Moving to Sunshine Beach QLD 4567
What the official numbers say about living in Sunshine Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $495 a week, against a median household income of $1,735 a week.
About 68% of homes are owner-occupied and 31% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Sunshine Beach grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,288 → 2,480 people).
Around 68% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Brazil; most spoken languages besides English: German, Portuguese, French.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Sunshine Beach sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (60% of workers), while 30% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Noosa Junction station, 1.6 km west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Sofitel Noosa Heads, 2.8 km north-west.
Nearest airport: Noosa Airport, 4.8 km south-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 119 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 4 schools · 35 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 17 parks · 13 beaches — see them all on the Sunshine Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Saint Thomas More Catholic Primary School 750 m · Sunshine Beach State School 800 m · Noosa Flexible Learning Centre 800 m · Sunshine Beach State High School 1.1 km
Groceries: Coles 2 km · Seasons IGA Noosa 2.1 km
Parks and reserves: Ferris Park 250 m · Ed Webb Park 400 m · Heathland Park 1 km · Sobraon Park 1.2 km · Sunrise Beach Park 1.4 km · Dame Patti Park 1.4 km · Tingira Park 1.5 km · Commodore Park 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Sunshine Beach, most often seen first: Australian Brush-turkey · Rainbow Lorikeet · Torresian Crow · Noisy Miner · Noisy Friarbird · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Sunshine Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Beach here | 2,480 | — | 9/10 | 27% |
| Sunrise Beach | 3,687 | — | 9/10 | 29% |
| Noosa Heads | 5,120 | — | 9/10 | 59% |
| Noosaville | 8,716 | — | 8/10 | 49% |
| Peregian Beach | 4,972 | — | 9/10 | 47% |
| Tewantin | 11,164 | — | 4/10 | 71% |
| Peregian Springs | 9,532 | — | 8/10 | 29% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Noosa — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Wide Bay — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4567 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Sunshine Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $495 a week, and about 31% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 8% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,288 people to 2,480. It sits about 119 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Noosa council, and the federal seat is Wide Bay.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Sunshine Beach vs Sunrise Beach · Sunshine Beach vs Noosa Heads.
Nearby guides: Sunrise Beach · Noosa Heads · Noosaville · Peregian Beach · Tewantin · Peregian Springs.
Keep an eye on Sunshine Beach
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