Car Travel

A car is a virtual necessity on the Sunshine Coast. The traditional route to the coast from Brisbane is along the Bruce Highway (Highway 1) to the Glass House Mountains, with a turnoff at Cooroy. Taking the Sunshine Motorway may be faster, however: after 65 km (40 miles), turn off the Bruce Highway at Tanawha (toward Mooloolaba) and follow the signs. On either route, allow 1½ hours to get to the central coastal town of Coolum, a further half hour to reach Noosa, on the northern Sunshine Coast. The most scenic route is to turn off the Bruce Highway at the exit to Caloundra, then follow the coast to Noosa Heads.