Located in the south of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Caloundra draws guests with its stunning beaches, rocky headland, and a 25-kilometre coastal walking and cycling trail leading to local town, Kawana.
The local Sunshine Coast airport provides easy access to Caloundra for domestic guests, with a new international runway and terminal expected to be completed within the next four years. Domestic travel to the Sunshine Coast region has been at an all-time high over the past 12 months, with 3,394,000 arrivals recorded in 2016, including an 8.1 percent increase in business and event travel.
Caloundra is home to one of the Sunshine Coast’s largest event centres, drawing thousands of delegates and business visitors to the area each year. Recognising the importance of events, the centre has recently received an $800,000 face-lift to its façade, and is awaiting the results of a $3 million grant application for further redevelopment. Several local events drive tourism throughout the year, including the Caloundra Music Festival, which takes place each October.
Caloundra’s numerous beaches, including Kings Beach, Golden Beach, Shelly Beach and Bulcock Beach, provide the perfect playground for adventurous and family-friendly ocean activities. Visitors to the area enjoy snorkelling, diving, sail boat hire, and a range of surfing activities and programs.
Last recorded in 2015, Caloundra has an offering of over 296 accommodation and food services, with 8.4 percent of its 78,960 residents being employed in these sectors. With visitor numbers on the rise, these numbers are also expected to increase in coming years.