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Gympie is a town which services the rural area 164 km north of Brisbane. It is quite an older style town and has been established many years. In the earlier years gold was mined in the town and some still prospect for gold in the rivers nearby.

Although it is about 45 km from the coast Gympie is treated as the gateway to Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach which are very popular areas for camping, boating and fishing.

A lot of people who have wanted to get out of the mainstream of society have moved into Gympie giving it a quite laid back effect.

It is on the main coastal highway and so does have a lot of traffic go through.

It is only a 30 minute drive from Gympie to Noosa so is not really considered to be too far from any main services that may be needed.

It will be interesting to see what happens to Gympie with the growth and development of the Sunshine Coast.

Sippy Downs is a reasonably new university town approx. 20 mins drive from the coast on the Sunshine Coast. Because it is inland a little it has tended to attract the younger families where they could afford the real estate. In saying that, it does have a man made canal and along this area there are some quite large and expensive homes.

It is a well planned township and along with the new residential areas a large commercial area has been developed which brings in extra traffic to the area and also offers quite considerable employment in the area.

There is not a lot in the way of entertainment but it does have fine cuisine and nightlife is within a 20 minute drive.

The area has also been popular for families because a child can enter school at kindy level and go right through to university, all within 1 km of each other.

Buderim is a lovely place to live. It is set among the hills behind the Sunshine Coast and is only 15 mins drive to the main shopping centres. Excellent cuisine is available in town and there are upmarket shops to cater for all needs.

It is more a spread out residential area with quality homes, units and a little acreage on the western side. There are also a number of older homes where retirees live or which are let for rental. Overall it is an excellent place to bring up a family. Buderim is an area that was established many years ago and was an area where a lot of rural people had coastal homes because the blocks were much larger than the blocks down on the coast and this tended to suit their needs.

There are several excellent schools in the area and the Sunshine Coast University is only 5 mins drive away.

Buderim has a lush semi tropical growth with lots of beautiful flowering trees and also lots of native birds which are often fed by the locals.

Overall it is quite a stunning place to live.

Redcliffe is a very old seaside town turning into a popular outer suburb of Brisbane and young couples are buying in this area. It is an area where young couples have been able to buy and renovate as and when their funds become available. From here residents commute quite easily into Brisbane for work.

Investors have also bought heavily in this area and there for there are a lot of renters here as well.

As an older town Redcliffe is a real mixture of old and new as the town grows and redevelops.

It can be quite a protected area at times as Morteon Island is off the coast. From Redcliffe you can access the very popular Moreton Bay for fishing.

There is a range of suburban homes, acreage and units available in this area and many activities available for the benefit of children.

Caboolture is a township about 45kms north of Brisbane and can easily be accessed on the highway. This used to be a sleepy town but no more. The residential push out of Brisbane has seen huge growth in and around Caboolture and it is a place where many families have decided to reside.

From here you can catch the train into Brisbane which makes it an easy commute if that is where you work.

Caboolture services the rural area north of Brisbane and although it has had the 'country' feel about it, it is now becoming like an outer suburb of Brisbane.

I have heard that it is a little difficult to get to know people and perhaps that is because you have such a variety of interests in the town. There is a lot organised for families and being away from the city it is a great place to bring up a young family.


There have been several retirement villages built and these have proved to be popular.

Eumundi is the home of the famous Eumundi Markets. These markets bring in thousands of visitors to Eumundi every week. It is a great way for visitors to spend half a day. A really casual atmosphere and lots of eateries of all descriptions.

With this sort of action in town Eumundi tends to attract people people who wish to hang out but be near the action. It is only a 20 min drive into the action at Noosa, so in some ways you get the best of both worlds.

The area does tend to lack in some of the other services that people may like so if you were considering living there you would need to weigh up exactly you are wanting from your local area.

Most residents in the area tend to live on acreage as there is not a lot of small blocks on offer.

Nambour grows in fits and starts. It was the first big town on the Sunshine Coast but has been taken over by the growth on the coast itself. Serving the hinterland area Nambour chugs along at its own pace.

The main public hospital and the TAFE are at Nambour and these provide a great deal of employment in the area.

