Sunshine Coast – Maroochydore Includes:
ALEXANDRA HEADLAND, COTTON TREE, KULUIN, MAROOCHYDORE, MAROOCHYDORE SOUTH, SUNSHINE PLAZA
Post Codes:
4558, 4572
In Brief:
A chip off the Gold Coast
Impressions of Sunshine Coast – Maroochydore
Maroochydore is located at the centre of the Sunshine Coast at the estuary of the Maroochy River and a long stretch of surf beach. For residents there is a choice of river, lagoon or surf. The southern bank of the river is mainly parkland and picnic spots. It is a tourist destination and hosts major sporting carnivals. Along the beach there’s a lot of high rise unit development with some older style housing. To the south is Alexandra Headland and five minutes drive further south, at the mouth of a river, is Maroochydore’s small sister, Mooloolaba with its share of high rise development.
There probably never was a plan to develop Maroochydore, it just exploded apparently, with little or no thought. Development runs right to the rivers edge blocking the way for pedestrians, high rise building abounds unchecked and pedestrians have to dodge the cars in a chaotic tangle of streets. For the newcomer finding the beach can be frustrating and it’s easy to end up at the river instead. There are numerous satellite villages between Maroochydore and Nambour including Bli Bli on the Maroochy River and Kuluin which are small suburban areas appealing to people who want to be just out of the main centre.
Pros & Cons for Investment
Pros
1. Large market cheaper than Mooloolaba and other parts of the Sunshine Coast
2. Choice of apartments, duplexes, townhouses as well as houses
3. Warm year round climate
Cons
1. Population growing but very slowly
Real Estate
The median price for houses as at the beginning of 2008 was $460,000, however there is a huge range of property types from free standing homes, townhouses, duplexes, apartments, ocean view properties, and river view homes. Prices therefore vary from $320,000 for a two bedroom townhouse to $3,000,000 for a luxurious high rise apartment at Cotton Tree. But the latter is the exception, not the rule.
‘Why we live here’ (Comments from locals)
Business couple: “We enjoy the sailing and always watch the end of the yacht races. They bring tourism and add quite a lot to the economy here.”
Anne Henley, Maroochy Shire Council: “Locals live in Maroochy for the same reasons ten of thousands choose it as their holiday destination each year. Life here is good. Maroochy is diverse; beautiful beaches, lush hinterland, lakes and waterways in between and a relaxed out-of-doors lifestyle in a climate envied around the world. Maroochy is a unique blend of beachside sophistication and rural charm. It offers a wide choice of residential alternatives and is alive with commercial activity and development. Maroochydore has been designated a principal activity centre in the South East Queensland Plan and as a result is set to benefit by improved services and sustainable development.”
Jared: “The Sunshine Coast lifestyle has a proven formula for attracting both interstate and Brisbane buyers and the stretch from Mooloolaba to Maroochydore is the central hub of all activity in the area. This allows investors and owner/occupiers alike to be confident of a great return when buying into the area, hence the healthy growth rate of property prices over the past 4-5 years. It seems that the lure of the sand and surf virtually at your doorstep is the reason why the ‘Coast’ continues to experience both population and capital growth year after year.”
Roads
The roads here are only just coping with the increasing traffic.
Nearest airports
Maroochydore, with regular services to all capital cities
Nearest Rail
Nambour. From Brisbane this takes 1:50 hours, then a bus trip of 16kms to Maroochydore taking about 20 minutes
Buses
Intercity coach services and local scheduled services
Taxi
Yes
Hospitals
Nambour Hospital, Selangor Private Hospital, Nambour Day Surgery, Sunshine Coast Private Hospital
Retirement Villages
Several in Maroochydore
Police Stations
Maroochydore, Mooloolaba Police Beat (this means they visit, but do not reside, many rural areas complain of the problem of understaffing)
Newspapers
Sunshine Coast Daily
Beaches
Maroochydore’s main beach is patrolled by a large surf club. Mooloolaba (the Spit) is patrolled and has parkland and picnic areas. Alexandra Headland, also patrolled. Also a number of sheltered beaches along the Cotton Tree Esplanade near the river.
Coastguard
Flotilla based at Mooloolaba
Cycle Ways
On and off road to Mooloolaba and to Buderim as well as on Aerodrome Road and in some parks.
Bushwalking, National Parks
In the hinterland is Mount Coolum National Park with spectacular views of the coast from the top of Mt. Coolum. The track to the top, although not a great distance, is steep and rocky. There is also Mooloolah River National Park, southwest of Mooloolaba. This is an undeveloped park with plenty of birdlife. Most of the access is from the river.
Shopping
No shortage of shopping. Maroochydore boasts the Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre which contains over 200 specialty shops, cinemas, cafes, as well as Myer, Target, K-Mart, Best & Less, Coles and Woolworths. Also the Big Top Shopping Centre. Two weekly markets provide fresh fruit, vegetables, arts and crafts. Mooloolaba is also well known for its small boutique shops.
Dining
Maroochydore has numerous restaurants on the River Walk with plenty of diversity of cuisine and al fresco dining opportunities with views.
Things to Do
All the expected clubs including golf, bowls, RSL and tennis. The Yacht Club is at Mooloolaba which is where the harbour is located. Outdoor activities include golf (courses at Maroochydore, Coolum, Buderim and Nambour), canoeing, crabbing, fishing, boating, kayaking, sailing, waterskiing, snorkeling and scuba diving. There is also a cinema/theatre complex. Maroochydore has its own library. Local artists display at Mooloolaba and in hinterland galleries and the craft town of Montville. In the hinterland, there are also numerous walking tracks through rainforest. Churches represented include Anglican, Assemblies of God, Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventist and Uniting.
Population
The population of the shire of Maroochy is still on the move growing a little faster between 2001 and 2006 (up 18%) than between 1996 and 2001 (up 16%). The Shire numbered 142,839 people in 2006. The population of Maroochydore was 16,353. The population is skewed older, 27% were aged over sixty years (national average 18%) and 27% were aged under twenty five years (national average 33%).
Accessibility
Maroochydore is 100kms from Brisbane, a traveling time of approximately 1:45 hours on busy roads. It also has its own busy regional airport.
Educational Level
The proportion of adult residents who had achieved the HSC equivalent or higher as at the 2006 Census was 46%.
Climate
Mean Daily Maximum Temperature ranges from 29.1C in December to 21.2C in July. Minimum temperatures range from 20.8C in February to 6.9C in July. Mean annual rainfall is 1643mm. Average rain days 133pa. Annual number of clear days 101
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