Sunshine Coast
Living on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast has a population of just over 300,00 people and is an area of Queensland situated on the eastern coast, about one and a half to two and a half hours drive north of Brisbane. As with the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast is an area with beautiful beaches and stunning hinterland, all in one.
So what is the difference between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast? People in these parts can argue all day long about which is best but they’re both great. But they are different.
In a nutshell, the difference is that the Gold Coast is more commercial, it’s busier and it is the home of many theme parks. But if you like your beaches a little quieter, although not too quiet, go Sunshine Coast.
Right in the middle of the Sunshine Coast is my favourite beach, Mooloolaba. The towns of Mooloolaba and Maroochydore are so close together they are almost one. Between them they offer beautiful beaches, plenty of cafes and restaurants, large shopping centres and the beautiful Maroochy River.
Nearby, the “world famous” Eumundi Markets are open each Wednesday and Saturday morning until around 2 PM in the afternoons with over 1000 arts and crafts stalls selling their wares. Described as more than just a market, fabulous food and world-class music.
Another world-class attraction not quite within the area, probably about 15 km outside, is the Australian Zoo, probably one of the best zoos in the world.
The real beauty of the Sunshine Coast is when you’ve had enough of the beach, you are literally 10 to 20 minutes drive away from stunning hinterland. The scenic drive from Maroochydore to Mapleton via the Bli Bli Road is breathtaking. When you arrive, you can enjoy a relaxing beer in the historic pub whilst taking in the rolling hill views looking back towards the sea.
You could continue your scenic drive by taking in Montville and Maleny and even push on about 20 km outside the Sunshine Coast area to see the amazing Glass House Mountains.
The Sunshine Coast may not be as popular as the Gold Coast but it is less expensive and still has plenty to offer.
What’s the weather like?
Again, being so close to Brisbane the weather is very similar to the climate in the city. So no need to worry about winter and like the Gold Coast, you can use the beaches all year round.
And it will come as no surprise that possible severe weather that may affect the area from time to time is also as it is in Brisbane; cyclones and flooding. Those looking to move to this area and concerned about flooding should take a look at the Sunshine Coast Council’s River and Storm Tide Flood Maps.
The Sunshine Coast can be broken down into three main areas:
- North Sunshine Coast – Includes Noosa and the Hinterland
- Central Sunshine Coast – Is the region of Maroochy
- South Sunshine Coast- is the area around Caloundra
Here’s a map of the Sunshine Coast
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
The Sunshine Coast sounds great! I am 12 yrs old and from the U.S.A. I really want to move to Australia when I’m older and this website really helped me choose where I want to live. The winner is…. the Sunshine Coast! Thank you so much for this blog, Bob. It’s terrific!
Good to see you are planning ahead Mary, I think you will do well in life
The Sunshine Coast is a great choice, see you here soon. Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob,
My Wife and I just got married and are thinking of moving over to the sunshine coast from New Zealand. What areas do you recommend are nice to live in? Do you think there are many jo opportunities there?
I am a recent gradate with a double degree and my wife is a journalist/writer for a magazine.
Thanks,
Josh
Hi Josh
I love the Sunshine Coast, particularly around Mooloolaba and the hinterland behind it. The one problem with it though, is there is not much work, apparently. So if you are going to move there, I would really try to secure the job first, to be on the safe side.
Good luck
Bob
Hiyah Bob,
Unlike other websites,you have an opinion which is great.
I`m 56,got 2nd family (3 girls : 8 (x2) and 3);wife is 36.I understand that the key is to match your current life postion and any envisaged future ones (sounds easy,eh?) to a location.We`ve narrowed it down to Queensland .Am stuck between Brisbane (in the West,eg Bardon/Ashgrove and in the NW,eg Upper Kedron and along the railway line into the city) on the one hand and,on the other,the Sushine Coast (eg Maroochydone -Mooloolaba stretch).Our life position:don`t need to work (but our kids will eventually), thanks to hard work/share options ; need good schools/further education options ; want to be near to and have public transport access into Brisbane ; want to be near to beach ; low crime/safe.I appreciate that I will have to visit in order to see the `reali life` of these places,but can you give me any advice/opinion as to the `fit` between the locations and our `life position`? Many thanks
Well, wanting public transport to Brisbane and being near the beach don’t really mix, Brisbane isn’t on the beach, it’s on a mangrove. The beaches on the Sunshine Coast are fantastic and Mooloolaba would be where we lived if we didn’t live here in Brisbane.
