Guess the sounds of the Sunshine Coast

Offering expansive views over the Glasshouse Mountains, Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is a true ‘hidden gem’ of the Sunshine Coast.

The privately-owned gardens cover nearly 18 acres of the 110-acre property, the landscaped lawns and hidden ponds juxtaposed by the surrounding rainforest.

Adding to the riot of colour is the garden’s aviaries which are home to more than 700 native and exotic birds.

The magnificent display is the work of owner Frank Shipp, a passionate green thumb whose vision for this former cattle grazing property has become a must-visit destination on the Sunshine Coast.

Frank purchased the property in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland town of Maleny in 2005, before starting work on the gardens in 2007.

The gardens opened to the public in 2012, followed by the Garden’s ‘Bird World’ in 2013.

Visitors have more than 6 kilometres of garden path to explore, including the aviaries which house birds such as macaws, peacocks and cockatoos.

The pathways take you past lakes and waterfalls, 18 gazebos perfect for a picnic with a view and thousands of different plants, ranging from roses, azaleas, annuals, and orchids to some of the rarest cycads in the world.

With the gardens ever-evolving, you could visit time and again and continue to discover something new.

For more, visit malenybotanicgardens.com.au.

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A luxury rainforest oasis located less than 10 minutes from Mooloolaba Beach, Aquila Retreat on the Sunshine Coast provides travellers with the best of both worlds.

Situated on top of Buderim Mountain Aquila Retreat is a for-private-group-hire, 5-star eco retreat, set high in the rainforest boasting stunning views out to some of the Sunshine Coast’s best beaches.

An interior designer by trade, owner Heidi has designed every inch of the property so that guests experience ultimate feelings of comfort and luxury from the moment they walk through the door.

Having lived and worked overseas for many years, Heidi has drawn inspiration from Morocco to Byron Bay to provide guests a truly unique escape that makes them feel they’ve travelled across the world.

Once inside the retreat, guests can pamper themselves for the duration of their stay, with the retreat offering private chefs, caterers, massage therapists, yoga teachers, and so much more.

A regular spot for weddings and life celebrations, Aquila is fully equipped to host events with up to 100 additional guests in attendance and can accommodate up to 30 guests onsite.

Many couples choose to marry on Aquila’s jetty over the serene lower lily pad dam that provides an authentic Hinterland, rainforest feel. It’s so easy to forget you’re only a stone's throw from the beach

For more, check out www.aquilaretreat.com.au

At Terella Brewing creating the perfect beer is more than just a passion project, it’s a science.

Here the focus is firmly on the sustainability cycle, the brewery sharing the same site as a vertical garden.

The recycled water from the garden is used to produce the beer, before the CO2 produced from the brewing process is collected and injected back in the vertical farm.

This harmonious approach and connection to the land is evident when you visit the brewery located in North Arm on the Sunshine Coast.

The rural setting is surrounded by crops and free roaming cattle, the Terella taproom taking full advantage of the view.

Terella Brewing is owned by best mates Torren and Grant - an electrician by trade who has long had a passion for brewing.

Grant met the owner of the farm they now work together with, and the rest, they say, is history.

Terella Brewing opened in 2019 and has already established a name for itself in the Sunshine Coast’s popular craft beer scene.

And for the beer lovers out there, the boys are constantly innovating and rotating their taps with seasonal and collaboration brews, their brewing style incorporating traditional German methods to create a creamy, frothy head and a full-bodied balanced beer.

For more, check out https://terellabrewing.com.au/

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Stepping into Junk is a sensory overload of the very best kind.

The air is heavy with the smell of spices, the atmosphere is bustling and the décor awash with colour.

It really is the perfect setting for what is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most popular Asian street food eateries.

Junk first opened its doors on Ocean Street – located in the heart of Maroochydore - in 2014, their menu influenced by the flavours of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and China.

Here they focus on creating delicious ‘fuss-free’ food packed with flavour and locally sourced ingredients.

Designed to be shared, their menu will have you coming back for more with crispy pork belly, dumplings, and duck bao just some of their popular dishes.

The restaurant’s décor is an experience in itself, with colourful murals covering the walls.

Junk is located on Maroochydore’s Ocean Street Precinct - one of the premier cultural hubs of the Sunshine Coast.

Here you’ll find restaurants and bars with flavours from around the world, each venue contributing something different to the precinct's vibrant atmosphere.

To learn more about Junk and to check out their menu, visit https://junkmdore.com/

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The Surf Club Mooloolaba is a piece of living history.

Opened in 1922, it is one of the oldest Surf Life Saving Clubs in Australia.

The club has continued to flourish throughout its 98-year history and today is home to more than 500 active patrol members.

The Surf Club Mooloolaba has a strong community focus, with its members providing valuable beach safety education to school groups and tourists. The Supporters Club with Bryan as General Manager has seen the club’s membership numbers expand rapidly from 9000 social members to 48000 in the short time he’s been in charge.

