Thinking of moving to the Sunshine Coast? With its year-round sun, expansive coastline, and spectacular hinterland scenery, it’s not surprising that more and more people want to call this beach-side spot home.

Its strong community spirit, thriving foodie scene and limitless outdoor activities offer good time, holiday vibes, 365 days a year.

But what does this regional holiday hub really offer beyond ocean dips and soaking up the sun?

What is the property market like? Where are the best Sunny Coast suburbs to set down roots? And, what are the work opportunities like?

In this article we’re digging into all of this and more.

Family living on the Sunshine Coast

Families are well catered for on the Coast with an ever-expanding list of grass-roots sporting clubs and community organisations operating in almost every suburb.

With so many groups to choose from, meeting other families and settling into local life is made easy.

There are three universities, a multi-campus vocational education and training institute (TAFE Queensland), over 100 Registered Training Organisations and more than 80 private and public schools.

This means state and private school education and childcare is relatively easy to find and is (for the most part) significantly more affordable than cities further south.

The Sunshine Coast enjoys a subtropical climate and roughly seven hours of sunshine every single day. So, families looking to make the most of the outdoors can do so with 150 + walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and canoeing activities to choose from.

Choose from 150 + walking cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and canoeing activities.

Eating out 

Foodies flock to the Sunshine Coast region to explore a mix of locally grown tropical fruits and produce, and a range locally-inspired eateries and international cuisines.

Beachfront dining is standard here with options to suit every budget. Casual dining is available at almost every corner, while high-end, chef-hat experiences are sprinkled across Noosa, Mooloolaba, Montville and beyond.

The local food sector is so prominent here that gourmet tours run as a way for you to taste-test your way through the many local culinary treats.

For those who enjoy a local drop, there’s also a growing craft beer movement that’s seen a number of boutique breweries pop up across the region.

Foodie favourites

• Pavilion Mooloolaba
• Spirit House Yandina
• Bistro C Noosa
• Rice Boi Mooloolaba
• Pier 33 Mooloolaba
• Sum Yung Guys Noosaville

Sunshine Coast property market

Unlike big cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast offers a welcome reprieve from soaring property prices. With a mature and stable property market and the highest socio-economic ranking, Sunshine Coast is now viewed as a highly desirable place to live.

Top three Sunshine Coast suburbs :

• Wurtulla
• Buderim
• Minyama

Source: Australian Property Investor.

Wurtulla

Wurtulla is perfectly positioned between the suburbs of Kawana and Caloundra. It’s right on the doorstep of the billion-dollar Lake Kawana developments and is within easy reach of shops, schools and parks. Top surf beaches are just a few minutes walk from most properties.

Buderim

As the Sunshine Coast’s oldest town, Buderim holds unique character and charm. Nestled among beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland but only 15 minutes from Mooloolaba or Alexandria Headland beaches - this suburb offers the best of both worlds. Residential areas are peaceful and family-friendly while the town centre offers an eclectic mix of cafes and shops.

Minyama

Minyama is central to beaches, shopping centres and schools. Surrounded by water, this suburb is perfect for boats, kayaks, paddle boards and more. There’s also a network of walking and riding tracks throughout the area and the restaurant strip in Mooloolaba is just a 15 minute ride away.

The Sunshine Coast offers a welcome reprieve from soaring property prices.

Beaches

Sunshine Coast beaches are known to be some of the best in the world. With soft sand, crystal waters, and most patrolled by surf life savers, the beaches are popular with locals and tourists alike.

Noosa main beach and Mooloolaba beach both feature in the top 10 Trip Advisor’s best beaches inQueensland - although parking can be a struggle.

Moffat Beach is one of the more popular surf spots, while Currimundi Lake and Golden Beach offer calm waters for younger families.

Work

Over the past 15 years, economic growth on the Sunshine Coast has outperformed almost every other regional economy.

This means micro-businesses, professional services, technology, and manufacturing job opportunities are consistently rising in the area.

Fresh work opportunities also exist in anticipation of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Sunshine Coast is a delivery partner for the Games and will be home to four key venues and several sporting events.

With ongoing and future investments, it’s expected 15,000 new jobs will be created in the region by 2025.

Over the past 15 years, economic growth on the Sunshine Coast has outperformed almost every other regional economy, sparking a wave of new residential, office and retail development.

Source: Invest Sunshine Coast

Events

The Coast is home to 1,800 events every single year including the Caloundra Music Festival, Mooloolaba Triathlon, Ironman Championships and a selection of other cultural and sporting shows and competitions.

Shopping

Whether you’re a marketgoer or high street shopper, you'll find what you’re looking for on the Sunshine Coast.

Major shopping centres such as Sunshine Plaza Maroochydore, Kawana Shoppingworld, and Nambour Plaza provide an all-under-one-roof experience, while Noosa’s Hasting Street and Montville’s main street offer boutique shopping.

Key statistics

• Population: 350,000+ (3rd most populated area in Queensland)
• 300 days of sunshine per year
• 52km of open coastline
• 30 + beaches
• Land area: 2,291km
• 39,835 hectares of national parks, forests and reserves
• 150+ walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and canoeing activities.
• 1,800 + local events every year
• 2,000 healthcare businesses
• 286 private health specialists
• 112 primary care practices
• 400+ GPs
• Home to the $1.8billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital
• 150+ walking, cycling, mountain biking, horse riding and canoeing activities.
• 100 Registered Training Organisations
• 80+ private and public schools

Moving to the Sunshine Coast FAQs

Why are people moving to the Sunshine Coast?

Recent years have seen many people leave big cities in favour of larger landspace, cheaper property prices and an outdoor lifestyle. The Sunshine Coast ticks all of these boxes.

Where to live on the Sunshine Coast?

With more than 52km of open coastline and a vast Hinterland region, the choice is yours. Some popular suburbs include Caloundra, Maroochydore, Peregian Beach, Buderim, Montville and Maleny. Wurtulla, Buderim and Minyama have been noted as top areas to buy property.

Ready to move to the Sunshine Coast?

Make your move to the Sunshine Coast simple and stress-free by booking with us. You’ll get access to Australia’s most trusted, professional and reliable movers and door-to-door delivery that makes things easy.

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