New hotels in Mooloolaba

We track two hotels on Mooloolaba's Esplanade: Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, which opened in May 2026 as the first internationally branded new-build hotel on the Sunshine Coast in more than 40 years, and Aria Mooloolaba, a 201-room five-star tower that has cleared council approval but has no confirmed operator or opening date. Both sit on the beachfront strip that anchors this Sunshine Coast town, a short walk from SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and the marina.

What to do

A weekend in Mooloolaba

Spend the morning on Mooloolaba Beach itself (regularly ranked among Australia's best for its golden sand and gentle break, good for swimming, surfing or paddleboarding) then walk the Esplanade's outdoor cafés and boutiques before an early-evening stroll to the "Loo with a View," a public restroom turned photogenic landmark at the beach's northern end. In the evening, the Esplanade's alfresco restaurants and, on Saturdays, the Mooloolaba Beachfront Markets cover dinner with live music.

A full week

With more time, the 20-minute coastal walk from Mooloolaba to Alexandra Headland at dawn is one of the Sunshine Coast's more photographed stretches, and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and the Mooloolaba Marina fill an afternoon. The Maroochy River is a short drive north for a stand-up-paddle outing, and the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Montville and the Blackall Range among its lookout towns, makes for a scenic half-day drive inland. Whale watching cruises depart from Mooloolaba's marina during the migration season, roughly June to November, and the Sunshine Coast's broader run of beach towns (Maroochydore, Coolum and Noosa among them) are all a short drive north for anyone building a longer coastal trip around Mooloolaba as a base.

Where to stay in Mooloolaba

The Esplanade

Both hotels we track sit directly on Mooloolaba's beachfront Esplanade. Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, a 12-storey, 180-room property with a rooftop infinity pool and the Sully's Rooftop restaurant, opened in May 2026 as the first internationally branded new build on the Sunshine Coast in four decades: developed, owned and operated by Queensland's KPAT Hotels under franchise from Minor Hotels. Aria Mooloolaba, a 16-storey, 201-room tower at 1 Mooloolaba Esplanade, cleared its final council approval in 2026 after several redesigns; it's billed locally as the region's first international-standard five-star hotel, though no builder or operator has been confirmed and Aria has committed roughly AUD 9 million to upgrading the adjacent public foreshore as part of its approval.

Which hotel for your trip

Design-led beach stays, available now

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel's clean-lined interiors and rooftop infinity pool put a design-forward option directly on the beachfront today, four decades after the Sunshine Coast's last internationally branded new build.

Travellers waiting on Mooloolaba's five-star

Aria Mooloolaba is the larger, more upscale of the two projects (a roughly $350 million AUD tower with expressions of interest reported from Accor, Hyatt, Marriott and IHG) but with no construction start date, builder or operator confirmed as of mid-2026, it remains one to watch rather than book. First lodged in 2019, the scheme has been redesigned and enlarged several times since, from an originally approved 139 rooms to the current 201, and its final height of 16 storeys (69.85 metres) was only endorsed by Sunshine Coast Council in June 2026.

Why Mooloolaba had gone four decades without a new branded hotel

Avani Mooloolaba's May 2026 opening ended a run of more than 40 years without an internationally branded new build on the Sunshine Coast: a gap locals and developers alike had pointed to as the region's accommodation stock skewed toward older motels, holiday apartments and independent resorts rather than global hotel brands. Aria Mooloolaba's roughly $350 million AUD project, and the interest already expressed by Accor, Hyatt, Marriott and IHG in operating it, suggests Avani's opening may be the first of several rather than an isolated case. As part of its council approval, Aria has also committed to funding around AUD 9 million of upgrades to the adjacent public foreshore: a condition that ties the project's progress to visible public works on the Esplanade itself, giving visitors an early sign of how the development is advancing even before a builder or operator is named.

Frequently asked questions

What is the newest hotel to open in Mooloolaba?

Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel, which opened in May 2026 on the Mooloolaba Esplanade: the first internationally branded new-build hotel on the Sunshine Coast in more than 40 years.

Is Aria Mooloolaba open yet?

No. Aria Mooloolaba has cleared council approval for a 201-room tower on the Esplanade, but as of mid-2026 it has no confirmed builder, operator or opening date.

Does Mooloolaba have a rooftop pool hotel?

Yes: Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel's rooftop level pairs an infinity pool with the Sully's Rooftop restaurant, overlooking the beach.

How far is Mooloolaba from Alexandra Headland?

About a 20-minute walk along the coastal path, a popular route for sunrise.

Which hotels operate on Mooloolaba's Esplanade?

Both hotels we track (Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel and, once it opens, Aria Mooloolaba) sit directly on the Esplanade beachfront strip.