Australia's Sunshine Coast lies just to the north of Brisbane in Queensland and comprises a collection of several coastal towns including old-fashioned Coolum, laid-back Caloundra and touristy Noosa, as well as the peaceful Sunshine Hinterland area.

There are many historical attraction in the Sunshine Coast. To start with there is the scenic railway, Valley Rattler, that tour the Mary Valley in the Cooloola region. You can take a half morning, half day or full day tours on an old fashioned steam train called the Red Rocket Rail Motor. If you decide to take a full day tour you will travel to Dagun, Imbil and Kandanga. This tour allows passengers to disembark at these towns for touring or exploration. For a half day tour you will take a trip to Amamoor and Dagun to enjoy morning tea or a glass of wine. Half morning tour are two hours and travel between Gympie and Amamoor where you will get a chance to explore some of the arts and crafts fairs in the area.

Then there is the Landsborough Museum, located on Maleny Street. This is an extensive look at the social history of the Sunshine Coast. This area museum collects, preserves and exhibits all the artifacts, documents and stories relating to Caloundra City. There is a exhibit that includes the personal collections of explorer William Landsborough, Premier of Queensland; Sir Francis Nicklin and local businessman John Tytherleigh. There are also exhibits of indigenous tools, camera equipment, dental equipment and relics from the SS Dicky wreck. The museum also house an extensive library of local documents of historical significance, photographs and Government Gazettes.

And last but not least is Sunshine Castle Bli Bli, a unique recreation of a Norman Castle in the Australian outback that dates back to 1971. Castle Bli Bli offers tourists so many things to do that it is hard to know where to start describing them and hard to know what to do first.

You could start by wandering through the toy and doll museum, with its fairytale dioramas, model train railway and dancing dolls or you could, instead, start by climbing the 24m tall lookout tower to enjoy the superb view of both the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland. But whatever you do, don't miss your chance to sit on the original throne as used in the Xena, Warrior Princess, television series.


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About 20 kilometers north of Caboolture, there is an odd group of volcanic crags jutting from the coast, called the Glass House Mountains. The legends of the Aborigine say that these belong to a Mountain Spirit Family. This story is called the Weeping Mountain and his Wayward Son.

It has long been believed that the Mountain Spirits are ruled by the father of all tribes, Tibrogargan and his wife, Beerwah. Their children include Coonowrin, the oldest, Tunbubudla and Coochin, twins, as well as Ngungun, Tibberoowuccum, Miketeebumulgrai and Elimbah.

One day Tibrogargan was looking out towards the coast when he noticed the sea level rising. Anticipating a flood, he became fearful for Beerwah who was close to the water. But he was also concerned about his children and would not be able to save them all. So Tibrogargan called to his eldest son Coonowrin to help his mother. As Tibrogargan gathered his younger children he looked behind him to see if Coonowrin and Beerwah were safe, but to dismay Coonowrin had fled and left his mother unassisted.In a blinding rage, Tibrogargan picked up his club and struck Coonowrin dislocating his neck.

When the flood went down, the family could go back home. When his siblings saw his crooked neck, Coonowrins felt ashamed from their teasing. He went to his father to ask for his forgiveness. His father wept large tears of despair, asking why he didn't help his own mother. The son responded that she was bigger than them all and should have been able to take care of herself. What he did not know what that she was very pregnant. The siblings all began to weep, forming many streams reaching to the sea.

The law of the tribe said that he could not forgive his son's disgrace, so he had to forsake him forever. Even now, Tibrogargan faces outwards to the sea while his son still hangs his crooked neck, crying. And Beerwah, is still pregnant.


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