hero media

Soak up the sun at our favourite Sunshine Coast beaches

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
Lean into the Sunshine Coast’s year-round good weather with the most breathtaking Sunshine Coast beaches.

Spanning roughly 100 kilometres, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast dazzles from Caloundra in the south to Noosa Heads in the north. While there’s magical hinterland to uncover in between, my favourite sunny weather escape is beach hopping along its pristine coastline. More than 30 stellar stretches of sand offer top-notch swimming and surfing – but it’s the laidback atmosphere that wins my heart repeatedly. Here, my pick of the best Sunshine Coast beaches to help fill your cup.

In short

If you only visit one of the best Sunshine Coast beaches, make it Noosa Main Beach. It’s a tourist star, I know, but the waves are gentle, surf lessons abound, and the region’s most famed cafe culture is mere steps away.

Noosa

Looking to get in on the region’s most buzzing locale? Noosa, the Sunshine Coast’s headline act, is the place to be. Famed for its glitz and glamour, it’s a world-famous holiday magnet, mostly thanks to Hastings Street’s all-day bar and cafe scene which runs parallel to Main Beach. There’s also restorative coastal calm to be found in Noosa National Park (within walking distance from the centre of town), which offers its own beaches plus stunning bushwalks away from maddening crowds.

1. Little Cove Beach

surfers at Little Cove Beach, Sunshine Coast
Watch local surfers ride the waves at Little Cove Beach. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

A local’s secret within the National Park, Little Cove Beach is a quiet corner of calm with ridiculously clear water and giant rocks to laze upon. I love how gentle the waves crash in, as do my children who run back and forth over them countless times. This Sunshine Coast beach also offers a scenic vantage point over Main Beach (we’ll get to that beauty shortly) which is totally transfixing during golden hour before the sun sinks. Peel yourself off powder-white sand to look for crabs and schools of fish between the rocks or whip out your bodyboard to catch an easy cruise. I highly recommend kicking back and indulging in idyllic nothingness, too.

2. Tea Tree Bay

surfers at Tea Tree Bay, Sunshine Coast
The north-facing Tea Tree Bay is famed for its surf breaks. (Image: Dave Wilcock/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Delving deeper into Noosa National Park, I’m struck by Tea Tree Bay, a beach I find 20-minutes’ walk from Little Cove as the coastline wraps to the right. It’s awash with tropical treasures, pristine water and killer surf conditions, so, unsurprisingly, I’m mixing with serious longboarders. Their skills are so good, I drop a towel and force the family to linger a little longer than they’d like, taken by the slicing and dicing before me. The other great thing about this Sunshine Coast beach is that there’s good shading (unlike Little Cove, unfortunately), thanks to overhanging pandanus trees, plus there are small rock pools at low tide. Another serene slice of heaven that feels a million miles away from Noosa’s central pulse.

3. Main Beach

the crystal blue waters of Noosa Heads Main Beach, Sunshine Coast
The crystal-clear waters provide a welcome respite. (Image: Dave Wilcock/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Sure, it’s tourist central but Noosa’s Main Beach is iconic. It’s an incredible stretch of sand that runs about 1.2 kilometres and rather evenly depth-wise, so getting to the surf is a short walk from wherever you enter. It ticks all the boxes: proximity to good coffee and feeds along Hastings St, surf lessons, SUP boarding, soft sand toe-squishing and mellow waves. It’s also plain gorgeous at sunset as eateries switch on fairy lights along The Parade, which runs almost half of the entire beach, to create dreamy boardwalk-strolling conditions. My little ones prefer to spend sunset running around the sand dripping ice-cream all over themselves, but each to their own.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

4. Sunshine Beach

the Sunshine Beach in Noosa National Park
The 15-kilometre Sunshine Beach is situated on the southern side of Noosa National Park. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

I spend a whole weekend in an Airbnb on Sunshine Beach because it’s an entirely separate holiday to the hustle and bustle of Main Beach. Tucked away on the opposite side of the National Park (you can walk over from Hastings St if you’re up for a hike), this Sunshine Coast beach is wilder than Main Beach, instantly shifting the vibes into sleepy territory. The ocean roars, luring surfers daily, and I get there early enough to set up at the northern end right beside a gorgeous cliff which provides good shade. Visitors should note that if you don’t score prime spots, there’s no coverage on this beach – so bring your cabana. Once cocktail o’clock strikes, the Sunshine Beach Surf Club has my name all over it as sweeping views over the entire beach instil bliss.

