Looking for things to do on the sunshine coast with kids?
You are in luck my friend as there are seriously so many family friendly activities on the Sunshine Coast to keep you occupied for days.
The good thing about the Sunshine Coast is that nothing is very far away from each other (and no more than around 45 minutes from one end of the Coast to the other) so you can even make some day trips from wherever you are staying with the kids with not much sweat.
Whether you want an action packed adventure or something a little more chilled, we list the best activities with kids on the sunshine coast here.
22 Fun Things to do on the Sunshine Coast with Kids
See a Crocodile at Australia Zoo
Australia Zoo is most certainly one of the best things to do on the Sunshine Coast with kids.
There are a wide range of animals at the zoo to enjoy including of course the most famous Australian Saltwater Crocodiles. There are also Australian kangaroos, lizards and other reptiles as well as birds of prey and some international species like red pandas. Don’t miss the amazing Crocodile show held daily at midday at the crocotorium.
Address: 1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah
Opening Hours: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day).
Go Paddle Boating at Sunshine Plaza
Located in Maroochydore, this is a great family friendly activity on the Sunshine Coast perfect for families.
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. Kids love these little boats and we have often seen them there with their grandparents having a ride. Super cute.
They also are known for coming up with some great free school holiday fun.
Website – https://www.sunshineplaza.com/
Go swimming, visit Sea Life or Get in on the Watersport and Biking action at Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba is one of the best places to visit in the Sunshine Coast with kids. The #1 reason for this is due to the fact that the beach is a bit of a cove meaning that the waves are less powerful. Plus, 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 from there.
Go on a Whale Watching Cruise and even Swim with Humpback Whales
If your kids are a bit older, you might like to take them on a cruise (May – October) to see or even swim with humpback whales.
Going to see the whales is not a cheap experience costing at least $120 a cruise and even more if you want the opportunity to swim with the whales. But how often can you say you got the chance to swim with humpback whales?! Definitely a bucket list experience and well worth the coin if you ask me.
During the cruise, you will spot whales and also dolphins swimming wild and free in the sea while they migrate annually between Australia and Antarctica. If you are someone who also likes to learn about new things, it is a pretty fun experience as the crew tell you all about the animals as you float along.
Buy your whale watching tickets here. One of the best things to do with older kids on the Sunshine Coast.
Make friends with a Camel at QCamel Dairy
If your kids love animals this is such a fun place to visit. QCamel at Beerwah was the first dairy to produce premium pasteurised camel milk in Australia. “Camel Cuddles” last around 2 hours and includes a “behind the scenes” tour of QCamel dairy, lots of Camel Cuddles, camel milk and products tasting and a morning tea including: local organic fruit platter, tea and coffee, camel milk damper, cheese and crackers and organic fruit to feed the camels.
Opening hours: First and Third Saturday of every month – 10 am to 12 pm
Pick Fresh Strawberries at McMartin’s Farm
If you find yourself in Mooloolaba between June – November we would highly recommend a trip to McMartin’s Farm where you can have heaps of fun picking your own strawberries. This is a great activity especially if you have kids as most kids absolutely love picking berries.
Located only 18 mins drive away, it is a great activity when you are sick of the beach. It is also a great place to go for adults as they serve seriously delicious scones with jam and cream. If you love ice cream don’t miss your chance to try the strawberry farm’s award winning ice cream.
Go swimming and have a family picnic at Caloundra
Caloundra is one of the best places for families with young kids due to the beautiful calm beaches with lots of picnic tables and BBQs to enjoy.
If you decide to visit Caloundra with the kids 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.
Drive in the Fast Lane at Big Kart World
One of the best things to do in and around the Sunshine Coast with older kids is make a visit to Big Kart World. It is a great place to go for a teenage birthday party or just as a special treat when you are on holidays at the Sunshine Coast.
Big Kart World is best for older kids as you need to be at least 12 years old and over 150 cm to drive. There is also a little track if you have some smaller kids in tow where you only need to be 7 to drive.
