The Sunshine Coast is one of the most stunning coastal areas in south-east Queensland. Filled with glorious beaches, stunning waterholes, tropical rainforests, and numerous other attractions, day trip ideas from the area are endless. If you are staying on the north coast and are looking to explore the surrounding coastline, hinterland, and highlights, these are some of the best day trips from the Sunshine Coast we can recommend.
Day trips from the Sunshine Coast to Montville and Maleny
Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World
Depending on where you are staying on the Sunshine Coast, a 30-minute drive inland will see you arrive at the beautiful townships of Montville and Maleny. Popular destinations for anyone visiting the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, these two quaint mountain attractions ooze old-style, country charm and beauty. Filled with rolling green hills, incredible vistas, cafes, wineries, and plenty of boutique shopping opportunities, it is easy to lose a whole day taking in all that this area has to offer.
Allow time to stroll from one end of Montville’s main street to the other, taking in the many small art galleries, homemade creations, and delicious finds. While in Maleny, you can do a tour of a working dairy, taste their famous fromagerie, and see if you can spot local platypus in Obi Obi Creek.
Explore the Noosa Everglades
Did you know that one of only two everglade environments on Earth (and the only one you can swim in!) can be found on the Sunshine Coast? The Noosa Everglades, a 60km stretch of river and lake systems, offers you a spectacular glide through pure, undisturbed wilderness. Located only 30 minutes from Noosa, the Everglades is a protected area of wetlands located in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park. A perfect day trip idea for anyone who loves getting lost in nature, the best way to explore the Everglades is by travelling on it. You can join an eco tour or cruise to marvel at this historic waterway from a comfortable, purpose-built vessel, or, if you are keen for a bit of extra exercise, you can even add on a canoe experience.
Visit Kondallila National Park
Kondalilla Falls (IMAGE CREDIT: Tourism and Events Queensland/Larissa Dening)
Located just near Montville in the Blackall Ranges is another adventurous day trip destination you can visit from the Sunshine Coast. Kondallila National Park, home to the infamous Kondallila Falls, is a spot that beckons families that love to immerse themselves in nature. Filled with walking tracks, waterfalls, and wildlife aplenty, the park offers visitors the chance to move at their own pace, exploring all that this very special part of the world has to offer.
The main attraction here is obviously the magnificent Kondallila Falls, though, before falling 80m into the rainforest valley below, Skene Creek gathers in a rock pool with its own 4m waterfall, providing a tranquil spot to cool off and relax. See how many of the over 100 bird species you can spot, wander along boardwalks that weave amongst towering trees, and swim in one of the many rainforest-lined natural rock pools that lie hidden within the park.
Take the Mary Valley Scenic Drive
Discover Queensland’s rural hinterland while taking the Mary Valley Scenic Drive from the Sunshine Coast. Following Tourist Drive 42, you can enjoy a carefree road trip that stretches 52km through the small villages of Kenilworth, Imbil, and Amamoor. Country charm and beauty will be on full display as you weave your way through cattle and macadamia farms, rolling hills, and even rainforests. Stop in at the many historical townships, visit the arts and craft stores, wander through the weekend markets, or picnic by a local swimming hole.
Visit Noosa National Park
One of the glittering highlights of the Sunshine Coast has to be Noosa National Park. Pack your swimmers, walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, and beach gear and set yourself up for a full day of sun, surf and nature experiences with the family. Featuring more than 15km of walking tracks, a great way to start your day trip while energy levels are still high is by exploring the national park first. The coastal tracks at the park offer breathtaking outlooks, with gorgeous beaches and rock pools to explore too. While away a few hours paddling in the turquoise waters and playing on the sandy shores, before deciding where and how to enjoy lunch. There is a stretch of restaurants, shops and cafes on the main street of Noosa that is fun to explore, or, alternatively, there is a kiosk in the park selling snacks and light meals. Of course, there are also a multitude of picturesque spots in the national park to spread a picnic out on too!
