New Year, New Adventures: Explore the Sunshine Coast from your Pelican Waters oasis.

Thank goodness Roy Henzell Senior saw the potential in a somewhat swampy parcel of land back in 1945 and snapped up the 1000-acre lot for £1000. 

And thank goodness his son, Bevan, had an epiphany in 1970 to turn the swampy waterways into waterfront allotments – the canal estate that we now know as Pelican Waters.

Because without those two events, Endeavour Foundation’s spectacular $2.5 million Waterfront Prize Home would be nothing more than a shimmering mirage.

And while its white-washed walls do shimmer (thanks to the reflections from the sparkling water it overlooks), this stunning modern Mediterranean home is most certainly real and will most certainly be won by one lucky ticket holder come February 2024 when the lottery is drawn.  

Tucked away in its own little fairy-tale world just south of Caloundra, Pelican Waters has become a tight knit, thriving community where the locals really do know they’ve struck the jackpot. But don’t tell anyone. 

Live or holiday in your own Pelican Waters oasis and you’ll not only have an internationally renowned, Greg Norman designed, 18-hole golf course at your disposal, but also the waters of Moreton Bay where you can take advantage of the direct ocean access to Moreton Island and beyond. But more about that later.

With a base in the southern reaches of the Coast, you’ll have at your fingertips one of the loveliest and most interesting sections of coastline along the entire Sunshine Coast. 

Of course, there’s the stunning Caloundra headland, topped with iconic Norfolk pines, which makes a fantastic vantage point for spotting migrating whales or the passing cruise ships that seem almost close enough to touch. 

Then there’s the buffet of beaches Caloundra has to offer, from white sand surfer magnets to rockpool wonderlands. There’s literally one for every wind direction, season, and mood. 

But what’s really special about this area is the ever-changing Pumicestone passage which separates Caloundra from Bribie Island with varying degrees of success thanks to the eternally shifting sands. 

Since swells from ex-tropical cyclone Seth carved a passage through the island a couple of years ago, you can now enjoy two Bribie Islands for the price of one. 

Drop a stand-up paddle board in the water at Golden Beach, which is just five minutes from your Pelican Waters address, and you can paddle across the protected waters to explore the new ‘North Bribie’. 

Or, if you’re up for a decent paddle, you could drop your paddleboard or kayak into the canal right on your doorstep and do the roughly 2km paddle out to Pumicestone Passage. 

For the boaties, or future boaties, your access to the Bay begins just 700-metres up the road at the Pelican Waters Marina. Their new dry stack storage option (which caters for boats up to 12 metres long) makes getting in and out of the water the most relaxing part of a day on the Bay. Your boat can be launched and ready to go with just an hour’s notice – all while you enjoy a coffee or brunch at the café. 

Back on land, your land adventures can begin at your back gate with direct access to the waterfront walkway. 

Stroll around to Bell’s Creek, just a stone’s throw from your Pelican Waters base, and you can access the epic Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway which stretches for 73 kilometres all the way to Coolum. There’s a fun school holiday adventure. 

For more off-the-beaten-track hiking adventures, those iconic Glass House Mountains you can see in the distance from Caloundra offer a lifetime of hiking and climbing opportunities for all skill levels. If you’re not familiar with the area, the easy hike up Mount Ngungun is a great way to get your bearings and the reward of 360-degree views far exceeds the effort required to get up there. 

The hinterland towns of Maleny and Montville are also an easy 40-minute drive away via the historic township of Landsborough which lies directly inland from Caloundra. Once you’re up on the range there’s a lot to discover with a huge creative community of makers and producers keen to share their handmade delights with you. There are also plenty more hiking trails to explore including the much-loved Kondalilla Falls circuit. 

When you take it all in, it’s easy to see why Pelican Waters and the southern Sunshine Coast is a special part of the world. 

Looks like that father and son were onto something all those years ago.

Your Pelican Waters adventure starts here.

Of course, all the adventures we’ve talked about are all dependent on you summoning up the effort to leave your $2.5M waterfront oasis when you win. But when you see this amazing modern Mediterranean Prize Home, there’s a good chance you may just decide to stay in. 

Simply purchase a ticket online or come and explore this modern Mediterranean masterpiece in person. You can find directions and address details here. Or if you just can’t wait, take a virtual tour now. 

And it’s nice to know that when you choose to purchase an Endeavour Foundation lottery ticket, you’re helping to provide opportunities for people with disability so they can learn life skills, live independently and, all in all, live their best life.