Getting around the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is spread out — roughly 60 km of coast from Caloundra to Noosa, plus a hinterland that climbs into the ranges. The good news: public transport is astonishingly cheap, the beaches are well connected, and for everywhere else a car, a transfer or a guided tour fills the gaps. Here's how it all works in 2026.
Buses & trains
The coastal bus network is run by Kinetic under TransLink, linking Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa along the coast, with connections to the airport. Services are frequent along the main strip but make many stops, so allow extra time end-to-end.
Heavy rail is the catch. The North Coast line runs inland — Landsborough, Nambour, Eumundi, Gympie — not along the beaches, so from the train you connect by bus to reach Maroochydore, Mooloolaba or Noosa. There is currently no light rail or tram on the Sunshine Coast (unlike the Gold Coast).
The Wave — from 2026 onwards
The Wave is the region's mass-transit programme: a new direct rail line toward Caloundra and Maroochydore, plus a metro-style bus rapid transit route. It's in planning and procurement, with major construction expected to ramp up toward the 2032 Olympics — so it won't change your 2026 trip, but it's the shape of things to come.
Driving, car hire & transfers
For the hinterland villages, the waterfalls and the Glass House Mountains, a car is the easiest option — the attractions are dispersed and public transport is limited. Car hire is available at Sunshine Coast Airport and the main centres; parking is generally easy and mostly free outside the busiest beachfronts.
Prefer not to drive? Taxis and rideshare (Uber) operate across the coast, and door-to-door shuttle transfers connect Brisbane and Sunshine Coast airports with Noosa, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Caloundra. For the hinterland, a guided day tour handles both the winding roads and the local knowledge.
From Brisbane & beyond
By road, it's about 60–110 km up the Bruce Highway from Brisbane — roughly an hour to Caloundra/Mooloolaba and around 90 minutes to Noosa (about 1.5 hours from Brisbane Airport). By air, Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola has direct flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns and Auckland. By rail, take the North Coast line and connect by bus, or book a coach or private transfer.
Getting around: your questions
The airport at Marcoola sits among the main beaches; a private transfer or taxi is easiest with luggage, and Uber operates there too. Local Kinetic buses also serve the area.
Not for a beach-based stay — the coastal strip from Caloundra to Noosa is well served by Kinetic buses, taxis and rideshare. But the region is spread out, and the hinterland villages, waterfalls and Glass House Mountains are tricky to reach without one, so many visitors hire a car or join a guided tour for those.
Yes — Kinetic bus services run up the coast to Noosa Heads and Noosa Junction. Allow extra time, as coastal routes make many stops.
Glasshouse Country Coaches link the hinterland towns with Nambour and Landsborough on the rail line, but services are limited. For Maleny, Montville and the waterfalls, a car, a transfer or a guided day tour is usually the easier option.
Not directly — the North Coast line stations are inland (Nambour, Eumundi, Landsborough and the like), so you connect by bus to reach Maroochydore, Mooloolaba or Noosa. This will change over time as the new Wave rail line is built toward Caloundra and Maroochydore.
A flat 50 cent fare per journey on TransLink services across South East Queensland, whatever the distance. Pay with a go card, a contactless card or phone, or a paper ticket; the coastal network is cashless on board.
It is about an hour to ninety minutes drive up the Bruce Highway (around 1.5 hours from Brisbane Airport). You can also catch the North Coast train and connect by bus, or book a door-to-door transfer or coach.
A council share-scheme trial ran in Maroochydore and Mooloolaba from 2023 but was paused in late 2024 and is being reassessed in 2026, so a shared e-scooter or e-bike service may not be operating during your visit — check locally. Private bike hire is available in the main centres.