Mooloolaba sits on a spit of land between an international standard marina on the Mooloolah River and beautiful ocean beaches with great surf that the Pacific Ocean has to offer.

This town enjoys the best of both watery worlds and is home to the Mooloolaba to Auckland and Mooloolaba to Sydney Yacht Races.

 

Visitors can enjoy the intimate restaurants, shopping, sparkling white beaches with highly patrolled areas for swimming and surfing, walks along the broadwalk and through tropical foliage. The town – with approximately 17500 residents – is situated in the southeastern corner of the Maroochy shire and approximately 100 km (1 hour) from Brisbane.

 

Mooloolaba Beach is one of the most picturesque on the Sunshine Coast with its clean, white sands and azure waters. The beach is patrolled every day of the year by lifeguards and is perfect for those a little timider in the sea as the waves aren’t too big. The beach is the perfect hang out as long as you slip, slop and slap. If you’re interested in doing more than lazing about on the sand then learning to surf is a great way to spend your holidays.

 

Bring the family down and cook a barbeque picnic on the grassy parklands that overlook the beach. There’s also a children’s playground to keep the kids busy when they’re not splashing about in the water. If you’re up for an adventure make your way up to Point Cartwright which is known as ‘The Spit’ to feast on seafood at one of the wholesalers or choose one of the glamorous restaurant spots.

 

The Mooloolaba Esplanade is fast becoming a shopping destination and is the perfect place to go in search of the perfect cup of coffee, lunch, bikini or special dress. There’s a variety of clothing boutiques offering fashions from Australia and around the world. There are also specialty jewellery stores, galleries and specialty stores selling gorgeous homewares and gifts. Other areas not to miss are First Avenue and The Wharf which also have several upmarket stores that should not be missed.

 

A free activity to help you stay fit while on holidays is to take a walk or jog from the Esplanade to the Rock Wall. The walk only takes 20 minutes and winds its way along the beach or on the boardwalk and through the parklands. It’s a fantastic way to start or end the day.

 

Mooloolaba’s UnderWater World is an award-winning tourist attraction that gives visitors the chance to explore what lies beneath. There are 8 unique zones to discover while you walk amongst thousands of marine and freshwater animals without getting your feet wet.

 

Watch the hilarious seal and otter show, view the daily shark feeding, dive with the sharks or get a kiss from a seal. UnderWater World is a fun and educational day out for everyone.

Explore the underwater world in the wild and scuba dive the Sunshine Coast’s number one dive site, the Sunreef Mooloolaba. Sunreef is a PADI 5 Star Training Centre and offers accredited dive courses for all levels of divers as well as local reef dives in the Sunshine Coast region including the ex-HMAS Brisbane and offers international dive trips and travel as well as Swim with the Whales experience, dive equipment sales and servicing.

 

Now, the ‘The Brisbane’ sits on the ocean floor and is covered in hard coral, soft coral and home to more than 200 species of fish. It’s fast becoming popular with divers around the country for its consistently good water clarity and minimal swell.

 

Mooloolaba Wharf has long been one of Mooloolaba’s best drawcards. If you’re into boats then it is a great place to wander about and pick out your dream cruiser or yacht. If boating’s not your thing then content yourself with a wander around the great clothing and specialty shops. There’s also a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from which offer great al fresco dining.

 

Holidaying in Mooloolaba

 

To give yourself a holiday in Mooloolaba is giving yourself the luxury of choice. One of the holidaymakers’ traditional favourite destinations for its miles of safe beach, it is the newer funky vibe of Mooloolaba after dark that visitors are embracing with smiles.

 

Mooloolaba continues to boast one of the coast’s best family beaches with its north-east aspect ensuring protection from the elements. Simply lie on the beach with a good book or take hold of life and try kite surfing — your choice. From the sedate to the thrilling, beach activities cater to all types of families.

 

During the past 10 years, Mooloolaba has become one of Australia’s most vibrant and exciting beach front developments, delivering a delicious modern injection into local fun, food and fashion. There is no better place to grab fresh seafood right off the back of a trawler. Mooloolaba’s extensive variety of seafood fare is made possible by direct waterway passages and a devoted community of local fishermen. The cosmopolitan esplanade is at the centre of this development with internationally-renowned oceanfront restaurants and luxury accommodation to match.

 

While bikinis, thongs and beer are as acceptable as they have always been, designer dresses, stilettos and cocktails are a welcome addition. A perfect blend of hip and unpretentious.

If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Mooloolaba or around, G1Holidays is your solution.

 

Nearby Place: Alexandra Headland

 

Alexandra Headland is lovingly known by the locals as ‘Alex’. This casual nickname is an indication of what makes Alexandra Headland different from everywhere else in Maroochy — it is the essence of beach culture. Untarnished and awesome in its natural beauty Alexandra Headland is where people come to worship the beach and the relaxed and addictive culture it inspires. Built on sandy foundations, Alex offers a range of resort and apartment-style accommodation, most of which honour the ocean with views.

