Your fit travel guide to the Sunshine Coast

The earlier you rise on the Sunshine Coast, the better the prize. Whether you’re surfing glassy peaks or testing your balance with SUP yoga on the Noosa River, you’ll bag the best conditions of the day.

Surfing

The Sunshine Coast is home to more than a handful of Australian surfing legends, so you know the waves must be top notch. But it’s also a great place for surfing beginners to get a taste of the exhilarating and addictive sport.

Never been on a board before? Learn to surf with one of the accredited surf schools positioned along the coast from Caloundra to Noosa.

If you’ve bought your own board and want to see the best that the Sunshine Coast has to offer, this local’s surfing guide will come in handy.

Water sports

Beyond the breaks of the surf beaches, you’ll find prime waterways for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding from Currimundi Lake to the Maroochy River at Cotton Tree and, further north, the ecologically-blessed Noosa Everglades.

The Noosa Everglades is one of only two everglades in the world, and kayaking through it will take your breath away (both physically and figuratively). The best way to see it, and to learn what makes this Sunshine Coast hidden gem so unique, is on a guided tour. Kanu Kapers’ eco tours are operated by local kayak world champion Vivienne Golding and you can opt to do a guided or self-guided tour in one of their streamlined locally handcrafted expedition sea kayaks. Everglades Eco Safaris takes you through the everglades on canoe and boat cruise for an easier introduction to this slice of natural beauty, before ending at Habitat Noosa for a drink. 

Hiking

If you prefer mountains to rivers, take the ultimate fit travel challenge and conquer six mountains in one day with local adventurers, Experientia Sunshine Coast. They also offer a great combo Glass Mountains Discovery experience, following in the footsteps of explorer Matthew Flinders where you’ll paddle along the Pumicestone Passage in Caloundra, climb Mt Ngungun and walk the base of Mt Tibrogargan.

If you want to DIY, Mount Coolum and Mount Ngungun offer the best beginner-friendly conditions. For tips on navigating it alone, this is how to hike the Glass House Mountains National Park.

Of course, you don’t need to scale mountains or shred waves to enjoy the great outdoors on the coast. Seek out waterfalls on one of the many Hinterland walking trails, meander along the Caloundra Coastal Walk for some of the prettiest vistas and secret beaches, or go luxe and trek a part of the 58km Hinterland Great Walk with Tropical Treks and Narrows Rainforest Retreat. While you could navigate this Great Walk yourself, camping along the way, this tour option includes luxury accommodation, a knowledgeable guide and no tinned food in sight.

While you’ve got your hiking boots on, read this ultimate guide to Noosa National Park and check out the lesser-known Noosa Trail Network.

Where to refuel your body

After working up a sweat, it’s time to refuel. When it comes to organic, vegan and health-conscious eats on the Sunshine Coast, you’re well catered for.

For an epic guilt-free breakfast feast, Vanilla Food in Noosaville is ready and waiting. Using organically grown and local produce wherever possible, they serve deliciously healthy food that’s free from preservatives, additives, refined sugars and artificial colours or flavours.

Down the southern end of the coast in Caloundra, Greenhouse Cafe consistently dishes out healthful meals (and crazy good desserts) while Kunara Marketplace in Forest Glen is your go-to if you’re self-catering your stay. Expect to spend at least an hour inside this organics warehouse alongside an organic butchery, cafe and nursery.

Acai Brothers in Mooloolaba dish up bowls of the superfruit along with smoothies and coffee, while MooFree Burgers and Charlie’s Raw Squeeze in Maroochydore help to satiate any carb cravings (without the carnivorous undertones).

Raw + Rice take a mindful approach to food with their nourishing menu of poke bowls. Their ingredients are locally and ethically sourced and reducing their and their customers’ footprint is always top of mind. You can find Raw + Rice in Mooloolaba, Noosa Heads and Caloundra.

For true locals-only spots, check out New Earth Cafe in Coolum for an organic plant-based menu of salads and superfood bowls, and Nurcha – located in a group of shops next to the IGA Marketplace in Maroochydore – for vegan acai bowls, burgers and pizzas.

