Kings Beach pool, Caloundra
Scroll through this list of the best activities and places to see in Caloundra and start counting down the days before your arrival.
Spend the day at Moffat Beach
Couple walking along the Coastal Pathway at Moffat Headland, Moffat Beach
Moffat Beach bursts to life each morning with the sound of fresh wax rubbing, and longboards hitting the surf. Locals smile to one another between sips of coffee, and dogs join their owners on long runs up along the sun-drenched headland.
This vibrant little strip of alfresco cafes and restaurants fronts the famous right-hand point break at Moffat Beach Headland. 'Moffs' is simply too easy, with a range of great beach-view accommodation options all just metres from the beach and even closer to the local restaurants.
Moffat Beach Brewing Co
Moffat Beach Brewing Co
Queensland's only brewery boasting beach views, Moffat Beach Brewing Co is a major player in the Sunshine Coast’s thriving craft beer scene and is home to Australia’s best beer, according to the Royal Queensland Food and Wine Show (RQFWS) Beer Awards.
This multi-award-winning café and micro-brewery specialises in crisp, handcrafted pale ales, ciders and lagers, featuring quirky monikers such as the Hipsterdoofus ESB, and C-Bomb IPA (named as a nod to the hops - chinook, cascade, centennial and citra - that flavour the brew). The brewer is no slouch in the food stakes either. Banish your hangry with a serve of macadamia-crusted chicken schnitty, sous vide beef cheek or duck ragout papperdelle.
The Pocket Espresso
The Pocket Espresso
Caloundra locals are early risers so don’t be surprised if the Pocket is teeming with smiling locals and their four-legged friends at the crack of dawn. You will be drawn in by their effortlessly cool brand of customer service and delicious locally-sourced food, next-level Guru coffee and forced to stay by their creative menu offering everything from breakfast to crafty cocktails.
Events
The Events Centre Caloundra has a calendar featuring the best in touring comedy, ballet, classical music, modern dance, opera and musical theatre. Add a show to your next holiday itinerary. Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast Stadium in Bokarina is just a short drive from Calounda, making it the perfect place to base yourself if you're attending an event. You can also catch thrilling circus acts, open-air cinema evenings and concerts from leading international acts throughout the year.
Take a dip at the king of beaches
Kings Beach
Kings Beach has a festive atmosphere year-round, so whenever you visit you’ll be assured of good time vibes in the sunshine. With an oceanfront saltwater swimming pool, and a gentle beach break, a Kings Beach holiday is just the ticket for some sun-soaked rejuvenation. Cafés, restaurants and markets are all just a few minutes walk away from a myriad of Kings Beach accommodation options, so you can unpack your bags and leave the car in the garage until the day you leave.
Market shopping
Caloundra Street Fair
Caloundra Street Fair (Sundays 8 am to 1 pm) is held under the canopy of the tree-lined main street, surrounded by cafés, boutiques and speciality shops. There are hundreds of stalls to explore, featuring handcrafted goods, arts and crafts, as well as delicious food and fresh flowers.
The Caloundra Twilight Markets operate on the last Friday evenings of the month and run along Bulcock Beach esplanade. This charming market is brimming with artisan, craft and homemade wares so there are some truly unique products to browse and inspirational gift ideas to discover. Wander the boardwalk and enjoy entertainment featuring world music tunes and colourful street theatre performers - and bring your appetite, there's a bounty of delicious fare to enjoy.
The Currimundi Lake Twilight Markets is the Sunshine Coast’s best-kept secret. Shhh! With local craft beer icons, Your Mates Brewing, doing what they do best, an array of local musicians bringing the music, and a wide variety of street food on offer... it won’t stay a secret long. This market runs on the third Friday of the month from 4-8pm, and is not to be missed.
Catch some live music at Drift Bar
Caloundra is filled with so many incredible sunset-sip options that it can be difficult to choose! If you need a little live music to top off your afternoon, however, you cannot go past the iconic Drift Bar which features live music almost every day. With breathtaking views and a stunning menu on offer, this sea-side haven will pull you in from the street with its enchanting décor and fun vibe.
