Australia's Sunshine Coast
Sun, 01 Mar, 2009
The Sunshine Coast is located in south east Queensland, and starts about 100km north of of the capital, Brisbane. It has access to one of the best lifestyles in the world, which is why it's one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
Some of the main attractions are:
- Access to some of the best beaches in Australia
- Low crime rates
- Great place to raise kids
- Fantastic lifestyle
Some of the cons:
- Poor public transport (a car is essential)
- Employment options are limited
- High cost of living (proportionally speaking)
In recent years the Sunshine Coast has been attracting large amounts of immigrant families, particularly from the UK, as well as benefiting from a large influx from the southern states.
Beaches
The region is characterized by beautiful beaches, expansive coastal views and rich fertile soils in the hinterland. Many World and Australian-renowned beaches are located at Noosa Heads, Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba, Coolum and Kings Beach in Caloundra. There are popular surfing areas along the beaches and headlands.
Statistics
The Sunshine Coast (population 290,645 with up to an additional 50,000 in visitors and seasonal workers) is a coastal region located in South East Queensland, north of the Queensland capital of Brisbane. The Sunshine Coast has recently been united into a single Local Government Area, the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
The Sunshine Coast is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east, and extends to the local government boundaries beyond the Blackall Range to the west. Occasionally, the towns of Gympie, which is 30 minutes' drive north of Noosa Heads, and Caboolture, 30 mins drive south of Caloundra, have been included in a broader definition of the Sunshine Coast region.