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Sunshine Coast school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, and a Sunshine Coast summer means heat, humidity and the odd storm. Water play and shade in the morning, somewhere indoors and air conditioned by early afternoon, and a plan B for the wet days.

Holiday programs and events

Dated events running during the break. Always confirm with the organiser before you drive over.

🧩 Bush and Life Skills kids holiday program at Habitat Noosa
Boreen Point · Sessions between Sun 27 Dec and Sat 9 Jan, 3 hours each; pick a session when booking · See booking page (prices not shown on the listing)
🎨 Circus skills workshop for kids at Habitat Noosa
Boreen Point · Wed 30 Dec, choose a session when booking · See booking page (prices not shown on the listing)
🎨 Kids Art Club full day workshop at Habitat Noosa
Boreen Point · Sat 16 Jan, full day · See booking page (prices not shown on the listing); materials included
🎨 Nature and Animal Wisdom kids workshop at Habitat Noosa
Boreen Point · Sun 27 Dec, session time on the booking page · See booking page (prices not shown on the listing)
✨ Bribie Island Christmas Lights Boat Parade
Bribie Island North · Sat 12 Dec, from 7pm · Free to watch
Free
🕯️ Kawana Carols by the Beach, Buddina
Buddina · Sun 13 Dec, 3pm to 8pm · Free
Free☕ 400m to coffee
🎭 Stage and Screen Spectacular movie music concert, Caloundra
Caloundra · Sat 12 Dec, 7pm (about 1 hr 40 incl. interval) · Adults $49, kids 2 to 17 $14 (plus $6.45 fee)
☕ 220m to coffee
🎭 The Greatest Christmas Show, The Events Centre Caloundra
Caloundra · Sun 13 Dec 6:30pm and Mon 14 Dec 7pm (about 1 hr 50 mins with interval) · Adults $54.90 to $79.90, children 2 to 15 $49.90 to $69.90 (plus $6.45 booking fee)
☕ 220m to coffee
🕯️ Carols on Kings, Caloundra
Kings Beach · Sat 12 Dec, 4pm to 8pm · Free (free tickets to be released)
Free☕ 60m to coffee
✨ Mooloolaba Christmas Boat Parade
Mooloolaba · Sat 12 Dec, from 7pm · Free to watch from land
Free☕ 270m to coffee
🎪 Aussie World Christmas Spectacular, Palmview
Palmview · Sat 12 Dec: gates 5pm, rides 5:30pm to 9pm · From $35 (event page; homepage says from $40)
☕ 2.0km to coffee
🎪 New Year's Eve Family Market Festival with 9pm fireworks, Twin Waters
Twin Waters · Thu 31 Dec, entry from 4pm, food stations 5pm to 9pm, fireworks over the lagoon at 9pm · Adults $30, kids 15 and under $15, family pass $75; food extra (kids meals from $10)
☕ 30m to coffee

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around the Sunshine Coast: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights.

Water play, for the hot days

Splash pads, pumps and creeks. Free, and the most reliable way to make a hot day work.

🎡 Australia Zoo
Beerwah · Daily 9am to 5pm · Adult $77.45, child (3 to 14) $51.95, under 3 free, family of 4 $233.95
Water play
🛝 Hinterland Adventure Playground, Cooroy
Cooroy · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 170m to coffee
🛝 Kings Beach Park and Fountain, Caloundra
Kings Beach · Open all day. Fountain runs 8am to 5pm daily · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 160m to coffee
🎡 Aussie World theme park
Palmview · Wed to Sun 10am to 4pm outside school holidays; daily 10am to 4pm in school holidays · Online from $49.50 per person, under 3 free, family of 4 from $182
Water play☕ 2.0km to coffee
🛝 Tewantin Spray Park
Tewantin · Open all day · Free (public council park)
FreeToiletsFencedPicnic areaWater playToddler area☕ 160m to coffee

Playgrounds with real shade

An unshaded playground is unusable from mid morning in summer. These have shade sails or mature trees over the equipment.

🛝 Pedal Park kids bike track, Baringa
Baringa · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 540m to coffee
🛝 Birtinya Island Park
Birtinya · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic area☕ 810m to coffee
🛝 Central Boulevard Park, Birtinya
Birtinya · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaSwings☕ 630m to coffee
🛝 Oceanside Village Park, Birtinya
Birtinya · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaSwings☕ 350m to coffee
🛝 Muller Park, Bli Bli
Bli Bli · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 950m to coffee
🛝 Brightwater Community Lake Park
Brightwater · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 1.8km to coffee
🛝 La Balsa Park, Buddina (fenced playground)
Buddina · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 60m to coffee
🛝 Buderim Village District Park
Buderim · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 1.4km to coffee
🛝 Tickle Park, Coolum Beach
Coolum Beach · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 50m to coffee
🛝 Hinterland Adventure Playground, Cooroy
Cooroy · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeParkingBBQ☕ 170m to coffee
🛝 Cotton Tree Park playgrounds
Cotton Tree · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 310m to coffee
🛝 Dicky Beach Park
Dicky Beach · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 1.3km to coffee

Indoors, for the wet days and the hottest ones

Air conditioning and somewhere to burn energy. Play centres are spread across the suburbs, and the free museums and libraries are the cheapest cool room in town.

