There are so many things to do in Alexandra Headlands. While this beachside town on the Sunshine Coast is more heavily local based with a small town charm, and fondly referred to by the locals as “Alex”, it doesn’t mean it is not worthwhile checking out if you are in the area.
What is so nice about Alexandra Headlands is the really relaxed local vibe you don’t get from nearby tourist driven beaches like Mooloolaba or Caloundra. At Alex you will find tranquility across from rolling surf and some of the most incredible beaches Queensland has to offer. If you are into beach life, you definitely will not be disappointed as the main beach here, Alexandra Headlands beach, patrolled by the Alexandra Headland Surf Club, is one of the very best in the area.
Where is Alexandra Headlands?
Alexandra Headlands is situated on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast only around 2 hours drive from the big smoke of Brisbane at a distance of 98 kilometres away. The Bruce Highway is the nearest highway.
If you are looking for a spot to base yourself to explore all that the sunshine coast of Queensland has to offer this is a nice spot as it is nestled nicely between many other great beaches in the area including Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Coolum, Sunshine Beach and Noosa which means it is easy day-tripping all around the area. Also, the beautiful sunshine coast hinterland towns of Montville and Maleny are only a short 20 minute car ride away.
When to visit?
Being located in the Sunshine State, it is a nice place to visit year round – it is warm and sunny for most of the year, just getting a little cool and breezy during winter (June – July).
It does tend to get a little rainy and humid in December – January. From a local’s perspective, this is the worst time to visit as it is the most popular and the most expensive due to Christmas, New Years and School holidays.
If you like a luke warm bath, swimming is however better in the summertime.
Where to stay in Alexandra Headlands?
There are some great quality places to stay in Alexandra Headlands. What is nice about this beach is it tends to provide more bang for your buck than say Mooloolaba and it is just down the road. Here are our top pics for accommodation in Alex:
Oaks Resort Alexandra Headlands –A great place to stay if you like to dine at the local restaurants but also eat in some night to save money. All apartments at this resort are clean comfortable and have a well well-equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Most units come with a spa bath.
Alex Beach Cabins and Tourist Park – This tourist park is one of the most popular in the area and has a range of villas and cabins, offers a heated swimming pool and a children’s playground. All accommodation offers a balcony or patio and a flat-screen LED TV. Free WiFi is available.
Alexandra Headlands Things to do
If you are planning your Alexandra Headlands vacation itinerary, keep reading as we will list the best things to do in Alexandra Headlands this year.
Go for a Surf at the Stunning Alexandra Headlands Beach
If you are a decent surfer, one of, if not the best place to surf in the area is the stunning Alexandra Headlands Beach. As it is a less protected beach than Mooloolaba, you can catch some bigger waves here. There are also places on the beach where you can surf without running into swimming, swimming between the flags.
BYO your own surf board or rent one from one of the many surf shops in the area. A half day hire only costs $15 so it is a cheap day out. In the surf shops you can also enquire about getting lessons if you are so inclined. You can also book a surf lesson ahead of time with Surfing with Sam, where a 1 hour lesson will only set you back $50. One of the best things to do on the sunshine coast with kids.
Or Simply go swimming or Boogy Boarding
Alexandra Headlands is not just a great place for surfing but it is also a really nice place to take a dip in one of the most beautiful shorelines of Queensland.
The waves can be a little bigger than the nearby beach of Mooloolaba so it is a nice place to come if you feel like a bit more action.
Note: Alexandra Headlands is a fully patrolled beach run by the Alexandra Headland Surf Club. Make sure that you always swim between the flags for your own safety.
Go Skating
One of the most popular sport in the area is skating as Alex is home to one of the Sunshine Coasts largest free outdoor skate parks which is located right along the beach. It is great for both beginners and experienced skaters alike. If you have a skateboard and are looking for some affordable fun, this is definitely one of the best free things to do in Alex.
Sip on a drink or have a cheap meal @ the Alex Surf Club
One of the most popular places to eat and drink in Alex is undoubtedly the Alexandra Headlands Surf Club, which provides amazing views of the beach. What we love about this surf club is the food and drink is really affordable. They offer different $19 nightly meal specials e.g. Sunday Roast which is really amazing, making it a great cheap eat for the whole family.
You can usually get in by just rocking up but there is also a possibility to book a table in advance via their website if you are travelling with a larger group.
In the downstairs area of Alexandra Headlands Surf Club facing the beach is a really trendy coffee shop/bar. called The Bluff Bar. In the morning locals take a walk and enjoy a hot beverage and by nightfall, the party begins, especially on a Friday or Saturday night.
A meal we recently had at Alex Surf club. Speciality fish meal around $30
Take a really nice walk from Alex to Cotton Tree
From Alexandra Headlands you can take a really nice walk along the beach to Cotton Tree and beyond. It is around a 3.5k walk from Alex to Cotton Tree. You could alternatively choose to bike or roller blade this walk, taking some rest breaks at the surf clubs along the way including Maroochydore Surf Club.
