Just an hour north of Brisbane we come to the fabulous Sunshine Coast, taking in the coastline from Caloundra to Noosa and all the lush countryside of the hinterland.
The Sunshine Coast has long been a favourite for Queensland family holidays. The long white sandy beaches are enough to satisfy most, but then there’s beautiful hinterland landscapes, delicious fresh produce and heaps of attractions for kids.
Need any more reasons to book your next Sunshine Coast holiday? Here are 27 fantastic things to do.
27 things to do on the Sunshine Coast with kids
1. Pick your own strawberries - Elimbah and Bli Bli
Winter is strawberry season on the Sunshine Coast and we promise you strawberries never taste better – or sweeter – than those freshly picked with your own two hands. Choose from Rolin Farms in Elimbah or McMartins Strawberry Farm at Bli Bli, which also serves up award-winning strawberry ice cream. Strawberry season runs from June to November, and PYO (Pick Your Own) is the way to go for maximum flavour!
2. Aussie World amusement park - Palmview
Aussie World and the iconic Banana Bender Pub offer a fun-filled day out with oodles of themed attractions, rides and games. Every family member will have a blast here, from the tiny tots having their first amusement park experience to the teen thrill seekers. Catering to more mature tastes, the park has continued its roll-out of thrill rides with the SX360 and a new rollercoaster. If you pick the right time to visit, you can take your little ones to a Tiny Tots event, which offers three hours of fun for just $20.
3. Head out on a Saltwater Eco Cruise - Mooloolaba
At Saltwater Eco Tours budding sailors of all ages can feel the grit of a 100-year old timber ketch underfoot, as a master storyteller narrates the punchline to a 10,000-year old creation story. The two-hour sailing trip offers laid back fun and dreamy views of the mansions that line one of Mooloolaba’s most popular waterways.
4. Hike the rugged Glass House Mountains
The volcanic peaks of the Glass House Mountains rear steeply from the coastal plains just inland from the Sunshine Coast. There are rainforests, waterfalls and dramatic views, as well as cute towns aplenty. If you’re after a short stroll, try the 15-minute walk through eucalypt forest, giving fantastic views of Mt Beerwah. The circuit around Tibrogargan is popular with families, allowing you to take in the view from every angle (allow two hours). Mount Ngungun is another popular summit walk.
5. Have a submarine adventure - Mooloolaba
Dive up to 30 metres below the ocean’s surface onboard a fully submersible Yellow Submarine. Down Under Submarines is offering the tours from Mooloolaba in the hybrid SUBCAT-30 vessel, which can also travel on the water’s surface like a catamaran.
Participants are taken below the surface 1.5 nautical miles out from Point Cartwright. During the dive experience an onboard guide provides commentary about the submarine and surrounding marine life, with 14 circular windows offering visibility of up to 30 metres underwater and video monitors providing real-time footage of the ocean around you from the four cameras located on the sub’s exterior.
The Submarine Dive Experience has a dive time of around 30 minutes plus 20 minutes surface travel, while the Yellow Submarine Cruise lasts for an hour at sunset, just outside Mooloolaba’s main beach or along sheltered canals, depending on the weather conditions. The experience is available for families with kids aged over two and above 90cm tall.
6. Ride the historic Mary Valley Rattler - Gympie
Hop on board a restored steam train at the historic Gympie Station, between the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast, and take in the scenery of the region on a fun-filled ride on the Mary Valley Rattler.
Run by a not-for-profit organisation, the journey takes you through the picturesque town of Dagun to the historic village of Amamoor, where you can jump out and explore. The train then turns around on a turntable and heads back to Gympie Station, which is housed in an old Queenslander railway building.
Learn about the stories of the old Mary Valley Railway Line at the historical display, and grab a bite at The Rusty Rails Café before perusing the train-themed treasures and local specialty products at the gift shop. The three-hour experience is wheelchair accessible and you can even bring your furry friend along with the recently introduced Pets on Board service (bookings required).
7. Mary Caincross Scenic Reserve - Maleny
The Discovery Centre at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in Maleny includes an elevated viewing platform, boardwalk and Rainforest Education Centre housing a great selection of interactive exhibits and multi-sensory experiences. The reserve itself comprises 55 hectares of sub-tropical rainforest overlooking the Glass House Mountains National Landscape, gifted to council in 1941 by the Thynne sisters, in honour of their mother, Mary.
