Complete Guide to the Best Local Experiences Right Now

Sunshine Coast locals booked early for the July lineup at two flagship spots that opened new programs on 10 July.

Winter school holidays end this week and visitor numbers at council-run sites have already climbed 18 percent over the same period last year, according to figures released by the Sunshine Coast Council tourism unit on Friday.

Maroochydore’s Cotton Tree Cultural Hub on Sixth Avenue hosts the current weaving exhibition by local Quandamooka artists, while the Eumundi School of Arts on Memorial Drive runs nightly music sessions through 20 July. Both sites sit within a short drive of each other and share the same online ticketing system.

Art trails and gallery hours

The Cotton Tree exhibition features 42 works and stays open until 5 pm daily except Mondays. Entry costs $15 for adults and $8 for concession holders. Visitors who arrive before 11 am on weekdays can join a 30-minute guided walk that starts at the hub and ends at the nearby Maroochy River boardwalk. The Eumundi venue keeps its doors open until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays with sets by three different local bands each night.

Food and street events

Aerodrome Road in Maroochydore hosts the weekly night market on Thursdays, where 28 stalls sell produce from farms within 30 kilometres of the coast. Last Thursday the market recorded 1,240 transactions between 5 pm and 9 pm. The same street leads directly to the Events Centre car park, where the council runs free shuttle buses to Eumundi on market nights.

Check the council website for updated times or call the box office at 07 5475 8900 before heading out. Most sessions require advance booking and seats sell out by Wednesday for weekend shows.