11 Sunshine Coast hidden gems only the locals know about

THE Sunshine Coast is enjoying one of its most bumper tourism seasons in its existence with more visitors than ever.

TOP: Vice president of Buderim Palmwoods Heritage Tramway Noel Williams and Graham Barnes. BOTTOm: Elizabeth Giles, 3 and Mia Haniszewski, 4 have some fun picking strawberries. Picture: John McCutcheon

THE Sunshine Coast is enjoying one of its most bumper tourism seasons in its existence with more visitors than ever.

In the 2017 calendar year, more than 300,000 people flocked to this region, and those numbers are expected to grow this year.

Most come for our pristine beaches, glorious weather and the abundance of hiking spots.

But what do the locals do for fun?

With the help from the tourism gurus at Visit Sunshine Coast, here are the top 11 hidden gems in our region.

Picnic spots

Pack a picnic and play in the gardens - Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens in Tanawha or Maleny Botanic Gardens.

Retro shopping

Shop up a storm and bag a bargain along the Vintage and Retro Trail in Nambour.

Photograph a platypus

Spot a platypus in the Mary River. Try a sunrise kayak with Ride on Mary.

Platypus could hold the key to fighting super bugs, according. to the CSIRO. Picture: Laura Romin & Larry Dalton

Strawberry picking

Pick your own at McMartins Strawberry Farm in Bli Bli and then directly adjacent take a stroll along the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Boardwalk.

Elizabeth Giles, 3 and Mia Haniszewski, 4 have some fun picking strawberries at Strawberry Fields farm in Palmview. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily. Picture: John McCutcheon

Kayaking

Kayak through the Noosa Everglades - only one of two everglades systems in the world.

Kayaking in the Noosa Everglades. Picture: Contributed

Discovery Centre

Overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains, visit the new Discovery Centre at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in Maleny.

Surf, sunbake and relax

Stretch out on your own piece of sand at Marcoola Beach. It was recently ranked number seven by Australian Traveller Magazine for flying under the radar.

STUNNING SKIES: Coolum Beach resident Ian Adams snapped this spectacular sunrise at Marcoola. Picture: Contributed

Island hop

Most locals don't realise but the Pumicestone Passage Marine Park consists of 24 islands. With 80 per cent of the pristine waterway under two metres deep, it is a perfect place to explore on a stand up paddleboard, kayak or escorted eco jet ski tour.

Bike track

One of the newest mountain bike tracks on the Coast - Sugarbag Road in Caloundra.

Rock pools

Everyone thinks they know Mooloolaba but the rock pools directly in front of the former caravan park area are largely unexplored. Also a top spot on the beach and relatively sheltered for swimming - just note it requires parental supervision as it's not patrolled.

Historic tramway site

Hidden amongst the bush in Mons is the old Palmwoods-Buderim Tramway site. Heritage-listed, it was built in 1914 and operated until 1935. Now it's a bush-walk.

Vice president of Buderim Palmwoods Heritage Tramway Inc., Noel Williams (in red), and chair of the BWMCA and Rotary Club of Buderim Australia Day Committee, Graham Barnes, with the Krauss locomotive.Photo: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast Daily. Picture: Brett Wortman

Did we miss anything? Send us your favourite to [e-mail].

The top 11 come days after Fraser Island - just north of the Sunshine Coast - was nominated as one of the 7 Wonders of Australia.

It was included in a shortlist featuring The Daintree Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island, Whitehaven Beach, the SS Yongala wreck, Wallaman Falls, and dinosaur fossil sites.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said she was delighted that Queensland destinations were so prominent on the initial shortlist.

"Queensland has continually topped 'best of' lists around the world. We are seeing record numbers of visitors into the state,” she said.