May 19

May 19 Finding Sunrise

Being on the east coast, the Sunshine Coast gets way better sunrises than sunsets – unless you find a nice spot at Noosa Main Beach in autumn or summit one of the Glass House Mountains for a bird’s eye view.

Luckily, I am a bit of a morning person so getting up to spot sunrise is something I relish – albeit not during Queensland summer when the sun gets up around 4am!

Here on the Sunshine Coast, we are lucky to have some of the world’s best-kept beaches where you can enjoy that small window of time each day where dark becomes light.

The best bit is that generally you only have to share the view with a few other early risers unless it is Anzac Day!

Here are a few of my favourite sunrise spots:

Mudjimba

Watching the sun rise above the horizon and over Old Woman Island is one of my favourite ways to start the day!

Grab a coffee from High Tide or the Island and watch the surfers catch waves as the sky changes colours. The most dramatic colours are usually just before the sun actually comes up, and I love walking down the beach and soaking it all in as the waves lick at my feet.

Maroochy River

One of my regular morning running spots is along the Maroochy River from Fishermans Rd to Chambers Island.

During autumn and winter, the still river water reflects the colours of sunrise in the most beautiful way that I inevitably stop and take photos at different points along the way – quite often using my dog as a model.

One of the best spots to stop is near the quaint boathouse jetties jutting out over the river or standing on the bridge over to Chambers Island watching the kayakers and SUP-ers paddling in the changing light.

Mooloolaba

Every morning without fail, the Beach Bums take to the calm waters at Mooloolaba for an ocean swim. I enjoy getting there a bit earlier and watching the sun rise over the lighthouse at Pt Cartwright in the distance before jumping in the water.

The stretch of sand can get a bit busy here - even before 6am – so I tend to walk further down towards the point to enjoy the scenery on my own.

Sunrise Beach

It should come as no surprise that a beach named after the event is a good spot to see sunrise!

Jutting up against the Noosa National Park, Sunrise Beach’s endless stretch of white sand and pristine rolling waves make it the perfect spot to soak up the earliest rays of sunshine. Take a picnic blanket and get cosy on the hill and watch the show.

Mt Coolum

Start the little day with a hike up Mount Coolum and you’ll be rewarded with a great vista to watch the day start out, with views extending from Noosa National Park to Caloundra, as well as the cane fields and Maroochy River.

Early morning is one of the best times to climb Mt Coolum, before the heat of the day and before the crowds turn up. To catch the sunrise from the summit, you’ll want to start pretty early and take a torch.