As recently as 2005, parking at Maroochydore Airport was free. Now the airport, which became the “Sunshine Coast Airport” in 2010, is constructing covers over its car parks. As of the end of July, long term car park #1 is closed and scheduled to reopen at the end of September.

Never mind parking. Most people arriving at the airport rent a car to visit holiday destinations such as Alexandra Headland, Noosa Heads, Mooloolaba and Caloundra on Queensland’s “Sunshine Coast” on Australia’s northeast coast.

There are plenty of things to do on the Sunshine Coast.

Visit Underwater World, with eight unique zones, such as Touch and Tell, where you can touch sting rays, sea stars, sea cucumbers and a brown banded bamboo shark.

In the Weird and Wonderful zone, find out about Cow Fish, Pineapple Fish, Lionfish, Stonefish and Rabbitfish.

Check out the seals on Seal Island, where, if you’re lucky, you’ll get a kiss from a seal.

Don’t forget to visit the Otter Empire, where Mayhem, Kaos and Lou keep their trainers on their toes.

Over at Fresh and Freaky, you’ll meet Marge, a freshwater crocodile, a giant barramundi (a river fish) and a sawfish, a relative of the string ray having a long, toothy snout that looks like a saw.

At Billabongs and Backyards, you’ll get a chance to explore the Sunshine Coast’s native fauna, such as the Queensland lungfish and the archerfish (known for its ability to shoot water droplets from its mouth to take down land-based insects and other small animals).

Sharks will surround you in an underwater tunnel at the Sharks Alive zone, and at the Crawley Creatures zone, you’ll learn all about the giant Japanese spider crab, robber crabs and Christmas Island red crabs.