Sunshine Coast Food with a View

On Friday 18th July, 2014,  Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, was named an Australian National Surfing Reserve.  It joins the other select few – Manly N.S.W., Margaret River W.A. and Phillip Island Vic.

… in recognition of world-class breaks and local surf heritage. 

The Reserve is positioned between the Noosa River mouth and north Sunshine Beach and includes all of Noosa’s iconic point breaks around the national park.

Even though we live in sunny tropical North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast in the south of the state is special to us.  It has been the site of many family holidays and we intend living in Coolum Beach in the not too distant future.   It is the happy place I go to in my mind, that never fails to make me smile.

Here are some beach and surf inspired eating opportunities on the Sunshine Coast.

Noosa – Hastings Street

On the northern reaches of the Sunshine Coast is Noosa Heads and the always buzzing Hastings Street. Running parallel to Main Beach it is a shopper’s dream with Boutiques and Beach Wear Shops, Restaurants and Coffee Shops spread beneath the luxurious hotels.  Smart Casual attire please 🙂

Noosa – River Mouth and Noosa Spit Recreation Area

With the shops now behind us Hastings Street changes name to Claude Batten Drive and winds through Replanted Coastal Forest toward the mouth of the Noosa River. Walking tracks wind through the recreational spit area, connecting car parks and picnic areas.  Bush turkeys are a common sight stalking through the undergrowth and fossicking in the parklands.  There are lots of spots just waiting for your family picnic and don’t forget the fishing rod.  The road and tracks all lead to the river mouth where people congregate to watch the boats coming and going over the sandbar.  The perfect spot to park a food van.

This particular ice cream was a whipped mix of fruit salad and soft serve ice cream with a price tag of $5.00.

Sunshine Beach

Surf Life Saving Clubs (S.L.S.C.) play a huge role on the beaches of the Sunshine Coast.  Life Savers patrol the areas between the flags on many beaches so it makes sense to patronise the Surf Clubs.

The Sunshine Beach S.L.S.C. clings to the cliff above Sunshine Beach just to the south of Noosa National Park and the new National Surfing Reserve.  From the always busy car park it appears quite small but on entry the interior opens up to a sizeable bar and dining area.  If the weather is good and hey this is the sunshine coast after all,  I suggest heading to the outside beer garden with it’s bright blue furniture, shades and surf views.  Arriving before noon should guarantee a table with a view.

Expect to pay approx. $18 or more – a fairly average price for a pub meal in Queensland.  The authentic looking Nasi Goreng (Indonesian fried rice) was surprisingly good and Marty described his goat cheese pizza as tasty and filling enough for two to share.  Washed down with a cold beer on a sunny  day – I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.

Alexandra Headlands

37 km south of Sunshine Beach the Alex Surf Club has a Cafe, Beach Kiosk and Bistro.  We chose the Beach Kiosk menu but ate inside at the adjoining bar which linked via bifold doors to the outdoor area and the view.  Marty’s Big Kahuna burger with lettuce, tomato, pineapple, beef pattie, egg, bacon and cheese cost $11.50, and my Flathead Fillets and Crispy Chips were perfect at $11.00.  The outside kiosk area looked fairly new and was super popular.  The public promenade passed directly out front providing some interesting people watching.  This place screamed sun, surf and sand and we loved it.

Mooloolaba

The resort town of Mooloolaba is a further 5km south of Alexandra Headlands.  We remembered it’s mix of restaurants and beachfront fondly and arrived anticipating lunch at the Surf Club.  As usual parking was horrendous but we fluked a spot in the waterfront parking area. Enjoying our walk in the sun along the Esplanade we decided on lunch there instead of indoors at the club, and started checking out menus.  Our Criteria was Cheap Casual Food in the Sun.  Emjays had some funky sunny tables and the menu was inexpensive and appealing.  Talk about lucky.

I liked that we could peruse the menu first, choose our own table and then pop into the Cafe to order. Not too long after our Meals were delivered to the table by smiling employee with a spring in her step.   The seats around us were popular with other Travelers, English being very much a second language the day we were there.

I had a dreamy Wrapalicious Chicken Basil Pesto Wrap. Marty was impressed with the toasted Chicken, Avocado, Brie and Bacon on Turkish and the meals were only $10.90 each.  We were after a light lunch and we chose well with Emjays. Both the wraps and turkish were pre-made then toasted prior to serving.  If we had not seen them stacked in the Servery display cabinet we would have thought them prepared to order.  The taste was beautifully fresh, probably because of the high turnover.  Their coffee had a good reputation too.

I would like to have introduced this post with Surf’s Up… but due to the weather pattern at the time there were no sizeable waves around, although I did not look for them within the newly proclaimed National Surfing Reserve.  It was cool enough to be not surfing weather for me!

The Coast abounds in great eating options and dietary requirements like Gluten Free are widely catered for.

Today I am excited to be linked to Chasing The Donkey for Sunday Traveler.  Chasing the Donkey is a travel blog about Croatia a Country that Budget Travel Talk, aka Marty and I, hope to visit next.  Fingers Crossed.