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The Sunshine Coast
We all know that the Great South East has an abundance of beautiful beaches along its coastline, as well as a host of beach side and hinterland activities. Our very famous corner of QLD, has two major Holiday/Attraction areas. The Gold Coast and The Sunshine Coast. One about an hour South of Brisbane City, and the other about an hour or so North.
Personally, I love them both, as they both offer a different beach side experience. On this page we will explore getting around the Sunshine Coast with a bub... Of course.
Personally, I love them both, as they both offer a different beach side experience. On this page we will explore getting around the Sunshine Coast with a bub... Of course.
Caloundra
Located about an hour’s drive North of Brisbane, Caloundra marks the beginning of the Sunshine Coast which runs from Caloundra to Noosa. Caloundra was the first place we took our daughter for a ‘family’ beach holiday. She was 11 months old at the time, and it was our first real long trip away from home.
Caloundra is a beautiful little beach side town, that hosts surf beaches, shops, cafes, parks and a great Surf Lifesaving Club.
Caloundra is a beautiful little beach side town, that hosts surf beaches, shops, cafes, parks and a great Surf Lifesaving Club.
Not only is Caloundra a lovely place to spend a family holiday but it is a great place to base yourself if you want to get around and see some of the great attractions that the Sunshine Coast has to offer, like Australia Zoo, the Big Pineapple and the Ginger Factory, not to say being only about a 25 minute drive away from the gorgeous hinterlands which hosts boutique shopping villages such as Montville, and lots of gorgeous scenery which includes walking tracks, swimming holes, and waterfalls.
Caloundra is a town where people live as well as holiday, so you will find all the amenities and services you need like a cinema, doctors, pharmacies and large shopping centres with popular shops like Coles and Kmart. The Caloundra area includes quite a few beaches; however the main tourist strip runs from Bulcock Beach around to Kings Beach.
The whole esplanade has been designed to cater for families. There is a wonderful flat path that runs from one beach to the other, so it is easy for families with prams, or for young children on push-ons or bikes. There are fishing areas, loads of BBQ and park areas, as well as a purpose built children’s pool and a free water fun park area. There is a great surf beach to keep Dad and the older kids happy up at the Kings Beach end of the esplanade, and a fantastic flat, sheltered and safe beach area located at the Bulcock end of the strip, perfect for young families with small children.
Caloundra real is ‘family’ perfect. And most of the tourists are people with families, particularly young children. It is not unusually to see a dozen games of cricket being played along the esplanade in the beach and park areas, as well as dozens of young children toddling around the beach with their bucket and spades. Every afternoon you will families licking ice-creams whilst watching kite surfers, and most nights during summer you will see families picnicking at the park, eating fish and chips and sipping a glass of wine out of a plastic cups long after the sun has set.
The Surf Life Saving Club located at Kings Beach really is one of the highlights of Caloundra, as not only does it offer great food, at reasonable prices, the view from the dining area is amazing. The club also hosts the fantastic purpose built child’s pool, which includes shade and a wading area for the little ones. If you become a member of the club, whilst you are visiting you will receive a members discount on all your food and drinks for 12 months, and even if you are only visiting for a week or two, the cost of the membership will usually be recouped with the first round of drinks.
I was a little worried about going away with a little baby, and thought I might feel a little awkward and out of place, but with an hour I realised that we were just like everyone else, popping out for an early swim before nap time and the sun got to hot, and then strolling down the esplanade for a coffee by the sea in the afternoon before heading home for an early dinner by the pool. I really did feel happy and safe holidaying here with a young baby, and never had to worry about avoiding dirty looks because I was pushing a pram down the esplanade walk way. For me, this really is the perfect beach side town for young families who want to get away and stay somewhere that is child friendly.
A Must - Highly recommended.
http://www.caloundratourism.com.au
Caloundra is a town where people live as well as holiday, so you will find all the amenities and services you need like a cinema, doctors, pharmacies and large shopping centres with popular shops like Coles and Kmart. The Caloundra area includes quite a few beaches; however the main tourist strip runs from Bulcock Beach around to Kings Beach.
The whole esplanade has been designed to cater for families. There is a wonderful flat path that runs from one beach to the other, so it is easy for families with prams, or for young children on push-
Caloundra real is ‘family’ perfect. And most of the tourists are people with families, particularly young children. It is not unusually to see a dozen games of cricket being played along the esplanade in the beach and park areas, as well as dozens of young children toddling around the beach with their bucket and spades. Every afternoon you will families licking ice-
The Surf Life Saving Club located at Kings Beach really is one of the highlights of Caloundra, as not only does it offer great food, at reasonable prices, the view from the dining area is amazing. The club also hosts the fantastic purpose built child’s pool, which includes shade and a wading area for the little ones. If you become a member of the club, whilst you are visiting you will receive a members discount on all your food and drinks for 12 months, and even if you are only visiting for a week or two, the cost of the membership will usually be recouped with the first round of drinks.
I was a little worried about going away with a little baby, and thought I might feel a little awkward and out of place, but with an hour I realised that we were just like everyone else, popping out for an early swim before nap time and the sun got to hot, and then strolling down the esplanade for a coffee by the sea in the afternoon before heading home for an early dinner by the pool. I really did feel happy and safe holidaying here with a young baby, and never had to worry about avoiding dirty looks because I was pushing a pram down the esplanade walk way. For me, this really is the perfect beach side town for young families who want to get away and stay somewhere that is child friendly.
A Must -
http://www.caloundratourism.com.au
Montville
Montville is a gorgeous historical town located in the Hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. It hosts beautiful restaurants, boutique stores, a fabulous old pub and a look out to die for.
