Plan your summer holiday with Adventure Sunshine Coast
See the top Adventure Sunshine Coast picks for summer.
As the weather heats up, plan your next summer adventure with a scenic paddle down one of our streams, creeks, rivers or ride the waves in the ocean. If walking is more your pace, it's always cooler down by the water so why not enjoy a tropical rainforest walk ending with a swim at a cascading waterfall or serene lake. There's always plenty of wildlife to see while rock hopping along the creeks.
There are 150 free adventures right here on the Sunshine Coast and now they're even easier to find. Visit Adventure Sunshine Coast and choose between walking, riding, paddling or horse riding, then select your difficulty level and hit search.
Here's our top picks to see and do these summer holidays - the hardest part will be choosing what to do each day!
Summer time paddles
Enjoy a great low tide adventure with sand banks to explore, birds and wildlife galore and the quietest summer beach on the Coast! Just a short paddle (at low tide) to the end of Bribie Island gets you away from the crowds and into another world. If you are looking for more of an adventure on foot, walk to the old WWII gun emplacements or check out the lighthouse. On a low, but incoming tide, the clear blue water will just about tempt any adventurer to capsize their boat just to cool off! With a number of boat hire options available nearby, this adventure is just about the best to get away from the summer crowd on these summer holidays.
Tip: Be sure to check the tides and wind before taking to the water otherwise the paddle back can be hard, if miss-timed.
Ever wanted to introduce your kids to canoeing or kayaking? Well Currimundi Lake is the place where you can let first time paddlers have a go in the sheltered waters. The short paddle starts you at the boat ramp with a paddle to the main beach which is usually protected from the wind and offers a safe, clean paddle experience. At the entrance pull up and enjoy an ice cream, a great reward for the younger paddlers out there. The lake also offers plenty of exploring for all ages looking to see fauna and flora. Boat hire is also available at the main entrance.
Tip: This is a very popular summer spot so get out early to avoid the rush.
Choose your own summer adventure along the Mooloolah River. This great paddle offers you the choice to head up river for a more natural paddle, or down river to explore the waterfront homes along the canals which flows into the mouth of the river. It's a quieter journey up river, once you paddle under Kawana Way, it has some of the best bird viewing on the Coast with a national park on one side and bush reserve on the other. It makes you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Coast. Why not paddle to your favourite lunch spot by paddling down the river, where you can explore canals, wharfs and the parks and beaches of Mooloolaba.
Tip: This paddle is a little longer and for those with a bit of experience.
Start your summer holiday adventure with a paddle along the upper most section of the Maroochy River near Yandina. A relatively unknown canoe launch near Yandina puts you on the north arm of the Maroochy River. You can head down river from here to the junction of the Maroochy River and then explore the south arm until you hit the shallows. From here you can head all the way to Maroochydore if you have the arms for it, or back to the car!
Tip: A longer paddle for those with experience, but it's well worth the effort to explore the upper reaches of the Maroochy River.
Walks to water
Buderim Forest Park - Falls Loop
Tucked into a secret rain forested valley this is a must do for the magical waterfall and bubbling crystal cascades. You'll notice it is always cooler down by the water and offers a refreshing swimming hole. While the walk is not very far, it can take a while if you really immerse yourself in the 45 hectare reserve. In some parts you can rock hop along the creek, which adds to the magic. At Serenity Bridge you can admire Buderim Falls. From here you can join the link out to the bottom of Forest Park if you need to stretch your legs further.
Baroon Pocket Dam - Martin Williams Walk
This is a great little mowed lawn circuit form the park which has been named after the first ranger of Lake Baroon, Martin Williams. Along the track, you can see many bird and possum nesting boxes high in the trees, which include Hoop and Bunya Pines. Don't forget to bring your swimmers, and if you have a paddle craft, the lake is awesome for that too!
Conondale National Park - Booloumba Creek and Strangler Cairn
An intriguing art sculpture, that caused some controversy when first created, is located off the Conondale Range Great Walk about 3 kilometres from the camping area, just beyond the old goldmine. This a great walk with kids and art lovers, or anyone who enjoys incredible natural surrounds. If you have to walk in from the gate before the creek crossings on Booloumba Creek Road (2WD), add at least another hour each way. Plenty of swimming holes abound on this walk so cool-off during your walk.