We’ve gathered a perfect pocketbook of activities to keep you and your family busy while the classrooms are quiet. Here are nine things to do on the Sunshine Coast these September holidays:
Visit Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
Where: Maleny
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve
Good to know: Get there early to grab a barbecue spot or picnic table – this is an extremely popular spot in the school holidays!
Native wildlife, an epic rainforest, and sweeping views of the Glasshouse Mountains combine at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in Maleny – the perfect spot to spend the day with the kids. Oh, and did we mention there’s a playground, a Rainforest Discovery Centre, and picnic shelters to cook up a barbecue lunch? Make sure to be on the lookout for shy pademelons and wallabies grazing between the trees and see if you can spot any frogs or rare spiny crayfish hiding in the bubbling streams. We recommend spending the morning strolling the trails beneath the cooling rainforest canopy, before cooking up lunch at the gas barbecues in the spacious recreation area nearby. Let time slip by in the afternoon at the Discovery Centre, where you’ll find a special viewing deck to marvel at the Glasshouse Mountains, plus enjoy entertaining, multi-sensory learning experiences.
The Zog Trail at The Ginger Factory
Where: Yandina (near Eumundi)
The Zog Trail at the Ginger Factory
Calling all explorers! This school holidays, blast off on a FREE rainforest adventure at The Ginger Factory! Download the free The Zog: A Forest Adventure App app and follow the hidden trail. Will you spot Princess Pearl sparkling in the sunlight? Can you hear Madam Dragon's mighty roar? Maybe you'll even bump into Zog and his mischievous crew! The trail is open every day from 9am to 5pm, when their rainforest comes alive with fantastical creatures – all thanks to the magic of augmented reality. Don't miss this free family fun – the rainforest awaits!
Be a Zookeeper for a Day
Australia Zoo, Beerwah
Good to know: Kids participating in the Khaki Explorer program (4-6 years old) can have an accompanying adult join in for for the fun!
If your kids are wildlife-lovers and want to experience some behind-the-scenes action of zookeeping, be sure to book in the Zookeeper for a Day experience at Australia Zoo in Beerwah (part of the Sunshine Coast hinterland). While activities vary depending on the season, past entertainment has included scrubbing the shells of giant tortoises, learning about animal training techniques, touring the wildlife hospital and koala encounters... all topped off with a delicious lunch and exclusive photo of your child with a Zoo animal. Better yet, there’s programs for a range of age-groups – whether your kids are as young as four, or old as sixteen... so no one misses out!
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Visit SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast
Calling all ocean fans! These school holidays, head along to SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast in Mooloolaba to witness their magnificent Seahorse Kingdom, crew of Little Blue Penguins, entertaining Seal Island, and more. Make sure to take a stroll through the immersive Ocean Tunnel, which offers an inside glimpse into the world of sharks, rays, and other colourful finned friends.
Go strawberry picking at McMartin’s Farm
Where: Bli Bli
Strawberry Picking at McMartin’s Farm
Embrace the fresh spring air and venture along to McMartin’s Strawberry Farm in Bli Bli for the ultimate strawberry-picking experience – it is peak season after all. Here, you’ll get to wander between along the field, searching for fruity gems, before making your way back for a scoop of award-winning strawberry ice-cream. There’s also the option of picking your own mandarins (when available), buying strawberries straight from the fridge, or enjoying some scones while the kids have fun on the playground.
Book a farm visit at Eagle End Farm
Good to know: You can’t just turn up to Eagle End Farm – farm visits must be booked in advance.
If spring is the season for animals, then we’ve got the perfect school holiday treat for you and your family. Situated on an idyllic hinterland property in Reeseville, near Landsborough, Eagle End Farm is home to some very friendly alpacas, donkeys, ponies and peacocks! Booking a farm visit here is a must-do if you’re keen to meet some furry friends, or even enjoy a picnic lunch (made with local produce, of course).
Go fishing at Golden Beach
Where: Caloundra
If the sky is clear and the breeze is gentle, dust off the fishing rods and lures in the garage and head over to Golden Beach in Caloundra for a fishing adventure. Will you pick up a dusky flathead hiding beneath the waves, or even a silvery whiting flitting in the shallows? Whether you prefer a catch-and-release philosophy (or are looking for a freshly caught dinner!), this is sure to be a day of fun for the whole family... even if the fish manage to evade capture! Set up camp along the shore with snacks, and sand-buckets (for those who aren’t fishing fans!), lay out some towels... and watch the action unfold.
Find all the BIG things on the Sunshine Coast
Where: Sunshine Coast
The Big Pineapple, Woombye
Good to know: To see the Big Chair, you’ll have to pay an entry fee to Maleny Botanic Gardens.
It’s time to bring out the checklist and go on the hunt for the Sunshine Coast’s BIG things! While we all might think of the Big Pineapple when it comes to naming GIANT features of the Sunny Coast, did you know there are several other big things? We’re talking about the Big Barrel in Maleny, the Big Pelican in Noosaville, the Big Chair in Maleny and the Big Macadamia Nut in Woombye (part of the Treetop Challenge near the Big Pineapple). Jump in the car and get ready to tick these massive landmarks off your list. With plenty of photo opportunities along the way, your kids will officially have the BIGGEST bragging rights about their travels when they return to school. Make sure to tag @visitsunshinecoast in your social media feed – you might even get featured on our main page!
Sunset fish and chips at Mooloolaba Beach
Where: Mooloolaba
Family Picnic at Mooloolaba Beach (Mooloolaba Spit Beach)
Nothing says school holidays like a special dinner on the beach! Take your pick of prime sunset viewing spots on Mooloolaba Beach, unwrap your parcel of crunchy fish and chips, and settle in for the show. As the twilight thickens, the kids can run free across the sand, have a dip in the water, or run wild on the pirate ship playground just behind the beach. For the classic fish and chips we all know and love, we suggest heading to Fisheries on the Spit to place your order. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty fisherman’s basket, a family pack or something more, school holiday feels will be sure to prevail as the kids squeeze sauce over their chips and watch the stars emerge over the sea.
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