Top things to do on the Sunshine Coast
Air New Zealand flies non-stop from Auckland to the Sunshine Coast seasonally between July and October. The after-breakfast departure from Auckland gets you to the Sunshine Coast in time for lunch, arriving just after 11am (Sunshine Coast time). At other times of the year you can fly non-stop to Brisbane then drive 60 minutes north to the Sunshine Coast.
Here's our quick travel guide of first things to do on the Sunshine Coast. It'll give you a good idea of where to go, local activities to try and must-do top attractions.
Hop into a craft brewery for a beer-flavoured taste of sunshine. Wherever you're based on the coast, there'll be a brew house near you.
Eat
From Hastings Street in Noosa you can catch the local ferry up river to the Noosa Yacht & Rowing Club in Noosaville. It has a watertight reputation for delectable waterside dining and the prices are friendly. While the emphasis is on seafood, there are plenty of pub classics too - steak, pork belly and that Aussie classic, chicken parmigiana. This ferry-to-food experience is one of the best things to do in Noosa.
Drink
Hop into a craft brewery for a beer-flavoured taste of sunshine. Wherever you're based on the coast, there'll be a brew house near you. Moffat Beach Company is at the Caloundra end of Sunshine Coast and Land & Sea Brewery is in Noosaville; 10 Toes Brewery can be found at Alexandra Headland; and hinterland choices include The Imperial Hotel at Eumundi, Wild Rocket at Montville, Copperhead Restaurant and Brewery in Cooroy, and Brouhaha in Maleny. Where you love summer ale, IPA or stout, there'll be a brew to hit the spot.
Explore
Wave your comfort zone goodbye and discover the thrill of abseiling down Mt Tinbeerwah in Tewantin National Park, an easy drive from Noosa Heads. You don't have to be especially fit or young to embrace the exhilaration of abseiling - almost anyone can have a go. Magic Adventures in Tewantin run half-day abseiling tours, as well as rock scrambling and climbing trips.
Relax
Holiday yoga is the best yoga of all, and Noosa has it in every shape and form. You can perfect your asanas in the sand with Noosa Beach Yoga, stretch and breathe with Iyengar yoga at the Noosa Yoga Centre or get super-flexy with hot yoga at Aloha Active. If you forget your yoga gear, no worries - Hastings Street and Noosa Junction have great shopping for active wear.
Play
A fun way to get into the mood of coastal life is a leisurely walk or bike ride along the track that runs from Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore to Cotton Tree and through Alexandra Headland, right up to Mooloolaba. It's always pulsing with people strolling, jogging and cycling. If you're still feeling energetic, paddling around the canals on a SUP (stand up paddle board) is one of the best things to do in Mooloolaba or Caloundra.
See
You can't help but see the Glass House Mountains, because they're truly gobsmacking. Formed around 27 million years ago, these vertical volcanic columns are tied tightly to Aboriginal history and legends. To capture the best photos of these strangely-shaped peaks, head up the Blackall Range to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve near the town of Maleny.