Caloundra

Where tides meet the northern marine park

Caloundra is a coastal town located in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. During the 2021 census, the population of the town reached 96,305 people.

Coastal geography and boundaries

Situated 90 kilometres north of the Brisbane central business district, the town marks the coastal northern extent of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. To the south, Bribie Island sits across the Pumicestone Passage.

Historical landscape and terrain

The name Caloundra originates from the Gubbi Gubbi language term Cullowundoor, combining Kal Owen for beech tree and Dha meaning place. Historic land surveys from 1883 described the local terrain as sandstone in nature, undulating, and ridgy, carrying heavy timber growth of gum, bloodwood, tea-tree, and oak.

Landscape and Climate

Caloundra is a coastal town situated in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. Positioned 90 kilometres north of the Brisbane central business district, the town marks the coastal northern extent of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

The geography of the area is defined by its coastal features, with Bribie Island located across the Pumicestone Passage to the south. Historically, land surveys dating back to 1883 described the local terrain as sandstone in nature, undulating, and ridgy, featuring heavy timber growth consisting of gum, bloodwood, tea-tree, and oak. The name Caloundra itself originates from the Aboriginal Gubbi Gubbi language term Cullowundoor, where Kal Owen translates to beech tree and Dha signifies a place.

With a recorded population of 96,305 people during the 2021 census, the town's natural proximity to beaches has historically drawn visitors, fostering a landscape shaped by tourism, guest houses, and hotels.

Caloundra is a coastal town situated in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. Positioned 90 kilometres north of the Brisbane central business district, the locality anchors the coastal northern extent of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

The geography of the area is defined by its coastal expanses and waterways, with Bribie Island lying across the Pumicestone Passage to the south. Historical records from land sales in 1883 describe the local terrain as a sandstone landscape that was undulating and ridgy, heavily timbered with gum, bloodwood, tea-tree, and oak. The name itself derives from the Gubbi Gubbi language term Cullowundoor, combining Kal Owen, meaning beech tree, and Dha, meaning place.

By the 2021 census, the population of Caloundra reached 96,305 people. Access to the region is supported by the Caloundra bus station and the Landsborough railway station situated 21 kilometres away, connecting residents and visitors to the broader coastal and metropolitan networks.