Caloundra, Australia

On the coast 20km east of Landsborough – there's a local bus from Landsborough train station – CALOUNDRA just manages to hold on to its seasidey atmosphere, and as such is unique along the Sunshine Coast, where busy highways and beachfront overdevelopment have long since put paid to this elsewhere. Even so, there are plenty of towering apartment blocks, though central Bulcock Street has only low-rise buildings and is lined with trees. Caloundra's beaches are very pleasant: the closest is at Deepwater Point, just two streets south of Bulcock Street – Shelley Beach and Moffat Beach, about 1km distant, are much quieter. The bus terminal is on Cooma Terrace, one street south of Bulcock. For accommodation try Caloundra City Backpackers, 84 Omrah Ave (Tel:07/5499 7655; Price: hostel $25, Price: hotel $61-75), which is clean, well run, and just two minutes from Deepwater Point. Estoril, at 38 McIlwraith St (Tel:07/5491 5988, Web: www.estoril.com.au ; Price: $161-200), offers self-catering apartments sleeping four in a high-rise block right next to Moffat Beach, and has a huge pool.