As I said, the Sunshine Coast is well-accustomed to travellers (winky-blinky). The path weaves along and away from the coast, also featuring lakes, waterfalls, old growth … You may choose to do the whole 180 kilometres, one of several … The first section from Mount Troubridge to Saltery Bay was a complete delight so we were both looking forward to the next four days which in theory would take us from Sarah Point to Powell River … The Sunshine Coast’s backpacker inns are a much more suitable option for the nomadically-minded and serve as an awesome meeting place for other address-less punks. Although we have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the content on this site is correct and accurate, we do advise that the information provided by Backpack Around Australia on this web site be only used as a guide. Head to Noosa Heads for great cafes, restaurants and bars. So, maybe the ‘Sunshine Coast’ is something of a misnomer. Don’t get your phone stolen letting your guard down in a sleepy coastal town like I once did. But, there’s no cheaper accommodation in the Sunshine Coast than just pitching a tent somewhere (hidden) on the beach. I mean, you might actually just want to leave the east coast of Australia altogether, honestly. A grungier, slightly frayed-at-the-edges style. Airbnb's Most Unique Properties Worldwide. There's … To find out more, please read our in-depth report on teaching English abroad. We work hard to put out the best backpacker resources on the web, for free! Trailhead: Carpark … One of the more tucked away things to do in Noosa, finding the Fairy Pools requires a bit of an adventure… which is perfect! Powell River. Whether you are keen to teach English online or looking to take your teaching game a step further by finding a job teaching English in a foreign country, getting your TEFL certificate is absolutely a step in the right direction. You know how this works: you’re in a beach town. First up, you have the buses and these get the job done. If you’re looking for a backpacking job fruit picking on the Sunshine Coast, aim for the Autumn or Spring months and keep your ear to the ground for strawberries. What’s that? This is probably the best-known area on the coast and one of the nicest places to visit. Backdropped by dense forests and quaint villages tucked amongst cascading waterfalls. Like everywhere else on the coast, there are great beaches for surfing and swimming. with the Queensland-signature ‘walking-on-marshmallows’ feeling. Walk amongst thousands of marine and freshwater animals including giant sharks, stingrays, sawfish and tropical reef fish in the 80 metre transparent tunnel in the 2.5 million litre Oceanarium at Underwater World. In these seasons, outside of Spring, you’ll find lower prices which is certainly a strong benefit. An eighty-metre ocean tunnel with eight different species of sharks awaits. Willingdon Beach Trail. After a quick dunk, you’re heading to the Sunshine Coast’s Sea Life Aquarium. But there’s plenty of other Sunshine Coast activities to get behind… not that strumming a six-string all day at the beach isn’t good! Over the Easter long weekend I spent three days backpacking a section of the Sunshine Coast Trail with a group of friends. Ideally, swim on patrolled beaches and between the red-and-yellow flags. If you want to see some picturesque scenery, you could hike the Conondale Range with its rainforests, plantation forests, lookouts and waterfalls, go horse-riding, or take a ride on the Mary Valley Heritage Railway. Traveling without insurance would be risky so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. The sun is shining and the coast is calling! I like kids but not when they’re forming legions of gremlin-children to conquer the beaches with their unhygienic hands. Given the area’s position as a more family-friendly alternative to the Gold Coast, you’ll find yourself a range of holiday parks and resorts in the Sunshine Coast but these are pricey. Where to start? All rights reserved. Blackwater Creek Trail. Modern and purpose-built for the task of housing friendly globe-trotting vagrants, Noosa Flashpackers is situated between Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach giving you easy access to two of the Sunshine Coast’s biggest tourist attractions. You’ll find a whole variety in cuisines. Queensland Home » Australasia » Australia » Sunshine Coast. Visit Australia Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter! Afterwards, I would highly recommend walking back via the northern end of the headland so you can see Hell’s Gates (don’t worry, they’re very pretty) and the Fairy Pools. Just pure, unadulterated travel magic! In the warm sunshine. I’ll detail both and you can figure it out: I trust you. Weekdays between 3.30 P.M. and 5.30 P.M. you can find half-price feeds and pizzas. It’s a win-win! Find the best transport, best time and the best fare with 12Go. If you are in the area, some of the main nearby attractions include Australia Zoo, Ettamogah Pub and Aussie World, the Big Kart Track and the Queensland Air Museum. #148 of 229 Outdoor Activities in Sunshine Coast. It’s also just under a kilometre away from Noosa’s Main Beach. Help save the planet, whether you take an Active Roots bottle or not – TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for your plastic footprint, don’t be a dick. Between your bloodthirsty army of Australian native animals and your freshly raised crew of jet ski pirate-warriors, you are unstoppable! About an hours walk through Noosa National Park is Alexandria Bay with its secluded east-facing beach (do you get it now?) Head on over to Aerodrome Road and you’ll find yourself a series of bang-up op-shops to get lost in. Close, Backpacking Sunshine Coast Travel Guide (2020) • EXPERT BUDGET TIPS, https://www.instagram.com/themanwiththetinyguitar/. A cheaper choice for a hostel in Noosa than Flashpackers, Nomads Noosa is the choice for those needing to tighten up their backpacking Sunshine Coast budget. Ahh, the Sunshine Coast. On your bike! Plus, you’re credit is refundable when you move on – bonus! Continuing our foray into making friends with all the Sunshine Coast’s local wildlife, check out the Sea Life Aquarium in Maroochydore. This means it will be public transport