Situated in Melrose Parade, Maroochydore, the Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park is another of the Sunshine Coasts fabulous holiday parks.

Location is the key to success with this holiday venue. It’s only one small sand dune from the fully patrolled Maroochydore Beach, which makes it neatly removed from the busy Sunshine Coast commercial hub going about it’s business in every direction except one, the east, because that’s the Coral Sea, although I must admit there are fishing charters out there as well.

To enjoy a stay at the Park, however, you must travel to it so it’s best if heading along the Bruce Highway (whether going north or south) to look for the Maroochydore turn off, opposite Nambour Connection Road. Both turn offs are well signed with Nambour to the west and Maroochydore to the east.

When on Maroochydore Road, the idea is to remain on it until a major turn off to Aerodrome Road is noted on the right. Options then are to continue across the intersection into Ocean Street, turn right into Duporth Avenue, continue onto The Esplanade, into Cotton Tree Parade and then into Alexandra Parade, (just keep the ocean on the left and you won’t go wrong) to find Melrose Parade right at the end of Alexandra Parade. The Maroochydore Holiday Park, at No. 1, will be straight ahead.

If that sounds a bit complicated, it’s also easy to travel down Aerodrome Road until Fifth Avenue is noted on the left. A turn into Fifth Avenue will see Melrose Place as the first on the right with the Park’s entrance soon in view on the right.

Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park is surprisingly large and is a virtual oasis of serenity in the midst of a very busy world. From within the Park the predominant background noise comes from the soothing sounds of waves on the beach with perhaps some laughter from youngsters having fun on the sand as a pleasant interruption. In short the busy outside world seems a long way off; yet this Holiday Park allows easy access to places to see and areas to enjoy with tourist attractions such as Underwater World at Mooloolaba only minutes away.

Sites – both powered and unpowered – for tents, camper trailers and caravans are certainly in good supply with almost 120 available. These fully grassed camping areas are supplemented by 6 villas (3x2 bedroom another 3 with 1 bedroom) which, because of high demand, might need to be booked a fair way in advance.

Amenities within the Park also include a baby bath area in addition to the usual facilities while a coin-operated laundry is also on hand. Families are free to enjoy the Park’s barbecue facilities that are kept in spotless condition for the next occupant to enjoy. Facilities at the Park Office include LPG refills plus availability of ice while wireless Internet is also available.

Nearby attractions and activities naturally include a visit to the patrolled beach for a swim, or a crack at the fish when conditions are right – more on this topic later.

One of the really handy things about Maroochydore Beach Holiday Park is the proximity to popular dining outlets such as the nearby Surf Club, local RSL and Bowls Clubs. In such a hub of business and tourist activity there are also a large number of other take away or dine-in restaurants, with the outlets located at the renowned Sunshine Plaza shopping centre also well patronised. For folk with young children there are ample children’s playgrounds along the esplanade area adjoining the beach. Note that the Sunshine Coast’s airport at Marcoola is only a few kilometres away.

With a beach access point set up within the Holiday Park it’s not surprising that the beach is one of the main local attractions. Patrolled by surf lifesavers for the swimmer, lapped by the Coral Sea for the angler, it’s a great place to spend time and like many other surf beaches fishing will vary from species to species at different times of the year.

Currently it’s whiting dart and trevally that have been stretching lines for surf anglers while the nearby Maroochy River has been providing good catches of whiting, flathead, bream with the early bird also doing well on quality trevally and jacks around the snags and other hard features. Mud crabs have also been potting well, as per usual at this time of year.

One of the attractions of surf fishing is DIY bait, namely beach worms. The beach at Maroochydore has it’s compliment of worms for the angler with the know how to catch them but as always these critters are easiest caught when seas are small and wave action diminished.

It’s important not to overlook the Maroochy River. There are plenty of places to fish from the shore and if solid waves are crashing onto the main beaches the sheltered river reaches can be a safe bet as a bit of stirred up water coming into the river seems to kick start the fish remarkably well.

I holidayed at the Park last winter and when a southerly buster closed the beach to easy fishing we launched the boat at the Picnic Point ramp (northwest end of Duporth Avenue at David Low Way) and took some decent bream in the river on yabbies I pumped nearby.

In all, a great place for the visiting angler to stay and is particularly suited to family groups. Jason and Nicole Fillipini are the managers and they will do their utmost to make the visitor welcome. Contact details are (07) 5443 1167or on the web at --e-mail address hidden-- .