The Sunshine Coast is a summer holiday dream! The picture-perfect beaches, creeks and swimming spots are endless; however, when the mercury begins rising well into the thirties sometimes the idea of sunscreen, sand and the direct sun beating down on you may not be as enticing as you originally thought.
For days when it’s just too hot, raining or you’ve already had too much sun (and nursing some unwanted sunburn!), we’ve put together a list of some of the top things you can do on the Sunshine Coast that will get you inside and out of the weather.
GO SHOPPING
Spend some time in the air-conditioning browsing over 250 stores at the Sunshine Plaza, the biggest shopping centre on the Coast. It is only a 10-minute drive from the Mooloolaba Esplanade and buses run between them every 15 minutes.
- Sunshine Plaza
Horton Parade Maroochydore
www.sunshineplaza.com
SEE A MOVIE
Going to the cinemas is a great way to get out of the weather and sit in comfort with entertainment for the whole family. There are cinemas in Caloundra, Maroochydore, and the newly opened cinemas at Kawana. The new Event Cinemas in Kawana not only has VMAX and Gold Class cinemas, but has introduced wide cushioned standard seats, full recliners and front row day beds to the Sunshine Coast as options for your comfort!
- Kawana Events Cinema
Kawana Shoppingworld, 119 Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina
www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinema/Kawana - Maroochydore BCC Cinema
Sunshine Plaza, Horton Parade, Maroochydore
www.eventcinemas.com.au/Cinema/Maroochydore-Sunshine-Plaza - Caloundra Big Screen Cinema
11 Bulcock St, Caloundra
www.bigscreencinemas.com.au/caloundra/
PLAY MINI GOLF
Give the indoor mini golf circuit at Holy Moly golf club a go. This is not your traditional mini golf experience, boasting 18 themed holes, private karaoke rooms and a full cocktail bar for the adults. Check out their site for some great deals with two for one Tuesdays and university student Wednesdays.
- Holy Moly Golf Club
Big Top Shopping Centre, Ocean St, Maroochydore
www.holeymoley.com.au/locations/sunshine-coast
GO BOWLING
Retreat to the indoors by doing some ten-pin bowling – airconditioned fun for the whole family! Both Suncity Bowls and Strike Bowling is open 7 days a week and have specials that run for families on school holidays. Strike Bowling is connected to the Holy Moly Golf Club, and also has karaoke rooms, a gourmet kitchen and full cocktail bar.
- Suncity Bowls
Main St, Alexandra Headlands
https://www.suncitytenpin.com.au/ - Strike Bowling
Big Top Shopping Centre, Ocean St, Maroochydore
https://www.strikebowling.com.au/locations/strike-sunshine-coast
GET PAMPERED
What better way to spend a day indoors on holidays than being pampered at a day spa?! Get a massage to release your pre-holiday tension, or a facial and full body wrap to treat yourself on your time away. There are lots of places you can book, but our top picks are:
- The Waterfall Day Spa
11 Mooloolaba Esplanade
https://www.waterfalldayspamooloolaba.com.au/ - Luna Massage & Beauty
22/121 Mooloolaba Esplanade
https://www.lunamassageandbeauty.com.au/
GO FOR A 4WD ADVENTURE
A 4WD adventure is a great way to experience the beach from the comfort of an airconditioned vehicle. It’s perhaps not the greatest plan for a rainy day, and we guarantee you will end up wanting to get out of the car at least a couple of times to take some photos and see the sights from the ground, but it is a fun way for the more adventurous at heart to get out of the sun for most of the day.
- Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours
Noosa Marina 2 Parkyn Court Tewantin (pick up available at Mooloolaba)
https://www.greatbeachdrive4wdtours.com/
TEST YOURSELF IN AN ESCAPE ROOM
Escape rooms can be a challenging and fun activity for the whole family. It’s an interactive adventure where you work to uncover clues and solve puzzles to escape a room within a set time frame. It is also a great team building exercise, so if you are travelling with friends or on a work retreat, this is an excellent way to spend some time away from the beach.
- Strike Bowling – Escape Rooms
Big Top Shopping Centre, Ocean St, Maroochydore
www.strikebowling.com.au/escape-rooms - Escape Room Oz
55 Bulcock St, Caloundra
https://www.escaperoomoz.com.au/
GO UNDERWATER AT SEA-LIFE MUSEUM
See the ocean from a completely different perspective at the Sea Life Museum. Explore the ocean with over 10,000 creatures in 11 themed zones including the ocean tunnel, seal island, the tidal touch pools and seahorse sanctuary. The ocean tunnel is an 80m long walk through the oceanarium where you’ll get to see sharks, rays, reef fish, saw fish and many more.This is a great way to entertain the kids, and children under 3 are free to enter. If you book your tickets online beforehand you can save up to 20% off your tickets.
- Sea Life Museum
Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
https://www.underwaterworld.com.au/
GET JUMPING AT THE BIG BOING
Burn up that extra energy from being indoors at the Big Boing trampoline park. This is a place for both fun and fitness, fully equipped with a toddler area, ninja course and café. Most importantly it is 100% airconditioned!
- The Big Boing
24C Innovation Parkway, Birtinya
https://www.thebigboing.com.au/
GO ROLLERBLADING OR ICE SKATING
Step back in time and go retro at the Caloundra Rollerdrome. As an extra incentive for those hot summer days, during summer months they transform the rollerdrome into an ice-skating rink! There are learn to skate classes for the inexperienced, and often holiday programs running during school holidays for the kids.
- Caloundra Rollerdrome
19 Caloundra Rd, Caloundra
http://www.rollerdrome.com.au/
While we love our Sunshine Coast beaches and the vast array of outdoor activities that we have, but there are equally as many fun indoor activities like these that you can experience rain or shine.
We hope you enjoy them as much as we do & have a great holiday stay on the Sunshine Coast!