Range to Reef Sunshine Coast

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29 2019 SUNSHINECOASTDAILY.COM.AU

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Visitors from interstate are up 27.2% at 999,000 - another record.

Pumicestone Passage. Photo/Visit Sunshine Coast

“We were number one in the state and we’ve never, ever done that before,” Simon said. Nearly 20% more New Zealanders and 2.5% more UK residents visited this year compared to last. The Coast is bucking the trend of reduced international visitation, with its emerging Asian markets increasing 24%. “Another record,” Simon said. Simon attributed the growth to “hard work”, clever and sustained marketing campaigns to raise awareness of the region, collaboration and active involvement between industry sectors. But the Sunny Coast’s main asset is the environment itself – it was a “critical asset.” “Our landscape is to my opinion our number one asset, full stop,” he said.

From range to reef: nature is the backbone of the Coast’s booming tourism sector Arguably the Sunshine Coast’s most fervent advocate is the excitable head of Visit Sunshine Coast, Simon Latchford. He’s the man to speak to about what makes this place – from the range to the reef, extraordinary. But before he can bring himself to answer questions, Simon launches into a speedy statistical relay, punching one number after the other over the phone.

It’s been a good year. The best year in the Coast’s history, actually, when it comes to tourism – and Simon is brimming with excitement over it. The amount of money overnight visitors are spending is up 18.3% on this time last year, at $2.6 billion. It means the local economy and community is benefiting more per tourist. Total visitor numbers are at 3.98 million, that’s up 17.1% and an all-time record.

“That doesn’t mean we don’t need development, we do. It needs to be appropriate development, and we need to make sure that it’s respectful of the environment, which is the true star of the show.” As a holiday destination the Coast was attractive for families because a wide array of outdoor options available were free. “The beaches have great river systems here –take Cotton Tree, where you can have your 13-year-old surfing around the corner and your six-year-old’s paddling away on the beach on a river mouth estuary,” he said. “It’s all of those little things, it’s the ability to do all those things. “You can be eating the best prawns you’ve ever had in your life down at Mooloolaba, and the next minute you’re getting a new shirt in David Jones. “The next minute you’re down the beach, the next minute you’re going up to the hinterland, going through some extraordinarily lush farmland.

“When you get to the hinterland, whether it’s Montville or Maleny, you turn around and look off the escarpment and it almost looks like you could touch Mooloolaba beach.” In the south, the Glasshouse Mountains’ breathtaking scenery made a film of postcard-worthy impressions of any scenic drive. “You’ve got Glasshouse Mountains - if you didn’t like that, your eyes are painted on your face,” he said, laughing. “It’s just absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. “Then you’ve got the undiscovered, beautiful Pumicestone Passage carving its way through.” River systems on the Coast are healthy, unlike many parts of the world, which is a key attraction, he said. “Our waterways that have living things you can catch, take home and eat, without dying of food poisoning,” Simon said. “In the rest of the world, that’s becoming less realistic, because there’s nothing alive left in the river systems. “Asia is a great example of that, which is why Asians and most other nationalities look at us and go, ‘what a wonderful place to go and visit’.” The Coast offered a collection of environments where people can come and “actually experience the environment,” he said. “It hasn’t been destroyed.” The Sunshine Coast’s glorious beaches were a huge drawcard, he said. “We have cracker beaches- some of the top beaches in the world. “We are constantly in the top 10 of beaches, like with Mooloolaba where respected entities like TripAdvisor constantly rate Mooloolaba as top-four in the country, so that’s a big statement.” Business visitor and business events visitor numbers were also increasing as the Coast

Top 10 walking trails and tracks on the Sunshine Coast W

hether you’re looking to embark on a four-hour trek up or a leisurely 20-minute beachside stroll, there’s plenty options to get out and about on the Sunshine Coast. Here’s a list of the top 10 best places walking treks, trails and spots across the Coast. The question is, which one are you going to do first? Noosa National Park - Tea Tree Bay

1. MOUNT COOLUM Nothing is better than the view from the top of Mount Coolum on a clear day. The 208-metre mountain makes for a challenging trek, best done early morning or late afternoon. The average person can complete the climb in just over half and hour, while the fitter climbers race to the top like it’s nothing. An estimated 50,000 people climb the

mountain each year and it’s easy to see why. The view at the top is amazing. with 360 degree views of the coastal area, including Point Cartwright and the Glass House Mountains to the south, the Blackall Range to the west, and Noosa Heads to the north. There’s no toilet facilities at the park. 2. NOOSA NATIONAL PARK Noosa National Park is located in the heart of Noosa. Access from Hastings Street follow Park Road around Laguna Bay headland to the car park entrance. The National Park encompasses a rocky coastline and sheltered coves. No matter what your fitness level, you can explore one of its five varied tracks from the 1km Palm Grove Circuit, Tanglewood Track to reach Hell’s Gates (6.9km), the 3.4km Noosa Hill Track or the 10.8km Coastal track. 3. KONDALILLA FALLS, KONDALILLA NATIONAL PARK Named after the spectacular Kondalilla Falls, where Skene Creek drops 90m into a rainforest valley, this park is a cool mountain retreat and an important refuge for many native animals and plants. Enjoy a picnic at Kondalilla Falls day-use area. Walkers can choose the easy 2.4km Picnic Creek Circuit, the moderate 3.2km Rock Pools Walk or the more challenging

4.6km Kondalilla Falls Circuit. 4. MAROOCHY RIVER FORESHORE Start at Sports Road, Bli Bli for a beautiful walk along the river. The 1.2km sealed boardwalk allows visitors to easily explore wet and dry eucalypt forests, rainforest, melaleuca forest, casuarina woodland, salt marsh and mangroves. 5. BUDERIM FOREST Tucked away just off the main streets of Buderim is a wonderful and easy walk through the Buderim Forest towards the beautiful Buderim waterfall. Start at Harry’s Lane, just off the bottom of Lindsay Rd to stroll along the 700m long wooden boardwalk. Peer over the edge to see clean trickling water flowing through the forest, past the palms, rocks and vines. This is the easiest walk and is wheelchair friendly. Once the boardwalk ends, things turn to bush and it’s a bit more of an adventure to reach the waterfalls and rockpools. To access the waterfall direct, start at the top of Lindsay Rd and turn at Quorn Close. The walk is easy to moderate to the waterfall but is not wheelchair-friendly. The walk is well worth it to reach the stunning hidden gem of Buderim-its waterfall. 6. MAROOCHY BOTANICAL GARDENS A beautiful spot for a stroll and a picnic, the SCNE01Z01MA - V1