Caloundra Coastal Walk
Caloundra Coastal Walk
Soak up the beauty of the Caloundra region by taking on parts of the 73km scenic Coastal Pathway (the vistas from Bulcock Beach to Kings Beach are particularly stunning). Be sure to keep an eye out for birdlife and dolphins in Pumicestone Passage, and check out the historical Military Jetty used for operations during World War II... as well as the heritage-listed Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion.
Jet Ski around Pumicestone Passage
Jet Skiing on the Pumicestone Passage with Caloundra Jet Ski Hire and Safari's
Pumicestone Passage is a 35 km channel of pristine water stretching from Caloundra in the north to Deception Bay in the south. It’s ideal for all kinds of aquatic escapades, and if you like to travel a little faster than a SUP or kayak, hop aboard a Caloundra Jet Ski. Ride through tranquil mangrove-lined waterways into a marine park green zone, home to dolphins, dugongs, turtles and more than 360 species of birds. Don’t forget to bring your waterproof camera, you’ll want to capture the insta-worthy views of the Glass House Mountains that dominate the horizon.
Explore Currimundi Lake trails
Kayaking in Lake Currimundi
Lake Currimundi is a stretch of calm water which runs into the ocean at Currimundi beach. There's an abundance of picturesque walking tracks surrounding the lake, so lace up your walking shoes and tackle one of the many bush-beach trails that lead down to the lake’s cool waters. The tracks are well mapped, with signage along the way explaining the native flora and fauna you may encounter on your walk. There are plenty of shady spots for a picnic, or you can relax in one of Currimundi’s boutique cafés.
Fish and chips at Bulcock Beach
Locals know that the Sandbar Café and Kiosk serves up some of the best fish and chips on the Sunshine Coast. Enjoy beer-battered and crumbed barramundi with hand-cut chips, or market fish of the day with kipfler potato and bouillabaisse. The café also has a fine selection of designer burgers, salads and desserts. Kick back in the café or take your fare across the road to enjoy an alfresco fish and chips at one of the many picnic tables overlooking Bulcock Beach.
Take a cruise or hire a boat
Bills Boat Hire at Golden Beach, Caloundra
Discover the spectacular beauty of Caloundra's marine environment on a Caloundra Cruise tour. Hop aboard a 'Classic Caloundra' tour - a relaxing cruise offering views from Caloundra Heads to Moreton Island, and Bribie Island. On Thursdays, the 'Eco Explorer Cruise' will take you deep into the clear waters of Pumicestone Passage Marine Park to discover an abundance of bird and marine life. On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, watch the sun disappear behind the Glass House Mountains while relaxing on a BYO sunset tour. If you feel like taking the wheel, hire your own boat from Bills Boat & Bike Hire.
Take a street art stroll
Caloundra Street Art
The colourful murals around Caloundra snapshot the area’s cultural identity and history. There are quirky and colourful representations of iconic locations, activities and events, such as the heritage lighthouses, Ma & Pa Bendall (surfing pioneers), and Pumicestone Passage. The bright, bold colours pop right off the rendered canvas, so snap away and add some colour to your Instagram page.
Take a mountain bike for a spin
Sugar Bag Road Mountain Bike Trails, Caloundra
Caloundra has its own mountain bike trail, the Sugar Bag Road Bike Trail, located in the Caloundra Town Reserve. There is a range of tracks for everyone, from novices to experienced riders, featuring more than 12 km of rideable adventures. The course includes natural features of rocks, drops, and crevices, as well as bridges, jumps, seesaws, and ramps. You’ll find it exhilarating, challenging and an excellent workout.
SUP & kayak adventures
Bills Boat Hire, Pumicestone Passage
Caloundra’s calm waterways lend themselves to all kinds of aquatic exploration, and you’ll often see SUPs and kayakers gliding across Pumicestone Passage, Currimundi Lake or Tooway Creek. BYO craft, or hire from Golden Beach Hire and Bills Boat & Bike Hire. The waters are teeming with marine life so set a relaxed pace and keep watch for humpback whales (May to November), turtles, dolphins, dugongs and rays.
... the list goes on!
Caloundra makes the perfect base from which to make day trips to the Sunshine Coast’s leading attractions, including Australia Zoo, Aussie World, the Queensland Air Museum, Rockit Indoor Climbing Gym, Caloundra Rollerdome, and the Big Boing Trampoline Park, the Events Centre and the Sunshine Coast Stadium.
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