10 Best Suburbs in Sunshine Coast to Live

With its sun-drenched beaches, lush hinterland, and endless stretch of coastline, the Sunshine Coast has rightfully earned its reputation as one of Australia’s most desirable places to live. This remarkable 60km strip hugging the Pacific Ocean offers the ultimate in coastal living, where vibrant beach culture meets natural beauty and small-town charm.

From the iconic shores of Noosa to the burgeoning hubs of Maroochydore and Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast’s suburbs run the gamut, catering to every lifestyle. Families flock to master planned communities like Kawana, where waterfront living meets big city amenities. Meanwhile, free-spirited souls find their bliss in eclectic beachside towns like Coolum and Peregian, treasured for their laidback village atmospheres.

For those seeking a trendier way of life, one can’t go past the chic cafes, bars, and boutiques lining Hastings Street in Noosa Heads or the vibrant oceanfront strips of Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headland. Yet the Sunshine Coast has equal appeal for those desiring a quieter pace, with sleepy seaside hamlets and elegant hinterland retreats like Buderim.

Affordability, accessibility, and amenity are three key selling points. From optimum work/life balance to lower housing costs compared to Brisbane, these suburbs offer the chance to embrace coastal living without compromise. Protected parklands, pristine beaches, waterways, bushwalks, and sought-after schools are all right on residents’ doorsteps.

Blending a relaxed yet cosmopolitan lifestyle with extraordinary natural surroundings, it’s no wonder the Sunshine Coast has transformed from a low-key holiday destination into one of Australia’s most coveted locales. These standout suburbs showcase the very best of what this special part of the world has to offer.

Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads is an upscale beachside suburb renowned for its pristine beaches, national park, and laid back yet stylish vibe. Hastings Street is lined with trendy boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. The suburb has a mix of luxury vacation homes and permanent residences, catering to those seeking an idyllic coastal lifestyle. Aside from the world-famous Main Beach, it offers easy access to trails, lookouts, and waterways in Noosa National Park.

Coolum Beach

The friendly seaside town of Coolum Beach has maintained its village character while providing all the amenities for a quintessential beach lifestyle. Coolum’s beachfront is lined with parklands, barbecue areas, and the iconic red-ochre coloured Coolum Clubhouse. A variety of cafés, shops, and holiday accommodation clusters around the surf club. Tucked behind, the older residential areas offer affordable family homes.

Mooloolaba

An iconic holiday hotspot, Mooloolaba is a vibrant beachfront suburb centred around its beautiful beach, esplanade, and marina. It’s a popular spot for swimming, sailing, fishing, and dining al fresco while watching the sunset. Luxury apartment complexes and resorts line the beachfront, while suburban streets offer more affordable housing options. The Wharf precinct hosts lively restaurants and bars.

Caloundra

Spanning the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, Caloundra is a laid-back coastal suburb with great beaches, parks, and a charming CBD. King’s Beach is the main draw with its adjacent al fresco dining, coastal walks, and parks. The suburban areas offer a range of housing from modern homes to classic beachside cottages. Shopping, entertainment, and boating facilities are located in the Caloundra CBD.

Buderim

Situated slightly inland, the leafy hilltop suburb of Buderim is known for its lush gardens, parks, waterfalls, and classic Queensland timber homes. It has a vibrant village atmosphere centred around Burnett Street and Buderim Village Park. Upscale rainforest estates exist alongside older character homes. With great views plus plenty of cafés and local shops, it’s a popular family suburb.

Alexandra Headland 

Alexandra Headland boasts one of the longest stretches of beach on the Sunshine Coast, attracting families, sunbathers, and surfers. A vibrant oceanfront esplanade runs alongside parks, cafés, and BBQ areas. While parts are touristy, it also has pleasant residential streets of older houses and new developments. The proximity to Mooloolaba and Maroochydore makes it very accessible.

Peregian Beach 

This charming beachside enclave epitomises a chilled, bohemian lifestyle with a distinct village vibe. Peregian’s oceanfront is fringed by grassy parks and quiet cafés. Behind the beach, leafy residential streets are lined by classic beach cottages punctuated by upscale new homes. Residents cherish the area’s strong sense of community, farmers markets, and emphasis on sustainability.

Kawana Waters

Situated on a series of lakes and canals, the modern master-planned suburb of Kawana offers scenic waterfront living. Its centrepieces are the pristine lakes, walking paths, and the huge Kawana Shoppingworld mall. While it has many newer housing developments, green spaces have been preserved. All amenities are at residents’ doorsteps including beaches only minutes away.

Maroochydore  

As the central business district, Maroochydore provides big-city amenities in a coastal setting. Its CBD boasts high-rise apartments, chic shopping malls, al fresco dining strips, and entertainment precincts. While some areas are bustling, it transitions into quieter suburbs with an eclectic mix of housing from modern homes to original cottages. The beaches, Maroochy River, and parks are all easily accessible.

Caloundra West

The affordable family-friendly suburb of Caloundra West offers a peaceful retreat from the coastline, yet still within reach of beaches and amenities. It features an abundance of parks, bushland reserves, and playgrounds as well as quality schools. The residential streets consist of larger new homes on spacious blocks as well as older established houses.

Living on the Sunshine Coast

Tee Off in Paradise: The Sunshine Coast’s World-Class Greens

The Sunshine Coast truly epitomises an idyllic Queensland lifestyle. This spectacular stretch of coastline not only delights with its pristine beaches and lush hinterland, but offers a myriad of pursuits catering to all lifestyles and interests. For golf enthusiasts in particular, it provides a veritable paradise.

The region boasts an impressive array of world-class golf courses designed to challenge and inspire players of all skill levels. From iconic championship links hugging the oceanfront to picturesque hinterland retreats winding through eucalyptus forests, the Sunshine Coast’s greens are as diverse as they are scenic.

Heading the list of must-play courses is the Pelican Waters Golf Club, long heralded as one of Australia’s finest. This Greg Norman-designed masterpiece seamlessly blends nature and technical brilliance across 18 impeccably groomed holes flanked by woodlands, lakes, and rolling terrain. Its clubhouse offers elegant dining with course views.

Another coastal gem is the Peregian Golf Course, nestled right in the heart of the charming Peregian Beach community. Its undulating fairways and greens are fringed by natural wetlands, creating a scenic challenge for golfers. The course is renowned for its environmental sustainability efforts.

Up further north, the iconic Caloundra Golf Club wows with its back nine holes directly bordering pristine beaches and offering breathtaking vistas of Bribie Island and the Glasshouse Mountains. Established in 1925, it combines historic charm with modern facilities.

Inland, the hinterland hamlet of Maleny lures golfers to its two premier clubs – the Maleny Golf Club and the Maleny Bayview Golf Course. Both wind through lush rainforest canopies and undulating landscapes. Yet the par-72 Maleny course is renowned as the Sunshine Coast’s longest and most challenging.

Golf, however, is just one of many outdoor draws. The region boasts over 100km of coastline for swimming, sailing, fishing, diving, and whale watching. Over in the hinterland towns like Montville and Maleny beckon with their rainforest hikes, boutique wineries, artisan markets, and quaint cafes.

With its exceptional climate, diversity of recreation, and laid back ambiance, it’s no wonder the Sunshine Coast lifestyle is so alluring. Families, retirees, and those simply seeking rejuvenation flock here to embrace coastal living at its finest. The world-class golf courses are merely the icing on this sun-drenched paradise.