Travel Takeaway - Travel within Australia: Coolum Beach
For many of us, Queensland remains a holiday destination of choice, whether it be to enjoy the golden beaches or warm up as we head into winter down south, we all love beautiful one day, perfect the next weather from the Gold Coast to Port Douglas. If you have been there recently you will have noticed that we all think exactly the same thing and it can be a fight to find a place to relax. Coolum is not always first picked, so we tried it and found:
Location: Coolum is easy to get too. You can fly directly into Maroochydore and then it is no more than 10 minutes up the road. Those cars zipping by are the ones that still have another 30 minutes into Noosa! The major airlines all fly in and out a couple of times a day and so being able to steal a couple of days away can be achieved even on short notice. It is far enough north so that the water can still be swum in, right through to the start of winter and if you get some nice weather, even beyond that.
Relaxed: Coolum is easy to relax in. It is a true beachside country town. Not too big or small and enough space, places to eat and things to do that you don’t feel crowded. It is also a little less touristy than some of the other options on both the Sunshine and Gold Coasts with lots of locals mingling with those of us that have come for a visit. The vibe is just a notch down from the glamour of Noosa or the Sunset Strip and that makes it just a little easier to enjoy.
Food: Coolum and the surrounds have some pretty spectacular places to eat. The Asian influence in Queensland can best be seen around town with some amazing Thai and Vietnamese places to sample. It is also a short trip up the road to Noosa where you can enjoy their fine dining experiences. But it is not all about Restaurants, the fresh food is amazing, that part of Queensland is the strawberry capital of the world and avocado on toast that you have made yourself from fresh avocado, doesn’t come with the price tag of smashed avo from down south.
The Surf Club: Coolum has one of the coolest Surf Clubs on the Coast. Join up and get discounts and rewards and support the local community. We have tried the clubs up and down the Coast and we think Coolum wins the best in class. The facilities are modern, the food is great and the menu changes regularly. Plus you have an amazing view from out on the deck and if you look closely, just off the coast in June and October you might just see a hump back whale migrating North and then South.
Stingers: So you all know about Stingers or Bluebottle Jellyfish and the need in some parts of North Queensland to put up nets to stop them ruining the swimming, well they have become more prevalent on the Sunshine Coast including Coolum, but they are far less common than further North and whilst they hurt when they sting you, the treatment of a warm shower and then Stingose usually takes care of it.
Our advice - give Coolum a shot and we know some great places to stay and eat there if you want to reach out.
And we would love your contributions as well, if you think we missed something or just want to say that you agree, then leave a comment and provide other Travel Coordinates clients get the most out of their next holiday and if you need any help getting your Travel plans Coordinated or advice on where to go, what to do or how to get there, then don’t hesitate to reach out.