The Sunshine Coast suburb of Mountain Creek recorded 15 per cent capital growth in 2012-13, while the median weekly rent increased from $490 to $520, according to figures from Australia Property Investor Magazine.

Units in the suburb of Coomera on the Gold Coast, meanwhile, generated an average rental yield of 5.1 per cent for landlords, making the area another top performer.

The median value of a unit in the suburb was $342,000, while the average weekly rent was $335.

The northern pocket of Coomera - located about 50 kilometres south of Brisbane and 25 kilometres from Surfers Paradise - was an expected addition to the top performers list, said local agent Michelle Parsons from Coronis Real Estate.

"When you take into account the amount of development and infrastructure that's been undertaken in the area, as well as its central location in the northern part of the Gold Coast, it's easy to see why it's such a desirable location," she told API.

In the north Queensland township of Gordonvale, about 20 kilometres south of Cairns, there was 15.5 per cent capital growth last year.

The median house price increased from $276,000 to $319,000.

However, investors still recieved an average rental yield of 5.74 per cent.

Local agent Sharon Vyner of Ray White Cairns South said the area had become popular with families and retirees in search of affordable properties.

"The town is divided into two parts - the old and the new - and divided by the Bruce Highway," Ms Vyner told API.

"There are mostly renovated workers' cottages and Queenslanders, although the Pyramid Estate side of town has a range of acreages and newer, modern homes."

Meanwhile, RP Data's Quarterly Rental Review, released on Thursday, showed the average weekly rent for a unit in Brisbane increased 2.6 per cent to $395 last year.

The median weekly rent for houses in Brisbane remained relatively steady at $400.

However, rental rates are increasing at a lower rate than they have been over the past five years.

Across the capital cities, rental rates remained relatively unchanged over the first quarter of 2014 at $430 per week for houses and $410 per week for unit.

Nationally, over the year to March, rents for houses increased by 1.3 per cent and 2.6 per cent for units.