In an area blessed with miles of dazzling blue coastline and long sandy beaches picking the 10 best beaches on the Sunshine Coast is never going to be easy. It’s controversial too because every Sunshine Coast local has a favourite beach that they think’s better than all the rest.
But hopefully this list will give the locals a reason to get out and explore a new beach they may not have been to before as well as provide a good starting point for visitors to the area.
Despite being a Noosa native (for the last six years) I’ve made sure to include beaches to the far south and north because there really are great beaches all along the Sunshine Coast. These are my favourites.
1-Tea Tree Bay
Photo: Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Darren Jew
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Peter Lik
In Noosa National Park, Tea Tree Bay has shady trees, total seclusion and deep rock pools at low tide. This isn’t a patrolled beach so you need to be careful but it’s usually reasonably well protected for swimming while surfers can paddle out past the rocks for a point surf. There’s a long drop toilet nearby so you can stay all day and it’s a great place for koala spotting. We often catch sight of a lone koala hanging out at the top of a tall eucalyptus tree by Tea Tree Bay, apparently admiring the coastal views as much as we do.
2-Mooloolaba Spit
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Shane Holzberger
Mooloolaba beach is great for families but Mooloolaba Spit is even better. There’s plenty of parking, a playground just back from the beach and some great seafood restaurants. Mooloolaba has lots of trees so there’s plenty of shade for picnics and a fantastic coastal path which you can follow all the way from Mooloolaba round to the rock wall at the end of the spit. The water is usually calm enough for safe swimming.
3-Noosa Main Beach
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Peter Lik
Noosa Main Beach is one of the few north-facing beaches on Australia’s east coast. It’s fully patrolled with safe sheltered water that is perfect for young families, swimming and boogie-boarding. Surfers can enjoy world famous point break on the right-hand side of the beach or head the other side of the Groyne wall to avoid the crowds. Hastings Street with its world class shopping and dining is just a few steps away along with the Noosa Surf Club where you can watch the holiday crowds while enjoying a cool drink.
4-Kings Beach
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Shane Holzberger
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & ROSS EASON
Kings Beach is also great for families. It has miles of boardwalk for walking, biking or skateboarding, a playground just back from the beach and a kiddie-friendly water fountain which shoots out water at regular intervals. This is an open beach so the waves can get bigger which is great for older kids who love boogie-boarding. If the thought of being bounced around in the waves doesn’t appeal then you can jump in the oceanfront saltwater swimming pool instead.
5-Noosa North Shore
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Paul Ewart
Adventure seekers and four wheel drive enthusiasts love Noosa North Shore. Accessible by a short car ferry ride across the Noosa River there are 80 kilometres of beach to drive along. Pick up a beach driving permit online before you leave and take your own snacks and drinks as this is a wilderness area with no facilities. Swimming is not recommended but it’s fun to stop off and climb the sand dunes for epic ocean views and to stretch your legs. Watch out for whales blowing out water and breaching from June to October when they migrate along this route.
6-Golden Beach
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Totally sheltered by Bribrie Island Golden Beach is great for nature-lovers, cyclists and walkers who can start at Caloundra Waterfront Caravan Park and take the coastal path all the way to Jensen Park. This is a fabulous place to get out on the water. You can hire kayaks, stand up paddleboards, windsurfers or catamarans to explore the inlet.
7-Mudjimba Beach
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland
Mudjimba beach has a special feel because of the magical views of Mudjimba Island. The long sandy beach is great for walking or kite flying on a windy day. Mudjimba beach feels like a well-kept secret because there aren’t any big resorts or apartments nearby. Fortunately there are enough shops and cafes to keep the locals (and visitors) fed and watered.
8-Alexandria Bay
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Peter Lik
I can almost hear the grumbles from some quarters at the third mention of a Noosa beach but Alexandria Bay, or the A Bay as locals call it, deserves a mention. It’s popular with naturalists so if the sight of nudists offends you avoid Alexandria Bay or avert your eyes as you walk through. Accessible only by foot through Noosa National Park this beach is not safe for swimming and recommended only for experienced surfers. Regardless of all that it’s a stunning setting with a long white sand beach perfectly nestled between two rocky headlands.
9-Moffat Beach
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Gatu Pollet
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Paul Ewart
Like Mudjimba Beach, Moffat beach has a village atmosphere and local feel to it. Situated on part of the Caloundra coastal track that runs from Golden Beach to Currumbin Lake there are endless walking, swimming and people-watching opportunities to be enjoyed.
10-Stumers Creek Park
Photo: Tourism and Events Queensland & Paul Ewart
Last but not least Stumers Creek is the best Sunshine Coast beach to visit with your four-legged friends. You can access this dog-friendly Coolum beach from Pitta Street in Peregian Beach and enjoy miles of sand to run free. This is also the perfect spot to visit at dawn to watch the sunrise over the ocean. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Those are my favourite Sunshine Coast beaches but beach lovers can be assured that when it comes to Sunshine Coast beaches you really can’t go wrong.
Discover Queensland
For more ideas on what to see and do in Queensland go to Best of Queensland. Find out more about holidaying on the Sunshine Coast at www.Queensland.com.
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