Caloundra

Caloundra is the southernmost town of the Sunshine Coast proper, about 90 km north of Brisbane. It's less fashionable than Noosa and more workmanlike than Mooloolaba, but it has its own charms: several distinct beaches (Kings Beach faces open ocean; Bulcock Beach and Golden Beach face the calmer waters of Pumicestone Passage), a pair of historic lighthouses, and a more local atmosphere than the resort towns to the north.

Kings Beach has a pool and is good for families. The Pumicestone Passage between the mainland and Bribie Island to the south is a birdwatching area with wading birds, dolphins, and dugongs. Caloundra is a reasonable alternative base for exploring the Sunshine Coast if you prefer quieter surroundings to the more tourist-oriented north.

things to do sight neighbourhood
A story
The old and new Caloundra lighthouses at Kings Beach are two of the best-preserved historic lighthouses in Queensland. The old lighthouse was built in 1896 to guide ships into Moreton Bay; the new one was added in 1968 when traffic increased. They stand side by side on the clifftop above Kings Beach — the juxtaposition of cast iron Victorian engineering and mid-century concrete is unexpectedly striking.

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