8. Australia Zoo - Beerwah
The late Steve Irwin made Australia Zoo famous worldwide, and his family is continuing his legacy with the conservation-focused attraction at Beerwah on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Watch a massive saltie launch a strike from the water’s edge at the Wildlife Warriors Show, and see ring-tailed lemurs and an incredible three-storey tree house.
Venture behind-the-scenes at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital on Bindi’s Island, where a team of vets provides lifesaving treatment to sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife. You can also visit the Tiger Temple to see Sumatran and Bengal tigers hanging out by the pool or interacting with their keepers. The zoo’s conservation projects are helping to protect species, from tigers in Sumatra and cheetahs in Africa, to saltwater crocodiles and koalas in Australia.
9. SEA LIFE Mooloolaba Aquarium - Mooloolaba
Kiss a seal or swim with a shark at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium. It’s home a massive Oceanarium tunnel where you can walk amongst thousands of marine and freshwater animals without getting wet.
10. Climb Mt Tinbeerwah in Tewantin National Park
Tewantin National Park is another great place for walking and hiking on the Sunshine Coast. For an easy scenic trail, head to the summit of Mt Tinbeerwah, an easy 1km return hike. You can also catch the Sunny Coast’s most stunning sunset views from the lookout point partway up the mountain — it’s accessible for prams and wheelchairs. You can also find the Sunshine Coast’s best mountain biking trails in the surrounding national park.
11. Eumundi Markets - Eumundi
The Sunshine Coast has plenty of markets to explore, so why not start with an early morning call at the Eumundi Markets? In the historic hinterland town of Eumundi, just 20 kilometres from Noosa Heads, you’ll find colourful stalls under giant shady fig trees laden with just-picked local produce, home-made preserves, funky clothes, jewellery and artworks. Eumundi Markets is held every Saturday (7am to 2pm) and Wednesday (8am to 2pm) and as well as great shopping and fab food there is plenty of entertainment for the kids.
12. 4WD on the Great Beach Drive - Noosa to Rainbow Beach
Get off the bitumen and push the family road trip boundaries with a Great Beach Drive Tour. The 4WD tour travels across a pristine sandy highway between Noosa and Rainbow Beach, stopping at the world-famous Coloured Sands. Here, you’ll get an insight into how the Gubbi Gubbi people used some of the 40 different shades of sand to create artwork.
13. The Big Pineapple - Woombye
The Big Pineapple was opened in 1971 and has since been heritage listed. One of the most-visited BIG things in the country, even Prince Charles and Princess Diana stopped here during a Royal Tour. Now, there’s more to do at the Big Pineapple than ever before, including TreeTop Challenge Sunshine Coast, Wildlife HQ Zoo and the restored train ride.
14. Swim at Serenity Falls - Buderim
Whatever season you’re visiting, it’s always a magical time for a walk in Buderim Forest Park, a kid-friendly adventure with the allure of Buderim Falls (also known as Serenity Falls) at the end of the trail. The walk is a little rugged in sections, but still achievable even with younger kids — or for something shorter than the Falls trail, there’s a 600m stroller and wheelchair-friendly rainforest boardwalk.
15. Visit Noosaville's riverside parks and eateries
Five minutes’ drive or a leisurely ferry ride up the river from Noosa takes you to the neighbouring village of Noosaville, with plenty of playgrounds, barbecue areas, walking tracks and fishing platforms along the shoreline. Wine and dine at restaurants like Gusto, which offers a popular Sunday roast, or the breezy Noosa Waterfront Restaurant & Bar — their takeaway menu is very well-priced and perfect for families, and there’s no shortages of spots to eat along the river.
16. Explore the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Roll up the beach towel and explore the other side of the Sunshine Coast. Inland from the buzzing coastline are dozens of tiny hilltop villages, waterways and rolling pastures that fuel the region’s fresh produce.
Stroll through the quaint villages of Maleny, Montville and Pomona to discover unique art, sample locally grown food, and experience times gone by. There’s plenty to discover: sample brews at Brouhaha craft brewery, cuddle a camel at QCamel Dairy, explore the lovely Maleny Botanical Gardens & Bird World or cool off at gorgeous Gardners Falls.
If you’re short on time, you can book a Sunshine Coast Hinterland food and wine tour to see all the highlights.
