Address:
74b Aerodrome Rd
Phone:
(61) 7 5443 6555
Hours of Operation:
Sun 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Holiday Hours
2024
SHOW DAY June
14 08:00AM -
12:00PM
KINGS BIRTHDAY October
7 08:00AM -
12:00PM
CHRISTMAS HOLS December
25 - December
26
closed -
closed
2025
NEW YEARS HOL January
1 08:00AM -
12:00PM
Address:
Terminal Building
Phone:
CALL: (61) 2 9353 9399
Hours of Operation:
Sun 9:00 AM - 9:15 PM; Mon - Fri 7:00 AM - 9:30 PM; Sat 7:00 AM - 8:15 PM
If flying in, the rental counter is within the terminal with a short walk to the car lot.
Address:
704 Nicklin Way
Phone:
(61) 7 5493 4925
Hours of Operation:
Sun 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Holiday Hours
2024
MALENY SHOW DAY May
31 08:00AM -
12:00PM
KINGS BIRTHDAY October
7 08:00AM -
12:00PM
CHRISTMAS HOLS December
25 - December
26
closed -
closed
Address:
Cnr Hastings St & Noosa Dr
Phone:
(61) 7 5473 8955
Hours of Operation:
Sun 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM; Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Holiday Hours
2024
MARATHON May
25 closed -
closed
KINGS BIRTHDAY October
7 08:00AM -
12:00PM
NOOSA TRIATHLON November
1 - November
3
closed -
closed
Maroochydore, on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, is a popular holiday destination, with beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan cafes, and lots of opportunities for day trips and tours.
The city is considered by many to be the capital of the Sunshine Coast, with the area’s largest shopping mall, endless dining opportunities, and vibrant nightlife. Despite having all the conveniences of a big city, Maroochydore manages to enjoy a laidback atmosphere at the same time, and you can escape to the beaches, river, and parks when you’re in need of some nature.
You can make the most out of your trip to Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast by hiring a car. Budget has a car rental office in central Maroochydore on Aerodrome Road, as well as a location at Sunshine Coast Airport, 4km to the north of the city.
As a popular coastal holiday destination, there’s no shortage of family accommodation in Maroochydore. Most of the hotels in the city are located along Maroochydore Beach, and Maroochy River, and there are a few holiday parks worth checking out too.
The Sebel on Aerodrome Road is one of the pricier options in the city, but it gets full marks from families for its spacious apartments with generous balconies and sea views. Choose from one or two-bedroom apartments equipped with kitchens and a washing machine and dryer. There’s a nice outdoor pool too.
Verve on Cotton Tree is another popular choice with families due to its excellent location with ocean and hinterland views, and resort facilities. There’s a choice of one or two-bedroom apartments with kitchens, and an outdoor heated spa and pool.
Cotton Tree Holiday Park has a great location at a budget price, with a choice of powered sites, deluxe villas, and even a four-bedroom beach house. Laundry facilities are available, and there are BBQ areas and a camp kitchen. Waterfront sites are available with both direct river and beach access.
If you prefer to be on the river, try the Maroochy River Resort & Bungalows, which has a choice of budget-friendly motel rooms and self-contained bungalows, set in tropical gardens with a swimming pool.
Most people come to the Sunshine Coast for the beaches, so Maroochydore Beach is one of the city’s biggest draws. The golden sand stretches from Cotton Tree to Alexandra Headland, and makes for nice walks with plenty of shops and cafes close by. The surf is calm and life guards patrol the beach, so it’s safe for kids. The Cotton Tree Aquatic Centre is another good swimming spot, and includes a kids’ water park.
It’s worth taking a walk over the bridge to Chambers Island, which has its own beach and is much quieter than the mainland. There’s a kids’ playground here too, and it’s a nice spot for a picnic.
Maroochydore Rotary Park runs alongside the beach, next to the river, and is a pleasant place to while away a few hours with walking paths and a children’s play park.
The SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium is just down the coast a few km in Mooloolaba, and has lots of underwater tunnels to explore and interesting exhibits.
To the north, close to the airport, you’ll find Bli Bli Watersports Complex, which promises watersports and fun for the whole family, and Sunshine Castle – Australia’s biggest castle that is fun to explore and hosts lots of kids’ activities too.
Slightly further afield, you can visit Aussie World theme park, which has lots to do for the whole family, and Australia Zoo, which was opened by the late Steve Irwin. Noosa with its national park and beautiful beaches is also less than 50km away. Make sure to explore some of the mountain towns and villages inland too, including Montville and Maleny.
Maroochydore is the Sunshine Coast’s main retail centre, in particular the Sunshine Plaza, which has everything you need including hundreds of shops, a great food court, and a cinema. If you want to shop, it’s also worth checking out the Cotton Tree Markets for some locally made products.
Maroochydore and the entire Sunshine Coast area have a subtropical climate and stay warm year-round, with temperatures averaging 17°C – 28°C in summer and 13°C – 25 °C in winter. There’s no dry season and the city is pretty humid throughout the year.
There are several service stations located throughout Maroochydore city centre and the surrounding suburbs. If you’re returning a car to our rental location on Aerodrome Street, you can fill up at the Caltex on Star Mart just down the road. If you’re driving to the airport, there’s a BP on David Low Way, just before you get to the airport if you’re driving north from Maroochydore.
If you’re using Maroochydore as a base to explore the Sunshine Coast, it’s handy to know how far you can expect to drive to see some of the region’s attractions. The following distances are measured from the Budget Maroochydore rental office on Aerodrome Road.
Hervey Bay is 200km north of Maroochydore. You can drive there in approximately 2.5 hours. Hervey Bay is a great place for spotting humpback whales, and you can also catch a boat to the nearby Fraser Island from here.
Maroochydore is a name derived from the word “muru-kutchi” in the Aboriginal Yuggera language, meaning “red-bill”. The name comes from the large number of black swans that are seen around the area.