The food is fresh and wholesome at Maroochydoore’s Evolution Fuel. Those with paleo, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dietary requirements are well looked after, and they make a mean 100% organic chai. Need your coffee to go? If you forgot your keep cup, your conscience will be clear with Evolution’s biodegradable and compostable takeaway cups.

Yes, you can still drink cocktails and feel healthy if you go to Elixiba on Ocean Street in Maroochydore. Their custom-brewed spirits are distilled with herbs, superfoods and traditional bush tucker ingredients. They also have a mood-boosting range of non-alcoholic herbal elixirs so you can still have a pretty drink, without the alcohol.

In the mood for seafood? Here’s where to eat fresh seafood on the Sunshine Coast.

Treat yourself even more with this foodie guide to the Sunshine Coast.

Where to find your zen 

The secret to an active holiday is all about balance. After all that swimming, running and riding, make sure you take time out to reset.

Salute the sun with a waterfront yoga class in Cotton Tree Park or head to CGM Pilates in Maroochydore for Pilates at dawn with treetop views. You’ll also find regular classes in Buddina and Noosa with Zenko Yoga, and reformer pilates classes at Noosa Flow, across the road from Noosa River. For those wanting to try a new challenge, head to Circ Studios in Warana for aerial yoga.

Soak your tired muscles in the magnesium pool at Spa Anise at Spicers Tamarind or book into the spa at Noosa Springs Resort for a float. As well as sensory-deprivation tanks, Float Space in Maroochydore offers BioMat Therapy to support alkaline balance and lymphatic movement.

Challenge yourself further

The Sunshine Coast is THE home of triathlons  in Australia and if you’ve ever holidayed on Noosa’s sunny shores, you’ll appreciate why. Whether you’re a hardcore endurance athlete or are keen to sign-up for your first fun run, there are plenty of events for all levels happening on the Sunshine Coast every year.

MARCH:

Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival
The family-friendly Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival is an Olympic distance triathlon set in the picturesque beachtown of Mooloolaba. You can tackle it solo or enter as a relay team; or opt for the shorter Sprint Triathlon, the running-only ASICS Hot Laps challenge or Criterium cycling course.

Noosa Festival of Surfing
A celebration of the stoke and culture of surfing, this one’s as much of a spectator’s sport as it is for surfing talent, young and old. A variety of surfing styles battle it out, from dogs hanging ten, to longboards, finless, bodysurfing and tandem.

MAY:

Runaway Noosa Marathon
With a 10km, half or full marathon option, everyone from novice pavement pounders to experienced runners will find their fun at the Runaway Noosa Marathon. The flat, multi-lap course snakes through the heart of Noosa so you’ll find good vibes aplenty on your trot.

JULY:

Noosa Enduro
Spanning two action-packed days, the Noosa Enduro festival will see two-wheelers take to the Sunshine Coast hinterland, weaving amongst lush rainforest and winding tracks. Depending on your skill level there are four courses to check out – 30km, 60km, 100km and 140km. Choose your challenge.  

SEPTEMBER:

Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast
The Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast starts with a 1.9km swim off Mooloolaba beach, followed by a fast and furious 90km flat bike ride and a two-lap 21.1km coastal run course that finishes on Mooloolaba Esplanade.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER:

Noosa Triathlon
Keen to take on the biggest Olympic distance triathlon in the world? Join over 12,000 athletes who compete during the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival every year and race through Noosa’s stunning main beach, town centre and hinterland. There are 11 unique events across five days so you’re sure to find an event that suits your strengths.

Want to get in some training before your big event? For adventures on two wheels, check out these cycling routes on the Sunshine Coast. If you’re all about endurance events, here’s how to train like an Ironman.

Looking for more healthy holiday ideas? Here’s how to have a detox holiday on the Sunshine Coast. Plus, check out our fit travel guides to the Gold Coast and Cairns, and the Queensland marathons and triathlons worth travelling for.

If you want to explore the Sunshine Coast a little deeper, here are 17 different things to do.