It’s not just another impossibly beautiful Sunshine Coast beach. Come to Mooloolaba Beach to take advantage of its spellbinding arc of sand, plus all the other things that make a great holiday great.
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Staking out your spot
Hugging the beach’s western flank, Mooloolaba Esplanade inevitably catches your eye. Tall, bright buildings with everything from stylish hotels to eateries, ice-cream shops and boutiques buzz with activity, which spills over to the dunes below. In front of Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, serving casual food and beverages with an unbeatable view, celebrating people flock to swim between the flags.
Further east, the tranquility of the Spit, surrounded by water on three sides, takes over. It’s the perfect location to read a book or simply close your eyes while listening to the rolling ocean. Although only a few restaurants are around, the in-demand Fisheries on the Spit (by the marina, just across the road from the beach) compensates for that.
Stroll the rock wall at the beach’s very eastern end to be rewarded by superb scenery: Mooloolaba Beach unfurling to the west, the Mooloolah River snaking inland and Point Cartwright rising to the east. The headland, adorned with a lighthouse, ensures that the waves reaching Mooloolaba Beach are of reduced height, with the Spit the most sheltered.
You’ll see locals walking and jogging the pathway that uninterruptedly traces the 2-km stretch of glistening sands from the esplanade to the rock wall. As someone on a Sunshine Coast holiday, you can take your time and linger over the mesmerising setting, maybe pausing at the quirky Loo With A View even if you can hold it.
Fun beyond the beach
Within steps of the beach, the Wharf precinct offers riverfront eateries, bars and shops. It’s also the departure point for popular boat tours, including canal cruises and fishing charters.
The best sun protection around is the Sea Life Sunshine Coast Aquarium. It boasts an 80-metre ocean tunnel from which you can marvel at sharks and rays, plus an array of other exhibits and animals.
Hotels on Mooloolaba Beach
Want to stay close to the beach? Oceans Mooloolaba means five-star luxury smack-dab on the esplanade; 84 The Spit is a top option for those who prefer something more secluded.
Set your compass
You can travel by car from Brisbane to Mooloolaba Beach in under 1.5 hours. A 45-minute drive links Mooloolaba with Noosa Heads at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast.
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