How to find Six Things to Do at the Sunshine Coast - By: Patricia Lilly

Traveling one hour on a scenic drive north of Brisbane will bring you to the Sunshine Coast. This is an exciting place to holiday and has a mixture of sea, sand and sunshine with lush hinterland, which covers the Glass House Mountains, The Blackall Range, the Noosa Hinterland and the mary Valley. Along a 100klm section of beaches sit Caloundra, Kawana, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Coolum Beach, Noosa and Rainbow Beach. There is a large variety of holiday accommodation to choose from such as Bed and Breakfasts, hotels and resort apartments. You will have a wonderful holiday enjoying the warm sandy beaches, alfresco dining, relaxed style of living, and the colourful boutiques. 1. SURFING If you love surfing, then the swell off Point Cartwright and Alexandra Headland will be just for you. 2. ADVENTURE If it's adventure that you want, try the camel rides on the beach, jetski tours or skydiving. 3. SHOPPING Maybe you love shopping! The Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore has something for everyone and gives you an exciting shopping adventure. My sister and I enjoyed it. 4. FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT You can take your family to the famous Australia Zoo, Aussie World and Underwater World. Driving through the hinterland can take you from the Australia Zoo up to the iconic Ettamogah Pub which has a quaint little shopping village. It is right next to Aussie World which has over 30 rides and games that everyone of all ages will enjoy. It will be an all day experience just at the Australia Zoo, so you may want to divide the entertainment up over a few days. When my sister and I and her boys did a tour of these areas, we did it over a three day period. THE AUSTRALIA ZOO is located just 45 minutes north of Brisbane on the Glasshouse Mountains Tourist Drive, and is the home to some of Australia's most amazing and unique wildlife, and a variety of interesting animals from overseas. Your visit to the home of "THE CROCODILE HUNTER", the late Steve Irwin, will definitely amaze you and make your visit memorable. There are daily feeding shows from 10am through to 3:30pm every day. You can enjoy a tasty meal also from the food court. AUSSIE WORLD is located one kilometre north of the Caloundra exit on the Bruce Highway and the best way to get there is drive, but you can take a train to Landsborough and bus from there to the Rustic Cabin picnic grounds or Chancellor Park. From here a taxi can take you to Aussie World and the Ettamogah Pub which is situated nearby. At Aussie World rides commence at 10am and open from 9am to 5pm, but they close Xmas Day. On Australia Day, 26th January 2009, Aussie World is planning a fantastic event for great entertainment. THE ETTAMOGAH PUB is a quirky icon that has a 1927 Chevy truck on top of its bright red roof. It is open every day from 9am until late but closes on Christmas Day. Bluey's Bar and Grill, located upstairs in the Ettamogah Pub, is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11am to 8pm but is closed on Christmas Day. UNDERWATER WORLD, Queenland's largest Oceanarium and aquarium is situated at Mooloolaba. Be entertained by over 5,500 sea creatures such as seals, sharks, sting rays, and otters. My nephews thoroughly enjoyed being photographed with a beautiful seal after watching its playful antics. 5. HINTERLAND On your drive through the hinterland, discover the pretty town of Montville,which is home to pottery studios, art galleries, antique stores, and fashion houses. Another 20klms north through Nambour is Yandina. You will find the Ginger Factory there where you can have an interesting tour and buy gingerbread men and ginger candies made from quality Buderim ginger. 6. MARKETS Just 10klms north of Yandina is Eumundi which has the most fascinating and very popular markets operating every Wednesday and Saturday. These are not to be missed, but try to arrive early as the parking lots fill up very quickly. It becomes a very interesting experience with local entertainers keeping the kids amused, and more than 500 great produce stalls selling beautifully constructed crafts, organically grown produce, and a large variety of other amazing products. Wide pathways shaded by towering heritage listed fig trees make walking amongst the stalls and old quaint buildings a very pleasant experience. My sister and I and her children had a ball. You can unwind, relax and enjoy yourself at the coast or in the hinterland on the Sunshine Coast. Maybe you will love the area enough to find the nearest Real Estate agency.