If those 365 days of pounding the concrete has had you dreaming of a coastal escape, swoop on the opportunity to take a leisurely roadtrip these Christmas holidays. Just over an hour north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is no longer the sleepy coastal region behind the times but rather an evolving hub of on-trend street-food joints, health-oriented cafes and seafood restaurants.

Time it right and you could find yourself at the monthly Nights on Ocean market with beer in hand. The event spills over Ocean Street in Maroochydore from 5:00–9:00 pm on the second Friday of every month, filling the space with art, craft, live entertainment, pop-up bars and food stalls. Should the belly rumbles hit hard, Ocean Street also offers a wealth of dining and drinking options, from South American share plates at Machu Picchu Bar & Restaurant to $10 gourmet brioche burgers, crispy onion rings and salted caramel shakes at Hello Harry. The recently opened OS3 Restaurant boasts chefs hailing from two-hat restaurants Tamarind and Stokehouse Q, who are dishing up steamed pork belly buns and vodka-spiked bubble teas at their 12-week Asian hawker-inspired pop-up, Junk. When dinner is out of the way, grab an ale in The Post Office beer garden and catch a gig at live-music venue Solbar.

Around the corner in Cotton Tree, Harvest Breads dishes up appetite-busting sandwiches to go, which are the perfect picnic essentials for a laze in the sunshine across the road at Black Swan Park. A short stumble down the road, Ba Vigo is the spot for an early evening wine and a few Spanish share plates, while Cafe Envy fills bellies with nutritious meals and epic juices and smoothies in both Cotton Tree and Mooloolaba.

Also in Mooloolaba, you’ll find Spice Bar perched on the Esplanade, dishing up degustation banquets as well as share plates such as Mooloolaba karaage king prawns, Hervey Bay scallops and kangaroo bulgogi. Further down the road, Ground Organics will nourish your festive-season hangovers with locally sourced, organic breakfast and lunch dishes, freshly made juices and certified fair trade coffee. Around the corner, Your Place Espresso & Bar and its neighbour Next Door Pizzeria bring the crowd to Brisbane Road for well-priced eats and a great selection of cocktails. About ten minutes’ drive away, B-Fresh Market Cafe Deli in Warana serves up a wholesome range of smoothies, cold-pressed juices and healthy snacks, alongside deli goods and gourmet pantry items. Pause at The Pocket in Moffat Beach for a quick coffee, craft beer or a coconut cocktail, or venture further south for fresh, local and 100% organic fare from Greenhouse Cafe in Caloundra. If you’re craving more of the healthy stuff, head up the hill to The Shak Organic Cafe & Wine Bar in Buderim or along the coast to New Earth Cafe in Coolum. Staying north, Wahoo Seafood and Pitchfork in Peregian Beach are perfect for a relaxing dinner, or plant your bum on a seat right on the water at Bistro C or Berardo’s Bistro in Noosa.

However, if your compass is pulling you south from Brisbane, check out our new baby The Weekend Edition Gold Coast to track down the best bites and beverages.