All of the best things to do this winter on the Sunshine Coast
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Australia Zoo, Beerwah

Whether you're looking forward to swimming with humpback whales, sipping on a craft beer in one of our epic breweries, or savouring a tranquil escape in the Hinterland, there are plenty of ways to experience our stunning winter season. Ahead, we've crafted a list of 'must-do' activities that'll have you forging rich connections with nature, sampling the delights of Queensland's Sunshine Pantry, and settling into our luxurious accommodation hotspots.

Go swimming with whales

Swimming with Whales
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Swimming with Whales

During winter, you’ll be sharing our blue front yard with the humpbacks as they migrate northwards. While there are plenty of vantage points along the coast to keep watch, the crew at Sunreef Mooloolaba will take you deep into the ocean, letting you get up close and personal with these gentle giants. During the tour, they’ll equip you with a wetsuit, snorkel, and fins and then let the ocean and whales decide the rest of the journey! If you’d prefer to stay dry and rugged up, Sunreef and Sunshine Coast Afloat also offer incredible whale-watching experiences that will provide ‘pinch me’ moments aplenty. 

Go on a Craft Beer Tour 

Moffat Beach Brewery tour
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Moffat Beach Brewery tour

The Sunshine Coast has well and truly earned its title as Australia’s Craft Beer Capital, with a slew of award-winning spots dotted along the coastline and nestled in the Hinterland. Head to a taproom, order a tasting paddle and settle in for a cosy afternoon. Loads of our breweries also have onsite restaurants slinging tasty meals (think: Mooloolaba prawns, towering burgers, and pizzas), plus live music. You can sip your way around the region with this craft beer trail, or book yourself a spot on one of these awesome tours

Book a Hinterland escape

Spicers Clovelly
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Spicers Clovelly

If curling up by a crackling fire and sipping vino in the middle of the rainforest sounds like the ultimate winter escape, then book in some annual leave and make tracks to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Spend your days hiking through the lush Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and the Glass House Mountains, picnic beneath the dappled sunlight at Gardners Falls, and drift to sleep in luxurious surrounds with a backdrop of native birdsong and babbling creeks. Check out some popular choices here: Scandi at Maleny, Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Spicers Clovelly Estate and Lillypilly’s Cottages and Day Spa.

Eat your weight in cheese 

Kenilworth Dairies, Kenilworth
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Kenilworth Dairies, Kenilworth

Did someone say cheese? If you love all things creamy, gooey and oozy, then we have just the winter activity for you! Take the scenic countryside drive out to Kenilworth Dairies, where you'll be set to enjoy croissants bursting with all the good things (we're talking smoked ham, camembert, bush chutney, and more) and a warming coffee at Poppa's Cafe. Make sure to then load up your basket with some cheesy goodies to-go from the Cellar Door, before heading up the range towards Maleny Cheese and Maleny Food Co. The offerings are plentiful at these Sunshine Coast institutions, where you can choose from hundreds of local and international cheeses, plus award-winning gelato and baked goods. 

Go artistic with a sip n paint session

Rug up on one of our cold winter nights, gather your mates, and flex your creativity with a trip to Frida’s Sip n Paint in Mooloolaba. This luxe studio is nothing like your high school art classroom! Think chandeliers, chic timber benches, and fancy glassware for you to pour your BYO bubbles and booze into. You can also bring along any nibbles you want (so, yes, that means you can bring an epic cheese board to showcase your goodies from Kenilworth and Maleny). You’ll be set up with your own paints and canvas as an instructor guides you step-by-step to create your own masterpiece to take home. 

Cuddle a koala at Australia Zoo

Koala cuddles at Australia Zoo, Beerwah
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Koala cuddles at Australia Zoo, Beerwah

There’s no better way to warm up in winter than with a cuddle from a koala (after all, it’s how we like to do things on the Sunshine Coast). Head to Australia Zoo where you can have a snuggle with one of these precious creatures, get a photo or two, and gain a whole new wealth of knowledge from the expert keepers. Want more animal encounters? No worries! You can also mingle with red pandas, rhinos, meerkats, wombats, lemurs, otters, and more. 

Up your skills with a cooking class 

Cooking classes at Spicers
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Cooking classes at Spicers

A fun way to bring the heat this winter is with one of the Sunshine Coast’s best cooking classes. Learn a new skill, taste some decadent dishes and have a laugh with your mates while chopping, flipping and sautéing your way to a tasty meal. Learn how to blend spices at Red Hot Chilli Pepper Cooking School, discover the joys of French cuisine with a cooking class at Spicers Tamarind Retreat, and whip up Thai curries, stir-fries and plant-based feasts at Spirit House.