The problem is you wouldn’t want to be trying to get public transport from Mooloolaba to Brisbane, I really don’t think you’d enjoy that. I’d go Sunshine Coast if I were you, but I think you need to decide whether you want Brisbane or the beach as a first priority.
And thanks, glad you like my website!
Hey,
I’m a Queenslander originally (born and raised on Gold Coast) and have been living in Melbourne for the last 6 years all with the intention of being closer to family. The call of Queensland now has been too strong and we are moving back. My only condition was I never wanted to live on the Gold Coast again. I have always preferred the Sunshine Coast as it is what the Gold Coast used to be before it became too commercial and crowded.
My husband works for a company that has stores up there so he looking for a transfer and I work in Community Corrections but also have a customer service/administration background so if I have to go back to that for work options then so be it. Never been interested in living in Brisbane but appreciate the need to commute for employment.
I always loved around area and we have also been looking at Maroochydore and Buderim. Being I haven’t been on the sunshine coast for a while, would you recommend any area for families? My research finds me looking at Mountain Creek zone for schools and i remember well Sunshine Plaza as the main shopping precinct.
I don’t really know the area well enough to make recommendations and certainly don’t know enough about the schools. You can check out my page Which school? which I think you will find helpful. Friends of mine have just moved to Buderim though, and they love it there. So you’re on the right track.
Cheers!
Hi Bob, I agree with your earlier comments, work is a bit scarce on the coast (depending on the profession) so if anyone is looking to move to the Sunny Coast, ideally they should lock in a role before making the move. Personally, I think Maroochydore is a great place to settle, it has some fantastic beaches nearby (Alexandra Headlands), and some lovely little areas too such as Cotton Tree. It is the major shopping hub, with Sunshine Plaza, and quite centrally located on the coast (in comparison to somewhere like Noosa which is beautiful but quite far North, and Caloundra which is on the southern end). But let’s face it, it’s a tourist mecca for a reason, because the whole stretch of the Sunshine Coast is all fantastic!!
I wouldn’t argue with you at all, I also think it’s a wonderful part of Australia and yes, try and secure some work before making the move. A friend of mine lives up that way, Buderim, has to drive down to Brisbane for work, not the greatest way to start the day.
Hey Bob!
Great article! By far the most helpful I’ve encountered. Btw, I’m Aira. I’m from Sydney but planning to study at Sunshine Coast uni early next year. Can you give me any tips or recommendations? Lastly, how is the job opportunities Around that area? I am looking for hospital jobs as an undergraduate nurse. are there hospital nearby? If non then what are the available job plan that area?
thanks so Much,
Aira
Work is supposed to be quite hard to find up there, but there is a big hospital in Nambour, maybe you should try to see if they have any vacancies there. Good luck!
hi Bob
Great site, very informative, thanks. Any info you can give us on Bramble Bay? we’re on a rtw trip and will stop in QLD for 3 months for my wife to have our 2nd baby! Looking at renting in Bramble and wondered if you had any big positive or negative thoughts on it?
Many thanks
Peter
Hi Peter
Firstly, I had to google it to find out where it was, I’ve never heard it called that before. Turns out it’s the bay to the north east of Brisbane where you will find Brighton and, a little further up, Redcliffe. This is definitely not the Sunshine Coast!
If you’re looking for an idyllic bay with golden sandy beaches, this isn’t the place for you. It’s not a bad area, but there’s only small pockets of sand here and there, the rest of it is all mangrove. It’s a nice enough place to be with good access to the Sunshine Coast and, if you want to go in the other direction, the Gold Coast. But it’s not what you would call the beach.