Play on Lake Weyba
Located only 4km from Noosa Heads, Lake Weyba is part of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and covers approximately 150,000 hectares of freshwater, estuarine, and terrestrial environments. An easy day trip for families, a visit to the lake is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. Teeming with more than 650 species of bird, and with kangaroos hopping freely around the border, it is a spot to unwind, relax, and take in the beautiful surrounds. With a boat ramp and picnic tables scattered beneath the trees, visitors can spread a picnic by the water and enjoy several water sports such as canoeing or kite boarding. There is also a nice foreshore walk or ride you can do, with the loop starting and ending from Lakewood Drive.
Day trip to Bribie Island
The only Queensland island connected to the mainland by a bridge, Bribie Island is a day trip idea from the Sunshine Coast that will surprise you with all it has to offer. While most of the island is devoted to national park, the southern tip is inhabited and features plenty of retail, service, and recreational facilities for the local community and visitors alike. Swim in the shallow waters of the Pumicestone Passage, go on a bushwalk, 4WD on the beach, visit the Arts Centre and Seaside Museum, or be mesmerised by a million small fluttering wings at the Bribie Island Butterfly House.
4WD beach drive to Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point
Just under two hours’ north of the Sunshine Coast, but still easily visited in a day, lies the delightful Rainbow Beach. Known for its laidback atmosphere and colourful sands, one of the best ways to access the beach is via the Great Beach Drive, a sandy highway that is tackled by 4WD. To access it via Teewah Beach, you will need to take the car ferry across Noosa River from Tewantin. Once at Rainbow Beach, you can make the most of the surf beach, visit Carlo Sand Blow, climb the sand dunes, or simply take in the relaxed small town feels. If you love beach driving, Double Island Point is a little further along and offers spectacular beauty, fishing, and swimming, and you can even hike to its iconic lighthouse and back too.
Explore the Blackall Range Tourist Drive
Another stunning scenic drive that makes for a memorable day trip from the Sunshine Coast is the ever-popular Blackall Range Tourist Drive. Starting in Mooloolaba, this route is for anyone who loves to nestle into their car and take in the stunning landscapes and natural beauty, whilst also stopping off along the way to take in some of the local highlights. Spanning nearly 150km, the drive will wind you around mountains, through quaint country towns, and past spectacular views of the valley and coastline. Stop off at Montville, Maleny and Mapleton, view the towering Kondallila Falls and visit Mary Caincross Scenic Reserve. With so many stunning landscapes to choose from, pack a picnic and relax at your favourite one along the way.
Day trip to the Bunya Mountains
This day trip is one that is best achieved if you set off early in the morning. Located 3 hours west of the Sunshine Coast, the Bunya Mountains may involve a little more travel time in the car than usual day trips, but, if you take the scenic route along the Great Bunya Drive starting at Gympie, you will have plenty to keep you entertained along the way. Home to the second-oldest national park in Queensland, the Bunya Mountains is a combination of rolling mountains, waterfalls, lookouts, rockpools and, of course, Australia’s largest collection of Bunya pines. If your visit coincides with the last Sunday of the month, try to find time to visit the Bunya Mountains Community Markets, where you can grab a bag of Bunya nuts and enjoy a wide range of local handmade goods and produce.
Soak up the sun on Redcliffe Peninsula
A short drive south from the Sunshine Coast is the Redcliffe Peninsula, which is a day trip filled with different attractions and activities that will cater for your whole family. Watch the pelican feeding at Pelican Park, cool down in the tranquil waters of Redcliffe Lagoon, fish off Woody Point jetty, and spend some time at one of the many protected beaches that line the coastline here. With restaurants and shops at all of the seaside towns, there are numerous options when it comes to eating (although enjoying some salty fish and chips in the park or by the beach is probably one of the most popular choices for those who visit!). If you visit in September, the skies will come alive with the annual Redcliffe KiteFest, and the colourful weekend markets are a must-see too.
Looking for more ideas while you are on the Sunshine Coast? If so, you might also enjoy:
Join the conversation