Renowned for its sun, sand and surf the Sunshine Coast is a popular holiday destination for New Zealanders. However, Rebecca Fox discovers there is more to the area than its beaches.
Unlike many, the idea of lying on the beach for hours and days on end does not appeal to me.
As a result, I had never travelled to Australia's Sunshine Coast, unlike more than 59,000 New Zealanders every year.
So, when I was invited by Sunshine Coast Destination to discover there was more than just beaches to lie on, I was intrigued.
That is not to say I did not check out the beaches; a visit to Noosa and Noosaville could not be left off the itinerary.
And on a hot day, a leisurely walk down the beach paddling in the waves was just what the doctor ordered.
There were plenty of sun worshippers doing the aforementioned lying on the beach, and families having a great time playing tag with the waves.
Noosaville was bustling with holiday-makers checking out the shops - and the air conditioning - or having a cool drink or bite to eat in one of the many bars and restaurants.
Having flown in from a wet and windy Dunedin just the day before, having lunch sitting outside in Noosa at Thomas Corner Eatery in the lovely warm air and looking out over Noosa River made me question why I live in the south of the South Island.
Strangely enough, given the weather, I could not go past the sweetcorn and crab soup. My justification was the need to try out a local delicacy. I was not disappointed. It was sweet and just the thing for a light lunch.
It also made us feel slightly better after our guilty breakfast of mini-pancakes and strawberries at Eumundi Markets.
The sheer size of the strawberries meant we could not resist.
The markets were a warren of interesting and quirky things to examine and wonder at alongside the usual market fare, a great place to pick up presents for those unlucky enough to be left behind.
The day was topped off with a visit to the Spirit House, described by Gourmet Traveller magazine as a "tropical film set that takes your breath away. Like the setting, the food is breathtaking''.
It summed up the experience nicely.
The restaurant is clustered around a pond, with covered courtyard tables radiating off a central Asian-style building.
At night the tropical gardens and Thai-style statues dotted around are lit subtly, creating a lovely atmosphere.
We were goners even before the food arrived.
The food and the great service accompanying it just added to the experience.
The whole fish, with its glazed and sticky flesh, was a sight to behold and tasted even better, as did the pork belly with caramelised sauce and duck salad.
Only we enjoyed it so much there was not room to fit dessert.
The next day was a chance to have breakfast overlooking the beach at Caloundra and marvel at those enthusiastic individuals of all ages out for their morning constitutional.
The hinterland After experiencing the more traditional Sunshine Coast we were keen to discover the promised delights of the region's hinterland.
Heading inland, we stopped off at what is one of Australia's largest natural and organic foodstores at Kunara.
There was a mindboggling array of natural food products in bulk bins and on shelves - more than 20,000 products - including fresh vegetables, a deli and even naturopathic and beauty products and services.
Next door is a cafe that showcases what can be done with the produce, their smoothies being a highlight.
We then wound our way up into the hills above the coast to Montville and Mapleton.
They are quaint little towns where you are compelled to stop and have a wander around the shops and galleries.
We were staying at Flame Hill Vineyard, just out of Montville, in a 1920s former dairy farmer's cottage which had recently been renovated in keeping with its era but with mod-cons.
Still a working beef cattle business, there were orchards and market gardens to supply the vineyard's restaurant.
Dinner was at Wild Rocket at Misty's, in one of the historic buildings in Montville, which showcased some of the region's organic produce.
The next day was a chance to discover just where that produce came from during a tour led by the knowledgeable Lynn Fallon, of Food Tale Tours.
She had taken New Zealand cook Annabel White around the district a few weeks before our visit and Annabel had raved about the experience - including milking a cow - on New Zealand television on her return.
After a day tasting everything from gelato and custard to South African spices and chocolate while travelling around the district, a little rest was called for.
The nearby Spicers Tamarind Retreat has a spa with a hydrotherapy suite that opens up to the country scenery.
Picture having a swim while looking out over paddocks and bush.
Our amazing day of food experiences did not end there.
Dinner at award-winning two chef's hat restaurant The Tamarind, at Spicers, came next.
The "modern Asian'' restaurant was quiet and subdued but the food was not.
Their signature dish, again a whole fish, was delightful and the red curry got the eyes watering.
Dessert had us again pulling out our phones for a picture.
The next day a visit to the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World had been organised and what we found down the steep drive was not what we expected.
It is a private garden run by South African Frank Shipp, who has been progressively transforming the 44.5ha property from farmland since he bought it in 2005.
Not content to create ponds, waterfalls and gardens down the sloping property, he built a 1000m2 walk-through aviary, home to a variety of birds from all lands, including parrots quite content to sit on his shoulder.
A visit to the Sunshine Coast is not complete without a stop at Australia Zoo - perfectly situated on the way back to Brisbane - especially in time to see the Wildlife Warriors Show, and a tour of its animal hospital is highly recommended, although not for the faint-hearted if you are an animal lover.
● Rebecca Fox was hosted by Sunshine Coast Tourism. www.visitsunshinecoast.com
Getting there
Air New Zealand and Virgin fly to Brisbane direct. It is possible to fly direct to the Sunshine Coast from Auckland.