Mooloolaba

Rapidly rising as one of the Sunshine Coast’s most populated tourism stars, Mooloolaba is filled with fascinating things to do that highlight its diverse cultural roots. Meanwhile, there are slick high-rises everywhere, plus an entire stretch of cafes and bars, all while sparkling blue waters (filled with marine life) and white sand paint the perfect backdrop.

5. Mooloolaba Beach

an aerial view of Mooloolaba Beach, Sunshine Coast
Take advantage of tranquil dips along the breathtaking coast of Mooloolaba. (Image: Jesse Lindemann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

I can see Mooloolaba Beach everywhere I look when I’m driving along its retail-heavy Esplanade in search of my beach-fronting accommodation. The curving Sunshine Coast beach stretches for more than one kilometre and the sand lies right across the road from the town’s famed breakfast, lunch and dinner action. Patrolled daily, it’s a great spot for families (armed with cabanas) to set up for the day as the water is clean and dotted with dolphins, plus whales come whale watching season (June to October).

6. Mooloolaba Spit Beach

two surfers at the Mooloolaba Spit Beach
Hit the waves at Mooloolaba Spit Beach. (Image: Liam Brennan/Tourism and Events Queensland)

I discover a quieter alternative to Mooloolaba’s headliner less than five minutes’ drive away. Mooloolaba Spit Beach is utterly serene, offering gentle waves and thinner crowds while still being patrolled year-round. Tap Urunga Esplanade into Maps and don’t leave without tucking into crispy-battered goodness from the nearby Fisheries on the Spit, one of the best restaurants in Mooloolaba.

Caloundra

Scooping up the title of Australia’s tidiest town in 2012, Caloundra is a super family holiday, offering countless water sports, beautiful walking trails, farmers’ markets and more. There’s a popular 25-kilometre pathway, the Caloundra Coastal Walk, that wraps the coast from Diamond Head at Golden Beach all the way to Point Cartwright. Brought your two-wheeler? Excellent, as cyclists are welcome to ride it.

7. Moffat Beach

surfing in Moffat Beach, Sunshine Coast
Moffat Beach is friendly, vibrant and quieter than its neighbours. (Image: Reuben Nutt/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Caloundra’s Moffat Beach is quieter than its neighbouring beaches, but the surfing is absolutely awesome. Renowned for its surf break, the Sunshine Coast hot spot is littered with locals when I arrive; however, I also spot jet skiing and skydiving so adrenaline junkies can claim their fix any which way. It’s unpatrolled, but there’s a kids’ playground and plenty of cute cafes within walking distance.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

8. Kings Beach

the Kings Beach Fountain saltwater pool, Sunshine Coast
The 25-metre saltwater pool on Kings Beach foreshore. (Image: Jesse Lindemann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Perfect for a family chill session, Caloundra’s Kings Beach is pretty while offering kid-friendly activities spanning playgrounds, an oceanfront saltwater pool, the Kings Beach Fountain (a very cool splash zone) and several barbecues. Plus, a grassy foreshore is home to clean toilets. When rumbling tummies call, there’s an abundance of eateries you can walk to.

9. Peregian Beach

Peregian Beach pictured from above
Walk the long stretch of golden sand. (Image: Jesse Lindemann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Driving 15 minutes south of Noosa, I fall in love with the chilled-out vibes of Peregian Beach. It’s one of a string of golden-sand beauties between Noosa and Coolum, and an instant hit with my family who soak up the sun with plenty of space to play. We need the cabana as there’s no coverage on this Sunshine Coast beach, but access is easy from the main car park filled with ample spots. Amenities-wise, toilets and barbecue facilities are on hand, as is a skate park and children’s playground situated right off the sand.