The Sunshine Coast starts at Caloundra I think, then up north from there to Noosa.
Anyway, it’s got good access to the city of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, if that’s what you want.
Hope your trip goes well, cheers
Bob
Cheers Bob, you’re a good man! That’s very helpful… Can I be cheeky and ask about Bribie Island? We’ve also seen a property for rent there which looks good, but looking at some of the other places on offer it all looks like a bit of a time warp – don’t know if you’re familiar with the Isle of Wight in the UK, but they say that’s 30 years behind…am I being unfair to think that of Bribie??
Regards
Peter
Bribie is not bad, nothing like the Isle of Wight, you drive onto it via a bridge, so access is pretty easy. I liked it when I went, probably quite a nice place to live, although I’ve heard it’s a bit quiet and again, no golden sandy beaches.
Hope that helps
Bob
Hi Bob
Great site and article. We are looking at moving to the sunshine coast in early 2014 and have been doing lots of research. I think Sippy Downs, Maroochydore, Maloolaba or around there somewhere. We want to get jobs (for me) and buy a business (for husband) before we go or at least have that all sewn up. We have two teenagers, one working one in NCEA year this year that will come, are there good high schools in the area? We also have a dog (jack russell) and two cats. Worried more about the ticks and cane toads really but I’ve heard that if you live in a suburb that’s not near forestry or creeks etc that it might be ok and taking a bit of care? I don’t think we’ll have a lush garden due to that! but wasn’t sure if you guys have good dog parks over there for off leash, it’s a bit hard looking at all that by map and website and trying to figure out distances.
Also, Is it easy to get a rental property for the short term that is pet friendly? I thought that may be the best idea due to the low dollar here in NZ and trying to transfer money for a deposit on a house. I’m excited, LOVE the sunshine coast but hopefully we don’t lose too much money in exchange rate, and can find jobs. Idealy the time is now as the house market doesn’t look too bad over there, cmpared to nelson anyway.
Sorry about all the questions, just want to be very prepared before we really bite the bullet
Many thanks if you can answer anything here
Debs
Hi Debs
Lovely part of the world up there, although they tell me work is quite hard to find around there, so make sure you secure something if you can. It would help having a neat and tidy garden away from the bush, but the truth is ticks and cane toads are everywhere. You can get a tick treatment for your pets which you apply each month, that helps but isn’t formal proof. Dogs and cats usually stay away from cane toads, although I’m sure there are some exceptions to that.
You’ll find Australia very dog friendly, plenty of off leash dog parks and certain areas of the beach allow dogs as well.
Rentals aren’t always easy to get and most don’t like pets, so again you have reduced your chances. Not impossible to find somewhere though. Yes, I’m sure there are some very good schools up there, check out my page
Which school? for more help.
Good luck, hope your move goes well.
Bob
Hi Bob
I’m currently a student midwife here in Cheshire, my family and I would like to move to the Sunshine Coast once I qualify in 2015. We’ve researched heavily and with 2 previous visits, QLD is for us. We wouldn’t want the commercialised location of the Gold Coast but would be happy to commute to some family attractions. Kids will be 7 and 10 and enjoy outdoors, dining out etc. With a midwifery career in mind, do you think the Sunshine Coast is a good starting point? I believe a new hospital is being built there? Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Larna
Hi Larna
I love the Sunshine Coast, it’s a beautiful part of the country. The only downside is that there’s not much work up that way, so if you can secure a job in that new hospital, then I say go for it. If it helps, we particularly like it around Mooloolaba, so do check it out.
Cheers
Bob
Thanks so much for your comments Bob
we are working on it!!
Hi Larna, there is a private hospital half built in Sippy Downs on Sunshine Coast and tgey are planning to build a public hospital there too to make it a big health hub so you could investigate this for job prospects, a friend of mine sent me some info on jobs so people could register their interest i see if i still have it and post my email address if you are interested in emailing me and i send it to you
Im with you, its the place for us also so will be trying to find jobs im in the IT industry so hope there is something going!
