Mooloolaba

Blessed with a heady mix of ocean beaches, riverfront, variety of restaurants, nighteries and its hot beach talent, Mooloolaba is a popular, central Sunshine Coast resort town.

It also has an all-weather port which is not only home to a large trawling fleet, but the finishing point for blue-water sailing races from both Sydney and Auckland. With its international standard marinas and quality restaurants, Mooloolaba is a favourite anchorage for ocean cruisers and game fisherfolk.

If you can imagine a small surfside town, once popular with surfers in their old vans with boards strapped to the roof, discovered by more and more tourists til it’s all grown up, then you’ve got Mooloolaba.

It’s like a less brash, smaller version of Surfers Paradise. There is plenty of accommodation for travellers, long stretches of beach and stacks of good shopping and eating to be had.

I was surprised to see, amongst takeaway fast foods, cafés and seafood restaurants a raw food café nestled on the main stretch of road, across from the water. It had a couple of the expected dreadlocked surfer boys and girls but also lots of middle aged couples and young families eating healthy salads and drinking great looking juices and smoothies.

There are small galleries of local artists, photography, boutiques and surf shops as expected. For the kids, there is also the Sunshine Coast Aquarium which, on the Monday I was there, looked to be doing a roaring trade with holidaying families and school tours.

For an extra treat, head on down to the Surf Life Club in the afternoons to see the volunteer surf life savers toning up their muscles with their daily exercises! Wear you sun-glasses!

Walk last night's drinks and dinner off with the famous Mooloolaba to Alexandra Headland coastal walk! Always a sight or two to see!

If you are lucky to be there end of March, look out for the World famous Mooloolaba Triathlon event!  An event that attracts, not only Aussie eye candy but you'll be lucky enough to spot our international hunkish competitors!

This year, we came across the Russians and Portuguese.....all staying at our hotel!

....Be sure to book your accommodation well in advance as it gets busy that weekend!

Surfers can also have their moments on the Mooloolaba waves or at nearby beaches such as Alexandra Headland, Coolum and Maroochydore.  Bring your camera or binoculars with you!