Things to do in Caloundra, Queensland

The best things to do in Caloundra, Queensland, include learning to surf at Dicky Beach, kayaking on Currimundi Lake and skydiving onto a beach from 14,000ft.

Caloundra, Queensland, is the southernmost town on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a short drive from the Sunshine Coast Airport in Marcoola (or 1h10m drive from Brisbane Airport) and a popular beach holiday destination.

Things to do in Caloundra, Queensland: Caloundra beaches

It is more heavily developed than much of the Sunshine Coast, but there are plenty of things to do in Caloundra. Most visitors will come for the beaches, and the two best surf beaches are Kings Beach and Dicky Beach. The latter plays host to the North Caloundra Surf School, while Kings Beach has the two decommissioned Caloundra lighthouses standing next to each other in a park. The Kings Beach pool is also an excellent place for a swim.

Caloundra checklist: 5 fab experiences to book in advance

1. Kayak hire or paddleboard rental at Golden Beach. 2. Self-guided scavenger hunt. 3. Half day Pummicestone Passage jetski tour. 4. Waterways cruise. 5. Two hour Efoil lesson.

But the other Caloundra beach suburbs have their own appeal, too. Moffatt Beach, for example, hosts the Moffat Beach Brewing Co. This brewery serves up a range of its own craft beers in a laid-back bar. Golden Beach, meanwhile, is home to Bill’s Boat Hire, which rents out kayaks and paddleboards as well as boats for exploring the Pumicestone Passage. Kayak hire at Golden Beach costs from $12, while morning paddleboard tours and small group jetski outings are also an option.

Bulcock Beach, meanwhile, is the closest to the town centre.

The Caloundra Coastal Walk on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Other things to do in Caloundra, Queensland

Away from the beach, things to do in Caloundra include the Ben Bennett Botanical Park and Currimundi Lake. The Ben Bennett Botanical Park is essentially preserved bushland, laced with walking trails. It’s also a good place to spot local birdlife.

Currimundi Lake is popular with kids as it’s a wave-free spot for swimming. Sunshine Coast Kayak and SUP hire rents out watersports equipment on the lake shore.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

What to do in Caloundra: Queensland Air Museum

The main cultural attraction in Caloundra is the Queensland Air Museum. Predictably enough, this hosts a big collection of old planes. But the Queensland Air Museum also makes efforts to go into Australia’s aviation history. You’ll find the museum at the Caloundra Aerodrome, which is where 1300 Skydive runs its tandem skydiving adventures from. These Sunshine Coast skydives involve jumping out of a plane from 14,000 feet, before landing on a beach.

Caloundra accommodation

Caloundra accommodation options include the four star Rolling Surf Resort right by Kings Beach and the Ultiqa Shearwater Resort next to the Kings Beach Pool. You can also opt for the budget-friendly Dicky Beach Caravan Park and apartment-style Oaks Sunshine Coast Oasis Resort at Golden Beach.

Where to stay in Caloundra

The best accommodation options in Caloundra are:

For a big lagoon pool: Ramada Resort by Wyndham Golden Beach.
For a sensational waterfront location: Watermark Caloundra.
For a prime spot at Kings Beach: Rolling Surf Resort.
For high quality apartments: Rumba Beach Resort.
For a solid, affordable motel: Moffat Beach Motel.

Other major Sunshine Coast attractions within a short drive of Caloundra include the Aussie World theme park in Palmview and Australia Zoo in Beerwah.

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