 

The community is located on a beautiful spot on what is known as the Sunshine Strip – it sits between Mooloolaba and Maroochydore. The town with its laid back atmosphere and inviting beaches has become a popular spot for surfers. It is well known that off its rocky headland is some of the best surf on the Queensland coast. Swimmers can also enjoy the rolling beaches as there is a patrolled swimming area provided by the surf club.

 

The headland has spectacular views of Mount Coolum and north along the sweeping beach to the Maroochy River. Alex is just over 100km from Brisbane and has a population of 7000.

The best thing to do when in Alexandra Headlands is to pack a picnic, a towel and a good book and head down to the beach for a swim and a relaxing day hanging out on the white sands.

Families can swim a little safer knowing that the beaches are patrolled by the Alexandra Headland Surf Club. Watch the surfers ride the waves all day long or join them and rent aboard. You can also sign up for surf lessons at one of the many places offering lessons along Alexandra Parade.

 

Located by the Alexandra Headlands Surf Club is the best outdoor skate park on the Sunshine Coast.

 

It’s a well-known place for skating and biking enthusiasts and especially popular at night for those wishing to ride in the lit-up park with the sound of waves crashing on the beach in the background.

 

If you’d like something a little more chilled out then take your fishing rod and bait down to the sea and try and catch your dinner. With any luck, you’ll be BBQ’ing up a storm at the bluff’s BBQ and picnic area come nightfall!

 

Nearby Place: Maroochydore

 

Maroochydore is the geographic and commercial heart of the Sunshine Coast. Maroochy Tourism quotes, “If the Sunshine Coast had a beating heart, Maroochydore is it.” The town of 17045 residents offers an ideal location, situated at the intersection between the river and the ocean. It offers the blend of surf beach and the calm waters of the Maroochy River.

Few other holiday destinations offer their visitors the luxuries of CBD life combined with the ambience of a relaxed beachside town. And in true Maroochy style, Maroochydore offers this unique blend on a silver platter with a smile. Maroochydore’s unique buffet of sensational shopping, first-class accommodation, exquisite dining and inspirational natural beauty make it a place to visit again and again.

 

Wrapped around the Pacific Ocean and the Maroochy River, Maroochydore is home to some of the most spectacular waterside havens on the coast. Stretching to Noosa National Park, the long and open Maroochydore Beach is the perfect choice for swimmers, splashers and surfers alike. There are glorious views south to Point Cartwright and north to Mudjimba Island (once owned by Sean Connery). Along the river, you’ll find idyllic picnic and still-water swimming destinations. Journey to the mouth of the river to marvel at Pincushion Island, tall sand and rock formation famed for its fishing and mystery as it appears to change position in the river.

 

The main surfing beach is popular with surfers. It hosts a number of surfing and surf lifesaving events. It is also home to sheltered beaches popular with families. These are backed by pretty parkland, ideal for picnics or walking. It is the major commercial centre of the Sunshine Coast, however, it still features a refreshing blend of both business and tourism which makes Maroochydore a refreshing seaside town for visitors and residents to enjoy.

 

Inspirational natural beauty complete for one day, make the most of the metropolitan lifestyle with some retail therapy or around at the golf course. Wind down the day by watching the tides come in and out from one of the exquisite waterfront restaurants, work off dinner on the dance floor at a nightspot and then stroll home to your choice of accommodation — from budget to absolute luxury.

 

That’s the beauty of Maroochydore. You can hit the beach, cruise the river, clean out the shops and devour the restaurants all in one day.

Maroochydore is one of the largest townships on the Sunny Coast and offers the greatest assortment of activities and attractions to keep you busy!

 

Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Maroochy River on the other there are plenty of water-based activities to keep you occupied. Maroochydore Beach / Cotton Tree is the perfect place for those wanting to paddle about in the ocean, body surf or hop on a board and have a surf.

 

If you head to the Maroochy River you’ll find some places to swim without waves, there are also some great places to enjoy a picnic. Grab your fishing rod and travel further along to the mouth of the river to catch some fish for your dinner! Check with some locals for the best spots to throw in your line. Another great way to explore the river is by boat, hire a small tinnie, cruiser, barbeque pontoon or kayak and enjoy the magic and beauty of the Maroochy River at your own pace.

 

If you’d like to keep your feet firmly on land you can try your hand at the various sports clubs. Horton Park Golf Club is a challenging 18 hole course with a night driving range if you’d like a swing in the cooler evening. For a different type of swing you can head to the Maroochydore Tennis Club and play a game of doubles or for something a little more low key visit the Maroochydore Beach Bowls Club for a relaxing game of barefoot bowls.

 

Sunshine Plaza shopping centre attracts people from all around the Sunshine Coast. It’s the largest shopping centre on the Sunny Coast and has a fantastic range of retail shops. You can pick up a new bikini or sun hat to take to the beach. If you prefer strip shopping then Cotton Tree and Duporth Avenue have a great selection of clothing boutiques, homewares stores and art. If you are here on a Sunday then visit the Cotton Tree Street Markets or the Maroochydore Sunday Markets for a whole range of goodies from locally produced fruits and veg, jewellery, clothing and ready-to-eat food.