Getting Around the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is a string of coastal towns and hinterland villages rather than a single dense city, so how you get around depends a lot on where you're staying and what you want to see. Public transport is coordinated by Translink, which covers trains, buses, ferries and trams across South East Queensland, and the same ticketing system applies here. For planning, the Translink website and app offer journey planning with real-time updates, and Apple Maps and Google Maps provide a similar experience.
Trains
Queensland Rail operates the T1 Nambour/Gympie North line from Brisbane into the region, with services most commonly beginning and ending at Nambour Station and a limited number extending to Gympie North. The key rail gateway for the coast is Landsborough railway station, where connecting buses link to the main population centres of Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa. A Route 649 RailBus also runs between Caboolture and Nambour, connecting key train stations. Note that the Sunshine Coast does not have a metro or tram network; a tram line has been discussed as a future possibility, but nothing is in place for visitors today.
Buses
Scheduled bus services are operated by Sunbus and Glasshouse Country Coaches under the Translink system, connecting Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Noosa and other coastal destinations. Buses are the workhorse of getting between the coastal towns. Route 622 serves Sunshine Coast Airport, and Routes 600 and 620 run late on Friday and Saturday nights if you're out in the evening.
In the hinterland, services are more limited. Route 890 runs between Maleny and Nambour via Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton on weekdays only, and Route 891 links Maleny and Landsborough seven days a week. Go cards are not accepted on hinterland qconnect services, so buy your ticket from the driver there.
Tickets and Fares
Most bus and train services use the Translink ticketing system. A 50-cent flat fare applies to any journey regardless of mode or distance, with a limit of three transfers; the main exception is an Airtrain journey to or from Brisbane Airport, which is priced separately. Travelling without a valid fare can result in a fine.
There are three ways to pay:
- Contactless credit or debit card — Mastercard or Visa, including cards in a digital wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Touch on and touch off each mode of transport. Trains and trams have fare gates or distinctive pink validators; buses and ferries have validators to touch as you board and alight. Failing to touch off results in a fixed fare.
- Go card — an electronic tap on/off smart card available at train station ticket counters, busway and tram fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores, including 7-Eleven and NightOwl. It requires a deposit and can be topped up at the same locations. Go card fares are cheaper than paper tickets, and the card calculates fares automatically and keeps a travel history. Refunding the deposit and any remaining credit can be a hassle, so plan accordingly.
- Paper ticket — available at train station ticket counters and fare machines, and busway and tram fare machines.
Visitors may find the "go explore" pass useful: it gives unlimited daily travel on Sunshine Coast buses. The "go seeQ" pass covers three or five consecutive days of unlimited travel across South East Queensland, including Airtrain services. Discounted fares also exist, including off-peak travel on weekdays, weekends and public holidays, and reduced fares for children and seniors.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are operated by Suncoast Cabs, and accessible taxis can be arranged through them. Secure taxi ranks with marshals operate on weekends at Maroochydore (Ocean St), Mooloolaba Esplanade and Caloundra (Minchinton St). Ride-hailing services such as Uber are available around the clock. A taxi from the airport to Noosa can be expensive, so it's worth comparing options before you commit.
Walkability
The Sunshine Coast is a spread-out region of separate towns, so walking works well within a town centre or along the beachfront but is not a realistic way to move between towns. If you're staying in Maroochydore, Mooloolaba or Caloundra, you can often walk to shops, cafés and the beach from your accommodation, but you'll need a bus, car or taxi for anything beyond that.
Bikes and Accessibility
Small bagged bikes (up to 90cm x 70cm x 36cm) are allowed on buses and some trains; larger bikes are permitted on off-peak trains only. Surfboards and bulky items are carried at the driver's discretion, so avoid peak hours. Most public transport is accessible, with low-floor buses with ramps, mobility scooter spaces, and accessible train stations with lifts, ramps and hearing loops.
Practical etiquette: arrive about five minutes early, check the destination sign, raise your hand to signal the driver, and touch on and off with your go card. Carry a concession card if you're entitled to reduced fares. For real-time information, use the MyTransLink app or the TransLink Journey Planner. You can reach Sunbus, Glasshouse Country Coaches, Queensland Rail and TransLink directly if you need help.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) sits north of Maroochydore and has daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne. The airport has good facilities for its size, with multiple ATMs, rental cars, transfer services, and food and shopping outlets. Rental car chains are located in arrivals, and door-to-door transfers are available across the whole Sunshine Coast area but should be pre-booked. Henry's operates north to Noosa and Coolum, and Sun-air operates south to Maroochydore and Caloundra; group discounts are available, and if you haven't pre-booked, Henry's has a desk inside arrivals where you can check availability on the next shuttle. Sun-air has no presence at the airport, so you'll need to call them to arrange a pickup. Sunshine Coast Taxis, operated by Suncoast Cabs, are also available.
By public transport, the Translink (Sunbus) 622 bus services the airport terminal hourly between Maroochydore and Noosa Junction, though it stops before the last flights arrive from Sydney and Melbourne. The 620 bus runs later and more frequently but only stops on David Low Way outside the airport precinct, roughly a kilometre's walk from the terminal — walk along Friendship Drive out of the airport, turn right onto David Low Way and continue the short distance to the stop. Change at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore for points south, or at Noosa Junction for Noosa Heads and Noosaville.
Getting Around by Car
Car is by far the easiest way to see most attractions in a short amount of time or at your own pace. Larger car hire companies may offer relocations to Brisbane Airport or the Gold Coast, and there are major national renters with services at the airport as well as local independents. In practice, three major roads traverse the region: the Bruce Highway (M1), a full motorway with exits serving the region; the Sunshine Motorway / Emu Mountain Road (SR 70), which is only partially a motorway and links Sippy Downs, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Pacific Paradise, Mudjimba, Coolum and on toward Noosa; and State Route 6, a series of roads running through the population centres rather than around them, convenient for going directly from one town to another without using motorways. If you're arriving from Brisbane, the drive is usually mostly on motorways, though it can take longer depending on your destination.