Sunshine Coast

Our stay on the Sunshine Coast has been picturesque and as relaxing as it can be with 2 kids. There are lots of scenic places to go for beach walks and mountain hikes. There are many dog walking beaches situated all along the coast line; Zeus had the time of his life meeting new friends. Also make a mental note to put aside a few dollars so you can enjoy a coffee in the morning or cocktail at sunset while you people watch and soak in the coastal views.  There are so many places, experiences, markets and events on the coast that it would be almost impossible to do it all. The following is a few of our favourite things.

Sights

Beaches of course are a must do on the Sunshine Coast. There are so many along the coast but a few I found very family friendly were Bulcock Beach, Cotton Tree, Mooloolaba Beach and Peregian. If you are looking for a bit of surf try Point Cartwright, Alexandra Headlands, Coolum Beach or Sunshine Beach. We found First Bay in Coolum fantastic for exploring around rock pools.

 

 

Coolum Boardwalk has been designed to cater for all abilities. You can start at beach road and head up the boardwalk to Point Arkwright where you can take in the magnificent views. Stop off at various points for some great photo opportunities. The point is also a great spot for whale watching from June to November.

 

 

Glasshouse Mountains are in the gorgeous Sunshine Coast Hinterland. From the top you can take in spectacular views of towns such as Beerwah, Landsborough and the Glass House Mountains Township. There are 11 peaks in total; Mount Beerburrum being the highest at 278m. Many of the tracks are open for hiking and bushwalking. Mount Ngungun would be the most achievable climb for kids 5years onwards. We did take our 3 and 1 year old but very little walking was done by them. The track passes a small rock overhang that would make a good little rest for the kiddies. It is a well maintained track that takes a couple of hours. When I was hiking other Mountains with friends I did see kids hiking around the base of most; don’t expect them to make it to summits though as there are loose gravel surfaces, steep surfaces and exposed edges.

If you are not keen on a lot of hiking or have small kids the Glass House Mountains Lookout is a lovely drive in the Beerburrum West State forest. There are a few tracks you can also do ranging from easy to challenging. The Australia Zoo is also close by so you could stop in to take a few photos on your way home.

 

Mount Coolum is a great family walk with a rewarding view of the coast. A lot of the track has been paved due to erosion and the steps gave my thighs a bit of a work out. It is recommended that kids doing the hike are 5+. There are a few good spots to gaze over the coast without even reaching the top. Even in winter it gets quite hot doing this walk as most of it is not sheltered by trees. On the weekend it gets very busy but on the up side there is a drink van set up at the bottom of the hill to enjoy a cold drink and catch your breath. I would leave a couple of hours to do this activity, including time to chill and take some photos.

 

 

Sunshine Coast Hinterlands is a must do drive and is easily done through Nambour. Every time I visit I have thoughts about living in this breathtaking area. It has a lovely country feel and you can’t help but stop off at the random fruit stalls along the way. Drive through Mapleton and stop off at Montville and spend a couple of hours browsing the gift shops. We love the candy shop here! If you enjoy a walk through natural surrounds Kondalilla Falls is not far away and is an easy walk for all. You can take a dip at the beginning and end of the falls. After a swim continue on to Maleny and stop off at Gerrard’s Lookout for a view of the Sunshine Coast.  Although we didn’t feel there was as much to see in Maleny when compared to Montville it was enjoyable to drive through the gorgeous hillside. Maleny Botanic gardens also gives you an amazing view of the Glasshouse Mountains.

 

Buderim Forest Park was an easy walk with the two littlies. To get to the waterfall quickly park in Quorn Close. It will take you about 20mins to do the full circuit, therefore about 10mins to the waterfalls. There is also an entrance from Lindsay Road which is 30mins one way to the falls. This starts in a large picnic area with wooden boardwalks through the forest and continues upstream along walking tracks. Our very energetic 1.5 year old even did most of the walk himself and just needed help crossing small streams. After getting your exercise in for the day stop of at the Buderim Tavern for a thirst quencher while taking in gorgeous views.

Experiences and Events

Fun Parks, Attractions & Adrenalin Activities. There is an enormous amount of enjoyable activities across the coast for all interests and ages. I won’t go over them all but Australia Zoo and SeaLife would be our top picks. Australia Zoo would be one of the top visited attractions; it is an awesome zoo with lots of informative shows. Although the zoo was our fav it is a long day and if you have small kids like ours I would consider if it’s really something you want to do. The entry tickets are expensive and it’s frustrating when they start to become tired and you feel as if you have to rush. We felt Sealife catered for the young ones a bit better with the hands-on tank, play area and fascinating displays. You could also plan a day out at places like Aussie World, Big Kart Track, Big Pineapple, Ski ‘N Skurf, Sky Diving, Top Shots Fun Park, Ginger Factory, Nutworks Macadamia Factory, Strawberry Fields and Diving the HMAS Brisbane (located off the coast of Mooloolaba).

