This coastal town on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has six beaches, a coastal walking path, and Kings Beach ocean pool. Popular for swimming and surfing since the 1930s.
Caloundra, a coastal town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, lets you explore beaches like Kings Beach with its family-friendly sand and shallow waters. Walk the 25-kilometer Caloundra Coastal Trail to see Bribie Island and the Glass House Mountains, or visit the old lighthouses and the 1930s Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion. Weekly markets on Bulcock Street sell handmade goods and fresh food, and Australia Zoo is a short drive away. This area mixes easygoing beach days with activities like surfing and hiking, giving you plenty to fill your itinerary.
Beaches and Water Activities
Kings Beach stretches 500 meters with lifeguards on duty all year, making it safe for swimming and sandcastle-building. At the northern end, a saltwater pool with a shallow section stays open daily, and a boardwalk leads south to Happy Valley, where you can spot Moreton Island on clear days. Bulcock Beach sits in calmer waters near piers and seafood restaurants, while Golden Beach draws windsurfers and kayakers with its steady breezes. Dicky Beach has smaller waves suited for new surfers, with lifeguard patrols during peak seasons. Shelly Beach’s rocky edges and stronger currents make it better for exploring tide pools than swimming.
Walking the Caloundra Coastal Trail
The Caloundra Coastal Trail runs 25 kilometers from Golden Beach to Mooloolaba, passing cliffs and lookout spots. Start at Bulcock Beach and follow the boardwalk to Kings Beach, where pine trees provide shade for picnics. From June to November, keep an eye out for whales passing offshore. Continue north to Moffat Beach, where the path passes a brewery with views of surfers catching waves. If you’re short on time, try the 2.5-kilometer section between Kings Beach and Happy Valley. Wear a hat and carry water, as shade is limited along the route.
History and Landmarks
Two lighthorses stand on Kings Beach headland—one built in 1896, the other in 1968—guiding boats through the Pumicestone Passage. The Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion, a white 1930s building, holds art shows and seasonal markets. Near Shelly Beach, concrete foundations from World War II radar stations remain visible in the dunes. On Dicky Beach, the rusted hull of the SS Dicky shipwreck emerges at low tide, a relic from an 1893 cyclone.
Where to Eat and Drink
Bulcock Street’s Sunday market fills with stalls selling honey, handmade jewelry, and hot food like grilled prawns or mango smoothies. Lamkin Lane Espresso brews coffee in a courtyard dotted with potted plants, and Moffat Beach Brewing Co. serves pale ales and burgers with ocean vistas. For a rustic meal, drive 20 minutes inland to the Banana Bender Pub, where steaks and schnitzels come with views of gum trees. Many restaurants along the waterfront focus on local seafood, including barramundi and Moreton Bay bugs.
Art and Local Culture
Colorful murals by artist Steven Bordonaro decorate walls near Bulcock Street, showing turtles, dolphins, and Aboriginal stories. The Caloundra Art Gallery rotates works by modern Australian painters and sculptors every few months. During the Caloundra Music Festival, the Kings Beach amphitheater hosts bands and solo acts. The Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE occasionally opens its workshops to display student-made pottery and woven textiles. Grab a free map at the Omrah Avenue library to find these spots on your own.
Day Trips from Caloundra
Australia Zoo, 30 minutes northwest, lets you see kangaroos, crocodiles, and tigers in large enclosures surrounded by bushland. Hike up Mount Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains for sweeping views of the coast—allow two hours for the round trip. Take a ferry from Golden Beach to Bribie Island, where you can drive 4WD vehicles along sandy shores. For a scenic inland drive, follow the Blackall Range route through towns like Montville, stopping at viewpoints over forested valleys.
Getting Around and Tips
Fly into Sunshine Coast Airport, 30 minutes north, with regular flights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. From Brisbane, drive 90 minutes via the Bruce Highway or take a train to Landsborough Station and transfer to a bus. Free Wi-Fi and local history books are available at the Omrah Avenue library. Before kayaking or fishing in the Pumicestone Passage, check tide times online—sandbars here change shape daily.
