Free things to do with toddlers in Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is gentle on toddlers, with warm weather, sheltered corners and an enormous number of free places to play. Many families spend whole weeks moving between a beach, a playground and a library, and the list is long, with more than sixty places on our site. Noosa Main Beach, Mooloolaba Spit, Bulcock Beach, Kawana, Currimundi and the Picnic Creek circuit in Kondalilla are among the places parents mention most. Beach days need extra care. Even calm water can surprise a toddler, and waves arrive without warning. Stay within arm's reach at all times, swim between the red and yellow flags and keep toddlers at the very edge. Sheltered beaches such as Bulcock at Caloundra are gentler, but they still need an adult close by. Where the flags are down, no lifesaver is watching. Off the sand, foreshore parks give toddlers room to roam, and many have shade, toilets and picnic spots. The hinterland gives a cooler alternative, with short walks that suit a carrier. Libraries are a quiet reset, and often have story time. A good toddler plan here is short and soft. Pick a beach or a park, go early and plan for a nap. Bring a spare outfit, snacks and sun protection. If it rains, head to a library and sit among the books. The coast forgives a slow start.

Our picks

Before you go

Best for which ages

Babies and toddlers up to three enjoy sandy shallows, shaded parks and short walks. Pick gentle water and keep a hand close. Older toddlers will like playgrounds, and many beaches have both close together. Siblings of different ages can share the same beach if older children have some space to run and dig nearby.

What to bring

A pop-up shade, hats, rash shirts, sunscreen and water. Pack swim nappies, wipes, spare clothes and snacks. A carrier helps on tracks and in crowds, and a pram suits foreshore paths. A small bucket and a few spare snacks buy a surprising amount of peace, and a sun hat for each child is essential.

Parking and facilities

Parking, toilets, showers and baby change vary, so check each listing. Popular beaches fill early in holidays. Do not assume a kiosk, and carry what you need. Look for spots with grass, shade or a playground close to the sand, which give toddlers somewhere safe to roam once they tire of the water.

Best time of year

Warm months are easiest, particularly early in the day. Autumn is often mild and calm, while winter days can be lovely if you rug up. Avoid rough seas and storms. Calm autumn mornings are often the most comfortable, with warm water and fewer people, and winter noon is mild too.

How to make a day of it

Choose one main outing and one easy extra, such as a beach followed by a picnic. Plan around naps, and leave before the meltdown. Simple days are often the best. Always carry a snack and a dry change, and let your toddler decide when the outing has run its course.

Beaches, rock pools and ocean baths

Swim between the red and yellow flags. Patrol seasons and hours on each listing come from the surf club or council page.

  • Noosa Main Beach Noosa Main Beach Noosa Heads

    Noosa Main Beach at Noosa Heads is a north-facing beach that Noosa Council describes as a sheltered spot for swimming with gentle waves, compared with the more powerful…

    Patrolled · ★ 4.7 (5,296)

  • 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…

    Patrolled All year · All-abilities access

  • Coolum Beach Coolum Beach Coolum Beach

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

    Patrolled All year · All-abilities access

  • Golden Beach Golden Beach Golden Beach

    Golden Beach stretches for more than four kilometres along the Pumicestone Passage from Bulcock Beach to the mouth of Bells Creek.

    Not patrolled

  • Marcoola Beach Marcoola Beach Marcoola

    Marcoola Beach, between beach accesses 98 and 112, is a quieter open stretch of beach surrounded by parkland and patrolled seasonally.

    Patrolled Summer

  • Kings Beach Ocean Pool Kings Beach Ocean Pool Kings Beach

    The Kings Beach Ocean Pool (also called the Sir Francis Nicklin Memorial Pool) sits on the rocks at the northern end of Kings Beach, Caloundra.

    Patrolled Summer

  • Sunshine Beach Sunshine Beach Sunshine Beach

    Sunshine Beach is one of Noosa Shire's patrolled beaches.

  • Twin Waters Beach (Maroochy North Shore) Twin Waters Beach (Maroochy North Shore) Twin Waters

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Twin Waters Beach all year round from the tower at beach access 131.

    Patrolled All year

  • Bulcock Beach Bulcock Beach Caloundra

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Bulcock Beach on weekends, school holidays and public holidays from September to May.

