Maroochydore - Holiday Destination
Maroochydore is the geographic centre of the Sunshine Coast. Maroochy Tourism quotes, "If the Sunshine Coast had a beating heart, Maroochydore is it." The town of 17045 residents offers an ideal location, situated at the intersection between river and the ocean. It offers the blend of surf beach and the calm waters of the Maroochy River.
The main surfing beach is popular with surfers. It hosts a number of surfing and surf lifesaving events. It is also home to sheltered beaches popular with families. These are backed by pretty parkland, ideal for picnics or walking. It is the major commercial centre of the Sunshine Coast, however, it still features a refreshing blend of both business and tourism which makes Maroochydore a refreshing seaside town for visitors and residents to enjoy.
Maroochydore Accommodation
For more information about accommodation in Maroochydore and to book your accommodation online, check out the Maroochydore accommodation page.
As Maroochydore is home to the Sunshine Coast Airport it is often the first stop for guests travelling from afar. This means that Maroochydore has a wonderful array of resorts, hotels, holiday houses and holiday parks to suit the needs of visitors. Low budget to luxury it's all there for you!
Things To Do in Maroochydore
Maroochydore is one of the largest townships on the Sunny Coast and offers the greatest assortment of activities and attractions to keep you busy!
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Maroochy River on the other there are plenty of water based activities to keep you occupied. Maroochydore Beach / Cotton Tree is the perfect place for those wanting to paddle about in the ocean, body surf or hop on a board and have a surf.
If you head to the Maroochy River you'll find some places to swim without waves, there's also some great places to enjoy a picnic. Grab your fishing rod and travel further along to the mouth of the river to catch some fish for your dinner! Check with some locals for the best spots to throw in your line. Another great way to explore the river is by boat, hire a small tinnie, cruiser, barbeque pontoon or by kayak and enjoy the magic and beauty of the Maroochy River at your own pace.
If you'd like to keep your feet firmly on land you can try your hand at the various sports clubs. Horton Park Golf Club is a challenging 18 hole course with a night driving range if you'd like a swing in the cooler evening. For a different type of swing you can head to the Maroochydore Tennis Club and play a game of doubles or for something a little more low key visit the Maroochydore Beach Bowls Club for a relaxing game of barefoot bowls.
Sunshine Plaza shopping centre attracts people from all around the Sunshine Coast. It's the largest shopping centre on the Sunny Coast and has a fantastic range of retail shops. You can pick up a new bikini or sun hat to take to the beach. If you prefer strip shopping then Cotton Tree and Duporth Avenue have a great selection of clothing boutiques, homewares stores and art. If you are here on a Sunday then visit the Cotton Tree Street Markets or the Maroochydore Sunday Markets for a whole range of goodies from locally produced fruits and veg, jewellery, clothing and ready to eat food.
Book Maroochydore Tours and Experiences Online Now
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Maroochydore Restaurants
Maroochydore has the greatest selection of eats on the Sunshine Coast. Here you will find your standard fish'n'chips and steak joints but also fantastic Spanish tapas, Moroccan, Japanese, Thai and many more cuisines from around the globe. Take a look at all of the Maroochydore restaurants.
ba Vigo perfects a mix of Spanish culture and the beauty of the Sunshine Coast with its stylish yet relaxed food and restaurant. The chef Nick Belton specialises in modern Spanish and North African care and uses only the best local produce. It's a unique restaurant and is a favourite with tourists and locals for a night out in Cotton Tree.
The Boat Shed Restaurant embodies everything that Sunshine Coast dining should be about - it's casual, relaxed and offers beautiful coastal views. It is an ideal place to while away an afternoon on one of the comfy couches, with a bottle of wine and a plate of tapas and views over the Maroocy River, Mt Coolum and fat pelicans. The seafood here is amazing but if you're not into fish there's also plenty of other dishes to take your fancy.
The Maroochydore Surf Club is one of the most respected clubs in Queensland and also has some of the best views in all of Maroochydore. Come here for a casual lunch or dinner Monday to Sunday or breakfast buffet on a Saturday and Sunday. It's a family friendly restaurant with well priced meals with plenty of flavour. It's a great place to enjoy a beer while watching the sun set.
Weather & Climate
Residents and visitors can enjoy a sub-tropical climate tempered by the ocean - therefore, it is never blazingly hot and rarely freezingly cold. Tropical lightning storms are common in the summer months.
The temperature ranges from 21°C to 28°C in the height of summer and 10°C to 20°C in winter. Visit the Weather page for more information about the Sunshine Coast climate and current weather conditions.
Getting to Maroochydore
Maroochydore is just over 1 hours drive (98 km) from Brisbane. The Bruce Highway is nearest highway to the coastal town. Visit our Getting to the Sunshine Coast and Getting Around the Sunshine Coast pages for transport options.
