Spending Christmas on the Sunshine Coast can be an exciting experience. The locals know how wonderful this area can be, especially during summertime and the festive season of Christmas, and if you are planning on visiting the Sunshine Coast during this period you’ll soon learn how amazing it can be.
Imagine picturesque scenery, clean white beaches and the crashing of waves over the Christmas period. There are some spectacular shopping centres and many places to relax, on the grass, on the sand, or in one of the many cafes or restaurants that fill up quickly in the holiday season.
The Sunshine Coast is well-known around Australia and the world, and hoards of people travel there during the summer season, to soak up the sunshine and reap the rewards that the local area has to offer.
If you are single person, head to the Sunshine Coast and surrounding areas for fun and good times. You will soon meet people if you stay in youth-based accommodation like backpackers hostels, and you’ll enjoy the nightlife opportunities that the region has to offer. This area is popular with many young people and solo travellers, who make the effort to stop off in the Sunshine Coast on their way up the east coast from Sydney – and the most popular time of year to do so is over the summer and Christmas period.
The Sunshine Coast is also a popular and well-loved location for families as it boasts great beaches and water sports, family attractions and theme parks like Australia Zoo and Aussie World. If you are planning on spending a few weeks in the area neither you or the children will get bored as there will be endless options of entertaining destinations for you to choose from. Just be careful during the Christmas and New Year period as the Sunshine Coast is a popular tourist destination and you may need to allow extra time for travel and lining up for attractions.
Christmas Shopping on the Sunshine Coast
Markets are popular in the Sunshine Coast area and many of them have specialised Christmas stalls offering you lots of seasonal treats and specials. Markets are a fantastic way to shop outdoors while making the most of the local weather, and you can certainly pick up some last minute Christmas gifts. If you have friends and family who are difficult to buy for then a gift from the market might be that unique and perfect gift that you are seeking.
At the Christmas markets on the Sunshine Coast you will find a range of handcrafted gifts, arts, plants, clothes and food. If you are seeking unique souvenirs to take home to your country, you’ll find them here too, and they will stand out strikingly with beauty and wonder, compared to the traditional Australian souvenirs that you may find in local stores.
Popular markets on the Sunshine Coast, include Noosa Farmers Market, Peregian Beach Market, Cotton Tree Market and Markets on Bulcock in Caloundra. Check out the local newspapers and market guides for these events as they often change around the Christmas season. There may be extra markets added on just for Christmas, or some might be cancelled because of Christmas Day or other public holidays.
If you are looking for popular retail stores, including supermarkets and chain stores, then head to Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore. This is a large local shopping centre that attracts great crowds during the Christmas period, because of all the locals and Christmas visitors who are seeking to purchase gifts or catch up on some last minute Christmas shopping.
You can easily spend the entire day at Sunshine Plaza on the Sunshine Coast, and over Christmas it will come to life with decorations, Christmas lights and Christmas trees. There will also be special appearances from Santa Clause, so take the opportunity to visit the shopping centre with the entire family so that the children can pose with him for photos.
Christmas Carols on the Sunshine Coast
Cotton Tree Christmas Carols which are situated alongside the gorgeous Maroochy River are a popular attraction at this time of year. A visit from Santa is always a favourite event during the carols, along with food, special events and roving entertainers who keep the crowds amused.
The Cotton Tree Christmas Carols host appearances from local musicians, who perform a range of well-known Christmas songs. The atmosphere is impressive, but also relaxing as the entire family can stretch out on the grass and soak up the Christmas spirit that exists everywhere.
Another popular venue for Christmas Carols on the Sunshine Coast is the amphitheatre on Kings Beach. Local performers, musicians and entertainers make this a popular event, but remember that everyone will have the same idea as you and the event will be busy. We suggest that you walk or take public transport as there is minimal parking in the area.