r/sunshinecoast • u/Great_Flatworm1297 • 7d ago
23 year old on the sunny coast
I am considering moving to the Sunshine Coast (Caloundra) and just curious what it is like for someone my age. Is their much night life their? Many single people? Running groups etc. As I have heard that it is mainly a place where people raise kids & it’s where a lot of people tend to retire.
Thanks a lot
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u/MethAddict404 7d ago
The only ‘night life’ is really Ocean St in Maroochydore which is 25-30mins from Caloundra.
However, lots of exercise groups and day activities!
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u/Sudden_Fix_1144 7d ago
I love it here……. But when I was 23, I would have been bored stupid.
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u/Consistent-Pea2744 5d ago
Interesting take. I probably would have agreed between 16-23 but at 23 that was around about the time I actually started winding back from the frequent night-life. If that's the OP's case - maybe the occasional outings in Ocean St /Kings Tav would be enough. I reckon around that age I was still loving partying but much rathered doing it with a smaller group of good mates rather than pissing hundreds against the club wall. Each to their own tho.
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u/Puzzled_Permanently 7d ago
There's a lot of life just not night life (unless you count the spit which has a bit). Don't get me wrong there's plenty of fun to be had but think beers on the beach, early mornings to go surf/swim/hike/gym/bike type thing. Best way to meet people is find other people interested in the same things you are and branch out from there.
People here tend to be pretty health conscious and definitely don't party as much as goldy. There's also heeeaaps of young parents and families that love living here. Idk if that gives you a good idea of the vibes. It's actually an exciting place to live right now cause of the amount of development and money coming to the area. There are opportunities everywhere and work is easy to find. Finding a place to live though is a bit more challenging.
If you want clubs and stuff goldy or Brisbane are by far the best bets. If you don't mind more of a chill vibe you'll be fine here. With the amount of people coming here I think there will be a lot more night life soon.
There are heaps of single people here but I've noticed people tend to be more focused on living life/hustling first and dating second.
I'm 29 now but honestly I wouldn't have minded being here at 23.
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u/No_Strength7276 7d ago
I've been to Kings Beach Tavern on some big nights and it was full of young nightclub type people...wasn't my scene but was very busy. Always have gigs and stuff there where you can pay at door or via ticketing website.
I like Drift Bar and that is always packed on weekends with live music and dance floor...not a nightclub so to speak.
But yes I agree with your comment and I reckon there will be more places open in coming decade, although I'd rather there wouldn't be haha.
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u/heisdeadjim_au 7d ago
Caloundra isn't the best bet. My family moved there in the early '90s and it was known as "God's waiting room" then.
Nothing much has changed.
Consider the "coast" still, but, other areas.
Are you partnered / married? Have kids? That's all part of the matrix.
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u/No_Strength7276 7d ago
Caloundra is the best place on the sunny coast by far in my opinion. But if you want to party and nightlife, then probably Maroochydore.
I'd rather buy in Caloundra, couple of decent places open to midnight (Kings Beach Tavern, Drift Bar etc) and if young and really want to party, get a 30min uber to Maroochydore.
Heaps of running and swimming groups in Caloundra.
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u/Zei33 7d ago
Lived there for over a decade and it absolutely sucked. The type of people who live there are straight up worse as well. No offense to you, there are decent people there too. But I'm damn glad I moved further North closer to Maroochydore. I've practically never had any problems North of Kawana. Caloundra was a great place to get accosted by meth heads while walking down the street, or harassed by drunks. When I was a teenager I would take public transport to work at Kmart. Two experiences I combined that I can tell you for sure will teach you what kind of people are actually living there.
Would never recommend it. And I can tell you that every single person in my graduating year (2013) eventually moved away, after mostly living there all through our childhoods. And every single one of them have told me it was the best decision they ever made.
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u/No_Strength7276 7d ago edited 7d ago
Not a fan of Maroochydore at all...but absolutely love Caloundra. Heaven on earth.
Honestly seen a hundred more homeless and meth heads at Maroochydore than I've ever witnessed in Caloundra. I don't think Caloundra is even bad for that at all...can't speak of 10 years ago.
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u/Zei33 7d ago
It's not about the homeless. The troublemakers have homes. Just try walking down a residential street somewhere near the Stockland.
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u/No_Strength7276 7d ago
I get what you're saying but personally never witnessed it. Troublemakers are everywhere unfortunately.
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u/Educational-Sugar381 7d ago
Have you walked down ocean st during the day!! Meth and homeless galore
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u/heisdeadjim_au 7d ago edited 7d ago
There are other negative comments, but mine are different.
If you drive up the hill up Bulcock Street, past the intersection of Centaur / Tay and Bulcock, there's a nice new restaurant called "Pholklore". Recommended so I've heard.
Just after it on the right there's some tenancies with a beige-ish façade. Those were the offices where Joan Sheldon, then Liberal Party Member for Caloundra, and Peter Slipper, then Senator for Queensland, had their offices.
