Mooloolaba is a suburb of Sunshine Coast region of Australia. Mooloolaba is a young, trendy part of the Sunshine Coast. The area has undergone massive tourism-oriented development and a higher skyline reflecting well the wealth that has come to the area.
Understand
The eponymously named main beach is a crescent-shaped bay which includes The Spit 500 metres to the south.
Numerous up-market bars, cafes and restaurants occupy the Esplanade, with the locally-famous Loo with a View offering superb, er, views, across the bay to the south.
Point Cartwright, also known as Point Atty on the southern edge of the bay, is a man-made rock wall offering boats safe entry to the canals and mooring docks of backwater Mooloolaba.
Get in
Trains serve Landsborough from Brisbane, from where buses can be caught to Mooloolaba.
Mooloolaba is very easily accessed by car from Brisbane, being a straight 1.5 hour drive on the Bruce Highway.
Sunshine Coast regional airport is served by domestic carriers Jetstar and Virgin Blue, and is a 30-minute bus ride away.
Get around
Public transport is relatively poor in comparison to major cities such as Brisbane, but there is a frequent service between Mooloolaba and Maroochydore operated by Sunbus. See TransLink.
Taxis are reliable and meter-read.
See
- The natural beaches are easily the main highlight of Mooloolaba.
- The Mooloolaba Wharf is host to an array of tacky souvenir shops, expensive surf shops and a number of pubs and restaurants. In large though, you best steer clear of this has-been waterside 'amusement park'.
- Underwater World is a fantastic aquarium located adjacent to the Wharf. Popular with tourists and local alike, you can catch the seal shows, swim with sharks, and learn more about the sea life that so amazes many city visitors.
- David Hart Galleries, Malibu Resort, 81 The Esplanade, ☏ 61 -7-5452-5600. Noosa branch: Shop 10, Noosa on The Beach, 49 Hastings St. Noosa. ☏ 61 7-5449-2100
- The main attraction in Mooloolaba is a sculpture that commemorates the life of zookeeper Steve Irwin, nicknamed The Crocodile Hunter.
Do
- Do a tandem skydive with Sunshine Coast Skydivers
- Dive the wreck of the HMAS Brisbane with Sunreef Scuba Diving
- Learn to surf
- Hire a boat from the Mooloolaba Wharf
- Check out the boutiques on the Esplanade
- Hire Hut, Shop 9 The Wharf, ☏ 61 -7 5444 0366, 61 422 178 444. Sea kayaking adventures, tours & rentals. The service also provides educational programs.
Eat
There are many seafood restaurants and most of them have good food. Be sure to try their local prawns. A must-have!
Sleep
- Mooloolaba Backpackers, 75 Brisbane Rd, ☏ 61 -1800-020-120. Only backpackers in town! Free breakfast, free rental of kayaks, surfboards and bikes. Choice of dorm, twin or double rooms. 5 min to beach. Free pick-up from bus station or Sunshine Coast Airport.
Drink
There are a number of watering holes in Mooloolaba, catering to the hoardes of young, well dressed men and woman, middle-aged, well dressed men and women, and older, well dressed men and women. In fact, it's almost law to have some sense of style to make a night of it in Mooloolaba.
Friday's Bar and Club
Easily the most popular spot with frisky under 25's, Fridays is something of a local legend. There wouldn't be too many locals who don't have a story to tell about a great night out at Friday's.
With a refurbished downstairs level featuring a crescent-shaped bar, pokie lounge (fruit machines for you English users playing along at home), live bands and huge beer garden; and an upstairs level more along the lines of a club-type atmosphere, Fridays has pretty much got something for everyone.
The crowds can get huge on a Friday or Saturday, and expect an entry fee for the upstairs Club at least.
Stay safe
The Sunshine Coast is a popular destination for end-of-year school celebrations as up to 17,000 descend on the coast during the last 2 weeks of November. Whilst relatively safe and well patrolled with police and paramedics, this period can fill the streets with rowdy, drunken revellers. Drink spiking is often reported as the older gatecrashers, "Toolies", are prevalent around the "Schoolies".
Connect
There is free internet at the Library in Maroochydore.
Go next
| Routes through Mooloolaba |
| Rockhampton ← Yandina ← | N  S | → Caloundra → Brisbane |
| Noosa ← Maroochydore ← | N  S | → Caloundra → Beerwah |
| Noosa ← Maroochydore ← | N  S | → ENDS at |