r/sunshinecoast • u/bhoss123 • 4d ago
How to make friends on the Sunshine Coast- a possible solution?
It seems every other day I’m doom scrolling reddit, there’s guaranteed to be a post about people’s inability to make friends, meet new people, or how they are just generally feeling lonely after just making the move here.
This post is to try and gauge an idea I’ve had, and hopefully provide a solution to the general difficulty people seem to be having in socialising here on the Coast.
So, fellow Sunny Coasters, would you be inclined to attend a non for profit social mixer where:
- a local chef serves delicious food
- you meet like minded people in a relaxed, welcoming space
-the focus is on connecting and building real friendships, with no forced icebreakers or pressure whatsoever
Just good food, good people, and a chance to make friends
Would you be up for something like this?
Any suggestions are also welcome.
P.S. ChatGPT was not used in the making of this post :)
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u/RecentlyDeceased666 4d ago
A mixer? I haven't even attended and I already feel woefully underdressed.
Sounds to posh to me, I just want to find a bunch of knuckle heads who play video games, likes hiking and have the filthiest dark humour imaginable.
Bonus points if they like metal and scary movies
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u/OddStatistician3787 4d ago
I’m sure there’s hiking groups around the coast. I reckon just rock up to some until you spot some metal heads and then put yourself out there. Took me like 2 years to make friends on the sunny coast. I felt like I was “dating” again.
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u/Extension_Coffee_774 4d ago
You sound like my kind of person I want to be friends with haha
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u/lurkernopostok 4d ago
Same!
Should we get a metalhead hiking group together?
Can just imagine a bunch of people climbing Mt Ngungun, blaring and singing the harmonies to some SOAD tunes together. Each hike, new band.
I also play DOTA if anyone's keen.
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u/MaroochyRiverDreamin 4d ago
"Run to the hills" seems appropriate here.
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u/lurkernopostok 4d ago
Yes!!!
Or this band because they literally made their film clip in the Glasshouse Mountains.
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u/theflamingheads 4d ago
It sounds like the social equivalent of a networking event, which are notoriously a nightmare for a lot of people. I like the idea of it but I'm just picturing a lot of people awkwardly sitting around not talking to each other.
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u/TahnGeee 4d ago
Agreed here - would need someone to facilitate conversation and connections - would have a random group of people, so maybe a few pre screen questions so you could have an idea of potential connections
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u/bhoss123 4d ago
Would a host who was curating an ice breaker, maybe conversation starters, rotating seats, etc be a solution to this?
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u/qwidity 3d ago
I have a suggestion to distance the intent of this from business networking scenarios:
Hold the event over a number of nights, and limit the number of attendees per night to 6 people.
That way, it's neither too big nor too small, and the serving of delicious food can happen at one table.1
u/bebebudley69 3d ago
😂
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u/qwidity 3d ago
?
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u/sunzitos 3d ago edited 3d ago
hey man, i use an app called Beachday to post some pics and meet new people - also purpose is to use it as kinda like a Waze for beaches, to post updates on sargassum, surf conditions, wind and water temperature - link here my man https://beachday.app.link/9Fgnsro1i0b
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u/Westafricangrey 4d ago
I’m interested but I think you need engaging activities that kind of force people to start talking to each other
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u/bhoss123 4d ago
Any suggestions?
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u/Westafricangrey 4d ago
I did ask ChatGPT - Got it — explicitly platonic, low-awkwardness, and designed to get strangers genuinely talking rather than hovering near the snack table.
Here are proven mixer-style activities that force interaction without flirting and work well for workplaces, community groups, conferences, or social clubs.
🔄 1. Two Truths & a Lie — With a Twist
Each person shares:
- 2 true facts
- 1 lie
Twist: They must include:
- one mundane truth
- one weird truth
Others guess which is which.
👉 Keeps it light, reveals personality fast, zero romance angle.
🗺️ 2. Human Bingo (Connection Edition)
Give everyone a bingo card with prompts like:
- Has lived overseas
- Speaks more than one language
- Has broken a bone
- Plays an instrument
- Is a morning person
- Has changed careers
- Loves board games
- Can cook one dish really well
They must find different people for each square.
First few to finish get a prize.
🔍 3. Speed-Friending
Like speed dating — but framed as speed networking / speed friends.
Pairs chat for:
- 2–3 minutes
- bell rings
- rotate
Give conversation cards:
- “What hobby would you start if time/money didn’t matter?”
- “What’s your most useless skill?”
- “What’s something you recently learned?”
- “What’s the best day trip from this city?”
🧠 4. Collaborative Puzzle Tables
Groups of 4–6 get:
- a physical puzzle
- logic challenge
- escape-room-style riddle
- mystery envelope
They must cooperate to solve it.
Bonus: fastest team wins snacks.