Nambour tends to attract home owners who do not have big dollars to spend. In saying that, there is also a lot of acreage on the western side of Nambour which has attracted a lot of people looking for 'lifestyle' living.

Shopping tends to be focused at the cheaper end of the market and those who are looking for trendy or up market items gravitate towards the coastal shopping centres.

There is quite a lot of rental in Nambour and at quite reasonable prices which is OK if you do not have to travel the 35 min drive across to the coast each day.

Landsborough is a rather quiet township. I would have to say it probably would not appeal to me as a resident, but then again I prefer a little bit more action.
It is situtated beside the rail link to Brisbane which has certainly had some appeal for those having to work in Brisbane. Jump on the train and forget about all the traffic.

I would imagine it would be quite a good place to bring up a young family though, until they started going to high school and being more involved in after school activities.

It has most necessities in the township and is only a 20 min drive to Caloundra where you could get anything else that you wanted.

Real estate prices are still reasonable and families often start out owning a home in this area and then move closer into the amenities on the Coast after a number of years.

Maleny is a rather quaint hinterland township. It took a long while for Maleny to wake up but it has and slowly but surely is developing into a town with its own character.

This town suits someone looking for the more laid back lifestyle, who is more interested in their quality of life than the quality of their assets. A lot of arts and crafts people live here. There is some exceptional talent tucked away in these hills. People who have international fame in their field of choice.

There seems to be a bed and breakfast at almost every turn and these are often spread out over an acre or two. They are frequented by those living the busy city life in Brisbane. If you are looking for a romantic weekend then this is the place to go.

Real estate in this area has crept up quite significantly and there have been some quite exceptional prices paid for properties. Many properties have fantastic views out over the whole of the Sunshine Coast. There are still some well priced properties to be had as well.

Tewantin is a small town set back from the holiday destinations of Noosa and surrounding areas. Many people who work or own businesses in the Noosa area live in Tewantin.

Tewantin is the barge access way to the northern beaches of Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach. There is also very good access on to the Noosa River and many residents own boats of one sort or another.

The town is a mixture of old and new with more and more growth as the Sunshine Coast develops. At present Tewantin is thought of as the most northern town of the coastal strip.

Real estate prices are reasonable and rents are also reasonable.

Residents vary from the hippy through to the millionaire. It is just one of those quirky towns that appeal to many different people for many different reasons.

Noosa Heads is predominently a holiday destination and the real estate is very expensive. Most of the residential accommodation is situated in the hills at the back of Noosa Heads and most have absolutely stunning views.

Because of the main part of Noosa Heads being a holiday destination some new residents have found it diffiuclt to settle in and make friends. There tends to be such a high transient population even amonst the locals.

In fact, most residents live just behind the hills of Noosa Heads in Sunshine Beach or further south in the residential areas leading down to Coolum.

Fabulous surf beaches are within easy access and this is one of the reasons so many people gravitate to this area.

The other reason is the quality international restaurants that abound along the main street, some overlooking the ocean and some not.

A holiday at Noosaville will leave you wanting more! Every day of the week you could be doing something entirely different. Choose from: river fishing, deep sea fishing, boating, Eumundi markets, boutique shopping, cafes, restaurants, jet boat rides, nature walks, festivals, art galleries, scenic drives and so much more.

Accommodation is plentiful most of the year round and Noosaville is a place where you could be without a car for the week and still have loads of fun. There is so much variety in accommodation you could go back every month for years and not stay in the same place.

This is not a place for the person who is looking for a quiet holiday. It is busy most of the year round and lots going on.

Those who like to live in Noosaville just love it and you can see why. There is so much to do even the residents don't get bored. For people wanting to move to Noosaville there are canal homes, homes on the hill behind with a little bit of bush setting and homes a little out of town on acreage. Quite a variety of choice if you wish to move into this area.

Coolum offers the beach atmosphere, not too sophisticated, but not too casual either. The surf beach has to be seen to be believed. It is the sort of area where you can totally relax, just wander around, stop for a coffee when you feel like it and is usually not too busy unless it is Christmas.

It is not a big township but has a very strong following amongst its regular visitors.

