Mooloolaba Renaissance

The Sunshine Coast has long been a magnet for holiday makers looking to take in the picturesque location and laid back lifestyle. Now, with the opening of new venues like the Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, the area is experiencing a resurgence, offering world-class accommodation and dining experiences to rival some of its more high profile neighbours.

Sully’s Rooftop Bar & Restaurant that crowns the new Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel is the talk of the town with locals and holidaymakers. Here the mandarin and chilli cocktails are in high demand along with the Apple and Lychee gin fizz, while the smoked wagyu beef snags have a following of their own and those pillowy wood-fired flatbreads are hype-worthy.

Just a few sandy steps back from the beach, the sleek new 180-key, 12-story hotel is part of what many describe as the ‘Mooloolaba Renaissance’.

Kenneth Wagner, managing director of KPAT Hotels, the developers of the new property, says that the hotel very much reflects the evolution that is already in full swing across the Sunshine Coast.

Avani is the first internationally branded new hotel to debut in the area for more than four decades and its cosmopolitan energy is catching.

The buzz starts from the moment you pull into the circular drive and are directed to the lobby with its sleek curves and honey-coloured tones. Baristas are busy at the Lobby bar making coffees and when the sun sets it echoes with corks popping, toasting various celebrations, or just toasting the day that was and the night ahead.

Rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed, offering fabulous coastal and hinterland views that seem to go on forever. Then there is the Avani Spa which offers everything from saunas to tailored treatments that include indulgences like the 90-minute Mooloolaba Melt, a signature massage which offers the perfect reset.

Breakfast is served on the rooftop with commanding views of the area including the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project which is underway to reinvigorate the foreshore in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The rooftop also sports a heated infinity pool hemmed by peach and white striped umbrellas and comfy sun lounges – also a perfect venue for sundowners after a day’s exploring the surrounding countryside.

That could include exploring the Sunshine Coast’s famous winding Blackall Range Tourist Drive, which include Woombye, home of the famous Big Pineapple. Nearby, Sunshine & Sons Distillery makes gin, vodka and small batch drops including yuzu gin, wild peach and pineapple parfait gins.

Mapleton Falls Lookout is also a stunner with views over the Obi Obi valley and rainforest canopy.

Just a short 1.3km walk through a rainforest and eucalypt forest takes you to the tumbling Mapleton Falls, where birdlife soars on wind currents. Then there are the three little hinterland townships all starting with the letter M that are also the stars of this scenic drive.

Mapleton boasts breathtaking views and is home to the classic pink Queenslander pub, Mapleton Public House that dates back 114 years. The menu showcases fresh ingredients from the nearby Falls Farm with ‘lettuce that squeaks and carrots that crunch', often picked an hour earlier. Next is Montville which was first settled in 1887 and is a creative hive with pottery studios, art galleries and craft cottages. Lastly the beautiful dairy-centric town of Maleny, where you can stock up on cheeses at Maleny Cheese.

The drive is an unhurried way to explore the region, but for an even more relaxed approach, taking in the area by boat is the way to go.

Combining the stunning waterways and local flavours is the name of the game aboard the a restored, 180-year-old Huon Pine ketch, Spray of the Coral Coast. Owners of award-winning indigenous Saltwater Eco Tours, Simon Thornalley and Jenna Griffiths offer an informative cultural cruise along the calm waterways, sharing stories of the region and tasty bush tucker that is locally foraged, seasonal and sustainably sourced.

“From coastal flavours to bush spices, every element is carefully chosen to reflect the land and waters we’re so proud of,” says Simon.

There are five courses including Mooloolaba King Prawns with a deep, smoky red sauce based on the Bush Tomato or Desert Raisin.

For dessert, it’s a rich, organic Cacao Truffle packed with Buderim Ginger. Handcrafted cocktails are made with native botanicals and local spirits.

Of course there is no shortage of interesting and varied dining options right along the coast, with local favourites like Casa Restaurant and Casita Wine Bar or the bustling Rice Boi at The Wharf offering the perfect flavours and atmosphere to match an area that while experiencing a rebirth, has lost none of its laid back coastal charm.