Holiday houses in Eumundi

This historic timber-logging town sits in the lush hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, just off the Bruce Highway. Memorial Drive, the main street through town, is lined with pretty timber buildings and massive fig trees, some of which were planted in memory of locals who died fighting in World War I. The town is perhaps best known for its Eumundi Markets, held under a canopy of fig trees on Memorial Drive each Wednesday and Saturday morning. It’s one of the country’s leading artisan markets, with stall holders selling everything from arts-and-craft objects and jewellery to wellness products, homewares, and fresh produce. Beyond Eumundi’s leafy centre there are plenty of small towns, state forests, and national parks to explore, as well as the long sandy beaches of the Sunshine Coast.

Being so close to Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is a popular holiday destination all year round. While the hinterland isn’t as busy as the coast during the summer break — from mid-December until the end of January — and other school holiday periods, it still gets its fair share of visitors during this time. When the markets are running, from early morning to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you’ll find it hard to park anywhere close to the town centre. From around November through early April, you’ll experience hot, humid days and warm nights, with sometimes heavy rain from January to April. Winters here are mild and dry, ideal weather for exploring the nearby forests and national parks.

Eumundi Conservation Park

A vital corridor of undisturbed bushland for the region’s wildlife, this park is less than 10 minutes by car from Eumundi town centre. Explore the patchwork of sheltered sections of rainforest, moist tall eucalyptus forest, and open dry bush on foot, on a mountain bike, or on horseback.

Wappa Falls

A favourite with locals, this hidden waterfall and swimming hole is a 15-minute drive south to Wappa Dam, then a short walk to a bend in the South Maroochy River. From the falls, the river leaves Mapleton Conservation Park and feeds into the dam. Pack a picnic to enjoy at Wappa Park on the waterfront below the falls.

Pomona

A laid-back country town 15 minutes from Eumundi, Pomona is home to a silent-movie cinema and the regional Noosa Shire Museum. Take a heritage walk of the handsome timber houses and civic buildings in town, or tackle the demanding hike to the top of Mount Cooroora in Tuchekoi National Park, starting right outside town. If you’ve chosen to do without a car during your stay, Pomona is just two stops down the train line from Eumundi.