to your destination for about 2 to 2.5 hours so leave early! Email If you’re travelling through the Sunshine Coast or staying in a different town, then make modifications as appropriate. Option two, and also my favourite option (and not just because it’s a free thing to do, THANK YOU) is hiking around (or up) the Glass House Mountains. If you do get into trouble, stay calm, tread water, and wave your hands for help. That’s right, an actual semi-decent train network in Australia – bless! There are lots of free things to do on the Sunshine Coast while backpacking through cheaply on your no-frills Australian travel budget! But you know how I feel about free things. To find out more about TEFL courses and how you can teach English around the world, read our in-depth report on teaching English abroad. In addition to giving you the qualifications to teach English online, TEFL courses open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world. How do I charge it? Mooloolaba is one of the more vibrant areas on the coast. Why? Backpacking around the Sunshine Coast resembles visiting the Gold Coast but with the intensity turned down. Right, so let’s be honest with each other: it’s a beach town on the east coast of Australia. I once had a friend tell me that cops had stopped him because it’s illegal but that’s only partially true. Head to the Eumundi Markets with over 350 stalls to choose from. Good place to learn to surf at one of the many surf schools. Go canoeing and kayaking through the many waterways and lakes. They’re mega-pretty too; peaceful and further away from the Sunshine Coast’s busy tourist spots. Melrose Parade, Once a day, the Sunshine Coach bus travels from Powell River, on the Upper Sunshine Coast, to Langdale, via Earls Cove. Inland Lake. Kondalilla Falls. Visit the charming and quaint towns in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and admire the surrounding beautiful and lush scenery. In fact, it’s 90 meters … As someone who grew up in an Australian coastal town, I know how the story of the over-confident traveller unused to Australian beaches ends. The Sunshine Coast does not forget to provide in the market department! A man who appreciates the simple things in life: free food from trash cans, nights out under the stars, and befriending street animals. Tuesday nights you get $5 wings and $5 beers. If you’re lucky, I might even let you in on a few of the Sunshine Coast’s hidden spots secreted away. I just think if humans were meant to free-fall through the sky at terminal velocity, we would have naturally evolved organic parachutes/wingsuits. If you don’t drink AND are a vego, you’re probably better off eating somewhere else. Book your transport on 12Go now and guarantee your seat easily. © 2020, The Broke Backpacker. Endless white sandy beaches, perfect for swimming, surfing, chilling out in the sun and other water activities. That means your night’s pleasantries will only cost $10… unless you don’t drink or are a vego in which case it’ll cost you only $5! Thanks for your support. If you’re really looking to go backpacking through the Sunshine Coast cheaply, you’ll need to go about it broke backpacker style! Never heard of the Sunshine Coast Trail? I have been using World Nomads for some time now and made a few claims over the years. It’s worth stopping there if you’re doing the journey north-to-south (or vice versa) along the east coast. Talking is for boring people that don’t dance: This is just a brief note to mention for anyone travelling long-term or backpacking the Sunshine Coast with a work visa. Here you will find high-rise apartments and resort complexes, the Sunshine Coast's largest shopping centre, Sunshine Plaza and plenty of good places to eat and grab a drink. For every Active Roots water bottle sold, we donate 10% to PlasticOceans.org – an awesome initiative aimed at educating people on the risk of single-use plastic and helping to clean up our oceans. If the bustle of the Esplanade and Mooloolaba Beach is too much, just take a walk east up the spit. Of Steve Motherfucking Irwin fame! Other than while in Malaspina Provincial Park (at the Sarah Point side of the trail) and Inland … Most trips I have been on across the world have included at least a few mornings where I wake up knowing I went too far. There is the esplanade, which is full of great cafes, restaurants, shops and luxury resorts. Feel free to stop for a bite to eat because you really can’t go wrong anywhere along the Mooloolaba Esplanade or in Maroochydore. All the same, here are some tips to keep you backpacking the Sunshine Coast in style. Alternatively, for something a little different, check out Holey Moley: there’s booze, private karaoke rooms, and an 18-hole mini-golf course. It’s worth keeping up with what’s on in the Sunshine Coast, but if you’re looking for a few recommendations on choice spots with good music, look no further. They may not have free breakfast, but they do have a kitchen and the supermarket is right around the corner so there’s no excuse not to be making lunch boxes of bulk curry! If a cop tries to stop you, be polite but firmly tell them to suck eggs. Maybe, it’s finally time to learn how to surf? Founded by a veteran traveller, this is the place to eat in Noosa for Asian food. Grab a surfboard from your backpackers in Noosa and head down to Main Beach (it’s a chill break for beginners). Right, so, I mean… at this point, we both already know that you’re going to the beach. The drive from Maleny to Mapleton, through Montville and Flaxton, is one of the most scenic on the Sunshine Coast. Lulled by the gentle sound of the tides. Phone 1800 644 969 Soft sands meeting to merge with the hues of a gentle ocean all painted by the warm… uhh… sunshine! I mean, you can try, but it’ll be crammed. I’m pointing you to this Queensland Walking Track Guide because it’s got a map of the Sunshine Coast’s natural attractions with a mega-comprehensive index of all the walks. It’s the standard tap-on-off transit card and it will net you a discount of 30%+ off on your fares. If you haven’t surfed before, then it’s a perfect time to take some lessons, especially considering that your hostel almost definitely has free boards to borrow. 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