Peregian Beach runs uninterrupted from Coolum in the south to Sunshine Beach in the north — about fifteen kilometres of open Pacific Ocean, most of it empty most of the time.
Where to swim
Always between the flags. Peregian SLSC patrols the beach directly in front of the village daily in the Queensland summer school holidays, and on weekends year-round. Outside those hours the beach is unpatrolled — swim inside your ability, know that surf conditions change quickly, and pay attention to the flags.
Reading the surf
This is an open-ocean beach break, so it shifts with the wind and swell. The best days are a light offshore westerly with a small-to-moderate south-east swell. In an onshore or a big south-easterly, the water gets bumpy and rips form quickly — swim closer to the club.
Serious learners should head to Noosa First Point on the tail of a small swell, or Coolum on a clean small day. Peregian is a better beach to be at than to learn on.
Tides and the daily rhythm
A rising tide is often the friendliest time to swim between the flags. Low tide reveals long stretches of firm sand — best for walks, running, or rolling out a paddle. The two-hour window either side of a low tide is when Peregian genuinely feels endless.
Walks
- North to Sunshine Beach — roughly an hour each way along the sand, dune paths in and out. Get a coffee at Sunshine Beach at the halfway point.
- South to Marcus Beach and Coolum — around forty minutes to Marcus, another twenty to Coolum's edge. Firm sand at low tide.
- The dune loop — up the beach access, along Kingfisher Drive, back through the village green. Twenty minutes. Ideal after breakfast.
What to bring
- Beach chairs and towels are stocked at the house.
- Rash tops and hats for young children — the Queensland sun is stronger than it looks.
- A drybag for phones and keys.
- An umbrella if you're planning a long day between 11 and 3.
The beach at your back door doesn't quite prepare you for what it feels like to actually walk out onto it.
The house on the beach
Villa Villa Coola opens onto a private beach path — no road, no car park, no lugging chairs a kilometre from the nearest space. See The Beach for photographs, and the home page for how the house sits in relation to it.