Queensland is a downsizer’s sweet spot: sunshine and sea breezes, green hinterlands and bayside calm, plus the practical perks of affordability, healthcare and amenities.
The Sunshine Coast continues to dominate in downsizer destinations, with new offerings like Palm Lake Resort in Pelican Waters coming to the market to meet demand. Image: realestate.com.au
With more Australians seeking a simpler, more relaxed lifestyle, the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane’s bayside are emerging as go-to regions for over-50s. Downsizing – not just in square metres but in maintenance and complexity – means greater freedom, fewer chores, and more time for what you love.
Whether it’s hinterland peace, resort luxury, relaxed coastal living, dynamic city-fringe or bayside ease, there’s a community ready to welcome your next chapter.
Sunshine Coast
This south-east Queensland region offers both beachside communities and hinterland charm, each with their own lifestyle appeal.
Maleny, for example, blends rolling green hills, rainforest edges and big-sky views with a relaxed, creative village rhythm set in the hinterland region. Cafés, galleries and weekend markets add an easy social pulse, while the leafy countryside keeps life unhurried and close to nature.
In the township, Maleny Grove – an over-50s community by Reside Communities that is undergoing expansion – offers single-level, low-maintenance homes set among the hillside, with bush walks, shops, parklands and medical services all within easy reach.
The design of this community leans into wellness and simplicity: visiting allied-health support, active social programs and 24/7 emergency response, with a resident clubhouse (pool and gym) and a private village bus in the pipeline to keep cars optional.
For downsizers seeking a boutique village feel without losing convenience, Maleny effortlessly brings together nature, amenity and connection – underpinned by the Sunshine Coast’s strong health and lifestyle infrastructure for calm, connected living.
Maleny Grove in the Sunshine Coast hinterland is expanding its lifestyle amenities. Image: realestate.com.au
On the coast, the canal-side suburb of Pelican Waters in the region’s south combines bushland, waterways and golf-course views to deliver a relaxed, resort-like rhythm with the Caloundra coastline close by.
Palm Lake Resort Pelican Waters places over-50s at the heart of it all, offering low-maintenance living paired with luxury, resort-style facilities such as a clubhouse, bowling green, cinema, craft studio and wellness spaces.
Slated for completion in 2027 but with many homes already complete, the homes here feature open-plan layouts and premium finishes with RV and boat-friendly options while resident services and social programs make everyday life feel like a staycation. For those ready to trade big-home upkeep for connection, ease and waterfront living, this pocket of the Sunshine Coast awaits.
Resort-style amenities are proving attractive to Sunshine Coast downsizers. Image: realestate.com.au
Hervey Bay
Heading north to the Fraser Coast, the seaside town of Hervey Bay appeals for its laid-back pace, coastal accessibility and growing reputation as one of Australia’s most popular downsizer destinations.
Long foreshore paths, beachside parks and a strong community network create an easy balance of lifestyle and practicality that keeps drawing over-50s.
In the suburb of Urraween, Liven Beach Road captures that spirit with modern, low-maintenance homes and resort-style facilities including a pool, tennis court, cinema and clubhouse, designed for active, social living.
This community – which is under construction and set to be completed in 2029 – is all about day-to-day ease, with shops, cafés and the Fraser Coast Hospital Precinct just minutes away, reinforcing the region’s blend of low-maintenance, convenience and connection. For those seeking coastal living without the rush, Hervey Bay offers true ease by the sea.
On Queensland's coast, Hervey Bay offers a laid back pace by the beach. Image: Getty
Gold Coast
Synonymous with surf, skyline and sunshine, the Gold Coast remains one of Australia’s most sought-after lifestyle destinations, offering that rare mix of beach walks, golf courses, major shopping centres and world-class hospitals all within reach.
For active downsizers wanting connection and resort-style living without giving up excitement, developments like GemLife Gold Coast at Pimpama are setting a new benchmark. Set on an elevated site with views toward Surfers Paradise and surrounded by natural bushland, the secure, masterplanned community pairs architect-designed homes with next-generation amenities – from the new $22.9 million, three-storey country club with rooftop bar, cinema and golf simulators to pools, fitness and wellness spaces.
It’s a vibrant, luxury setting for over-50s who want energy, community and convenience – where downsizing means simplifying life, not experiences.
Gold Coast downsizer communities like GemLife Pimpama are upping the amenity, with offerings like a rooftop bar, cinema and more. Image: realestate.com.au
The Redlands
Just south-east of Brisbane, Redland Bay and neighbouring Victoria Point, in the city of Redland, offer the best of both worlds – calm bayside living with easy access to shops, parks and services.
Sanctuary Victoria Point, brings that lifestyle together in an over-50s community planned for 225 single-level homes across more than 18 hectares of bushland, where residents can enjoy leafy walks and native fauna while remaining within reach of Brisbane and the islands.
The design of these homes focuses on low-maintenance living in a secure, gated setting, while a proposed clubhouse precinct adds social and wellness drawcards – think bowling green, outdoor pool and flexible function spaces.
The model emphasises financial clarity too: no stamp duty or exit fees, and residents retain 100% of capital gains.
For downsizers wanting bush-and-bay tranquillity without losing urban convenience, Brisbane’s broader bayside corridor makes connected living feel effortless.
For a coastal lifestyle in close reach of Brisbane, many downsizers are choosing the city of Redland. Image: realestate.com.au
Are you interested in learning more about new downsizer communities? Check out our dedicated New Homes section.
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