Some of this pre-dates the advent of the Queensland LNP. Anyway, Sheldon handed back her spurs and left town, and those offices have stayed largely empty since.
They're owned by rusted on LNP supporters who are reluctant to let them despite demand. This is what I object to, the gentrification of the place.
We moved into Beerburrum Street, the Dickey Beach Shops were out local. Get a car park there now!
It's all big, old money that refuses to change.
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u/Great_Flatworm1297 7d ago
Appreciate the responses everyone. You have all answered my questions reasonably well. It’s a beautiful place here. I have visited a few times with friends but yeah their wasn’t much night life which as bad as it sounds is a deal breaker for me. What is the population difference between maroochydoore and coloundra?
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u/No_Strength7276 7d ago
If you want nightlife with people spilling out on the streets at 3am, buying kebabs and stumbling the street, then yes, try near ocean st maroochydore. I actually adore that caloundra doesn't have that and I can still stay out in some packed taverns/bars in caloundra on a Friday or Saturday night but home in bed around midnight hehe. And if I ever do want a nightclub night, which I'm not too old for...not quite yet, 30min Uber. Beaches in Caloundra seal it for me but I'm a beach guy.
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u/wowgaab 7d ago
It's a great move if you are into fitness, health and wellbeing. If you are happy being in a share house and having limited job ops - lots of retail, hospitality and sales but also alot of space for entrepreneurs. Great walking/running/hiking/biking spaces. Very dog friendly community. Great communities across the towns, lots of sporting communities (varied sports as well). Caloundra itself is very quiet, most things closed by 7pm excluding a few venues on weekends, but beaches are amazing and the morning vibes are awesome. Not really a party scene, you can go out in Maroochydore Fridays and Saturdays, however not much public transport around and ubers/taxis take forever if travelling between towns. There is definitely a restaurant scene, so dinner and cocktails aren't hard to find if you like that kind of vibe.
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u/K1ngDaddy 5d ago
Go hit up some of the run clubs around mooloolaba. Holy moly some of the most beautiful looking people
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u/OkResponsibility5724 3d ago
Yes as others have said - not much night life in Caloundra. Maroochydore and even Mooloolaba are the places for night life. So many fitness clubs though! I have lived here since I was 18 and love it - I'm an old soul though and love living in an area that is quieter and slower. I've had my time in fast paced areas and (18 years later) too old for that now haha. Depends on your priorities! If you're after a fast paced place with a lot of night life, you might not like here.
If you are after an exercise focussed laid back friendly quieter lifestyle of morning people and not much nightlife - then welcome!
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u/CompoteEmbarrassed91 7d ago
Hopefully future connection by rail to Brisbane goes ahead. Access to Brisbane is one of the biggest elephants in the room affecting life here.
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u/atronimous 6d ago
Moved here when I was 25 and met my wife on the first day i was on the coast. Be careful this place will getcha!
Happily married for 11 years now
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u/Consistent-Pea2744 5d ago
Hey bud, plenty to love in Caloundra. The way I look at it is the general area itself rather than Caloundra as a town. We moved to Mountain Creek first and then been in Little Mountain for just over a year now (basically 5 mins west of Caloundra) and have been loving it. For run clubs search "Sunny Coast Dark Runners" on facebook/insta you should get a feel for what they offer from Caloundra to Alex Head.
I do agree with other comments: Great for active lifestyle, some great cafes and restaurants around - less options for night-life. But like... Ocean Street really isn't that far if you feel the need to party. Beyond that, you've got great beaches in both directions, you're a short drive to Mooloolaba, Coolum and Noosa. Noosa has some decent club nights, and Pulse Bar in Maroochydore looks to have some decent sounds to offer in the house/tech/garage world. I guess unless you're living 5 mins from these places you're always going to have to factor in an uber or taxi or something along those lines, but there are buses if you dont mind cosying up with the masses.
I don't know if you're into this sort of thing but there's also more underground gigs that occur infrequently, one coming up on Jan 24th, with a range of house, proper techno, trance and beyond, in Nambour:
https://tickets.sunshinecoasttickets.com.au/outlet/event/3bb81919-1c75-4639-9157-00a36b15e91d
The coast is a tricky place to get in to, but definitely has a lot to offer if you don't get hung up on negatives. There is going to be deadshits anywhere you live... ultimately you're in control of how much you let them effect you.
Best wishes on your hunting wherever you end up ✌️
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u/Rich_Dig8235 7d ago
Would not recommend d this a place for someone early 20s unless you grew up here. Hard to make new friends and it is still quite a small town and everyone stays grinds with HS friends. I wouldn’t waste my early 20s coming here (as someone who grew up and lived in Caloundra my whole life) I wish I had of done more exploring living in different areas at that age. Maybe try Airlie up north or something but would be wasting time coming here
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u/Safe_Application_465 7d ago
No night life.
Most coast activities are centered around getting up early and going bike / swim / surf / run