If you want a cheap activity for kids on the Sunshine Coast this might not be the best choice as it can add up if you want to do more than 1 round. It costs $45 for only 15 minutes of fun. One of the best things to do on the sunshine coast for kids.
Location: 2310 Steve Irwin Way, Landsborough
Opening Hours: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Take your kids for a trip to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland
On 30 minutes drive from Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Alexandra Headlands 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.
If your kids like getting out and about hiking in the outdoors, 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. Great for some pretty family pics!
Go for Surf Lessons at Alexandra Headlands
There are tonnes of fun activities for children at Alexandra Headlands, one of the best being to learn to surf.
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.
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 Caloundra, Mooloolaba and 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.
Make a Visit to the Ginger Factory
The Ginger Family in Yandina on the Sunshine Coast is a great place to bring kids. If you want something educational, you can sign up to a Ginger Factory tour alternatively, if you just want a bit of fun with the family, you can enjoy a cute train through nine hectares of landscaped subtropical Australian rainforest.
There is also a really adorable boat ride, featuring more than 200 hand-made animated puppets, for the smaller kids which reminded us of the It’s a Small World Ride in Disneyland.
For a bit of fun for Mum and Dad, there is a whole shop full of ginger based products including ginger beer (both alcoholic and non alcoholic) that you can try. Don’t miss the ginger ice cream it’s surprisingly yummy.
It’s free to enter the factory but everything you do inside is paid.
Tip – Across the road from the Ginger Factory is Nutworks which makes seriously good macadamia nuts.
Go for a ride on the Mary Valley Rattler
Talking about trains, a true hidden gem of the Sunshine Coast region and such a fun and different activity to do with kids on the weekend is the Marry Valley Rattler. The Mary Valley Rattler is a not for profit organisation ensuring the public has access to a historic steam train rail experience through beautiful countryside landscapes.
The train departs Gympie on a Wednesday and a Saturday for a 1 hour trip to Amamoor, one hour off the train and you are back onboard for Gympie again. There is a slightly different schedule on a Sunday.
Riding on a steam train is something that kids don’t get to do everyday, making it fun for all age groups, even Nanna and Pop might like to join the ride. Plus it is relatively affordable at $65 a ticket or $125 for a ride and dine experience.
Bellingham Maze
If you have ever wanted to tackle a maze with your family, the Bellingham Maze is the perfect place to do it! It is great exercise for the whole family plus it gets the little brains working on solving the maze problem. It has consistently been rated as one of the best things to do with kids on the sunshine coast.
It costs $27.00 per adult and $23.00 per child which is not too bad a value considering it includes a 80m x 80m living hedge maze, timber maze, rope maze, tyre maze, mini golf and many other brain challenging puzzles. If you are bringing little kids there are some really cute Snow White and Harry Potter challenges that they will enjoy.
For the adults, there is a coffee shop on premises to reward yourself with a hot beverage after some hard work with the kids.
The maze is open 9.30am – 4.30pm, 7 days a week.
The Big Pineapple (But Only for a Photo)
Do you remember The Big Pineapple from when you were a kid? Well, it’s still there but sadly it is only a photo op for the kids these days as the place has since closed and you can no longer hike to the top of the big pineapple for a view or ride on the train at the farm.
There is a coffee shop right next to it which has opened so if you are looking for a cute photo op this might be a good outing but nothing more.
One person said it reminded them of when the Griswalds went looking for Wallyworld.
Visit Noosa National Park
If your kids love wildlife you should definitely check out Noosa National Park as it is one of the best places in Queensland for spotting wildlife outside of a zoo.
While it is somewhat unlikely as they tend to hide, if you are going to see a koala this is one of your best shots to do so! While koala spotting can be quite tricky you are almost guaranteed to find some native lizards and birds. If you have all day and your kids never get tired, this is a good place to go as the Coastal Track takes 2 hours each way. This track is also a great place to spot whales during their annual migration season from June to November.
Why not make it a game and if you spot something good you are rewarded with ice cream at Hasting Street after?
