It’s raining in Perth and it seems like the afternoon plan is more about watching a movie at home than putting on sunscreen and sunbathing. Well, in Queensland, it’s the exact opposite. Its long days, easily accessible beaches and outdoor walks make it a fantastic destination. For many Perth families, the Sunshine Coast is an ideal getaway both in spring and summer, as it doesn’t force you to choose between fun time for the kids and relax time for the adults, both options are possible.
There are direct flights between Perth and Brisbane on airlines such as Virgin Australia and Qantas that take about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Since it doesn’t take very long, it’s definitely an advantage when travelling with children.
When planning a trip, especially with children, the most complicated part is usually organizing every day of the vacation. But it’s definitely the best approach. Having active mornings, relaxing afternoons and staying somewhere that helps you do just that will make everything run more smoothly. The Sunshine Coast is a great example of this, with beaches, nature, coastal towns and simple activities that can be combined depending on how tired you feel each day.
Beaches to visit and relax
The first plan is usually the simplest:To go to the beach, let the kids run around, find a comfortable spot and stop checking the time. That’s why Caloundra is a good base for families, because it has beaches, cafes, green areas to have a walk and amenities nearby, without that feeling of being far from everything.
There are several family-friendly beaches on the Sunshine Coast, for example Bulcock Beach, Mooloolaba Beach, Mooloolaba Spit, Noosa Heads and Kings Beach. The saltwater pool at Kings Beach makes it an ideal spot for swimming and a fun place for the little ones. When you’re a kid, the beach is a plan full of activities: sand, waves, buckets, running around and that long-awaited ice cream afterwards. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be an activity that lasts all day. In fact, a good morning at the beach can leave better memories than a whole day trying to wait until sunset with exhausted children.
Short walks and nature
If you want to swap your swimsuit for shorts and trainers, the Sunshine Coast has some really interesting options on offer. There are more than 120 routes taking in beaches, the coastline, wetlands and woodland areas. The best thing about this is that you don’t need to plan long walks. You can choose one route or another depending on the specific needs of each person or group. So, you’ll have options to go for a walk, explore a bit and make it back before you start to feel tired.
A walk along the coast, a stop to enjoy a viewpoint of the sea, or a short hike through a green area can give that touch of adventure that many children look for. Not everything has to be adrenaline. There are highly recommended family routes like the Dularcha Forest Tunnel, the Buderim Forest Waterfall Walk or Gardners Falls. These are great options to go out for a while, enjoy a change of atmosphere and come back in time to rest.
Caloundra as a convenient base for families
When travelling with children, sleeping in a convenient area is invaluable. Caloundra is a great base for exploring the area and having many activities for kids. You’ll be able to easily walk along the coast, go down to the beach, find food without any hassle and have plenty of things to do on hand. This is important for families travelling from Perth. After a long flight, nobody wants to spend their holiday stuck in the car. Ideally, you want a place where you can start the day at a relaxed pace. Breakfast, the beach, a stroll, the pool, an early dinner and then off to bed. It may sound basic, but many times that’s exactly what makes a vacation go well.
Choosing an accommodation that also keeps you entertained
This is where planning ahead is key. There’s plenty to do on the Sunshine Coast, but accommodation can make all the difference between a comfortable stay and one filled with constant travel. For families, a great option is to look for a Sunshine Coast resort with a water park, such as Oaks Sunshine Coast Oasis Resort near Golden Beach in Caloundra.
The resort has been listed as one of the ‘Top 10 Family Resorts in Australia’ and it has a water park for resort guests, a play area, an outdoor swimming pool, a heated spa, a tennis court, a restaurant and family-friendly facilities. Its water park is designed for kids under 12 and includes a multi-level structure, slides and a water play area.
Children will enjoy water slides, sun and that holiday freedom they’ll remember for months. Parents will be able to enjoy something just as important. Having fun activities for their children nearby, without preparing huge backpacks, without having to look for parking, and without turning every afternoon into an organised outing.
What also helps a lot is that there are a lot of things to do inside the resort. For example, if everyone is tired one day, you can simply enjoy a while by the outdoor lagoon pool or the heated spa, a while in the playground, a simple dinner at Oaks&Vine Sunshine Coast, the resort’s restaurant, and finally the rest you deserve. That kind of flexibility is what many families look for when they book a getaway.
If you’ve got friends or family visiting you at the resort, they can join in the water park fun too. Day passes are available at $15 per child, though they’ll need to be signed in by a registered guest at the front desk. It’s a nice way to include relatives in the vacation without them having to book a room.
A trip to wait for with anticipation
Anticipating events is also part of the plan. For example, showing children photos of the beach, telling them that there will be water slides, or preparing a small list of things they want to do there makes waiting a beautiful thing. The vacation starts before getting on the plane. For parents, smart planning goes the other way. Direct flights, nearby beaches, easy walks and accommodations that keep the kids entertained too.
There’s no need to promise a perfect holiday. All you need to do is organise a few days where the children have water, sunshine and space to run around, and where the adults can really relax. When the sky clouds over in Perth and it turns into a rainy day, thinking about the Sunshine Coast sounds wonderful. It sounds like summer’s coming early, happy children in their swimwear and a family getaway that doesn’t need to be complicated to be a success.
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