17. Kayak the Noosa Everglades
For a dose of calming nature, head to the Noosa Everglades, Australia’s only Everglades system and one of only two in the world (the other being in Florida). Take an overnight adventure and paddle over slow-moving waterways and tropical mangroves with Kanu Capers to camp out in the Great Sandy National Park. Both Kanu Capers and Everglades Eco Safari also offer half-day tours through this pristine wilderness.
18. Kings Beach - Caloundra
The kids will giggle and play for hours in the time-delayed fountain at Kings Beach where they’ll happily run between the beach, the fountain and the fully fenced saltwater pool, which overlooks the beach.
19. Go whale watching - Mooloolaba
Did you know that you can go whale watching on the Sunshine Coast? Book a boat tour from Moololaba for the chance to spot a humpback whale – the world’s largest and most majestic animal. The region also has some stellar viewing platforms and lookouts to watch these regal creatures frolic between June and November.
20. Sunshine Castle - Bli Bli
The Sunshine Castle at Bli Bli is one of the more unusual attractions on the Sunshine Coast. The Norman-style castle, complete with moat, drawbridge, turrets and towers, ignites little boy fantasies of knights and dragons. It even has its own dungeon and torture chamber – though pillaging the very real gift store of its toy swords and costumes may be the real hit of your holiday.
21. Surf, SUP or jet ski on the Sunshine Coast
Learn to surf or stand-up paddle board in safe waters at Noosa Heads. For something different, you can also hire a jet ski or a Nauticycle water bike to explore Noosa’s waterways. Or head to Caloundra, at the other end of the Sunshine Coast, to explore the spectacular waterways of Moreton Bay Marine Park by boat, jetski or kayak.
22. The Ginger Factory - Yandina
The Ginger Factory offers much more than just tasty ginger treats with its Overboard boat ride, historic train, playground and jumping castle. Families can explore the heritage-inspired Ginger Town, tour the factory iteself, see a live bee show and follow the Zog Trail, a rainforest track brought to life via an ‘Augmented Reality’ app.
23. Go bushwalking in Noosa National Park
Noosa’s National Park, teeming with wildlife, is only ten-minutes’ walk from Hastings Street. Stretching from the Noosa Headland to Perigian, Coolum and Lake Weyba, it’s a great place to spot koalas and other native animals. Explore rock pools and coastal tracks – you might even spot dolphins, turtles or a koala! The Emu Mountain summit walk is a popular hike for families with older kids and teens.
24. Big Kart Track - Landsborough
Big kids can put their pedal to the metal at the Big Kart Track at Landsborough, an international standard race track and the largest commercial go-kart track in Australia.
25. Playgrounds at Mooloolaba Esplanade & The Spit
For the ultimate in beachfront shopping and dining Mooloolaba is the place to be. Fashion boutiques share the beachfront esplanade with healthy juice bars, outdoor restaurants, cool cafes and stylish bars. In addition to one of the Sunshine Coast’s best family beaches, there are fantastic parks and playgrounds along the foreshore.
The Pandanus Play Towers, climbing net and slides of the Northern Parkland adventure playground are a real winner. For a quieter afternoon away from the main strip, head up to the Pirate Ship Park at The Spit — it’s a local favourite, as are the fish and chips from Fisheries on the Spit.
26. Enjoy a day out at Alexandra Headland - Maroochydore
‘Alex’ — as the locals call it — is an idyllic spot where the kids will happily play frisbee and swim or surf at the patrolled beach all day. Compared to Mooloolaba, the barbecues and picnic tables at Alexandra Headland are less crowded. Just try tearing the kids away from Alexandra Headland Skatepark, with some of the coolest half pipes and curves on the coast. Even littlies will love to watch the skaters and boarders in action!
27. Ride a horse or camel on the beach - Noosa
Equathon Horse Riding Adventures offers a range of beach rides at Teewah Beach and Noosa North Shore. If you’re looking for something different, take a unique ride along Noosa’s picturesque North Shore on the back of a camel. These gentle giants take passengers on afternoon bush and beach safaris, run by The Camel Company’s Dave Madden.
Content contributors: Dan Campbell, Holly O’Sullivan, Roderick Eime, Aleney de Winter
Opening image: Mooloolaba Beach Sunshine Coast
Read more
- 5 must-do activities on a Noosa family holiday
- Australia’s best beach holiday destinations for families
- 6 fantastic Sunshine Coast holiday parks on the beach