Eumundi Markets
If you find yourself on the Sunshine Coast on a Wednesday or a Saturday morning and your family are the creative type you might like to head to Eumundi Markets. There are 250 stalls of super interesting local produce for sale – things that will interest both adults and kids alike.
Take a Hike to Mount Ninderry
If you walk to get the heart pumping, a nice (but moderately difficult) hike to do with hikes on the Sunshine Coast is the Mount Ninderry walk.
It only takes around 30 minutes one way, to amazing views at the top. It is possible to do with kids as young as about 10 with a few stops for breathers along the way.
Best Places to Stay for Families on the Sunshine Coast
Caloundra
The Waterview Resort is located near Bulcock Beach in the heart of downtown Caloundra. Featuring water views with air conditioning in every unit the Waterview Resort hosts apartment-style living with resort amenities.
This resort is just a few minutes’ walk from everything in Caloundra and provides flexible opportunities for visitors who want to experience everything Caloundra has to offer.
Mooloolaba
Breeze Mooloolaba, Ascend Hotel Collection
Offering an outside pool and hot tub, Breeze Mooloolaba, an Ascend hotel is offered in the perfect spot in Mooloolaba – less than a five-minute walk to Mooloolaba seaside. Neighborhood shops, restaurants and cafes are inside a 10-minute walk. Lots of other fun things to do including the Aquarium is also nearby.
Each air-conditioned apartment consists of a kitchen with a dishwasher, oven, microwave, toaster, fridge and a kettle. Apartments include toiletries, hairdryers and flat-display screen televisions. Most of the rooms at the hotel also include a balcony.
The nearest airport is Sunshine Coast Maroochydore Airport, 8 km from the property.
Noosa
For the family who wants to visit every hot spot in the area, this location will draw you into it. Located across from the Noosa River, guests can easily and conveniently catch a bus or a ferry to fabulous locations throughout the area. Dog Beach, Noosa Main Beach, and Tewa Beach are all relatively close. The Noosa Botanic Gardens and the Eumundi Market are all just a short drive from here.
The Munna Beach Apartments are especially desirable for families that are a little larger. With additional space available in the three-bedroom apartments, families can find their own place to relax as there are two twin beds, one king bed, and one queen bed all included in this accommodation. For a three-night stay, families can anticipate paying around $895 for a party of six.
One of the best noosa kid friendly accommodation.
Noosa Pacific Riverfront Resort
The word “fantastic” frequently appears when travelers are speaking about their time at the Noosa Pacific Riverfront Resort. Whether they are referencing the location of the establishment or the view from their room, most find that this resort is nothing short of incredible. Guests have two options, when selecting the view, they most want while on vacation. They can select for their room to be overlooking the Noosa River or they can pick to have a garden view room which guarantees travelers will be immersed in the gorgeous tropical landscape.
Deciding where to stay on this property carries more weight than just impacting the view a guest wishes to have. For those guests who want to have the water view, they will also be granted access to a private beach and jetty. Tennis courts, a fitness center, spa, sauna, and a heated pool are also located in this area and accessible for these vacationers. For those who wanted that outstanding garden view, they will be given admission to their own private heated outdoor pool, as well as a spa and sauna. No matter the view and accommodations, all guests will be able to travel about five minutes in an automobile and find themselves on Hastings Street.
If a family is looking to make the very most of their vacation time, the Deluxe Three-Bedroom Townhouse located on the waterfront will be the booking to make. A six-person family will be asked to pay approximately $1100 for a three-night stay. This includes all the perks that come with having the waterfront view, but the rooms also have enough beds to be worth the cost.
Two queen beds and four twin beds are essential parts of this lodging. It seems the only drawback to booking this situation is that air-conditioning is not provided throughout the entire apartment. Air cooling units are positioned in the main living spaces, but they are not available in all the bedroom areas. If guests feel like this is a necessity, they will want to double-check their preferences before booking and if accommodations cannot be made, they will need to look elsewhere.
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