Getting Around the Sunshine Coast

Kinetic (formerly Sunbus) runs the coastal TransLink network, linking Caloundra, Kawana, Birtinya and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Maroochydore, the University of the Sunshine Coast, Coolum and Noosa. The main interchanges are at Maroochydore (Sunshine Plaza), Caloundra and Noosa Junction. Services are frequent along the coastal strip during the day but thin out in the evenings and on Sundays, so check the journey planner before you set off.

Up in the hinterland, Glasshouse Country Coaches connect Landsborough, Maleny, Montville, Mapleton and Nambour (routes 890 and 891), and Kangaroo Bus Lines’ route 649 shadows the rail line between Nambour and Caboolture. These regional coaches are also part of the 50¢ network, but payment options can differ from the cashless coastal buses — confirm whether to tap a go card or pay onboard when you board.

• TransLink journey planner
• Sunshine Coast Council — bus & train

Queensland Rail’s North Coast line is the Sunshine Coast’s rail spine, with stations at Beerwah, Landsborough, Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye, Nambour, Yandina, Eumundi and Cooroy, running through to Gympie North and south to Caboolture and Brisbane. Nambour to Brisbane Central takes roughly two hours.

Because the stations sit inland, most beach trips pair the train with a connecting Kinetic bus — for example, Nambour or Eumundi to Maroochydore or Noosa. A major Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) upgrade is under way to add capacity and reliability to the line; its design was released in 2026, and it sets the foundation for faster, more frequent services in the years ahead.

• Queensland Rail (SEQ)
• TransLink fares

There’s no tram or light rail on the Sunshine Coast yet, but that’s changing. The region’s mass-transit programme — now branded The Wave — combines a new heavy-rail line with a planned metro-style service. Stage 1 builds around 19 km of dual-track rail from Beerwah to Caloundra, with major construction expected to begin in 2026 and rail to Caloundra targeted by 2032; the alignment is being protected through to Birtinya and Maroochydore. A later metro stage is planned to connect Birtinya with the Sunshine Coast Airport. For now, though, the coast still moves by bus, train and road.

• The Wave — Sunshine Coast rail (TMR)

Unlike Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast has no CityCat-style commuter ferry network. The closest thing to scheduled water transport is the Noosa Ferry, which runs along the Noosa River between Noosa Heads (Hastings Street), Noosaville and Tewantin — a handy and scenic way to move around Noosa. Elsewhere, the rivers and the Pumicestone Passage are served by sightseeing and canal cruises rather than public transport, so to reach the water beyond Noosa you’ll generally use road, rail or a transfer.

Suncoast Cabs is the main local taxi operator, covering Caloundra through to Noosa and the Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola. Book by phone, through the app, or pick up at ranks at the airport, shopping centres and town centres. Wheelchair-accessible maxi taxis are available — book these ahead, especially outside the main centres or late at night.

Uber operates across the Sunshine Coast, including airport pick-ups. Availability is strong along the main coastal strip but thinner up in the hinterland, where waits can be longer — a pre-booked taxi or transfer is often the more reliable choice away from the coast and late in the evening.

• Uber

Because the region is spread out — and the hinterland is lightly served by public transport — a car is the most flexible way to get around. The Bruce Highway is the main north–south spine, and the Sunshine Motorway links the coastal centres from Caloundra up to Noosa. Roads across the region are toll-free.

Car hire is available at Sunshine Coast Airport (Marcoola) and in Maroochydore and Noosa. Parking is mostly free, but expect paid or time-limited parking in the busiest spots at peak times — particularly Noosa’s Hastings Street, Mooloolaba’s esplanade and Wharf, and central Caloundra. Arrive early on weekends and during school holidays, when the beachfront car parks fill quickly.

Each town centre is flat and very walkable, and the Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway runs for tens of kilometres along the foreshore, linking beaches, parks and town centres — a lovely way to cover short distances on foot or by bike. Bike hire is available in the main centres, and helmets are compulsory by law in Queensland.

A council-run e-scooter and e-bike share scheme operated as a trial in Maroochydore and Mooloolaba from 2023, but it was paused in late 2024 and the council has been reassessing it in 2026 — so a shared-scooter service may or may not be running during your visit. Check locally before relying on it.

By air: Sunshine Coast Airport (code MCY) at Marcoola sits right among the beaches, with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and other capitals; a runway upgrade has widened its reach in recent years. From the terminal, a transfer, taxi or Uber is easiest with luggage, and local Kinetic buses also serve the area.

From Brisbane: it’s about an hour to ninety minutes’ drive north up the Bruce Highway, or roughly 1.5 hours from Brisbane Airport. You can also take the North Coast train to a station such as Nambour or Eumundi and connect by bus, or book a door-to-door transfer or coach — see our services below.

TransLink buses and trains are wheelchair-accessible, with low-floor buses and level or ramped boarding at stations; station staff can assist with train boarding. Suncoast Cabs operates wheelchair-accessible maxi taxis (book ahead), and the Companion Card is accepted across TransLink services. If you’re booking a transfer or charter with us, let us know your access needs and we’ll arrange a suitable vehicle.