Why Queensland’s Sunshine Coast gets our ‘seal’ of approval

The seals on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are an affectionate lot, writes Mike Smith. 

Take the family on a visit to Mooloolaba’s UnderWater World and you’ll see one, perhaps two seals puckering up to plant a kiss on the cheek of a young adoring fan. For kids, the seals are one of the many joys of holidaying on the Sunshine Coast, north of Brisbane.

The popular holiday spot doesn’t have the big theme parks to match those on the Gold Coast, but what the area lacks in man-made attractions it gains in novelty value. And there’s plenty to keep everyone active.

For those fortunate enough to meet the seals at UnderWater World, it’s only the opener to a fun-filled adventure that spans from Caloundra in the south – famous for its kid-friendly Kings Beach – to the boutiques, restaurants, cafes and hotels of fashionable Noosa in the north. With sand between the toes and ice cream spread around the lips like sunscreen protection, children can lap it up right along the coast.

There’s almost anything and everything to keep visitors enthralled from sunrise to well after dark. Kids can expect a ride, whether it’s aboard a steam-driven train or by pedal power.

The great outdoors

For much of the time, surf’s up between the headlands that jut out over the sea. Young surfers can step back to a time when their parents were their age and the Beach Boys were the rage by testing the waves on a board two metres or longer. Noosa Longboards has the malibu-style board for hire for anywhere between half a day and a week, and there are lessons for novices of old-school surfing.

For a different challenge, there’s kite surfing, an adrenaline buzz better described as a combination of sailboarding and wakeboarding with skiing and paragliding. Kitesurf Australia has two-hour lessons for beginners through to intermediate for a nudge under $100 a student, while private lessons are slightly more expensive.

In line with the Sunshine Coast’s family appeal, many of the resorts have supervised kids clubs for the young set, allowing parents to take time out for a round of golf, perhaps some much needed pampering at the spa.

Of course, kids don’t have to travel to the beach to take a splash. For beginners, there’s the Thrill Hill Waterslide Park, and Bayside Wake Park caters for beginners as well as the advanced.

Indoor treats are plentiful, particularly at Noosa Tenpin, where the lights are dimmed and bowlers are switched on to a bowl ‘n’ boogie challenge to the latest disco sounds on Friday and Saturday nights. The surrounds are glowing when the pins are knocked down. When the gutter guards are in place, the smallest of competitors is guaranteed a skittle of the pins.

A ride with a difference along the Noosa shoreline is on camel, a safari that lasts around two hours. For the more adventurous, there are overnight tours or, for something novel, a ride along Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand isle.

Another unique way for kids to enjoy the waters of the Sunshine Coast, particularly around Noosa, is with an underwater course, designed for children aged between eight and 10 years. Conducted in the various resort pools by the Noosa Aquatic Centre (NAC), the course – PADI Bubblemaker – gives children a taste of scuba diving in a controlled environment, where trained staff incorporate pool games with fun to develop diving skills and enhance learning about the underwater environment.

Great attractions near Noosa

Apart from the underwater experience, Noosa presents young holidaymakers with a close encounter with nature at Australia Zoo, the legacy of famous Australian conservationist, Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin.

A family holiday is not complete without sampling the food. For starters, there’s the Ginger Factory, where visitors can delight the taste buds by trying some of the goodies from a vast selection of ginger treats.

A short drive inland from Noosa on the return journey to Brisbane is the Big Pineapple, Australia’s only working pineapple plantation open to the public where kids can enjoy the surrounds on a train, boat or Nutmobile ride before or after tucking into a fruit parfait.

Family accommodation on the Sunshine Coast

Accommodation on the Sunshine Coast is as varied as the attractions and children’s activities. The four-star Maison Noosa Resort is a particularly attractive beachfront apartment-style resort, clean and lovingly decorated and furnished. This is a perfect spot for families, located both right in the heart of Hastings street and right on the beachfront.

In line with the Sunshine Coast’s family appeal, many of the resorts have supervised kids clubs for the young set, allowing parents to take time out for a round of golf, perhaps some much needed pampering at the spa.

The Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort offers a great school holiday program with fun family activities like guided paddleboarding, mountain bike tours and art classes. Plus, a day at the AQUA Day Spa never goes amiss for parents, too.