🎪 The Big Boing trampoline park, Birtinya
Birtinya · Mon to Sat 9am to 4pm, Sun 9am to 3pm · Junior jumper (under 120cm) $16.50 per hour, baby jumper (under 2) $8, general $25; grip socks $6
Parking☕ 70m to coffee
🎡 Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary boardwalk
Bli Bli · Daylight hours · Free (no entry fee listed)
Free☕ 1.5km to coffee
🎡 Eumundi Markets
Eumundi · Every Wednesday and Saturday 7:30am to 2pm, rain, hail or shine · Free to wander; paid parking $9 in the ECCO car park
FreeToiletsParking☕ 80m to coffee
🎡 Noosa Botanic Gardens, Lake Macdonald
Lake Macdonald · Open daily (hours not listed on the council page) · Free (no entry fee listed)
FreeToiletsPicnic area
🎡 Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny
Maleny · Rainforest walks daily 7am to 6pm; Rainforest Discovery Centre 9:30am to 3:30pm · Free to walk; Discovery Centre by gold coin donation
FreeToiletsParkingCoffee nearbyBBQPicnic area☕ 970m to coffee
🎪 Rush Adventureland, Sunshine Plaza
Maroochydore · Daily. School terms Mon to Fri 9am to 3pm; school holidays and weekends 9am to 4pm · Unlimited play passes (see website); Rush Playgroup for ages 1 to 3 is $15 with a free coffee
Coffee nearbyClimbingToddler area☕ 150m to coffee
🎪 Noosa Leisure Centre Kids Playroom
Noosaville · School terms: Mon to Fri 6:30am to 4:30pm, Sat 7am to 2pm, Sun 7am to 1pm (shorter in holidays) · $6.50 per child entry
Coffee nearby☕ 1.1km to coffee
🎪 Kids World Adventure Playland and Cafe, Sippy Downs
Sippy Downs · Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, Sat and Sun 9am to 4pm · 1 to 2 years $9.90, 3 to 11 years $14.90 (school day special), unlimited play; under 1 with a sibling $3.90
Coffee nearbyToddler areaChange table☕ 460m to coffee
🎡 Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden and nature play
Tanawha · Daily 7am to 6pm (Nov to Mar), 7am to 5pm (Apr to Oct) · Free (no entry fee listed)
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyPicnic areaNature play☕ 1.5km to coffee
🎡 The Big Pineapple
Woombye · Daily 8:30am to 4pm (individual experiences set their own hours) · Free entry; Big Pineapple Train $12 per person
FreeParkingCoffee nearby
🎪 Little Explorers soft play, The Ginger Factory
Yandina · Daily 9am to 5pm · Free
FreeCoffee nearbyToddler area☕ 100m to coffee
🎡 The Ginger Factory, Yandina
Yandina · Daily 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas Day · Free admission; rides and tours cost extra
FreeCoffee nearbyToddler area☕ 100m to coffee

Big days out

When you need one proper outing to break the week up. Book ahead for the ticketed ones.

🎡 Australia Zoo
Beerwah · Daily 9am to 5pm · Adult $77.45, child (3 to 14) $51.95, under 3 free, family of 4 $233.95
Water play
🎡 Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary boardwalk
Bli Bli · Daylight hours · Free (no entry fee listed)
Free☕ 1.5km to coffee
🎡 Eumundi Markets
Eumundi · Every Wednesday and Saturday 7:30am to 2pm, rain, hail or shine · Free to wander; paid parking $9 in the ECCO car park
FreeToiletsParking☕ 80m to coffee
🎡 Noosa Botanic Gardens, Lake Macdonald
Lake Macdonald · Open daily (hours not listed on the council page) · Free (no entry fee listed)
FreeToiletsPicnic area
🎡 Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Maleny
Maleny · Rainforest walks daily 7am to 6pm; Rainforest Discovery Centre 9:30am to 3:30pm · Free to walk; Discovery Centre by gold coin donation
FreeToiletsParkingCoffee nearbyBBQPicnic area☕ 970m to coffee
🎡 SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium
Mooloolaba · Opens daily from 9am; closing time varies by day, check the website before you go · Online weekday from $37 adult, $27 child (2 to 15); on the day $49 adult, $39 child; under 2 free
☕ 700m to coffee
🎡 Aussie World theme park
Palmview · Wed to Sun 10am to 4pm outside school holidays; daily 10am to 4pm in school holidays · Online from $49.50 per person, under 3 free, family of 4 from $182
Water play☕ 2.0km to coffee
🎡 Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden and nature play
Tanawha · Daily 7am to 6pm (Nov to Mar), 7am to 5pm (Apr to Oct) · Free (no entry fee listed)
FreeToiletsShadeCoffee nearbyPicnic areaNature play☕ 1.5km to coffee
🎡 The Big Pineapple
Woombye · Daily 8:30am to 4pm (individual experiences set their own hours) · Free entry; Big Pineapple Train $12 per person
FreeParkingCoffee nearby
🎡 Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World
Wootha · Daily 9am to 4:30pm, closed Christmas Day · Gardens and farm friends: adult $29.50, child (3 to 14) $19.50; with Bird World: adult $49.50, child $34.50
Coffee nearby
🎡 The Ginger Factory, Yandina
Yandina · Daily 9am to 5pm, closed Christmas Day · Free admission; rides and tours cost extra
FreeCoffee nearbyToddler area☕ 100m to coffee

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🧱 Fenced playgrounds🔥 Playgrounds with a BBQ🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Sunshine Coast school holidays?
The summer school holidays run Sat 12 December to Tue 26 January 2027. The autumn school holidays run Fri 26 March to Sun 11 April 2027. The winter school holidays run Sat 26 June to Sun 11 July 2027. The spring school holidays run Sat 18 September to Mon 4 October 2027. These are Queensland government school dates. Catholic and independent schools set their own, and government schools add their own pupil free days, so check with your school.
What is there to do in the Sunshine Coast school holidays that is free?
A great deal. Every council playground is free, as are the water play areas, the library holiday programs and most of the community events on the what's on page.
What can you do with kids on the Sunshine Coast when it is raining?
Indoor play centres, the free museums and galleries, the library, and the indoor pools. On a warm wet day a splash pad still works: they are already wet.