For things to see and do in Maroochydore, start at the Maroochy River mouth and try some fishing, stand up paddle boarding or make your way around to the white sands of Maroochydore Beach. Play beach cricket before swimming at the protected beach and grabbing a family meal at the RSL. A few minutes away there’s Top Shots fun park, with mini-golf and waterslides.
Some of the best beaches for children include Kings Beach, Bulcock Beach, Golden Beach, Cotton Tree, Mooloolaba Beach and Mooloolaba Spit, which offer excellent beachside playgrounds. Noosa Main Beach is one of the few north-facing beaches on Australia’s east coast, providing safe sheltered waters for young families and novice surfers. Surfers will find the best surf breaks at Point Cartwright, Alexandra Headland, Sunshine Beach, Moffat Beach and between Coolum and Peregian — the local surfers are friendly and will happily share the waves.
At Sunshine Plaza there’s the cinema complex with all the latest films, and a shopping mall to satisfy any food or retail desire. Some of Maroochydore’s diverse food and restaurant options include Stillwater for its genuine Japanese dishes, or Ebb for its classy seafood and gourmet meals.
After all the activity, take a relaxing river cruise or hire a boat, a great way to learn about the birdlife and ecosystem of the area.
Where to stay
Sunshine Coast Airport is serviced by Jetstar and Virgin Australia, as well as a seasonal service from Auckland with Air New Zealand. Centrally located in Marcoola, the Sunshine Coast Airport is ideally located to access the heart, soul, lifestyle and playground of the Sunshine Coast.
For events in Maroochydore you could start with Sunday jazz in the park at the Maroochy Botanic Gardens with a jumping castle and face painting, the sports complex at Fisherman’s Road for soccer and football, or nightclubs like the Sol Bar, for local and national bands and artists. Yearly events include the Winter Bowls Carnival at Maroochydore Bowls Club, Culture Shock Food Festival, World Festival on Ocean Street on Easter Sunday, with an eclectic mixture of musicians, entertainers and market stalls. There’s also plenty of community initiatives, as well as surfing and skating competitions in the area worth looking out for.