Coolum is about a 25 minute drive south of Noosa. If you drive south from Coolum you will reach Maroochydore. For going to either of these places you can take the scenic coastal route or you can go inland a little and drive the motorway.

The Hyatt is a short drive with its international golf course which is very popular.

Situated near Coolum is Mt Coolum which people like to climb. It is not too steep and not too high. Just challenging enough to get you gasping for air.

There are quite a few good restaurants at Coolum and many cafes as well for casual dining.

Caloundra is a pretty town that has continued to grow in population and holiday popularity over the last 20 years. There are now quality cafes and restaurants and also accommodation at all levels to make Caloundra a destination that suits families of every size.

It is close to many surf beaches but also skirts the edge of the lovely Pumistone Passage.

There are a range of family activities available from: many childrens playgrounds and parks, fishing, safe and surf beaches, wind surfing, boating, golf, 15 mins drive to Australia Zoo, bush walks and more.

There are some attractive boutiques and the main street is so pretty is worth a visit just for that alone. In the main street on a Sunday the hold a market which is very popular and a wide range of products on sale.

Monteville is a hinterland township that has developed to cater to the tourist industry. It is approx. 45 minutes drive from most coastal Sunshine Coast towns.

Many visitors to the Sunshine Coast do a day trip up into the hinterland area and go to Monteville for their boutique and knick knack shopping. There are many fine cuisine restaurants in the area where visitors will spend a leisurely 2 or 3 hours over lunch.

Views from many of the restaurants are magnificent out over the Sunshine Coast and out to sea.

There are many art galleries in the area offering many different types of art from African through to almost anything you can imagine.

The Monteville area is well known for its bed and breakfast retreats. There are a variety of styles and some wonderful settings in which to spend the weekend.

Kawana has a rather unusual make up. It is a small residential situated only 10 minutes south of the popular Mooloolaba holiday area and 20 minutes north of the family holiday desitination of Caloundra. Kawana Shopping Centre and business centre is only 3 mins drive to Kawana ocean beach and is backed up by man made canals.

South of the township on the canals a new Olympic standard rowing course has been built and it is expected there will be international events here on a regular basis.

Kawana tends to be a high residential rental area, but also has multi million dollar homes along the river frontage and along the canals. The building of the canals behind Kawana have formed an island which is known as Kawana Island. This has proved to be a very popular area and is growing in popularity as the new development is moving inland.

Mooloolaba is a wonderful place to live and to visit for holidays. The weather lends itself to lots of outdoor living all year round. It has a fantastic surf beach on one side with a river estuary a short walk away. For visitors there is excellent accommodation along the beach with cafes overlooking the ocean. The area is safe and attracts a lot of family holiday makers as it is a little bit more laid back in lifestyle. It is a short drive to many entertainment facilities and only a 45 minute drive up in to the hills that cater for day visitors and where the shops carry a quality range of small giftware.

Local residents are friendly and embrace the fact that they live in such an idyllic situation and encourage visitors to their city. It is a 10 minute drive north or south to shopping centres which cater for all needs.

Mooloolaba is a wonderful place to live and to visit for holidays. The weather lends itself to lots of outdoor living all year round. For visitors there is excellent accommodation along the beach with cafes overlooking the ocean. The area is safe and attracts a lot of family holiday makers as it is a little bit more laid back in lifestyle. It is a short drive to many entertainment facilities and only a 45 minute drive up in to the hills that cater for day visitors and where the shops carry a quality range of small giftware.

Local residents are friendly and embrace the fact that they live in such an idyllic situation and encourage visitors to their city. It is a 10 minute drive north or south to shopping centres which cater for all needs.

Mooloolaba is a wonderful place to live and to visit for holidays. The weather lends itself to lots of outdoor living all year round. For visitors there is excellent accommodation along the beach with cafes overlooking the ocean. The area is safe and attracts a lot of family holiday makers as it is a little bit more laid back in lifestyle. It is a short drive to many entertainment facilities and only a 45 minute drive up in to the hills that cater for day visitors and where the shops carry a quality range of small giftware.

Local residents are friendly and embrace the fact that they live in such an idyllic situation and encourage visitors to their city. It is a 10 minute drive north or south to shopping centres which cater for all needs.