The best things to do on the Sunshine Coast during the school holidays

There is never a dull moment during the school holidays on the Sunshine Coast. No more enduring constant complaints that there’s nothing to do or exclamations of “I’m bored!”. In fact, you’ll be so busy getting out and about you’ll wish you had more time with the kids to explore the best of the Sunshine Coast.

Here are just some of the many wonderful things to do with kids during the school holidays on the Sunshine Coast. Even if you don’t live on the Sunshine Coast (yet!), make sure you save this list just in case you’re the lucky winner of our latest Mater Prize Home lottery No. 303, which is located in the beautiful Sunshine Coast town of Buderim.

Animal encounters

When you live on the Sunshine Coast, you’d be crazy to not have an annual pass for the whole family to Australia Zoo, given how close you are to its 100+ animals. To make your school holiday visit extra special, treat the kids to a Zookeeper for a Day experience. They’ll get up close to the wildlife and learn fun facts first-hand from real-life zookeepers.

Do they love birds? Maleny Botanic Gardens is a bird lovers paradise, with over 700 native and exotic birds from around the world housed across four walk-through aviaries, some of which you can hand-feed during an interactive guided tour.

You can also cuddle koalas and feed a range of monkey species at Wildlife HQ Zoo (located at the Big Pineapple), become a farmer for the day at a number of hands-on farms in the area, like Maleny Dairies, Wittacork Dairy Cottages, and White Ridge Farm, or milk a camel at QCamel!

Water play

Last school holidays you probably didn’t get much of a chance to hit the beach due to the icy cold temps, but now that it’s spring you won’t be able to keep them out of the water any longer. Especially not after they hear that a place like Bli Bli Aqua Park exists on their doorstep. They’ll be completely tuckered out after an hour slipping and sliding on the series of inflatable slides, runways, blast bags and bouncers at this water park on a lake. Thrill Hill Waterslides in Woombye will also get their little hearts racing with its ​​120-metre dynamic hydro slipslide, along with additional slides that are suitable for kids from 2-years-old and up.

Kings Beach at Caloundra is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day as it has a free water play area, along with a calm tidal pool and, of course, the beautiful beach where you can catch waves together. Or, if it’s a hinterland rockpool you fancy playing in, a short walk through the Buderim Forest Park (which is just an 8-minute drive from our Mater Prize Home) will lead you to a tranquil swimming hole at the base of Serenity Falls.

Indoor adventures

Looking for a rainy day activity or a break from the heat? Take your pick from the many unique museums in the area where they can keep their little minds busy learning new things. If they’re into planes check out the Queensland Air Museum; Sunshine Castle has a cool medieval exhibition inside a real-looking castle; and ​​Landsborough Historical Museum is a free museum that gives an insight into the local history with a collection of documentary materials relating to the Indigenous, local, ethnic and family history of the Sunshine Coast region.

Want to burn more energy? Bould Move will have them climbing up the walls, literally! There’s a selection of indoor rock climbing courses suitable for children. Another great choice? Sea Life Sunshine Coast ticks the box for an animal encounter and being indoors (psst, kids over the age of 13 can swim with seals)!

Tiny treats

Want to spoil your little ones over the break? Well, it’s the perfect weather for ice cream. Grab a delicious scoop at any number of the Sunshine Coast’s best ice cream spots, like ​​Milano Gelateria in Caloundra, Gelato Mio in Coolum Beach, Happy Pops in Noosa Heads, Fior Di Latte Gelateria in Mooloolaba, Maleny Food Co. in Maleny… so many flavours to put them on their best behaviour!

If you’re after a more interactive food experience, go strawberry picking at Cooloola Berries Farm. Or check out The Ginger Factory. It may not sound kid-friendly, but its full of surprises. You can meet a beekeeper and sample honey, ride on a 100+-year-old train through 9 hectares of lush sub-tropical gardens, play in the covered playground, and jump on the Overboard boat ride for a musical and animated puppetry show featuring more than 200 handmade moving puppets. There’s also 18 handmade gelato flavours at Gingerlatis—a gelati and dessert bar that churns its own ice cream on-site at The Ginger Factory.

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Buy your tickets today to win this Mater Prize Home lottery and enjoy the school holidays making memories with your family. Plus, for every ticket you purchase you’re helping support the life-changing medical research and patient care at Mater.