Real estate

The report: Christine Mount on why the Sunshine Coast is winning over ultra-prime holiday home buyers

Interview by Annie Asistio

Christine Mount, founder of Luxe Coastal Property Buyers, the leading buyer’s agent for prestige homes that offers bespoke property and lifestyle tours spanning Noosa, the Sunshine Coast and Byron Bay, shares her insights into the trajectory of Sunshine Coast’s prestige property market. Once primarily viewed as a holiday destination, the region has grown into one of Australia’s most sought-after markets for second homes and ultra-prime properties. Mount highlights that this appeal is driven by a combination of factors, including scarcity of high-end waterfront properties, architectural excellence, commanding views and access to world-class amenities. In particular, the Noosa area is increasingly attracting buyers year-round, as its lifestyle offerings, wellness-focused environment, and connected hinterland and coastal enclaves makes it a destination for both long-term residents and multi-generational holiday-home owners.

This is part of a series of interviews for our holiday homes feature, go further with the Holiday Market.

The trend in the ultra-prime space is clear, prestige property continues to outperform other sectors in Australia. This is continuing through 2025, and we expect it to persist into 2026.

So what does that mean for Sunshine Coast? Ultra-prime property is generally defined as properties over AU$5 million that have key attributes such as water frontage, strong design, turnkey condition and proximity to amenities.

The trajectory of Sunshine Coast’s prestige property market

Over the last 15 years, these ultra-prime properties in Sunshine Coast have achieved growth of around 16 per cent per annum, on a compounded basis. In Noosa’s more prestigious waterfront areas, growth has typically ranged from about 12 to 16 per cent per annum. To put this into context, the Sunshine Coast region overall has recorded extremely strong growth of up to around 13.3 per cent in the past 12 months. While the region may have outperformed over the short term in the lower price brackets, the 12 to 16 per cent range compounded growth reflects the scarcity of Noosa’s luxury property market’s average performance over the longer 35-year period.

Lot 50 Picture Point Crescent, Noosa Heads

A rare sprawling land parcel with water views at Picture Point Crescent, Noosa Heads, Australia. Top: A pavilion-style Noosa hinterlands compound in Beckmans Rd, Sunshine Coast.

Prices have also shifted in recent years. In the Noosa area, we are now seeing record sales of around AU$30 to AU$34 million. A sale in the tightly held Witta Circle, for example, achieved approximately AU$30 million. Record land sales are also notable, at around AU$17 million for roughly 6,535 sqft and these values are still rising for rare land parcels with expansive water views.

Looking ahead, this strong historical performance is set to continue, supported by the area’s limited waterfront stock and unique lifestyle appeal.

In 2026, I see continued demand, which will keep increasing over time due to the scarcity of waterfront properties in this small postcode. Noosa is internationally renowned. People from all over the world know Noosa and Sunshine Beach. It’s really the scarcity of quality waterfront stock or properties with commanding views that drives demand.

You also have access to an affluent environment, world-class restaurants and you’re only about an hour and a half from Brisbane Airport. All these elements combined will maintain strong demand in the area.

This local affluence and amenity, combined with extraordinarily rare, generational land acquisitions—such as Picture Point Crescent, Noosa Heads, positioned on the coveted north-facing ridge with panoramic water views from its iconic vantage point—presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity. It allows a discerning buyer to secure a truly irreplaceable piece of Noosa, unlikely to be offered again for many decades. This is a genuine legacy purchase, offering complete control over architectural design, incorporating privacy and the ability to align the property seamlessly with long-term family goals and multi-generational vision.

Who today’s Sunshine Coast buyers are and what they value

The buyer profile on the Sunshine Coast is primarily Australian, made up of well-travelled individuals who, in many cases, have been expats. They understand how special the area is. There are also high-profile Australians who have purchased here, as well as people of international renown, who typically buy properties for entertainment or lifestyle.

We also have the smart-money buyers, who are often entrepreneurs or people who have worked in finance industries around the world. This international exposure and professional background naturally inform what these buyers seek in a property.

A contemporary Noosaville riverfront residence designed by renowned local designer Paul Clout.

In terms of what buyers look for, architecturally designed residences by renowned designers consistently hold appeal. In Noosa, that could be the likes of Paul Clout Design, who designed “Amar” Hinterland retreat and a Noosa riverfront retreat, and Chris Clout. Several concepts for Picture Point have been exclusively envisioned by Chris Clout, offering a glimpse into the architectural style and possibility of a future home unlike any other.

As a result, it’s very much the high-end architectural design paired with incredible views that gets traction, along with privacy by design. In some of these homes, private berths are included on the Noosa Sound and Noosa Waters.

The rise of multifunctional holiday homes

As a holiday destination, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast generally are becoming more renowned, and more in-demand year-round. Previously, peak periods were mainly the September and Christmas school holidays, with some downtime in between.

This shift is partly due to a growing number of full-time residents, but it also reflects the rising demand for wellness-led destinations. As a UNESCO biosphere, Noosa has benefited from tourism marketing that emphasises sustainability and wellbeing, such as conservation initiatives, coastal protection programmes, wellness retreats and eco-tourism, further elevating its global profile.

That evolution has also reshaped who is choosing to live here. Pre-covid, Noosa was largely seen as a holiday and retirement destination. Since covid, however, the rise of remote work has attracted entrepreneurs who now use Noosa as a primary base. While they still travel domestically or internationally, this segment simply didn’t exist in the same way before. Many now have a long-term foothold here, with families spending significant portions of the year in residence.

“Amar” Modern Noosa Hinterland retreat with panoramic mountain views in Eumundi.

Alongside this, there remains a cohort of absentee owners who occupy their properties for several months annually, with caretakers managing the homes in their absence.

These changing residency patterns have had a direct impact on how properties are used. Holiday letting, in particular, is tightly regulated by council through existing use rights. Even so, properties, whether mid-tier or luxury, that hold approval for holiday rentals can command a premium of around ten per cent. Demand is strong, but approved homes remain scarce.

Buyer interest is also being shaped by geography. Many are drawn to the contrast between beachfront and coastal properties, and the quieter hinterland enclaves. Traditionally, the latter was more closely associated with Byron Bay or the Gold Coast, but buyers are increasingly recognising that the Noosa hinterland offers the same appeal, and in some cases more. It is slower-paced, more affordable, and still just a 20-minute drive from the beach.

Here, buyers can find resort-style homes with a strong focus on wellness, without sacrificing access to town amenities. Unlike Byron Bay, which lacks connectivity until reaching the Gold Coast or Brisbane, Noosa is supported by a network of small villages throughout both the hinterland and coastal areas.

As a result, for destination buyers, it’s not a question of hinterland versus coast or waterfront. Often, it’s the same buyer ultimately seeking a distinctive property that can be enjoyed across multiple generations.

Go further with luxury property listings in Australia.

Read next:

— Latest listings —