"The Sunshine Coast is one of those rare places where you can walk through ancient headland rainforest in the morning, browse 600 artisan stalls at lunch, and be watching the sun set over a golden beach by evening — all within 30 kilometres of each other."
Stretching more than 100 kilometres along Australia's east coast — from the sheltered bays of Caloundra in the south to the rainforest-draped headlands of Noosa in the north — the Sunshine Coast is one of Queensland's most beloved and diverse holiday regions. Beyond the famous beaches, you'll find a lush hinterland of volcanic peaks, waterfall-laced national parks, and heritage market towns just a short drive inland.
Our guided day tours are designed to show you the very best of the coast and hinterland in a single day: dramatic cliff-top walking trails through Noosa National Park, the buzzing stalls of the legendary Eumundi Markets, picture-perfect family beaches, and charming mountain villages where the coffee genuinely rivals Melbourne. Here's your complete 2026 guide to the Sunshine Coast's most iconic day-tour experiences.
Noosa National Park
Dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, koalas in the canopy and dolphins offshore — Australia's most visited national park starts steps from Hastings Street.
The Noosa Coastal Track
Originally declared a national park in 1939, the 3,000-hectare Noosa National Park is the jewel of the Sunshine Coast and one of Australia's most accessible and rewarding coastal walking experiences. The star attraction is the Coastal Track — a 5.4 km trail (10.8 km return loop) that hugs the headland from Noosa Heads to Sunshine Beach, passing through coastal rainforest and a string of spectacular lookouts with views that justify the entire trip to Queensland.
Key stops include Boiling Pot (dramatic wave-watching over dark rocky outcrops where ocean surges through narrow channels), Tea Tree Bay (a sheltered cove ideal for a swim or longboard surf session), Dolphin Point (where bottlenose dolphins are spotted on most mornings), and the dramatic cliff-top at Hell's Gates overlooking the remote Alexandria Bay. In whale season (June to October), migrating humpbacks are regularly visible from the headland.
Other Walks & Wildlife
Beyond the Coastal Track, the park offers several rewarding alternative trails. The Noosa Hill Walk (2.8 km return, ~1 hour) loops through open eucalypt woodland on the northern face of Noosa Hill — peaceful, uncrowded and excellent for birdwatching away from the coastal crowds. The Tanglewood Track links through to Alexandria Bay via a forest of towering strangler figs and ancient hoop pines.
The Emu Mountain Summit Walk (1.1 km return) in the park's southern section rewards a short, steep climb with sweeping views of the coastline from Mooloolaba to Noosa. A favourite with photographers for the late-afternoon light.
Wildlife throughout the park is genuinely abundant. Koalas are regularly spotted sleeping in the fork of eucalyptus trees along the coastal track — particularly between the car park and Tea Tree Bay. Bottlenose dolphins appear at Dolphin Point on most mornings. Loggerhead and green sea turtles are visible from the cliff tops during summer nesting season. In season, humpback whales breach within a kilometre of the headland. Black cockatoos, red goshawks, rainbow lorikeets and blue-tongue lizards add to the daily wildlife tally.
The Original Eumundi Markets
Since 1979, the most extraordinary artisan market in the Southern Hemisphere has been held under heritage fig trees in a small hinterland village 20 minutes west of Noosa.
What Makes Eumundi Unmissable
Every Wednesday and Saturday — rain, hail or shine — the charming hinterland town of Eumundi comes alive with more than 600 artisan stalls shaded by magnificent heritage-listed Moreton Bay fig trees. Every stallholder operates under a strict "makes, bakes, grows or sews" policy — no mass-produced imports, no identical souvenirs. The result is a shopping experience with genuine integrity: you can speak with the jeweller who crafted the silver ring you're admiring, taste cheese made at the dairy visible in the hills above the village, and discover handmade objects that exist nowhere else in the world.
The food section alone justifies the trip — international street food stalls, specialty coffee roasters, fresh tropical fruit from local growers, artisan cheese, just-baked sourdough and freshly pressed juice compete enthusiastically for your attention. Live musicians and street performers add festive atmosphere, making this a sensory experience as much as a shopping one. The Saturday market (7 AM–2 PM) is the larger, buzzier session attracting around 10,000 visitors. The Wednesday market (8 AM–1:30 PM) is slightly less crowded and excellent for a more relaxed browse.
Best Family Beaches on the Sunshine Coast
More than 30 golden-sand stretches between Caloundra and Noosa — here are the six beaches our guides love most for families.
The Sunshine Coast's beaches are consistently rated among the safest in Australia — warm water year-round, Surf Life Saving patrols at all major beaches, and a variety of conditions from perfectly sheltered toddler paddling pools to serious surf breaks for experienced riders. These six are the ones our guides recommend to first-time visitors.
Noosa Main Beach
Australia's most famous north-facing beach offers gentle waves, warm crystal-clear water and the best café strip in Queensland steps from the sand. Ideal for families, beginner surfers and anyone who wants to combine beach time with world-class dining. Patrolled daily.
Mooloolaba Beach
Consistently ranked among Australia's safest surf beaches — north-facing, sheltered from big swells and backed by one of the best dining and café esplanades on the coast. A 5-minute walk from SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast. Patrolled 7 days a week.
Kings Beach, Caloundra
A family paradise with a magnificent free oceanfront saltwater pool, splash fountain for toddlers, playground and rock pools. Voted Queensland's top family beach by Surf Life Saving Australia. Patrolled 365 days a year without exception.
Tea Tree Bay, Noosa NP
A gorgeous sheltered cove inside Noosa National Park, accessible by a 15-minute walk along the coastal track. Clear, calm water for swimming and snorkelling, framed by pandanus and coastal rainforest. Famous for longboard surf and rock pools at low tide.
Coolum Beach
A laid-back locals' favourite and Queensland's best beach (public vote, 2025). Consistent surf, wide sandy shore and relaxed village atmosphere. Pair a morning surf with the rewarding 1.6 km hike up Mount Coolum for sweeping coastal panoramas.
Bulcock Beach, Caloundra
Sheltered azure water and sandbanks overlooking Bribie Island — as flat-calm as a saltwater beach gets. The ultimate toddler destination. A waterside boardwalk connects to the Caloundra café strip one block away, making this equally excellent for coffee and people-watching.
Mountain Villages, Waterfalls & Rainforest
Thirty minutes from the beach, a completely different world begins — cool air, subtropical rainforest, artisan villages and ancient volcanic peaks.
Montville, Maleny & the Blackall Range
Montville — the self-proclaimed "Creative Heart of the Hinterland" — sits on the Blackall Range with sweeping views to the coast. Its tree-lined main street is lined with art galleries, artisan fudge makers, specialty coffee roasters and hand-thrown ceramic studios. The coffee here consistently humbles café visitors from capital cities.
Ten minutes south, Maleny is Queensland's alternative-lifestyle capital — bohemian fashion stores, eclectic galleries, farm-gate producers and the chance to spot platypus in nearby Obi Obi Creek at dawn. Between the two, Kondalilla National Park offers a spectacular 4.7 km loop through lush rainforest to a 90-metre waterfall and natural swimming hole — one of the finest short hikes in south-east Queensland.
Further south and west, the Glass House Mountains — twelve ancient volcanic peaks rising dramatically from flat coastal plains — provide some of Queensland's most iconic hiking. The Tibrogargan base circuit is family-friendly; the Mount Ngungun summit track (2.8 km return) delivers panoramic rewards. See our complete hinterland walks guide for full trail details.
What's Included in Our Day Tours
Everything you need — no hidden costs, no logistics stress, just a great day out.