 

Caloundra Street Fair has a large number of unique stalls that sell handmade items, produce and art. There are over 200 stalls which I haven’t seen all of, although just the atmosphere in the street is enough for me. The markets are on every Sunday from 8am to 1pm. I recommend enjoying a plate of tasty goodies and taking a walk to Bulcock Beach. We found a picnic table near the beach very easily and the kids were able to play on the boardwalk until we finished. When the tide was out the kids were able to splash through the shallow water on the sand.

 

 

 

Eumundi Markets has a variety of art, crafts and locally produced goods. We spent ages here sampling foods and enjoying the talent of local musicians. It’s hard not to walk away without an enormous bag of bread, cheese, jam, sauce, fruit and even wine. The German sausage stand will curb any man’s hangry mood. I couldn’t help myself and walked away with far too many herbal tea bags and presents to send back to family. After browsing for a while we grabbed a coffee and headed to the playground only a few steps away; it was fantastic and catered for a large variety of age groups. The markets are held every Wednesday from 8am till 1.30pm and every Saturday from 7am till 2pm.

 

Peregian Originals is a casual, family-friendly music event that is held on the 2^nd Sunday of every month at Peregian Beach. The event starts at about 1pm and parking can be a bit difficult so don’t be late. (My advice would be arriving early to spend time on the beach, browse through the boutique shops or let the kids enjoy the playground for a while). When everything kicks into gear find a spot of grass in the park to soak in some sunshine while enjoying the bands. Make sure you bring a picnic blanket and pack an esky full of drinks and nibbles. We bought fish and chips at the nearby shop, although there is a sausage sizzle available. Buckets rotate around for coin donations and raffle tickets are sold to make this event possible.

 

Maleny Dairies was a great activity to do with the kids. It was hands-on and enabled the kids to make connections between farm animals and produce. They will take you through the whole process about how the milk is made. After the tour is finished your guide will give you a sample of milk and yogurts. If you have enough time you can take part in a tractor ride for $10. Don’t forget to wear your gumboots.

 

 

 

Kennilworth Country Food is a fantastic way to sample some of the local produce. Try cheese and yogurt before you buy; and take a picnic basket across the road to the playground to enjoy all your goodies. This was a fun outing to do while staying close by at Obi Obi Creek free camp.

 

Food

Barbeque by the beach is definitely the cheapest option for eating out and about. There are so many great places with river or ocean views. Pack an esky and check out the area.

Surf Clubs and Pubs are a must do if eating out along the coast. We found Buderim Tavern and Coolum Pub to be very family friendly. Coolum, Mooloolaba and Alex Heads Surf clubs have lots of atmosphere and great beach views.

Kids eat free nights are another option for eating out on the cheaper side. Here is a list of 18 family friendly venues from Maleny to Maroochydore. www.weekendnotes.com/free-kids-meals-sunshine-coast/

Markets are a great place to grab a quick bite. Grab a pre-made meal or buy a selection of local produce and find a grassy area to sit down. Every 2^nd Friday of the month ‘Nights on Ocean’ is held on Ocean street, Maroochydore; plenty of food stalls that will have your mouth watering. Marcoola markets are held every Friday night; they have a smorgasbord of food that will satisfy any hunger. Kawana Waters hold a farmers market every Saturday at Kawana State Primary School; it’s a very casual market with lots of fresh produce.

 Our Accomodation

While we mostly pitched our camper in friends and families backyards on the Sunshine Coast we did stay in a couple of other free, dog friendly spots;

• Obi Obi Creek Crossing No. 2 – towns close by include Kenilworth and Mapleton. It was a beautiful site by a large creek. Tents and campervans are able to get right beside the edge. The site had flushing toilets and they were kept very clean. We did have an exciting night where rumours of dead bodies spread- although in the end all it was, was a good story (see our blog).
• Belli Park rest area is a great little overnight stop to refresh. Although it does get quite busy only being 10 minute drive off the Bruce Highway. Close by is Point Glorious lookout and Belli Park Café. The lookout gives great views of most of the Sunshine Coast and for those that are able to also a great place for rock climbing. Once you are done with your sightseeing and bush walking Belli Park Café is a nice little place to stop and refresh. When I say it gets quiet busy I mean tent city a lot of back packers stop through there so if you plan on stopping there I recommend getting in early.
• If you can’t manage to find a spot at Belli Park about 30 min drive from there is Kandanga RV Park. It is a free camp that has toilets and BBQ facilities. There is a pool nearby where you can shower and also a park for the kids to play.

 

Budget Friendly Tips

Sunny Coast Baby and Kids Market sells pre-loved and handmade items for under 5’s. When you are short of time and need to pick up some clothes for the kids this is a great place to go. Sometimes I find that op-shopping can be hit or miss, but at this market I have always found great clothing bargains for my kids. They also have a free jumping castle for the kids. Entry is $2 for adults. Markets are on monthly. http://sunnycoastbabykidsmarket.com.au/

Coupons for parks can be found on shop-a-dockets, online or in local magazines. We found a 2-4-1 pass for SeaLife in a free magazine in the local shopping centre. It makes it heaps cheaper as prices for specialty parks get quite exy.