WHERE THE CREATIVE JUICES flow

There are few holiday spots around Australia that offer more things for more people than the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

The region encompasses crescents of fine sandy beaches, imposing headlands, rivers, valleys, rainforests and waterfalls. There are far fewer high-rise developments along the seashore than on the Gold Coast and none in most towns and villages.

It’s a vibrant and creative part of the world, with many artists and craftspeople plying their skills. At Buderim, for instance, the Spirit House is renowned across the land for its exquisite Thai cuisine, where much of the produce used by the chefs is grown in the Spirit House Gardens. The adjoining cookery school is busy all year round. Montville and Maleny are Hinterland villages where much of the creative output is on show in galleries and boutiques.

Luxury accommodation & cottages in Sunshine Coast and Hinterland QLD

The Glasshouse Mountains, jagged volcanic peaks bursting from the earth in the southern part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, have recently received National Heritage listing. The domes, cones and spires reaching out of a low landscape have fascinated geologists and geographers for generations. They help us understand the volcanic history of the eastern Australia mainland.



Slightly less sublime, but of great interest to young families, is the Big Pineapple, one of the landmarks at Nambour Connection Road in Woombye. More than 100 varieties of fruit and plants grow on the site and there’s also a sanctuary for all the most popular examples of Australian wildlife.

There are any number of golf courses along the Sunshine Coast, with Twin Waters at Maroochydore, Hyatt Coolum at Coolum and Palm Springs at Noosa offering challenging championship-standard courses. For the less energetic or talented golfer, there’s a great little par 3 course just outside Noosa.

There are plenty of good fishing spots along this coast, and tourist information centres can help with information about deep-sea fishing charters. Four-wheel drive enthusiasts will find kilometres of pristine beach heading north to Fraser Island.