Even its "opposition" on the Gold Coast will concede that.
And what the Sunshine Coast, an hour's travel north of Brisbane, especially offers older holidaymakers over and above its Surfers Paradise-dominated high-rise frenetic cousin to the south is more of the same and less of the same - more sunshine, more sand, more beaches, more relaxation; less high-rise, less hoopla, less hassle.
Both coasts have their role in Queensland's vital tourism market, but for most older Kiwis seeking sun and solace away from the winter blues at home, the Sunshine Coast is tops.
Thousands of holidaying New Zealanders agree.
Last year, more than 50,000 Kiwis visited.
Most were older; most went in winter; and most went to one or other of the main holiday towns on the Sunshine Coast seeking warmth, water and ways to relax.
Five main holiday towns draw them: Caloundra is the closest to Brisbane, then there are Mooloolaba, Maroochydore, Coolum and Noosa.
Each has its own fan club and its individuality.
Each offers easy access to beaches, shops, markets and each other, and to the popular hinterland hill towns that overlook the coast itself.
My wife and I, oldies both, spent a week in June enjoying the attractions of the Sunshine Coast.
We particularly wanted to see how the area suited older folk (and, of course, we wanted a break from a cold New Zealand winter).
First, accommodation
We stayed, courtesy of Sunshine Coast Tourism, in a variety of up-market managed apartments (motels, as Kiwis know them, are practically gone now), most with wonderful beach and surf views and with facilities far above average.
With posted rates of $A200 a night and more, they seemed beyond the means of most average Kiwis.
But the recession is hitting Australian tourism hard; many accommodation outlets are prepared to offer heavy discounts, especially for longer stays, and $A100-$A140 a night (for two bedrooms, four people) is possible.
And apartments cheaper still are easy to find, through a travel agent or online, that are a block or so back from the beaches or rivers; friends staying four nights in Maroochydore in June had a lovely fully equipped apartment for $A70 a night, heated spa and pool included - less than the cost of a motel back home.
Many Kiwis stay longer.
Winter breaks of six weeks to three months are common, and the managed apartments they use offer facilities often better than in their own homes, plus heated spas and pools.
Such apartments - and there are thousands of them - are owned individually by investors who may spend several weeks a year there and are let out to visitors by complex managers, many of them expat New Zealanders.
Warren and Jane Spence, former owners of Regal Court Motels in Dunedin, manage the Noosa Outrigger Beach Resort at Noosaville.
"Winters over here are better than summers back home," Warren told me.
"We get many Kiwis coming here winter after winter.
"One Dunedin couple has been coming every year for more than 10 years now.
"And we have an influx of Kiwis in the September school holidays."
Transport
A rental car for part of a holiday is handy, either from Brisbane Airport or hired locally (from $A40 a day).
Shuttles run frequently to Brisbane and Brisbane Airport and around the Sunshine Coast.
Free buses from Australia Zoo service the main towns daily.
An excellent ferry service links relaxed holiday centre Noosaville with the more pricey Noosa Heads a kilometre or two away.
Frequent day-tours and local buses take holidaymakers to hinterland towns and other beaches.
Most transport provides seniors discount.
Attractions
The attached list shows a dozen Sunshine Coast attractions.
There are many more, as tourist brochures and the internet will show.
Bowlers, golfers, swimmers, fisherfolk and shoppers are especially well catered for.
Facilities for older folk
Judi and I looked closely at the suitability of accommodation complexes, ferries, town and beach amenities and boardwalks etc for older holidaymakers.
In general, they are much better than in New Zealand.
Everyone, visitors included, walks for fitness and enjoyment here, and local authorities provide first-class flat or gently undulating boardwalks, toilets, changing rooms, rubbish bins (and collection), free beachside barbecues and recreation areas and ample parking.
Apartments we used generally had lifts, grab rails in bathrooms and facilities for wheelchairs.
Bowling greens and golf courses are all elder-friendly, as are many tourist boats.
Holiday/living costs
In general, they are similar to New Zealand - if you overlook the exchange rate.
Applying the exchange rate (in June, it cost $NZ1.30 to buy $A1), food costs were 25% dearer (see sidebar), as was dining out.
Petrol was slightly cheaper ($A1.26.9 per litre for 94 octane, or $NZ1.65), as was public transport.
Climate
We didn't strike a great week weather-wise, and the locals made that very clear to us.
"This is awful stuff, not typical of the Coast at all," bemoaned several.
But we had daily maxima of 20 and 21degC, no minimum below 10degC, sunshine some days and no rain.
It was shirtsleeves and light jersey weather.
Favourite town?
Tricky question, this.
For us, Mooloolaba first (beach, shops, ambience), followed closely by Noosaville and Caloundra.
But anywhere is great.
• Robin and Judi Charteris were guests of Sunshine Coast Tourism.
We stayed
Clouds of Montville (cottages) www.cloudsofmontville.com.au
Mantra Mooloolaba (managed apartment) www.mantramooloolababeach.com.au
Montpellier Resort, Noosaville www.montpelliernoosa.com.au
Rolling Surf, Kings Beach, Caloundra www.rollingsurfresort.com.au
Special deal
Readers of the Otago Daily Times who quote this article and book direct can receive an additional 10% discount on accommodation at Montpellier Boutique Resort this winter and spring.
Websites
www.tourismsunshinecoast.com.au
www.caloundratourism.com.au
www.montvillevillage.com.au
www.discovermaroochy.com.au
www.visitnoosa.com.au
