With an esplanade that seems to stretch for miles, clean white sandy beaches every which way you look and an idyllic laid-back lifestyle, it’s no surprise Mooloolaba is one of the Sunshine Coast’s most sought-after hubs. Mooloolaba Esplanade occupies the majority of beach-frontage real estate and is home to a wide array of restaurants, cafes and boutiques. However, that doesn’t mean waterfront properties aren’t common in Mooloolaba. The suburb is home to a dense network of canals, which connect with the canals in neighbouring suburb Minyama and into the Mooloolah River.
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KEY STATISTICS
Median apartment price
$400,000
Median apartment rental value
$390 per week
Median house price
$865,000
Median house rental value
$565 per week
Transport
Buses run throughout Mooloolaba, connecting the area to local suburbs.
Things we love…
- Mooloolaba Beach is deemed one of the safest beaches in Queensland, with calm waters and constant patrols — perfect for a swim any time of day.
- The Esplanade offers a seemingly endless array of cafes, restaurants and bars to explore, all without having to venture too far from home.
But remember that…
- Mooloolaba is located half an hour away from the closest train station, making getting to Brisbane difficult if you don’t have a car.
- Unlike other Sunshine Coast suburbs, the opportunity for absolute beachfront properties is limited due to the esplanade.
Education
Mooloolaba is ideal for families with several schools in the area catering from Prep through to Year 12. Mooloolaba State School is located almost directly in the middle of the suburb, on Meta Street. Alexandra-Mooloolaba Community Kindergarten is also easily accessible for the younger ones and is just 300 metres away from the primary school. Mountain Creek State Primary School and Buddina State School are also close by, at 8-minutes drive and 10-minutes drive away respectively. The closest high school, Mountain Creek State High School, sits in the neighbouring suburb of Mountain Creek, just on the other side of the Sunshine Motorway and is a well-respected high school. There is also a TAFE Queensland campus in Mountain Creek on Musgrave Drive which offers tertiary qualifications from high-level certificates to diplomas. The closest university, the University of the Sunshine Coast is located in Sippy Downs, which is approximately 12-minutes drive from Mooloolaba.
Location & Transport
Mooloolaba is situated on the Sunshine Coast, almost halfway between Caloundra and Coolum. From the Bruce Highway and Sunshine Motorway, Brisbane Street will take you right into the heart of the suburb. The region extends from Buderim Avenue in Alexandra Headland in the north to Point Cartwright in the south and includes a section of the Mooloolah River. Aside from Alexandra Headland, Mooloolaba is also bordered by Buddina, Minayama and Mountain Creek on the western side of the Sunshine Motorway.
Mooloolaba is located 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Brisbane’s CBD. While buses run frequently throughout the suburb, connecting the area to the Greater Sunshine Coast, getting to Brisbane or beyond can be difficult and time consuming with public transport. The closest train station is Landsborough Station, which is approximately 30 minutes drive from Mooloolaba Esplanade. The Sunshine Coast Airport is located 20-minutes drive away in Marcoola, with domestic departures available through Jetstar, Virgin and QANTAS airlines. This is a very convenient option for those who travel within Australia frequently for work and provides the option to avoid the hour-long drive to Brisbane Airport.
A light rail system which extends from the Maroochydore CBD to Caloundra via Mooloolaba is proposed for 2025, with the proposal currently undergoing feasibility studies. If this progresses, the light rail will provide a great transport option for Mooloolaba, especially those working in the new CBD.
Developments
Within the last few years, there has been a significant increase in boutique apartment complexes cropping up throughout Mooloolaba, forming part of a larger trend towards luxury beachfront living. With the Sunshine Coast CBD, The Bright City, currently under development in Maroochydore, this area is expected to get even more sought-after in the coming years. The development of the Maroochydore City Centre will span over 53-hectares on completion and bring with it a $5.9 billion boost to the Sunshine Coast Economy. The Maroochydore CBD will feature office space, retail and sprawling public plazas, as well as new waterways, parks, and of course, an anticipated 2,100 new residential apartments.
There is currently no new apartment development for sale within Mooloolaba itself, however, plenty is going on within the neighbouring suburbs. In Maroochydore, Plaza Central Apartments are currently under construction, directly opposite Sunshine Plaza. Along with offering the best access to the Coast’s largest shopping mecca, Plaza Central has apartments available from just $299,000, making them perfect for first-home buyers. Also close to Mooloolaba and perfect for downsizers is Beach Life Alex, which sits less than two kilometres from the edge of Mooloolaba in Alexandra Headland.
Lifestyle
While Mooloolaba is popular with tourists and day-trippers on weekends, it’s not as populated as the Caloundra and Maroochydore areas in comparison. The suburb has a population of 7,700 and the majority of people who call this area home are families, with an average age range of 20-39.
Mooloolaba is home to one of the largest and most popular surf clubs on the Sunshine Coast and is an institution in the area. Although most popular with tourists, it is worth a mention that Underwater World and SEA LiFE Aquarium are both located in Mooloolaba, which makes a great day trip to take visiting family or the little ones. There are plenty of spots just back from the beach that are perfect for a morning coffee or a late evening dinner with friends that don’t get too busy with tourists too. Our pick to grab your morning brew: The Velo Project on Careela Street or Colombian Coffee Co. on Brisbane Road. The beach at Mooloolaba extends from one end of the suburb to the other, and you can walk up to Point Park and the Rock Wall — a lovely two-kilometre walk that’s perfect for a sunset stroll.
For locals, everything you need is right on your doorstep, with a large Coles, a pharmacy, Fresh Fish Market all within the suburb. Perfect for gift shopping and that little something special for your home, the Mooloolaba Beach Markets are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month, from 7am until 1pm. For a little more indulgent retail therapy, Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre and Kawana Shopping World are both just 10 minutes away.
