See the wetlands and birdlife of the Pumicestone Passage Marine Park on a cruise from Caloundra. Choose between a sedate morning tea cruise or a bit of excitement on a jet-ski tour with Caloundra Jet Ski.

Spend a day or two exploring the hinterland country behind Caloundra, taking in towns such as Glass House Mountains and Maleny. Depending on your interests, you might want to take a challenging hike in the Glass House Mountains National Park (there is serious rock climbing to be had if that's your thing) or have a gentle stroll and a picnic in the Mapleton Falls or Kondalilla Falls National Park.

Combine the outdoor pursuits with a bit of souvenir shopping or gourmet food tasting in Maleny, or check out a couple of the boutique wineries around the area. If you want to go and see the crocodiles and furry creatures of Australia Zoo at Beerwah — and I really recommend that you do — you need to allow a full day (and wear good walking shoes!).

Spend a day in Mooloolaba, poking around in the rock pools on the beach and doing the cafe thing on the esplanade. Have a seafood feast at the fish markets at the end of Parkyn Parade and see the living versions in the Underwater World aquarium, which doesn't look like much from the outside but has excellent exhibits.

Base yourself for the remainder of your stay in or around Noosa to explore the northern part of the coast.

Spend a day or two on foot around Hastings Street and the Noosa National Park, which bookends Main Beach. There are several short walks in the park, including a coastal loop that takes you to pretty bays and beaches.

If you missed Australia Zoo and wish you hadn't, the zoo operates a free courtesy bus from Noosa, no bookings required.

Have a swim, an ice-cream and maybe a surf lesson, or indulge in some retail therapy in the boutique swimwear, clothing and homewares shops on Hastings Street.

On Wednesday or Saturday morning, take a 10-minute trip to the hinterland town of Eumundi, which has famous markets with more than 500 stalls. The markets can get very crowded but the atmosphere is always good, with live entertainers and lots of people in holiday mode. There are a couple of good cafes opposite the markets if you want to have breakfast when you get there.

Save a full day for a trip to the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park, to see the much-photographed coloured sands of the huge dunes behind the beach.

You can hire a four-wheel drive (make sure you are allowed to take the vehicle onto the beach) and go by yourself, taking the ferry across the river from Tewantin. Drive along the beach, stopping at sights such as the Red Canyon along the way, and head up to Double Island Point, where you can take a heart-pumping walk up to a lighthouse with views for miles.

You can also take a short, sandy track across the headland to a protected lagoon that is perfect for swimming.

The alternative is taking a guided trip with Noosa Everglades Discovery, which takes you up by boat and back by four wheel drive, so you get to see both the beach scenes and the mirrored waters of the everglades.