Going to Sunshine Coast

[wamboin23]

Hey All,

Heading up to Sunshine Coast on Saturday for a week, staying in Mooloolaba. Flying from Canberra to Brisbane, then hiring a car for the week.

What are the must-do things at this time of year up there? Anything and/or anywhere to stay away from?

Cheers,
Brendan

[_R_J_K_]

Mooloolaba is a pretty good place. All of the beaches are a must, and every time I've been up there it's been a pretty typical coastal tourist place. Most of the people that actually live there are pretty upper market, as it's not cheap to buy there. They have an Underwater world, but its more of a family attraction.

Kind of look at it like this, Mooloolaba is the place you stay at and spend time on the beach, but there are also a lot of attractions that are a good twenty or thirty minute drive away. Usually there will be a place that has one of those "what-to-do" pamphlets.

Thay have some pretty good fish n' chip shops, even if they seem a bit pricey, they're usually worth it as fish is caught fresh down there.

And hiring that car is probably a good decision too.

[wamboin23]

we were in Surfers this time last year, and apparently Sunshine Coast is a lot less commercialised. I'll be sure to check out the Fish n Chip shops, can't go to somewhere coastal without having fish n chips.

Does anyone know if Fraser Island is any good for a day trip? And how's Australia Zoo?

[Grennan]

Yeah its a pretty cruisey place. I spent most my life living in Maroochydoore. Mooloolaba beach is nice so is Alexandra Headlands just down the road, Id stay clear of Maroochy Beach its nowhere near as nice. Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headlands has heaps of little shops and what not along the beach front so if your into that type of thing then your set. If you like fishing head down to the Maroochy River, we used to get some nice fish down near Chamber's Island, dunno what its like now though.

Underwater World is just around the corner, thats always good for a visit. You used to be able to feed the sharks and stuff, dunno if thats changed.

Noosa isnt far away either, just up the coast a little, thats another cruisey touristy place so youll probally find some more little shops up there.

You could go check out the Big Pineapple, but apparently that place is pretty shit nowadays. Its more aimed at little kids anyway.

Australia Zoo is worth a visit for sure. Thats always a fun day, lots of shows etc. Also i dunno if its still open or not, been a while since ive been but the Etamoguh Pub might also be worth checking out.

[Reaper]

The ginger factory in Budrem was great when I went there last year.

Reaper

[wamboin23]

sounds like a pretty nice place. and its whale watching season isn't it?

ginger factory sounds good

[TVR-190]

fraiser island is good, take one of the 4wd buses unless ur rental car is a 4x4, but the tours normally give you a god day, the freshwater lakes, nicest spots etc

[Grennan]

I got no idea

Youll have to go to Noosa to do the Whale Watching trips, all the boats operate out of there.

[Reaper]

fraiser island is good, take one of the 4wd buses unless ur rental car is a 4x4, but the tours normally give you a god day, the freshwater lakes, nicest spots etc

Fraser Island is one of my fav places in the world - well worth the trip.

Reaper

[Rossbx]

Fraser Island is a good place to visit but you will need a 4wd if you are planning to do a self guided tour. The fishing is good there as well. Just don't feed the dingoes is all. Another place to check out is Double Island Point. Again a 4wd is essential as the best way to get there is on the beach. It is quite a scenic run as well. The coloured sands are there and look great at different times of the day. You can also see the wreck of the Cherry Venture or whats left of it... There used to be a guy selling ice-creams and drinks whch seemed a little out of place. There are some weird and wonderful sights like the HQ holden sedan driving up the beach on cross ply radial tyres... how he ever managed to get on the beach in the first place without getting bogged to the axles makes the mind boggle... lol. That was some years ago now though
Australia Zoo isn't exactly on the coast, more like about an hour inland (give or take 15 minutes). I haven't been there but from what I have heard it is quite good

Whatever you end up doing, just make sure you enjoy yourself while you are here and have a safe trip OK.

Cheers

[_R_J_K_]

You could go check out the Big Pineapple, but apparently that place is pretty shit nowadays. Its more aimed at little kids anyway.

Australia Zoo is worth a visit for sure. Thats always a fun day, lots of shows etc..

There is pretty much nothin' at the Big Pineapple anymore. It's pretty dilapidated now, there's an icecream shop there and that's about it. It was a fantastic place when I was a kid, but because it's not on the main highway anymore, not a lot of people go there, and it just isn't really a tourist attraction anymore.

Australia Zoo is a definite yes. After that, a drive around the Glass House mountains is always good.

Oh, and the Big Kart Track, the biggest go-kart track in the southern hemesphere. The karts are a little slow, but it's always been a good place to go.

[Grennan]

Yeah I havent been to the Pineapple since i was a kid. Last time I spoke to my Grand parents they were saying its a dump now.

So many memories of my childhood haha. Nostalgia Town at Bli Bli, the smell of the Sugar Cane burning then running around smacking around the little bits of burnt cane in the air. Jumping off the Chambers Island bridge

[wamboin23]

me and dad have been wanting to go to Fraser for ages. Pity we're not driving up there in the 'Cruiser.

People keep saying something about a V8 Supercar experience or something up that way?

I'll make sure we hit up the Go Karts. Can't believe I'm 20 in a few weeks, and I don't think I've ever gone Go Karting.

[Rossbx]

The V8 Supercar experience would be at Qld Raceway I think, but it is not on the Sunshine Coast, it is in Ipswich near Amblerly Air Base west of Brisbane. Sorry to disappoint

[wamboin23]

The V8 Supercar experience would be at Qld Raceway I think, but it is not on the Sunshine Coast, it is in Ipswich near Amblerly Air Base west of Brisbane. Sorry to disappoint

yeah thats what I thought. Thanks for clearing it up.

[Grennan]

Im pretty sure the Go Karts is next to Ettamoguh Pub, i think its all called "Aussie World" now. Has rides and crap. Thats on the Bruce Hwy.

[Tsunamix]

Buderim Ginger
Eumundi Markets
Fraser island
Moreton Island
Cedar Creek and the underwater caves
Kondalilla falls
Glasshouse mountains - climb Mt Tibrogargan
Beerwah State Forest
Amamoor Nature reserve
Inskip Point - best fishing in Qld South East

I'm a local, lived this area 40 years. Dont miss cedar creek, or kondalilla. Cedar creek might be hard to do though it's privatley owned.

[Tim Smtih]

I stayed at a hotel at Alexandra Headlands for a week, freakin awesome. I stayed at this place.....Maroochydore Hotel and Holiday Accommodation- Ocean Boulevard Luxury Apartments for Maroochydore and Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast Just across the road is the Alex Heads SLSC and there are a few shops up and down on the same side of the street, a nice little bakery and i can't remember the name of it but there's a pizza place 24/7 pizza or something that make a great pizza. As others have said there's underwater world etc, and towards Maroochydore you have the cinemas and a shopping centre. Dunno if you're taking a lady friend but if you were she would probably appreciate this. And if not there are heaps of fit women running up and down the track next to the beach.