Coolum Beach is a beachside town on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia and is also the beach around which the town is based. The name is derived from the local Aboriginal word gulum or kulum, meaning "blunt" or "headless", referring to the shape of Mount Coolum, which has no peak. Mount Coolum dominates the landscape, and can be seen from most of Coolum. A half hour bush walk winds its way up Mount Coolum. Coolum Beach is a popular day trip and holiday destination. The town is focused around the beach which is patrolled by life savers and offers swimming and surfing. Parks, a boardwalk, esplanade shops, and the surf life saver club surround the beach. Over the last five years Coolum Beach has seen heavy development, with new buildings for retail business and holiday apartments.