Accessible and sensory-friendly things to do with kids in Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast has flat, sealed foreshores at most of its main beaches, and the council lends beach wheelchairs and lays matting at several patrolled beaches in summer, which makes it a genuinely good beach holiday for a child who uses a chair. The calm river mouths at Noosa, Maroochydore and Caloundra suit a child who cannot manage surf.

The big attractions publish their access: the zoo is step-free with accessible toilets and a quiet space, the aquarium runs quiet sessions, and the hinterland has a few boardwalks and lookouts rated accessible by the park service, including a rainforest walk you can push a chair along. The regional playgrounds at Cotton Tree, Kings Beach and Buderim have inclusive equipment.

Everything here comes from the venue's or council's own page; read the fact line under each place and check the linked access page before you go.

18 places in Sunshine Coast state access or sensory facts on their own page: 5 step-free · 4 sensory-friendly sessions · 3 accessible toilet · 0 Changing Places · 2 beach wheelchair · 2 pool hoist · 8 all-abilities playgrounds.

Start here

Quick check: what each place states

Only what the venue or council says on its own page. A blank means not stated, not no.

PlaceStep-freeAccessible toiletChanging PlacesSensory sessionsQuiet spaceCompanion CardSource
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Mooloolaba✓✓✓✓venue page
Noosa Aquatic Centre Sunshine Beach✓✓venue page
Australia Zoo Beerwah✓✓venue page

Sensory-friendly sessions and quiet spaces

PlaceWhat the venue saysNotes
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast MooloolabaDedicated Sensory Sessions at selected times of year: reduced crowds, calmer atmosphere; check website for datesSome areas are darker or louder, with varying lighting, sound and music

Sensory-friendly places

Venues that run relaxed, low-sensory or autism-friendly sessions, keep a quiet space, or tag themselves sensory-friendly.

All-abilities playgrounds and parks

Playgrounds built for every body: wide paths, wheelchair-accessible equipment, Liberty swings, sensory play.

  • Cotton Tree Park Cotton Tree Park Cotton Tree

    Cotton Tree Park on the Maroochy River has two playgrounds with play forts and slides, monkey bars, balancing equipment, sand play, a dry creek bed with a bridge,…

    All-abilities

Beaches and pools with access gear

Beach wheelchairs and matting, pool hoists and ramps, from the council or venue page.

  • Caloundra Aquatic Centre Caloundra Aquatic Centre Caloundra

    Caloundra Aquatic Centre is owned by Sunshine Coast Council and run by City Venue Management in the Central Park Sports Precinct off Arthur Street.

    Step-free · Pool hoist

  • Mooloolaba Beach Mooloolaba Beach Mooloolaba

    Mooloolaba Beach is described by Sunshine Coast Council as a premier swimming beach, popular for body boarding and surfing, and it is patrolled year round; patrol times…

    All-abilities

  • Coolum Beach Coolum Beach Coolum Beach

    Coolum Beach is a family friendly patrolled beach with parks and a boardwalk.

    All-abilities

  • Noosa Aquatic Centre Noosa Aquatic Centre Sunshine Beach

    Noosa Aquatic Centre at Sunshine Beach has a 10-lane 50 m pool, an 8-lane 25 m pool and heated leisure pools for toddlers, with wading and bubble pools, a shaded beach…

    Step-free · Accessible toilet · Pool hoist

  • Kings Beach Kings Beach Kings Beach

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Kings Beach all year, and Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club volunteers add weekend and public holiday patrols from 7am to…

    Beach wheelchair · All-abilities

  • Alexandra Headland Beach Alexandra Headland Beach Alexandra Headland

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Alexandra Headland all year, and Alex Surf Life Saving Club volunteers add weekend and public holiday patrols from 7am to 5pm (6pm over…

    Beach wheelchair · All-abilities

  • Dicky Beach Dicky Beach Dicky Beach

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Dicky Beach all year, and Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol on weekends and public holidays from 7am to 5pm (6pm in…

    All-abilities

Step-free museums, zoos and rainy-day places

Indoor and under-cover places whose own page says entry and paths are step-free.

More accessible places

Everything else whose own page states step-free access or an accessible toilet.

Questions parents ask

Which Sunshine Coast beaches have beach wheelchairs?
The council lends beach wheelchairs at several patrolled beaches through the lifeguards and lays matting in summer; the beach listings say which, the hours and how to book.
Is Australia Zoo accessible?
The zoo is flat with sealed paths, accessible toilets and wheelchair hire, and it publishes an access guide; the listing links it.
Which hinterland walks suit a wheelchair?
A handful of boardwalks and lookouts in the Blackall Range and the Glass House Mountains are rated accessible by the park service; the walks section lists them with the grade.
Are there sensory-friendly sessions on the Sunshine Coast?
The aquarium, the zoo and the libraries run quiet sessions, and the cinemas run sensory screenings. The table links each venue page to check dates.

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