General Information

Medical standards in Australia are among the best in the world.

Overseas visitors should take care to obtain their own medical travel insurance to ensure that they are covered in an emergency. Several Australian-based travel insurers have special cover for visitors which are very much less expensive than travel cover sold other countries.

Visitors from the UK, Italy, Malta Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and New Zealand are entitled to subsidised medical care under reciprocal national health care agreements.

Major public hospitals on the Sunshine Coast include:

Caboolture Hospital, McKean St Caboolture Ph: (07) 5433 8888
Caloundra Hospital, West Tce Caloundra Ph: (07) 5436 8500
Gympie Hospital, 12 Henry St Gympie Ph: (07) 5489 8444
Kilcoy Hospital, 19 Brown St Kilcoy Ph: (07) 5497 1333
Nambour General Hospital, Hospital Rd Nambour Ph: (07) 5470 6600

Private Hospitals and private clinics are also available.

Please note:
Visitors who require treatment for an existing medical condition should carry a letter from their doctor outlining the condition and relative medication requirements. This is especially important if the medication is uncommon or contains  ingredients that may be restricted, such as narcotics. Most medicines are available in Australia but only to those with an offical doctor's prescription. Prescription drugs may only be dispensed are dispensed by a qualified pharmacist.

The Sunshine Coast has two daily newspapers, the local Sunshine Coast Daily, and the Queensland-wide Courier Mail.
Others such as the national The Australian, and popular newspapers from New South Wales and Victoria, are generally available at larger outlets.

Smoking is not permitted in Queensland:

• within 4m of non-residential entrances
• between the flags at patrolled beaches
• within 10m of children's playground equipment open to public
• at any major sport stadium
• at restaurants and in any licensed bar or club where drinks or food are consumed either indoors or outdoors.

$150 on-the-spot fines apply for breaches.