The Sunshine Coast has some of the most amazing scenery you will find anywhere along the east coast of Australia. If you’ve got a special connection to a place or are particularly fond of an area on the Sunshine Coast we'd love to hear from you!
Located at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast the Pumicestone Passage contains one of the largest mangrove and saltmarsh communities of southern Queensland. These mangroves are essential to both the recreational and commercial fisheries in Queensland with around 75% of fish caught spending some time of their life living and feeding in mangroves. The shallow waterway also contains rich seagrass beds that support turtles and dugongs. If you visit the passage by boat please observe a 6 knot speed limit as boat wash is a major cause of erosion in the passage and boat strikes kill and maim many dugongs and turtles each year.
The Glass House Mountains are a set of volcanic peaks approximately 25 million years old. Given their English name by Captain Cook in 1770 they dominate the skyline between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. The track to the summit of Mount Tibrogargan is among the steepest walking tracks in Australia but the views from the summit are well worth the effort for those who are brave enough to attempt the climb. The area contains remnant sclerophyll forests.
The Conondale Ranges contain over 30,000 hectares of protected forests (including wet sclerophyll and rainforest communities). These forests are home to more than 120 animal species including the rare yellow-bellied glider and several species that occur only in the Conondale and Blackall ranges such as the cascade treefrog and red goshawk. The best way to experience the Conondale is by taking the great walk that travereses the park.
Mudjimba Island offers one of the best places to appreciate the underwater world that lies off the Sunshine Coast.
The island which is less than a kilometre away from the mainland is part of the Maroochy River Conservation Park. If you do decide to explore the island please be very careful with your watercrafts. Anchor drag has done significant damage to the underwater feature of the island damaging both the environment and our ability to enjoy the island.
The Noosa Everglades offer a brilliant escape from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Large parts of the Noosa River catchment are within protected areas and it has the best water quality of any river in South East Queensland. Take a canoe to explore the quite waters, the mangrove forests and melaleuca communities. The everglades are an important feeding ground for many migratory bird species and provide a great opportunity to observe these birds during their visit to Australia.