Before having a baby, we would always spend one day up at Montville cruising around the stores, and sipping wine over a long lunch. It was always a must when visiting the Sunshine Coast.
Before having a baby, we would always spend one day up at Montville cruising around the stores, and sipping wine over a long lunch. It was always a must when visiting the Sunshine Coast.
But knowing the layout of the town and most of the stores we wondered if we really could visit it with a pram and a baby and still enjoy it.
Well the visit was a mixed bag of success. For one Montville is very hilly, so it took a bit of effort getting the pram up and down the hills. Most of the stores were very tiny, or had wooden steps leading into them, which meant that we either had to go into the store one at a time whilst the other one of us, stayed with the pram or give it a miss.
We were able to get in to look at some stores, and some store owners were happy for us to come in with a pram as long as we were careful, whilst some other’s weren’t shy in telling us that they would prefer that we didn’t bring a child in. We found the same when we decided to have lunch. A couple of places ‘all but’ refused us entry, again the pram was the issue, but we did eventually find a great little Cafe, called Montville Coffee Shop, which was more than happy for us to sit in the outdoor dining area, and quite frankly had the most reasonably priced menu we saw all day, as well as great coffee.
We had a lovely lunch, saw a few shops, got to go to the art gallery and enjoy the lookout so we still had a nice day, however it was nowhere near as easy to get around as when we were child free, and I really would not class this as a child friendly day trip. Whilst it is still possible to visit and have a nice day, this one may be worth holding off until your little one is a little older. Or you hire a babysitter for a few hours.
A Maybe – Well for now anyway
We were able to get in to look at some stores, and some store owners were happy for us to come in with a pram as long as we were careful, whilst some other’s weren’t shy in telling us that they would prefer that we didn’t bring a child in. We found the same when we decided to have lunch. A couple of places ‘all but’ refused us entry, again the pram was the issue, but we did eventually find a great little Cafe, called Montville Coffee Shop, which was more than happy for us to sit in the outdoor dining area, and quite frankly had the most reasonably priced menu we saw all day, as well as great coffee.
We had a lovely lunch, saw a few shops, got to go to the art gallery and enjoy the lookout so we still had a nice day, however it was nowhere near as easy to get around as when we were child free, and I really would not class this as a child friendly day trip. Whilst it is still possible to visit and have a nice day, this one may be worth holding off until your little one is a little older. Or you hire a babysitter for a few hours.
A Maybe – Well for now anyway
Noosaville Esplanade
There are three main parts of Noosa. Hastings Street at Main Beach, Sunshine Beach just a little round the corner, and the Noosa Esplanade at Noosaville.
There really isn’t anywhere to walk with a pram in Hasting St, you basically run out of path after about five minutes, so if you have a baby and want to take in some water views, then head down to Noosaville.
There really isn’t anywhere to walk with a pram in Hasting St, you basically run out of path after about five minutes, so if you have a baby and want to take in some water views, then head down to Noosaville.
Noosaville Esplanade runs along the Noosa River and gives you a lovely water view, as well as kilometres of great family fun with lots of parks, BBQ areas and calm shallow places to swim. The opposite side of the esplanade hosts a range of cafes, restaurants and shops, or you can just bring down a picnic or do what most people do and grab some fish and chips and a blanket and sit by the water and watch the sun go down.
I didn’t notice any parent’s rooms or change table facilities on my first visit, so if you are going down for the day, you may have to use the pram in the ladies toilets, or take a sun shelter with you for some privacy. I will definitely investigate this a little further on my next visit, and will let you know if I find any baby friendly facilities, but just in case I would have a backup plan for nappy changes or bottle warming.
Worth a look
http://www.visitnoosa.com.au/
I didn’t notice any parent’s rooms or change table facilities on my first visit, so if you are going down for the day, you may have to use the pram in the ladies toilets, or take a sun shelter with you for some privacy. I will definitely investigate this a little further on my next visit, and will let you know if I find any baby friendly facilities, but just in case I would have a backup plan for nappy changes or bottle warming.
Worth a look
http://www.visitnoosa.com.au/
Noosa Mariner - Tewantin
The Mariner hosts a few cafes and shops and offers a lovely view over the Noosa River. It hosts markets once a week, which quite often also includes live music.
It is a nice spot to kill an hour or two, just strolling around the shops, viewing local arts and crafts, or sitting by the water having a coffee.
It is a nice spot to kill an hour or two, just strolling around the shops, viewing local arts and crafts, or sitting by the water having a coffee.
There is nothing much for the kids to do, but it is a nice place for mum and dad just to have a wander and have a meal, and maybe if timed right, for baby to have a nap in the pram.
The Mariner, does not have a parent’s room, however does have a parent’s toilet, which is large enough to accommodate a pram, and does have a sink and a purpose built change table. So there is at least somewhere to change a nappy.
Nice place to get out of the house for a while
The Mariner, does not have a parent’s room, however does have a parent’s toilet, which is large enough to accommodate a pram, and does have a sink and a purpose built change table. So there is at least somewhere to change a nappy.
Nice place to get out of the house for a while
Mums and Dads
Need a ‘Time Out’ on your Holiday
We all know how much hard work raising a family is, so treat yourself to a couple of hours ‘mummy and daddy’ or ‘me’ time whilst you are enjoying the Coast.
Contact a professional nanny or babysitting service for
a few hours reprive.........
Contact a professional nanny or babysitting service for
a few hours reprive.........
More Travel Diaries and Visits Coming Soon
Have you visited the Sunshine Coast lately?
Send us your travel tips, or share your stories on restaurants, shops or family activities you have visited. And no you don’t only have to tell us the good things. Also let us know if you tried something out with a baby or toddler and it was a complete disaster.....