Cheers
Debs
A great help, thanks both
Debs, you can get me at larna.davies@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks again
L
Hi Larna
I emailed you with that information hope it went to your inbox but thought id let you know here so you can keep an eye out! Such a big move moving countries but so worth it, such a lovely place!!
Take care
Debs
Hi debs. I’m sorry to but in on your conversation but I found it really helpful. Wer moving over in October time and I was wondering when this hospital is opening?
Thanks Charl x
Hi there,
Great post! My husband and I are moving to the Sunshine Coast in July this year. He will be attending the Univeristy of the Sunshine Coast. Is it a far drive from mooloolaba to the university? mooloolaba looks like a fantastic place to live but the commute is a concern.
Thanks,
Colleen
No, it’s about 10 minutes drive. I really don’t think that should be too much of a concern.
Bob
Hello I’m stanley I’ve always loved sunshine coast been going on holiday the for about 8 years I’ve always wanted live there and never return to the uk loved it the people the sites the beaches and I’ve got hairdressing levels 1 and 2 behind me just keeping my fingers crossed incase a job pops up and I can start living
Yes, the Sunshine Coast is amazing, hope you find that job soon so that you can come over here and start living the dream.
Cheers, Bob
Awesome site! Moving to Sydney from New Zealand in two months, plan to set myself up in Sydney and move up to the sunshine coast to live, work and surf. Sounds good!
Not sure how you are going to work that Chris, but however you are going to do it, you might just end up with the best of both worlds. The liveliness of Sydney and the laid-back lifestyle of the Sunshine Coast.
Hope it goes well for you.
Working hard – Starting my own business
Fingers crossed all goes well!
Hope it all goes well Chris!
I was hoping someone could shed some light on kawana Island and Twin Water areas for me. Also are snakes really a problem there?
I don’t know what it’s like to actually live there, but I have visited the area many times and it’s absolutely beautiful. If we fancy a short break, it’s one of our favourite destinations. But hopefully someone who knows the area better will be able to give you more info.
As for snakes, no, they are not really a problem, but they are responsible for a couple of deaths a year on average across all of Australia. They are here, no denying that, but I don’t think anyone who lives here regards them as a major problem.
great little site you have here.. I have been to (OZ) 4 times from the USA, with a plan to come again within the next year.. I have not been up to the sunshine coast for quite some time however. Please give me your thoughts on the ‘weather’ … Do I have a better chance for good weather in (fall), march/april, or (springtime) Oct/Nov ? thanks mate … jim
You could almost decide that one with a toss of a coin, but both are probably good times to visit this part in Australia. Both times you mention aren’t too hot, but you can usually expect 75° to 80° F and it is also less likely to rain during these months as they are in our dry season.
No guarantees though!
Cheers
Bob
Hi, I’m looking to move here this year or beginning of 2014 from the UK. I am married with 2 boys age 13 & 10. Would love some advice re subs and schools. Would like close to beach , say approximately 20 – 30 mins drive away.
Thanks
Hi Bob. I live in Kalgoorlie at the moment. me and my husband planning to move to sunshine coast. we don’t worry about the job because my husband works fly in fly out but worry us is floods in sunshine coast. could you give us advice please as I like live in Buderim or Mountain Creek. Thank you
I’ve already answered this on Facebook for you. For anyone else interested, check out the link on this page to the Sunshine Coast Councils flood maps and also read my post… http://wp.me/p1BtF8-2kl
I’ve heard Buderim is very nice.
Hi Bob
My husband & 3 girls (8,5 &2) are looking at moving to the Sunshine Coast in 2014. We’d like a safe suburb, close to the beach, playgrounds, schools and any child friendly activities. My husband will be flying in and out for work so we’d like somewhere that has a pretty direct route to Brisbane airport.
Any help would be great. Thanks!
Buderim is very nice, apparently, and I also love it around Mooloolaba and Maroochydore. But I don’t live up that way, so hopefully someone who knows the area better will give you more advice.
Cheers!