When overseas visitors come to tropical Queensland in Australia, they often imagine the Great Barrier Reef in northern Queensland or the Gold Coast in southern Queensland first. When Australians think of holidaying in sunny Queensland, they consider the Sunshine Coast. The Sunshine Coast is found in Central Queensland, about 70 miles (113km) north of the Queensland capital of Brisbane and 112 miles (180 km) from the Gold Coast. One of the great attractions of the Sunshine Coast is that, while it’s a well-developed area with lots of amenities for everybody, it is not overdeveloped. 265,000 residents call the 312,000 hectare region of the Sunshine Coast and its 40 miles (65 km) of beaches home. Why do they gravitate there from all over Australia and abroad? It’s because the Sunshine Coast has achieved a reputation for being one of the most desirable places in the world to stay. The word “beach” shows up frequently on a map of the Sunshine Coast. Beginning in Caloundra, the largest town located on the southern end of the coast, you pass through villages with names like Coolum Beach, Peregian Beach and Sunrise Beach before arriving at Noosa on the northern edge of the Sunshine Coast. The beach and the beach lifestyle define the whole area more than anything else. If you’re keen on the beach and ocean activities, then certainly you’ll love the warm tropical waters and white sandy beaches on the Sunshine Coast. Of many of the beaches across the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is the most renowned. The town rests on the northern edge of Noosa National Park. It isn’t a large town, but it welcomes thousands of tourists every month of the year. They are lured there by its winning combination of excellent beaches, its magnificent National Park and its five star facilities. All these attractions are within easy walking distance of the main street in town, Hastings Street. Hastings Street is usually cited as one of the most ideal tourist streets in Australia. It manages to have an exclusive “champagne set” atmosphere at the same time it has a laid back Aussie surfer feel. For this reason, it is a popular spot to hang out for everyone who visits Noosa. Even better, it runs parallel to Noosa Beach and is within a stone’s throw from the National Park and the famous waves of Noosa Heads. In the course of just one day, a family of six can find something unforgettable to do in Noosa that suited everyone’s tastes without having to get in their car and drive. The teenagers could take on the waves along the rocky headland while the little ones play in the protected and patrolled waters of the beach. The parents could stroll up and down Hastings Street, shopping and dining and the entire family could take a walk along the well-maintained trail that winds through Noosa National Park. All of these attractions aren’t limited to Noosa alone. On the contrary, Noosa is only an example of what the entire region has to offer. If you are looking to get in the car and explore, you’ll find more natural wonders, great beaches and friendly suburbs, each of which has something different to offer. You can choose to stay in a 5 star family resort or an inexpensive Sunshine Coast accommodation for backpackers. Whatever you want, you will find it on the Sunshine Coast.