4 Day Sunshine Coast Road Trip

Day Two

On day two you can head off to the lovely village of Eumundi which has renowned for its artisan markets call simply the Eumundi Markets.  The markets are held every Wednesday and Saturday, give yourself a few hours to wander through the markets checking out all the handmade arts and crafts. Stop off for lunch at the Imperial Hotel  and try one of their locally brewed Eumundi lagers. Upon leaving Eumundi instead of heading back on the M1 you can head towards Coolum and drive back along the coast through the local beach towns of Marcoola and Mudjimba before turning back onto the Sunshine Motorway towards Maroochydore.

Head off for dinner at the Maroochy Surf Club for a great meal overlooking the ocean, the club is in walking distance from the caravan park.

Day Three

Next morning you can take a lovely walk to Alexandra Headland for breakfast which is about 30 minutes, if you’re feeling like a longer walk keep on going to Mooloolaba which is about 1 hours walk from Cotton Tree Caravan Park.

There are lots of lovely shops and cafés in Mooloolaba and another great beach for a swim. If you have time you could head to  Sealife Sunshine Coast a marine park, oceanarium and wildlife sanctuary. Take a walk through the 80-meter-long ocean tunnel where you will be surrounded by marine animals of all kinds. For another great experience check out the seal show and little blue penguins.

Alternatively, you could take a drive back up the coast to Noosa Heads where you can go for a lovely walk around Noosa’s National Park  it showcases the best that mother nature has to offer – beautiful beaches, amazing wildlife and great walking tracks through rainforests, open woodlands and heathlands all up there is about 15 kilometres of walking track so you can take your pick. Many of the tracks start and end at the Noosa Headland Day-Use area so when you get back from your exploring you can enjoy a picnic or barbecue under the shade trees with the ocean view.

Head back to camp and settle in for the night maybe have a BBQ at the park or again head to one of the local restaurants then you can take a moonlight stroll along the beach and listen to the sounds of the surf, head back to your van and snuggle in for the night what a perfect way to end the day.

Day Four

Pack up camp in the morning which is so easy not tents to fold up no air mattress to deflate and try to fight to get it back in the bag, just fold up your camp chairs and table roll in the awning and off you go. Head back down the M1 and a lovely stop off is at Caloundra about 30 min drive from Maroochydore you can take a paddle on your Stand-Up Paddle Board or even hire a jet ski to check out Pumicestone Passage which is a 35 km ecological marvel that is part of Moreton Bay Marine Park or head over to Shelly Beach to explore the rockpools but this is an unpatrolled beach so not suitable for swimming. If you fancy a swim, then head over to Golden Beach for a swim.

After you day exploring it is time to head back it will take you about 2 ½ hours to get back from Caloundra depending on traffic it is best to avoid the peak hours as you have to skirt around Brisbane and there is sometimes heavy traffic on the M1.

Once you have returned you will need to do the handback, please make sure you have refuelled the van, don’t fret you can always rebook a van and head off on another adventure.

Happy road tripping