Mooloolaba

Back in the day we’d time our day around the light — who needs a plan when Sully’s rooftop at the new Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel promised “180-degree views across Mooloolaba Beach, Point Cartwright and the Pacific Ocean”? As Broadsheet put it, that rooftop was built for sunset drinks and seafood flexing, and Time Out even whispered that Avani (opened May 2026) was the first big international-branded hotel on the Coast in four decades. We felt very cosmopolitan for roughly three hours each arvo.

Our morning ritual used to be embarrassingly simple: stroll to The Velo Project on Careela Street for what Sunshine Coast For Kids once called “the best coffee in town,” then pretend the rest of the day was spontaneous. If we were feeling civic-minded, we’d wander down to The Wharf — Parkyn Parade — for the Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast Markets (Fridays, 4–8:30pm, as Mischievious Mum reminded us) and buy something artisanal we didn’t need.

We own our seafood cred. From Prawn Shack buckets to Mooloolaba prawns used in every Mother’s Day set menu Concrete Playground could dream up, the crustacean economy is basically our GDP. Urban List and Broadsheet have both name‑checked our tuna and prawns so many times it’s practically a local anthem. Even the massive aquarium — now operating as Sea Life — still gets us nostalgic for the childhood where seeing a stingray counted as a cultural outing.

Who would hate living here? People who treasure anonymity and quiet streets sans sunscreen. We’re a surfie hangout and tourist magnet — Sitchu called us “a booming foodie scene” and “one of the Sunshine Coast’s sweetest spots,” which is true if you like sharing beachside footpaths with strangers in matching hats.

Who would love it here? Seafood obsessives, sunset chasers, families who remember Helping Hands at 6 Meta Street and cafes that used to be local secrets. We’ll happily argue that a weekend here is the perfect mix of smug coastal bragging rights and genuine local charm — and if you don’t like that, well, you can always go inland.