Queensland Backpackers explore The Sunshine Coast
The 10th largest metropolitan area in Australia and the third largest in Queensland, the Sunshine coast is packed with stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and amazing cuisine. While the Sunshine Coast is a popular getaway for many Aussies, the coast also boasts a robust population of locals, home to surfers searching for great waves and families with a love of the beach. Of course, excellent beaches mean prime access to a plethora of water-related activities. Take a kayak trip to one of the many islands off of the coast or scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef. Before you pack your bags, be sure to check out some of the most notable spots on the Sunshine Coast.
Noosa: What Aspen is to the Rockies Noosa is to the Sunshine Coast. This resort town is trendy, stylish, and high-end. Between the tropical rainforests and the picturesque beaches the scenery is stunning. Noosa also boasts quite a number of high-end, gourmet restaurants. Be sure to grab a meal at Wasabi, an award winning Japanese restaurant.
Maroochy: If you’re looking to hit the waves, you are well advised to head here; Maroochy is a Sunshine Coast hotspot. This conglomeration of suburbs, which includes Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba, boasts sweet beaches an excellent shopping. It’s the perfect place to chill out for a few days.
Australia Zoo: Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo is a Sunshine Coast highlight. Founded in 1970 by Bob and Lyn Irwin and was widely popularized on Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter TV Show. Today it is owned and operated by Terri Irwin, Steve’s widow. The zoo boasts a wide variety of animals, home to an African Safari Exhibit, a tiger exhibit, an elephant exhibit, and a vast collection of reptiles. The zoo is notable for its International Crocodile Rescue program, which helps to capture and relocate problem crocodile, or crocodiles threatened by human activity.
Great Sandy National Park: One of Australia’s most impressive national parks, Great Sandy boasts vast stretches of pristine, white sand beaches. You will also find stretches of rainforest, mangrove forests, and swampland, in addition to freshwater creeks and lakes. The park also encompasses Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island. This World Heritage site is an impressive 120 kilometers long, situated on a bed of sand that has accumulated on top of 750,000-year-old volcanic bedrock. All in all, Great Sandy National Park is a nature lover’s paradise and well worth a visit.