10. Coolum Beach

the Coolum Beach as seen from a helicopter
Coolum Beach has long been recognised as one of the best in the state. (Image: Kyle Hunter and Hayley Andersen/Tourism and Events Queensland)

I’ve always considered Coolum Beach as something of a secret but the cat’s officially out of the bag. The Sunshine Coast beach was crowded Queensland’s best beach in June 2025, as voted by Sunshine State locals and announced by Premier David Crisafulli. It’s located just south of Peregian, and oozes slow vibes from the moment you hit the sand. On my most recent visit, I spy all the usual locals chasing waves, off-leash dogs living their best lives at the northern end, sunbakers, young families and memorising frothy waves, creating one incredibly charming scene. The icing on the cake is Coolum’s handy amenities, which include several beachside barbecues and a skatepark. Cafes also line David Low Way, Coolum’s main retail stretch, which is a short walk up from the sand.

11. Point Cartwright Beach

the Point Cartwright Beach, Sunshine Coast
Point Cartwright Reserve is known for its surfing point break. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Another surf break lashed with board riders, the waves at Point Cartwright Reserve are stunning. Located at the base of the headland, this Sunshine Coast beach isn’t patrolled, which (delightfully) keeps crowds away. I love this place for kicking back and gazing out yonder, particularly when it’s whale watching season as the Humpback Highway runs right in front of me. To find this gem, journey to the end of Kawana Beach, and bring your four-legged bestie along for the ride, too – there’s an off-leash zone that opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm.

12. Wurtulla Beach

A true local secret, Wurtulla Beach is relatively unknown to tourists, but its untamed beauty should be celebrated (sorry, residents). The fun is firmly focused on Vitamin D absorption and surfing because there’s nothing much in the way of amenities, but the vibes are pure tranquil, making it as alluring as any other beach standout on this list. Get there before crowds cotton on.

13. Currimundi Beach

Speaking of sensational, simple things, Currimundi Beach can’t be neglected. A Sunshine Coast beach just south of Currimundi Lake, it’s gorgeous at low tide when wide-reaching sand bars emerge. Also, its proximity to the lake offers ample activity (SUP boarding on its stillness is highly recommended) while a barbecue area will help keep you there longer.

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
View profile and articles
Triffid seen on astronomy tours on the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast

Bathe in the cosmos on this Sunshine Coast tour led by astronomers

No need to head into the outback, the Sunshine Coast has the stargazing experience you've been waiting for.

Read more
Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel
Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast’s first international hotel in nearly 40 years opens soon in Mooloolaba

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel is pumping fresh momentum into the Sunshine Coast’s hospitality scene.  

Read more
Crowne Plaza Maroochydore pool
Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast to score $150 million Crowne Plaza hotel 

New property alert: the Sunshine Coast Council has approved the construction of Crowne Plaza Maroochydore, slated to open in 2028.

Read more
Noosa, Queensland
Noosa

This coastal town just beat Byron Bay as Australia’s favourite

The votes are in –there’s a new favourite town on top.

Read more
hero media

A gourmand’s guide to eating your way around Hamilton Island

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
    Continue
    From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

    Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

    Catseye Pool Club

    Catseye Pool Club
    Catseye Pool Club offers stunning beach views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

    The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

    My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

    Sails Restaurant

    Sails Restaurant hamilton island
    Settle into casual poolside dining. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

    The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

    Bommie

    cuttlefish dish at Bommie restaurant Hamilton Island Yacht Club
    Head to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a taste of Bommie. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

    Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

    Pebble Beach

    qualia Resort Pebble Beach
    qualia Resort guests can dine at Pebble Beach. (Credit: Lean Timms)

    Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

    The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

    Beach Club Restaurant

    Beach Club Restaurant hamilton island
    Book in advance for Beach Club Restaurant. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

    I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

    Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

    Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

    hamilton island Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher
    Join this immersive wine experience. (Credit Eleanor Edström)

    There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

    The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

    coca chu

    table spread at CocaChu
    Get a taste of Southeast Asian flavours. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

    Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

    Marina Cafe

    hamilton island MArina Cafe
    Take in harbour views and comfort food.

    Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

    The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

    Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.