lunch is at your own expense on most day tours, giving you freedom to choose from your guide's recommended restaurants and cafés. Budget $15–$35 per person. The 6-Day Tour includes daily breakfast and selected meals. Check individual tour pages for specifics.
Every season has appeal. Summer for beach days and warm water; autumn for perfect walking weather; winter for crisp, clear hinterland views; spring for wildflowers and peak whale migration (May/June–October/November from the headlands). We run tours year-round and adjust routes to match seasonal conditions.
Absolutely. We arrange private group tours for celebrations, corporate events, and special-interest groups. Any itinerary can be tailored — add winery visits, private dining, Australia Zoo, or combine multiple themes. Contact us on 0409 661 342 for a bespoke quote.
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before departure on day tours. The 6-Day Tour has separate terms (typically 14-day notice). Severe weather qualifies for a free date transfer or full refund. We aim to be flexible and will always communicate promptly if conditions require changes.
There are 11 principal volcanic peaks, with Mt Beerwah (556m) the highest and Mt Tibrogargan the most identifiable (it resembles a person facing east). The peaks were formed 26-27 million years ago from rhyolite and trachyte volcanic plugs, then exposed by the erosion of softer surrounding rock. Captain James Cook named them on 17 May 1770 because their conical shapes resembled glass-making kilns ("glass houses") back in Yorkshire. They are National Heritage-listed and culturally sacred to the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) peoples.
Visit any tour page and use the "Enquire & Book Now" button, call us on 0409 661 342, or email contact@waggiegroup.com. We'll confirm availability, pricing, and pickup details by email. Full payment is required at booking for day tours; a 20% deposit secures multi-day and golfing tours.