The club’s solid foundations are built on tradition, respect and Australian Beach Culture, and visitors to the club can explore its history through the photos and memorabilia displayed proudly on the club walls.

Inside you will also find an amazing eatery - Boathouse Restaurant– which offers uninterrupted ocean views over Mooloolaba Beach as well as an extensive menu of delicious food.

It’s the perfect spot to sit back, enjoy the view and indulge in some fresh seafood for which Mooloolaba is renowned.

In 2019, Mooloolaba Beach was ranked fourth best beach in the country in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards, making it a must-visit on the Sunshine Coast.

For more, visit www.thesurfclub.com.au

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At Harry’s on Buderim you’ll find a piece of Sunshine Coast history combined with Contemporary Australian Cuisine. While today, this historic 140 year old Queenslander is a bustling restaurant, its past makes for an interesting story.

Harry’s on Buderim was originally built in 1880 by Harry Board, a carpenter and coffee grower. In 1901 he decided to open his home, which was then located at 75 William Street, to visitors, and it

became the first guesthouse to operate in Buderim. The house was relocated to Buderim Forest Park in 1991, and in 1994 the homestead opened its doors for the first time as a restaurant.

Today Harry’s on Buderim is owned by Stuart and Lisa Bell who relocated with their family to the Sunshine Coast from Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Stuart is the former chef of Ten Minutes By Tractor Winery Restaurant, where he held 2 chefs hats for 6 years running until the move up north.

With more than 30 years’ experience under his belt Stuart heads up the kitchen, with the focus firmly on using as much local produce as possible with ingredients sourced from local farmers and suppliers.

Some of the ingredients you’ll find on the seasonal menus include Fraser Isle Spanner Crab, Little White Goats Cheese, Noosa Reds Tomatoes and Green Valley Fingerlimes.

Learn more at www.harrysonbuderim.com.au

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Hidden away in the picturesque Glass House Mountains is a Farming oasis with a unique tourist experience.

Glasshouse Plantation is a working tropical orchard giving visitors an opportunity to learn about native honey, growing coffee, fruit, and macadamia nuts, directly from the farmers

Drawing on years of experience as agricultural scientists, owners Lisa and Paul bought the property five years ago and began developing the land to what it is today.

The pair wanted to offer an educational “paddock to plate” experience, with the aim of empowering and inspiring visitors with knowledge about how their food is grown.

Lisa and Paul are currently preparing their land to plant 6,000 coffee trees. Each year, Australians drink more than two billion cups of coffee and with less than one per cent of it locally grown, the pair aim to offer a one of a kind “cellar door” tasting experience with beans grown on the plantation, tapping into the coffee culture Aussies love.

In the meantime, visitors can enjoy exploring the property. Or they can relax under the mango trees with an Australian expresso coffee and a treat, while enjoying the sounds of the local birds and wildlife, including majestic Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos that have learned to feed on the exotic pine seeds in the neighbouring Beerburrum State Forest.

For more, visit https://www.glasshouseplantation.com.au/

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What started as a grassy paddock to a garden shop and finally a world-class restaurant is the result of many years hard work by a local Sunshine Coast family.

Yandina on the Sunshine Coast is home to Spirit House - the Thai restaurant and cooking school renowned for being one of Australia’s most amazing dining experiences.

Founders Helen and Peter Brierty wanted to create something unique, a place that would transport visitors to another world, which the Spirit House has been doing for over 20 years. The business continues to innovate and grow with the owners investing heavily in improving the property and sending their staff to Thailand to gain ideas for new dishes and concepts.

Since purchasing the property in 1997, the pair, with the help of family, built the stunning ‘floating’ restaurant and cooking school from the ground up - transforming the once barren paddock into their own slice of Thailand with extensive gardens and alcoves by the lake for patrons to explore.

The Brierty family continues to ensure their parents' legacy live on, continuing their pledge to never stop working and ensuring the Spirit House continues to flourish and remain a must-see Sunshine Coast venue.

For more, visit https://www.spirithouse.com.au/

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Rick’s Garage is salute to the past that celebrates the vibrant 50’s rockabilly subculture, providing an electric venue that gives patrons a chance to step back in time right here in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Born in the 1960’s as a traditional two-pump garage and workshop, the business serviced the local community for over 50 years until legislation changes brought an end to their time on the tools.

The desire to keep this hinterland stronghold running fuelled their next move, turning the once bustling service station into a haven for old fashioned greasers across the Sunshine Coast.

While once a pitstop of the more traditional kind, the team transformed the venue in a way that pays homage to roots, showcases the best of vintage motoring and often drawing in some spectacular – and loud – vehicles from a bygone era.

In the kitchen, the team at Ricks Garage have introduced a menu jam-packed with local produce in a salute to the region that has supported them since the beginning. The burgers are delicious and insta-worthy!

If you need to quench your thirst, sip on some locally-brewed ales in the outdoor beer garden that once was the scrapyard for the shop or if whiskey is more your style, head upstairs to visit the Sunshine Coast’s only whiskey bar and sample one of over 170 premium spirits.

