Kawana Waters is an urban centre on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, between Caloundra and Maroochydore along the Coral Sea coast. It was originally the estate development name and has passed into common usage, but it is not officially a town nor a locality. The official suburbs (listed below) are connected by the Nicklin Way arterial road. It is sometimes abbreviated to Kawana, which is a suburb of Rockhampton.

Many shopping and sporting facilities, including Kawana Shoppingworld are located in the Kawana Waters estate area.

Geography

Kawana Waters is a narrow urban area bounded roughly by Mooloolah River to the north and northwest, the ocean to the east and Currimundi Lake to the south.

The Kawana Waters urban centre consists of the following suburbs:

• Birtinya
• Bokarina
• Buddina
• Minyama
• Parrearra
• Warana
• Wurtulla

History

According to Rex Ingamells, Kawana is an Aboriginal word meaning wildflowers. Construction work on Kawana Island commenced in 1960, with Nicklin Way officially opened in 1965. The area was officially named Kawana Waters on 1 November 1968, having previously been known as Kawana Island.

Earthmoving activities conducted during the development of the area uncovered more than 100 pieces of unexploded ordnance between 1970 and 1995. They were remnants of World War II live-fire training exercises.

Along with a number of other regional Australian newspapers owned by News Corp Australia, the Kawana/Maroochy Weekly newspaper ceased publication in June 2020.

Transport

The suburbs within the Kawana Waters estate area are served by Kinetic Group, who operate a bus interchange at Kawana Shoppingworld. Bus routes 600–619 connect Kawana Waters with Caloundra, Maroochydore, Buderim, Landsborough and Nambour.

Landsborough and Nambour stations on the Nambour / Gympie North Line offer regular services to Brisbane, operated by QR Citytrain. There are also coach services from Kawana Waters to Brisbane Airport.

Population

Census populations for the Kawana Statistical Local Area have been recorded since 1981 but covers more than just the area known as the Kawana Waters estate:

Year	Population
1981	5,261
1986	9,265
1991	14,393
1996	16,389
2001	17,041
2006	20,319
2011	22,593