Mooloolaba

Mooloolaba is a suburb and a popular tourist destination on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. It is located 97km/60mi north of the state capital of Brisbane, and can be reached by bus from Brisbane, by train and connecting bus from Nambour, and by air from Sunshine Coast Airport. Mooloolaba Harbour hosts a large fleet of fishing boats, and due to its sheltered location, it is an all-weather harbor, also favored by recreational sailors. Mooloolaba Beach, known for its endless scenic beauty, is considered to be one of the safest beaches on the Sunshine Coast, with perfect swimming conditions year-round. Mooloolaba Beach is also a center for tourist activity with many souvenir and clothing shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants. The nearby Underwater World Marine Park is the main tourist attraction. Behind the apartments facing the beach, there are campgrounds, backpacker hostels, and canal villas. Some of the most popular dive sites near Mooloolaba include the HMAS Brisbane (wreck and artificial reef), Jew Shoal (large complex of canyons, ridges, and bommies), Mudjimba Island (beautiful coral gardens with a variety of tropical fish), and the Wolf Rock dive site (pinnacle with vertical gutters and overhanging ledges, and also a great place to swim with gray nurse sharks).