Whether it be a mere pit stop on your journey through the region, or the main event of your stay, a visit to Ricks Garage in Palmwoods is a must for any ultimate Sunshine Coast escape.

For more, visit https://www.ricksgarage.com.au/

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You Mates Brewing Co is a true Sunshine Coast success story.

But that’s not to say the journey to where they are today was easy.

The popular craft brewery was founded by mates Christian McGarry and Matt Hepburn, who had a dream to start their own brewery where they grew up: on the Sunshine Coast.

The idea saw them quit their professional jobs and embark on an incredible journey that would see them working more than 90 hours a week as they perfected the recipe for their first beer ‘Larry’, which they launched on the Sunshine Coast in 2015.

The hard work was worth it, with ‘Larry’ voted the second best in Queensland and 5th most popular beer in the country in the 2019 GABS Hottest 100 Craft Beer Awards, up from 13th the year previous.

From their humble beginnings in a small industrial shed in Moffat Beach on the Sunshine Coast (which was quite literally built by their mates), Your Mates Brewery now operates from their own Brew House in Warana.

Their debut beer Larry has since been joined by ‘Sally’, ‘Donnie’ and ‘Macca’.

Their vision is simple: they ‘believe in mateship, inclusiveness and treasure our natural playground’.

In the past 12 months, they have worked with more than 14 charities and community groups raising more than $25,000, and continue to focus on sustainability and minimising their impact on the environment to ensure they help protect the Sunshine Coast for future generations to come.

For more, visit yourmatesbrewing.com.

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It may come as a surprise to many that Australia’s premium supplier of organic certificated camel milk is located right here on the Sunshine Coast.

But for owner Lauren Brisbane and her family, the region was the perfect location to establish their business.

While their farm offers spectacular views over the Glasshouse Mountains, it is the core pillars of their business that make them stand out from the rest: their love of camels, passion for ethical farming and focus on providing premium health products.

The team at QCamel have found being on the Sunshine Coast offers a unique sense of friendliness and community.

QCamel works closely with other local producers – such as Kokopod Chocolate and Hum Honey – and provides valuable employment opportunities for those with special needs.

Visitors to the Sunshine Coast can explore QCamel for themselves on one of their monthly Camel Cuddles tours or through Design It Tours. The tour takes you behind-the-scenes of the working dairy farm with educational demonstrations by their knowledgeable staff, allowing you to meet the camels and sample the products.

Camel milk is known for having a number of health benefits, and their products include camel milk, smoothies, feta, milk powder and chocolate.

They have also launched a skincare range that combined camel milk with Australian botanicals.

For more, visit qcamel.com.au.

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For the 200 animals at Wildlife HQ the Sunshine Coast is more than just their home, it is their haven.

The animals originally resided at Alma Park Zoo, which closed in 2014 to make way for housing development in the area.

Wildlife HQ owner Julie Seabrook made it her mission to find a new home for the animals and found the perfect spot on the Sunshine Coast.

Today the zoo is family owned and operated and located in Woombye next to the iconic Big Pineapple.

At Wildlife HQ together with their experienced team of zookeepers and volunteers focus on providing lifetime care for the animals and educating visitors about the environment and conservation.

Notably, the team at Wildlife HQ are accredited under the Zoo and Aquarium Association Accreditation Program.

Notably, the zoo holds one of the largest primate collections in Queensland and is the only place in the state where you can visit a Malayan Sun Bear, which they’ve called Maly.
Wildlife HQ is also home to a number of Australian animals including koalas, Tasmanian Devils, dingoes and kangaroos.

Visitors are welcome to get up close and personal with animal encounters designed to connect with the animals and learn more about conservation.

Since relocating to the Sunshine Coast Wildlife HQ has received tremendous support from the community, making their ties to the region that much more important.

For more, visit - http://whqzoo.com/.


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You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who knows the surf in Coolum better than Chris and Genevieve Kendall.

Chris has called Coolum home since he was just two years old. His childhood was spent on the beach, first as a Nipper, before he took to the waves and learned to surf.

His talent in the water saw him go on to become a representative for the Coolum Boardriders Club, the region and the state before becoming an open surfer and winning the club championship in 1997 and then again in 2007.

Today Chris has built a career on doing what he loves, owning and operating Coolum Surfing School together with Genevieve.

They started the school in 2001, inviting visitors and locals alike to learn to ride the waves they know so well.

Surfing is entrenched in Sunshine Coast culture, and with Coolum Beach named the best in the state by Surf Life Saving Queensland for 2019/2020, this stretch of the Sunshine Coast coastline is the perfect place to learn.

As well as teaching you the ins and outs of surfing, Coolum Surf School have a focus on surf awareness and body boarding, helping people build confidence in the water.

What better way to discover the Sunshine Coast than by ‘hanging 10’ with a local.

Learn more at www.coolumsurfschool.com.au.

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