SUNSHINE COAST The Sunshine Coast is new. Everything is new when assessed against Australias very short history. The Sunshine Coast was to be everything the Gold Coast wasn’t. Not trashy, not over developed and not soulless. In this regard the Sunshine Coast has succeeded. The Sunshine Coast is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east, and extends to the local government boundaries beyond the Blackall Range to the west. The Glass House Mountains, located south-west of Caloundra, were first sighted by James Cook from the deck of the HM Bark Endeavour in 1770. The coastal towns, which were founded as ports for the early river trade, were bypassed. The Sunshine Coast eventually grew into a holiday destination, which was further expanded in the development boom of the 1960s and 1970s. The Sunshine Coast is not a tourism mecca, but more a retiree heaven. Good weather, outstanding facilities and likeminded souls. An observation is an average age of 50. That said the coast does contain the attractions such as Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo, Underwater World marine park, Aussie World with the Ettamogah Pub, The Buderin Ginger Factory, The Big Pineapple and the Majestic Theatre at Pomona. Caloundra is the ‘capitol’ of the Sunshine Coast and the credit of the administrators the original tow centre is intact. The Australia Zoo is the main tourist attraction and is modeled on the Gold Coast Sea World Formula of fast paced plastic kiddy entertainment. Animals at the Australia Zoo are in an artificially clean environment that is totally unrealistic to anything in the real world of either ‘real’ zoos or the natural habitat. The Aviation Museum is a must. Again a visitor has to respect the newness of the museum. The Aviation Museum is unashamedly work in progress, and there are some really nice presentations of the early fifties and sixties Australian Aviation history. There is a lot to enjoy and delight in at the Sunshine Coast. Allow a week or two to relax and enjoy the beaches and lifestyle. Sorry; no churches (all new) or cenotaphs (too soon) of substance in the Sunshine Coast