Stretching for 90km from Caloundra in the south to Double Island
Point in the north, the Sunshine Coast
is a giant aquatic playground. Splash out and have some fun in and around the
region's 90km coastline, calm inland waterways and lakes.
Hire a long board, try scuba diving for underwater thrills or hit the water on
water skis, jet ski, canoe, kayak, sailing boat or tinnie. Beaches are patrolled
along the length of the coastline and the Sunshine Coast's seven hours of daily
sunshine 300 days a year allows year-round swimming.
WATER SPORTS
- Explore the coastal waterways at a leisurely pace guided by the Aussie Sea
Kayak Company. No experience is necessary for the full or half day tours, overnight
or longer trips. For more information: Tel +61 7 5477 5335.
- Total Adventures takes school groups on canoe trips along the Noosa River.
For more information: Tel +61 7 5474 0177.
- If the open ocean is a little daunting, hire a canoe, catamaran or fishing
boat and spend some time on peaceful Lake Baroon or the calm waters of Golden
Beach, where sailboards, skis and water bikes are also for hire.
- Waterski without the hassle of hiring your own ski boat at the Ski & Skurf
Cable Water Ski Park at Bli Bli. Learn to kneeboard, waterski, skurf or wakeboard. For
more information: Tel +61 7 5448 7555.
- Paddle your own canoe and explore the unique eco system of the Noosa Everglades.
Elanda Point Canoe Company, Boats, Tours & Camping offers guided canoe tours
and canoe, kayak and motor boat hire as well as a courtesy bus service linking
Noosa with Cooloola and the Great Sandy National Park. For more information:
Elanda Point Canoe Company or
Tel +61 7 5485 3165.
- Cool off at one of the Coast's excellent public swimming pools found throughout
the region, including Caloundra, Nambour, Kawana, Cotton Tree and Noosa. Kids
of all ages love the thrill of waterslides - try Olympia Theme Park at Alexandra
Headland Tel +61 7 5443 7222.
SURF'S UP!
- Join the locals making the most of the Sunshine Coast's fabulous waves, whether
it's on surfboards, boogie boards or windsurfers. Golden Beach is a favourite
for sail boarders while Double Island Point, Noosa's North Shore, the bays and
inlets of Noosa National Park, open beach breaks between Coolum and Sunshine Beach,
Old Woman Island, The Buff at Alexandra Headland, Point Cartwright and Moffat
Beach are some of the top spots. Most surf stores hire boards and wetsuits.
- Queensland's longest running surf school, 'Surf Queensland Coaching Academy'
run 'Learn to Surf' runs surf clinics, surf schools and surf camps at Noosa, Maroochydore
and Caloundra. Private and group coaching is available from accredited surfing
coaches. For more information: Tel +61 7 5445 4870. Other surf schools
include Wavesense Surf Coaching based at Noosa Heads Tel +61 7 5474 9076.
- True classics never go out of style! Hire a long board for the ultimate Noosa
surfing experience. Noosa Longboards on Hastings Street can help with sales,
hire and lessons. Tel +61 7 5447 2828.
- Log on to Surf Life Saving to check out the live wave action
at top Sunshine Coast surf spots, Noosa Heads, Alexandra Headlands and Kings Beach.
The Sunshine Coast's beaches are patrolled by professional lifeguards all year
and also by volunteer lifesavers during summer and the weekends. For more information: Surf
Life Saving Queensland Tel +61 7 3846 8000.
CRUISING
- Hop aboard the Noosa ferry for one of the Coast's best value cruises, The
'all day round trip ticket' lets you take all day to cruise between Tewantin and
Noosa, stopping off at Noosa Wharf and Noosaville along the way. Tel +61 7 5478
0040.
- Cruise in luxury with Luxury Afloat based at Tin Can Bay. Tel +61 7 5486 4864.
- Swap blue water cruising for the mirror-like reflections of the tannin stained
waters of Cooloola National Park. Stop off at Fig Tree Point where a boardwalk
guides you through native cabbage palms and Melaleuca trees. Hire a houseboat
and cruise with the comforts of home. For more information: Rainbow Beach Houseboats Tel +61 7 5486 3146 Or Fraser
Island Houseboats Tel +61 7 5486 4444.
- Explore the beauty of World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the world's largest
sand island. For more information: Fraser Island Adventure Tours, Tel +61
7 5444 6957.
- The Sunshine Coast is also the starting point for scenic day flights to the
southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and the World Heritage listed Lady Elliot
Islands. For more information: Noosa Aviation
Tel +61 7 5450 0516.
- Gold Coast-based Sea Air Pacific will pick you up at Maroochy Airport
and whisk you away to Lady Elliot for the day (minimum two passengers). Tel +61
7 5599 4509.
- Instead of exploring the Sunshine Coast's waterways by boat, why not hitch
a ride with Air Fraser Island Tel +61 7 4125 3600, connecting Hervey Bay to Fraser
Island daily.
DIVING
- Warm water, excellent visibility and a vibrant underwater world makes the
Coast ideal for scuba diving. The most popular spots are Wolf Rock off Double
Island Point, Jew Shoals off Noosa, Old Woman Island adjacent to Mudjimba and
the Gneering Shoals off Mooloolaba. Dive shops throughout the region offer packages
suitable for beginners through to experienced divers. For more information: Noosa
Blue Water Dive Tel +61 7 5447 1300.
- Experience the ultimate adrenalin rush diving with sharks at UnderWater World
Tel +61 7 5444 8488.
- Next door is Scuba World, which conducts the shark dives. Scuba World is the
Sunshine coast's biggest dive training centre with a heated diver training pool
and dive boats departing from outside the shops. Both non-divers and certified
divers can take the plunge. For more information: Scuba World at The Wharf, Mooloolaba. Tel +61 7 5444
8595.
- Sunreef operates diving trips to coral reef just 15 minutes from shore. The
Padi 5 Star rated operation runs scuba courses for all levels, and will guide
you through novice or advanced dives, as well as the ultimate thrill -night dives!
Tel +61 7 5444 5656.
- Fishing and snorkelling gear and spearfishing equipment is available from
Mooloolaba Anglers' Supplies who will fit you out for estuary, beach or offshore
fishing. Tel +61 7 5444 1747.
- Fishing Off Shore Noosa can send you out on the deep blue. Board the Down
Under II for a great day on the water fishing for snapper, coral trout, pearl
perch, marlin, mackerel and cobia. Tel +61 7 5447 4233.
- Try your luck on a day trip to Barwon Banks with Mooloolaba Reef & Game
Charters, aboard the Crusader I. Tel +61 7 5444 3735.
- Hire your own boat for a full or half day's fishing. For more information:
O-Boats Hire & Bait Service, Noosaville. Tel +61 7 5449 7513.
Noosa Sound Cruises Boat Hire Tel +61 7 5447 3466. Kingfisher Boat Hire, Noosa
Harbour Marine Village Tel +61 7 5449 9353.
- The Sunshine Coast is home to Australia's only dedicated saltwater fly shop
- Flyfish Downunder, which specialises in flyfishing trips
and events. Tel +61 7 5444 0044
MARINE LIFE
- For an encounter with the gentle giants of the sea, a host of experienced
whale watch tours operate from Hervey Bay. Contact Whalesong Cruises Tel
+61 7 4125 6233.
- For an unforgettable experience, swim with the sharks and seals and come face
to face with giant sting rays and crocodiles at the Coast's famous UnderWater World at Mooloolaba. Tel +61 7 5444 8488.
For more information:
Tourism Sunshine
Coast
Tel +61 7 5477 7311
- By Jane Hodges
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