    Patrolled September to May

  • Mudjimba Beach Mudjimba Beach Mudjimba

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

    Patrolled September school holidays to early May (volunteers)

  • Mooloolaba Spit Beach Mooloolaba Spit Beach Mooloolaba

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Mooloolaba Spit all year round, and Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol the main beach on weekends and public holidays…

    Patrolled All year (council lifeguards)

  • 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…

    Patrolled All year (council lifeguards) · All-abilities access

  • Maroochydore Beach Maroochydore Beach Maroochydore

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Maroochydore Beach all year, and Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club volunteers patrol on weekends and public holidays from 7am to about…

    Patrolled September school holidays to May long weekend (volunteers)

  • Kawana Beach Kawana Beach Buddina

    Kawana Beach in Buddina is patrolled year round, with the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club in Coopers Lookout Park and the lifeguard tower at beach access 223.

    Patrolled All year

  • Discovery Beach Discovery Beach Marcoola

    Discovery Beach runs from north of Mudjimba Esplanade to Warana Way at Marcoola (beach accesses 113 to 116).

  • Maroochy River Mouth Maroochy River Mouth Cotton Tree

    The beach at the Maroochy River mouth (beach accesses 140 to 143) has a newer holiday patrol service.

    Patrolled Queensland school holidays in September, Christmas and Easter

  • Yaroomba Beach Yaroomba Beach Yaroomba

    Council-funded lifeguards patrol Yaroomba Beach near Birrahl Park during the school holidays between September and May only.

    Patrolled School holidays between September and May only

  • 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…

    Patrolled All year (council lifeguards) · All-abilities access

  • Currimundi Beach Currimundi Beach Currimundi

    Currimundi Beach lies south of Currimundi Lake, with two main spots at Watson Street and Buderim Street joined by the Coastal Pathway.

    Patrolled

  • Peregian Beach Peregian Beach Peregian Beach

    Peregian Beach is one of Noosa Shire's patrolled beaches.

  • 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…

    Patrolled All year (council lifeguards) · All-abilities access

All beaches and rock pools in Sunshine Coast, free and paid

Waterfalls, lookouts and forest walks

Walks the park service or council describes with a length and grade. Each listing says how far, how hard, and what is at the start.

All walks, waterfalls and lookouts in Sunshine Coast, free and paid

Botanic gardens and big parklands

Open lawns, shaded paths and room to run, with toilets and a picnic spot close by.

All gardens and parklands in Sunshine Coast, free and paid

Playgrounds and adventure parks

The destination playgrounds and nature play spaces worth a trip across town.

All parks and playgrounds in Sunshine Coast, free and paid

Free museums, galleries and science

Permanent collections with free entry. Special exhibitions can be ticketed; the listing says so.

  • Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct Glass House Mountains

    Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct is a council-run, state heritage-listed property at Glass House Mountains, the only remaining Cobb and Co coach stop between Brisbane…

  • Eumundi Museum Eumundi Museum Eumundi

    Eumundi Museum, part of the Discover Eumundi Heritage and Visitor Centre, has displays on early Eumundi settlers and industries and on more recent history, including…

  • Noosa Regional Gallery Noosa Regional Gallery Tewantin

    Noosa Regional Gallery is Noosa Council's riverside art gallery in Tewantin, open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and weekends 10am to 3pm.

Splash pads and water play

Free water play the council runs, usually in the warmer months. The listing says when the water is on.

All water play spots in Sunshine Coast, free and paid

Libraries, story time and rhyme time

Free sessions for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, usually in school term.

Questions parents ask

Where can toddlers paddle safely on the Sunshine Coast?
Sheltered beaches such as Bulcock and calmer corners near Mooloolaba are popular, but conditions change. Stay within arm's reach and check the signs.
Is the surf too rough for toddlers?
It can be, even on calm days. Keep toddlers at the very edge, and swim only between the flags.
Are there toddler-friendly walks in the hinterland?
Some short tracks suit a carrier, but others are steep or uneven. The listing explains what is easy.
What can we do on a rainy day with a toddler?
Libraries often have story corners and sessions, and small heritage sites are good for short visits. Check programs locally.

Other kinds of free day in Sunshine Coast

For toddlers in other cities