11 nights on the Sunshine Coast in October with a 2.5-year-old – where would you stay?

Hi everyone,

We’re planning our first-ever trip to the Sunshine Coast this October and would love some local advice.
We’ll be there for 11 nights with our 2.5-year-old, travelling from South Australia. We’re after a holiday that’s a good balance of:

Beautiful nature and beaches
Relaxation (great cafés, nice accommodation, slower pace)
Fun family-friendly activities for a toddler

At the moment we’re tossing up places like Noosa, Coolum, Mooloolaba and Caloundra, but we’re completely open to suggestions. We’re tossing up between basing ourselves in one spot for the whole time or splitting our trip between two different locations.

We’re already planning to do Australia Zoo and SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, but we’re especially keen to hear about the lesser-known spots that locals love.

A few questions:
Where would you stay for an 11-night trip?
Is 11 nights too long in one location, or would you split it between two towns?
What are the must-do nature experiences with a toddler? (Gentle walks, wildlife, beaches, lookouts etc.)
Any favourite playgrounds, cafés, markets, swimming spots or hidden gems?
Any day trips you’d highly recommend?
Are there any areas you’d avoid for a young family?
We’re not looking for nightlife or ticking off every tourist attraction—we’d much rather have memorable days exploring, swimming, spotting wildlife, eating well and generally slowing down.
If you had 11 nights with a toddler, how would you spend them?

Thanks for your help!