Be a hipster and visit one of the cool cafes in the area including the Black Bunny
The Black Bunny is one of the best spots in the area for well breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has a lovely view over the swimming pool at Breakfree Resort and has been described as one of Alex’s “best kept secrets” by locals. The coffee is good and so is the T-bone steak.
Another cool cafe not to miss in the area is Elliott’s bistro. Note it is closed on Monday and open normally 7.30 – 2.30pm.
Dine at best Alexandra Headlands restaurants
One of the funkiest and most popular local hangouts in Alex is Juan Fifty Kitchen Bar. You know something is good when it’s popular and this place is brimming with people every night. If you feel like Mexican, this place rates itself as serving up the best Mexican on the Sunshine Coast.
Another good choice in the area is Hathi Indian if you feel like a curry.
Whale Watch from the Alex Headlands viewpoints or Go on a whale watching cruise
Every year from July to mid October humpback whales can be seen migrating through the area. It is pretty cool experience to watch these marvellous creatures even from the shoreline.
If you want to get more up close and personal with the whales, we would recommend going on either a whale watching or a swimming with whales cruise, yes that’s right you can actually swim with these giant mammals.
If you want to get on a cruise, they depart from down the road in Mooloolaba.
Buy your whale watching tickets here.
What to do in Alexandra Headlands while it’s raining – Visit Sunshine Plaza of course
Sunshine Plaza is actually located in Maroochydore, but it is literally no more than a few minute car ride from Alex making it the perfect place to retreat on a rainy day in Alexandra Headlands. It is definitely one of the locals favourite rainy day activities.
Inside you will find the largest shopping mall on the Sunshine Coast with David Jones, Myer, Kmart and Target as well as other boutique stores. It is one of the nicest shopping centres we have been to as it is based on the harbour which means you can hire a little boat with your kids from there and paddle around or, if it is raining, have a coffee or a snack in one of the cafes overlooking the water.
Enjoy a BBQ or a Picnic on the Headlands
There are great BBQ and picnic spots in Alex so much so that we would rate tham amoung the very best on offer in the Sunshine Coast. Picnicking on Alexandra Headlands is becoming a bit of a sunset past-time much like it is at Burleigh Heads due to the mass grassy area on the hill overlooking the ocean.
Bring a picnic basket, some drinks and snacks just before sunset say 4.30pm and enjoy a little feast. One of the best date ideas in Alexandra Headlands without doubt.
Take a Trip to Mooloolaba
Just down the road from Alexandra Headlands is the funky beach town of Mooloolaba. There are lots of things to do in Mooloolaba to keep you occupied all day including great for shopping, dining and great cafes.
If you are travelling with kids, we would recommend a trip to the Visit SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium while in Mooloolaba as it is a fun educational activity for the whole family and relatively affordable.
If you are up for some more action, SunReef in Mooloolaba offers everything you could wish for in terms of water sports in Mooloolaba at reasonable affordable prices. They also hire bikes and you can bike all the way to Cotton Tree fro there.
Take a Trip to Caloundra
Only around a 20 minute minutes drive from Alexandra Headlands is another amazing beachside town in the Sunshine Coast – Caloundra. Caloundra has a sleepier vibe but it is still worth visiting if you are planning a longer vacation to Alex and are looking for fun day trips to make.
If you decide to visit Caloundra don’t miss a trip to the stunning Kings Beach, a popular destination for visitors and locals. Caloundra is a good spot for a BBQ or for getting some quality fish and chips as there are lots of tables to enjoy your purchased catch as you watch the sunset.
Take a Trip to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
On 30 minutes drive from Alex are some of the coolest country towns in the sunshine coast hinterland including Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Palmwoods. If you love country life, you will absolutely adore the cute towns in the hinterland with some of the best pubs and dining experiences on the coast.
Probably the most popular town to visit, a 30 minute drive from Alex is the country town of Maleny, which is a particularly popular destination for weddings.
If you are interested in hiking, there are some great hiking opportunities in Maleny, especially the gorgeous Kondalila Falls, which has now opened a great cafe with beautiful views of the hinterland.
You might also like to visit One Tree Hill, one of the best photography opportunities in the sunshine coast.
Make a Visit to Aussie World
Sure, the Sunshine Coast may not be home to some of Queensland’s biggest theme parks like Dreamworld and MovieWorld but if you have kids who love to visit a theme park, it is home to the cool Aussie World Theme Park.
It is a bit of a treat for the kids and it only costs $44 for an adult ticket which is much cheaper than the big theme parks on the Gold Coast. There is also a group of 5 pass for $198 – a pretty good price for a day of entertainment for the whole family.
Aussie World is a quick 15 minute drive from Alex.
Make a Trip to Sunshine Castle
One of the coolest and most unique things to do on the Sunshine Coast is taking a visit to Sunshine Castle in Bli Bli, one of Australia’s very few castles and well known as Australia’s biggest.
Especially if you have kids and won’t make it to Europe anytime soon, this castle is well worth a trip.
It costs only $8 to enter which is a really affordable day out and something the kids will really love. The castle offers a mini self-guided tour with access to the Courtyard, Dancing Dolls, Fairytale walk and Model Train display. The Castle coffee bar is also well worth a visit while you are there.
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