When the owners of this welcoming Sunshine Beach duplex went looking for a name to reflect its universal charm and appeal, they found the perfect moniker in the glorious inspiration that is Mother Nature. Viva la Sunshine, as it’s perfectly known, forms half of a private complex of two nestled within a suburb that both celebrates the beach and showcases the bush. This outlook is evident from the moment you walk through the front door to claim your temporary home away from home.

With views to a lush green canopy in every direction, the chic interior design makes artful use of windows, shutters and banks of glass to both frame the living, breathing surrounds and bathe the rooms in warm natural sunlight. The resulting ambience is one of chill and relaxation. The mood is enhanced by a palette that’s anchored in white and cleverly enlivened by warm timbers, vibrant and patterned accents and artworks, and beautiful natural tones and textures. 

With three levels of private living, the two bedrooms are positioned apart to ensure plentiful opportunities for rest and retreat. Both open to inviting outdoor spaces – the main to a private balcony complete with sunlounger and the downstairs bedroom to the communal pool zone. The inviting upper level, meanwhile, is ideal for gatherings of family, friends or a combination of the two.

Claiming an open-plan zone that’s equal parts stylish and spacious, this area is centred around a well-provisioned kitchen designed to inspire home chefs to be creative with the area’s bounty of fresh local produce. Their efforts can be served casually at the island bench, at the more formal dining table and chairs or even in the chic and cosy lounge space, which is comfortably furnished for chilling out, conversation or even a night in front of the television.

From here, sliding glass doors open through to an alfresco entertaining zone, furnished with a barbecue, table and chairs that offer an unspoken invitation to summer grilling or winter feasts. Tucked away in the corner is a spiral staircase leading upwards, where the curious can find the property’s real showstopper – a rooftop terrace whose spectacular ocean panorama can be enjoyed over breakfast or brunch under the shade of a sail or evening nibbles at an eight-person table. It’s easy to get lost in the rhythm of the waves and water – until their lullaby draws you streetside for a closer look.

Lying just a few hundred metres away, the beach that gives the suburb its name is one of the coast’s real gems, with smaller crowds but must-have amenities including a patrolled zone and a surf break. Also close by are a surf club, the retailers and restaurants of Sunshine Beach Village and the lush environs of Noosa National Park, where beautiful slices of nature lie in wait behind each new tree trunk.

It’s an alluring combination that means you need not venture far from home, although the tourist hub stretching around Hastings St and Main Beach is only a short distance away, as are the riverside environs of Gympie Terrace. Yet in this little slice of paradise, there’s just one journey that will draw you back time and again – the one from your front door to that amazing rooftop terrace. Here, as the name suggests, it’s all about the glories of Mother Nature being on full display. Enjoy your dose of Viva la Sunshine.