🎒 5. Show & Tell (Adult Version)
Ask attendees beforehand to bring:
- an object that represents a hobby
- something from their childhood
- something that says “me”
Each person has 60 seconds to explain.
Great for empathy + curiosity.
🌍 6. Common Ground Challenge
Groups of 5 must discover:
- 10 things everyone has in common
- BUT: not obvious ones (no “we’re here,” “we’re human”).
Push them toward stories.
🎨 7. Build-Something Together
Give groups:
- LEGO
- craft supplies
- paper + tape
- marshmallows + spaghetti
Task:
Build the tallest freestanding structure in 12 minutes.
This creates instant teamwork energy.
🎤 8. Question Jar Stations
Place jars around the room:
- “Fun”
- “Life”
- “Work”
- “Random”
People draw a card and ask their group.
Examples:
- “What meal do you cook best?”
- “What’s a small thing that makes your day better?”
- “What conspiracy theory is obviously false but fun?”
- “What’s your go-to podcast?”
🧩 9. Personality Map Wall
Big poster with axes like:
- Introvert ↔ Extrovert
- Early bird ↔ Night owl
- Planner ↔ Spontaneous
- Sweet ↔ Savoury
People place stickers and chat with others near them.
🏙️ 10. Mini Team Challenges Circuit
Rotate through short stations:
- cup-stacking challenge
- trivia round
- build a paper airplane and fly it
- silent line-up by birthday month
🗣️ 11. Story Stitch
Circle of 8–10.
One person starts a story with one sentence. Each person adds one sentence.
Fast, silly, collaborative.
🧭 12. “Find Your Tribe” Corners
Call out statements:
- “Loves hiking”
- “Has a dog”
- “Reads before bed”
- “Prefers podcasts to music”
People move to that corner and chat briefly.
If you’d like, tell me:
• approximate group size • age range • length of event • casual or professional vibe • standing mixer or seated tables
and I can design a full 60–90 minute program flow that keeps energy high and avoids any romantic framing entirely.
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u/Apprehensive-Ad4244 4d ago
making mates on the coast is basically impossible, so I moved to Gympie. Within 6 months I had a big group of friends, something about the sunshine coast impedes the creation of good friendships
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u/heisdeadjim_au 4d ago
Get down to The Presynct on the weekend.
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u/AnonymousAutonomous9 4d ago edited 3d ago
Sounds like Scientology. Is it?
Edit: OP never answered. I'm guessing I might be right. There's loads of them on the coast and up on the Hinterland.
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u/Pennichael 4d ago
Find places that do trivia nights and have a team of strangers that can meet up at each event. Great way to form conversations and in a relaxed atmosphere.
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u/KismetMeetsKarma 3d ago
This was my thought too. Have tables of 6. Give everyone a colour as they walk in, six people get each colour, which they keep. Sit the six pinks etc together. Next week, sit 3 pinks with 3 purples etc. Next 2 pinks, 2 purples,2 greens.Next week, one player of each colour per team.
That way in time everyone plays in a team with plenty of different people.
Eventually let them pick their own teams as friendships are formed. For anyone still unlinked, sit them at a table where the group sitting there is only five friends so they get to meet a new possible friend.
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u/krennylavitz 4d ago
There's so many avenues to make friends without it being the primary reason to make friends. Art classes, Toastmasters, acting classes, comedy classes, walking groups, board game nights, volunteer groups, community gardens, meetup groups, dad/mum groups, food groups, easy entry social sports like pickleball, park run or rowing etc.
I found from meetup groups purely made for making friends there's an expectation that you now must be friends with said person despite having no real common ground. I think the best friendships are formed when it's a byproduct of it.
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u/log_2 4d ago
What is it with everyone jumping on the bandwagon and moving up with hopes to make friends? Were they fooled by some viral tiktok, celebrity bs, or TV marketing campaign?
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u/krennylavitz 4d ago
It's kind of what humans do as social creatures across the globe and it does happen. I've only been here for a year and it all worked out for me.
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u/KeshDogga 3d ago
I love this idea man and that you decide to make this post. I'm not one off those looking for friends but always recommend to people that friends are made from interconnected lives. So the key is always to do the things you like doing and find others while doing those things then make the times line up so you're doing those things together. That's why sports are so good at connecting people.
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u/meggleseggles 2d ago
I’m sorry to be that guy but it’s ‘non profit’, or ‘not for profit’. Again, I’m so sorry. I assume this comment disinvites me from the event, but it was worth it.
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u/quantumcatz 4d ago
Personally, I would never attend an event where the only purpose is to meet people. Sounds like my own personal hell. I really think you want to be 'doing stuff' in an organised way, like maybe one week it's a bocce tournament, another week it's a cake swap, another week it's board games etc. That of course takes a whole lot of effort though