The Sunshine Coast area is a favorite tourist haunt; and there is probably no better time to visit than during the Christmas period. You will notice the warmth and great hospitality of the people of Sunshine Coast immediately you arrive. Tourists are attracted not just by the beauty of the sandy and sunny beaches that stretch along the coastal line, but by the large number of interesting activities one can participate in. Christmas time all over the world is marked by a lot of shopping so when you do arrive at Sunshine Coast, one of the things you will be looking for is a place to do your shopping in order to pick up that souvenir as proof that ‘I was there'!

However, first things first; before you get to the shopping aspect of your vacation, there are two main things that any tourist must be comfortable about before they visit anywhere. The first is the travel arrangements and the second, which is probably even more important, is accommodation. It is on the reliability and diversity of the accommodation that Sunshine Coast continues to attract return visitors each Christmas.

When it comes to Sunshine Coast accommodation, the number of alternatives is broad. This is why before you travel, it is important that you determine the factors that will define the place you intend to stay. The factors are cost, ambience, convenience (relative to places you would like to visit while at Sunshine Coast), cuisine etcetera. In a nutshell, you will be able to find Sunshine Coast accommodation that can perfectly suits your need.

Now going back to the shopping alternatives, there are a number of markets at the Sunshine Coast. However, there are three major ones: Coolum, Eumundi and Nambour. If you are looking for authentic Australian made goods, these markets are just the place for you. If you are unfamiliar with where either one of these markets are located, do not worry; just contact the reception at whichever Sunshine Coast accommodation facility you will be staying in.

The Sunshine Coast can be hot at Christmas, ranging from 25 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees on average. So shopping in air-conditioned major shopping centres is the way to go where the outside temperature is put on hold until you leave. The Sunshine Coast has a number of air-conditioned centres including Kawana Shopping World at Buddina with 110 stores including Big W, BiLo, Woolworths and 1700 free car parks which are mostly shaded. Then there's Noosa Fair Shopping Centre at Noosa, the Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore, which is the largest on the Sunshine Coast with Coles, KMart, Myer and Target plus 220 specialty stores as well as a 12 screen cinema and plenty of restaurants.

Most shops these days are air-conditioned for your comfort, and so are restaurants, so there's no need to feel the heat until you stop shopping and venture to the beach to get your tan and take a dip in the aquamarine blue ocean.