Discover Queensland's Best Day Trips from the Sunshine Coast

Explore the Sunshine Coast with Premium Guided Tours

The Sunshine Coast region offers some of Australia's most spectacular day trip destinations, combining natural beauty, cultural experiences, and world-class attractions. Whether you're seeking the vibrant atmosphere of famous markets, the sophistication of boutique wineries, or the tranquility of Queensland's hinterland, our carefully curated Sunshine Coast day trips deliver unforgettable experiences that showcase the best of Southeast Queensland.

Cooee Tours has been Queensland's trusted coach tour operator since 1985, specializing in small-group experiences that reveal both iconic landmarks and hidden gems throughout the region. Our professional drivers and knowledgeable guides ensure every journey is comfortable, safe, and filled with fascinating insights about the destinations you visit. From the coastal beauty of Noosa to the garden splendor of Toowoomba, we provide seamless access to the region's finest attractions with the convenience of door-to-door service.

What Makes Our Sunshine Coast Day Trips Unique

Unlike standard bus tours, Cooee Tours focuses on creating memorable experiences rather than simply transporting passengers between locations. Our guides share local stories, point out wildlife and landmarks along the route, and provide insider tips about the best places to eat, shop, and explore. We maintain relationships with local businesses, wineries, and attractions, ensuring our guests receive warm welcomes and often exclusive access or special presentations not available to casual visitors.

Our commitment to small group sizes means you'll never feel lost in a crowd. With a maximum of 24 passengers on most tours, everyone enjoys premium window seating, easy communication with the guide, and the flexibility to accommodate special requests when possible. This intimate approach also allows us to visit boutique venues and hidden gems that larger tour operators cannot access, giving you an authentic taste of regional Queensland life.

Discover Queensland's Premier Attractions

Eumundi Markets - Australia's Icon of Artisan Culture

The legendary Eumundi Markets have evolved since 1979 into one of Australia's most celebrated shopping and cultural experiences. Operating every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, these markets transform the historic town into a bustling celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and community. With over 600 individual stallholders spread across multiple market precincts, visitors can spend hours discovering handmade jewelry, original artwork, designer clothing, homewares, gourmet foods, and fresh local produce.

What sets Eumundi apart is its strict authenticity policy requiring all products to be handmade, home-grown, or home-baked by the stallholder. This ensures every purchase directly supports local artists, farmers, and craftspeople. Our Eumundi Markets day trips provide strategic early arrival times to beat the mid-morning crowds, allowing you to shop comfortably and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Your guide shares insider knowledge about must-visit stalls, the best food vendors, and the market's fascinating history, enhancing your shopping experience with local context and stories.

Toowoomba - The Garden City Experience

Perched atop the Great Dividing Range, Toowoomba offers a refreshing contrast to coastal humidity with its crisp mountain air, four distinct seasons, and European-style garden culture. Our Toowoomba day trips showcase magnificent public parks, heritage-listed buildings, thriving cafes, and a sophisticated dining scene that rivals much larger cities. The tree-lined streets, Victorian-era architecture, and beautifully maintained gardens create an atmosphere reminiscent of English country towns.

The highlight of Toowoomba's calendar is the annual Carnival of Flowers each September, when private gardens open their gates to reveal stunning spring displays. During this three-week festival, the city welcomes over 100,000 visitors who come to experience Australia's largest floral celebration. Our special Carnival tours include tickets to premier private gardens, guided walks through the festival grounds, and visits to the Grand Central Floral Parade and various horticultural displays. Beyond spring, Toowoomba offers year-round attractions including the Cobb & Co Museum, Picnic Point lookout with its panoramic views, and the charming villages of Highfields and Hampton nestled in the surrounding countryside.

Sunshine Coast Wine Region - Emerging Excellence

The Sunshine Coast hinterland's volcanic soil, elevation, and microclimate have created ideal conditions for cool-climate wine production. Local vintners produce elegant Chardonnays, robust Shiraz, delicate Pinot Noir, and interesting alternative varieties that reflect the region's unique terroir. Our wine tours visit carefully selected boutique wineries where passionate winemakers personally conduct tastings and share their stories.

These intimate cellar door experiences go beyond simple wine tasting to include vineyard walks, discussions about viticulture techniques, and perfectly paired food experiences. Many wineries feature restaurants showcasing regional produce alongside their wines, creating memorable gastronomic adventures. The stunning hinterland scenery provides a beautiful backdrop, with many properties offering spectacular views across the ranges toward the coast. Our small group approach ensures you receive personalized attention from both your guide and winery hosts, making each visit feel like a private experience.

Hinterland Villages and Natural Wonders

The Blackall Range villages of Montville, Maleny, and Mapleton offer a different perspective on Sunshine Coast life. These artistic communities attract creative residents who operate galleries, craft shops, and cafes with million-dollar views. Montville's Alpine-influenced architecture and specialty stores make it perfect for browsing unique homewares, clothing, and gifts. Maleny maintains a more bohemian atmosphere with organic cafes, holistic wellness centers, and the weekly community market.

Between these villages lie natural attractions including Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, where ancient rainforest can be explored via elevated boardwalks, and various lookouts offering panoramic views across the Glass House Mountains to the coast. The Glass House Mountains themselves provide iconic scenery and are sacred to the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples. Our tours share Dreamtime stories associated with these remarkable volcanic formations while visiting excellent vantage points for photography. The region's waterfalls, including Kondalilla Falls and Gardners Falls, offer refreshing swimming holes and picnic spots surrounded by subtropical rainforest.

Practical Information for Your Day Trip

Convenient Pickup Locations

We offer pickup points throughout the Sunshine Coast to make joining our tours convenient regardless of where you're staying. Standard locations include Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Buddina, Alexandra Headland, Cotton Tree, and Noosa. For guests staying in private accommodation, we can often arrange nearby pickup spots. Exact pickup times vary by tour but are typically scheduled between 7:30 AM and 9:00 AM, with return times usually between 4:30 PM and 6:30 PM depending on the destination and season.

What to Bring on Your Tour

Comfortable walking shoes are essential as most tours involve moderate walking at destinations. Bring sun protection including a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses, as Queensland's sun can be intense year-round. A light jacket is recommended for air-conditioned coach travel and cooler hinterland temperatures. Camera or smartphone for capturing memories, a refillable water bottle, and any necessary medications should be packed in a small day bag. For wine tours, we recommend bringing a small cooler bag if you plan to purchase bottles, though wineries often provide packaging and shipping options.

Accessibility and Special Requirements

Our coaches can accommodate standard wheelchairs and walking aids, though we require advance notice to ensure appropriate arrangements. Guests with dietary requirements should inform us when booking so we can coordinate with restaurant venues. For mobility-challenged guests, we're happy to discuss which tours best suit individual capabilities, as some destinations involve hills, stairs, or uneven terrain. Our drivers and guides are experienced in assisting passengers with various needs and will work to ensure everyone enjoys a comfortable, safe experience.

Best Times to Visit

Spring (September through November) offers ideal weather conditions for most Sunshine Coast destinations, with warm days, cool evenings, and minimal rainfall. This season includes the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and spectacular wildflower displays throughout the region. Autumn (March through May) provides similarly pleasant conditions with harvest festivals and wine vintage celebrations. Winter (June through August) attracts interstate visitors escaping southern cold, making this our busiest season, particularly for Eumundi Markets tours. Summer (December through February) can be hot and humid with occasional afternoon storms, though morning starts help beat the heat, and many venues offer air-conditioned respites.