I love escaping the confines of the city & heading north to where I can just drift & exist for awhile. Spending time up on the Sunshine Coast is a fabulous little break for me, so while up there I compiled a little list of things you might need to know…

The beaches
In a word, perfect. Now, you should know that I love the beach, and may be a little biased of the Sunny Coast.The beaches are amazing. Perfect white sand and just the right temperature water (the chalkboard at our lifesaving tower usually read 24 degrees).

Technically the 'Sunshine Coast' stretches from Caloundra in the south to Noosa in the north and all the beaches in between are worth a visit. Beaches like Mooloolaba are a lot more sheltered and perfect for families whereas Point Arkwright (where we stayed) is a little rougher. That said, the beaches are patrolled, so you can pretty much swim anywhere. And the lifeguards are usually friendly. I was sure to make friends with my lifeguard to ensure that in the off chance that I was swept out to sea by the enormous waves that were present nearly everyday of our trip, he would come and rescue me. For me, beaches are about letting your soul breathe again.

The towns
There is something for everyone along the coast. Small towns, large towns, and places that some may not even call a town. One thing they all have in common is the laid back relaxed nature that is intrinsic to living or staying on the coast. Everything about being on the coast is relaxing, and life is all about just taking it easy.

Cafes adorn beachfronts and surf shops abound. Chemists double as newsagents & banks, and if you can't find what you are looking for chances are that you won't need it during your stay. Head towards the hinterland and this changes to organic foodstores and second-hand bookstores. Chemists will likely still continue to double as newsagents 🙂

Food
When staying on the coast, there are a few the are a few 'musts' on the menu. Fish & chips wrapped in butcher's paper, ice-cream in waffle cones and brunch. Going out for brunch is a necessity when on holidays and you are spoilt for choices up and down the coast. Most cafes focus on organic or at least fresh foods and juices, with juices freshly squeezed by teenagers working holiday jobs killing time before they head back to the beach after work. If you can't find a cafe to your liking, most places have the obligatory Chinese or Thai restaurant to fall back on. In Coolum 'Shelly's Thai Restaurant' was one of the most popular places in town – great Thai!

Clothing
As a general rule, less is more. People wander around in bikinis, denim shorts & singlets or dresses short enough to make me want to visit the gym more regularly. Acceptable footwear in many coastal restaurants is thongs. Yes, the more comfortable your feet are, the better. Dining out in a restaurant in Cooum I encountered gypsy pants, bare feet and fluro terry-toweling beach shorts – and all were perfectly acceptable. Dressing up more than this often indicates you are from 'out of town', something you aren't looking to aspire to while on holidays. Dressing up for me meant wearing my best t-shirt.

Yes, heed my advice & enjoy one of the best parts of the world .