Sunshine on a Budget: Fun & Free Things to Do on the Coast

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I acknowledge the Kabi Kabi and the Jinibara peoples as the Traditional Custodians whose lands and waters we all now share on the Sunshine Coast. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

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At heart, both the husband and I are budget travellers.

Not ‘budget’ as in staying at the cheapest of the dingiest hostels for the sake of saving a few dollars but ‘budget’ as in free and fun.

Good thing that most outdoor activities are naturally free (once you have the equipment, that is), or I’d have serious budget headaches!

So, what are some free and fun things to do on the Sunshine Coast?

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FREE AND FUN ACTIVITIES ON THE SUNSHINE COAST

There are lots of fantastic things to do on the Sunshine Coast that are free, and the good news is that these are not just outdoor activities. Though a lot are, let’s just be upfront.

I’ve listed them in random order, whatever popped into my head first. I’ve also included one splurgy activity at the end.

1. VISIT A MARKET

I love strolling around markets, preferably those that sell yummy food (fresh and prepared) and not just random junk. I’ve picked up some of the best pickles, jams and biscuits at markets across the country over the years.

So, here are some suggestions: You could visit Eumundi Market, arguably the Sunshine Coast’s most famous market, for a bit of both (random weird stuff, some great craft and artists’ work, lots of food, and usually some indie music).

Or try Cotton Tree Market for an abundance of knick-knacks, a little bit of food and a beachy vibe. This is where I go to buy local soap bars. 😀 Or try the Twilight Market in Cotton Tree Park on the first Friday of the month.

If a farmers market is more your thing, I really like the Kawana Farmers Market at Lake Kawana. It’s got a great locals feel. The one at Fisherman’s Road in Maroochydore isn’t half bad either but gets very busy and there can be a lot of rusty junk there, too. I’ve also heard good things about the Noosa Farmers Market but have never made it there myself (yet).

The Caloundra Street Fair is the biggest market on the Sunshine Coast and on every Sunday. On the third Friday of each month, there’s also a Twilight Market next to Currimundi Lake, offering mostly delicious food and music. And on the last Friday of the month, it’s Twilight Market time in Caloundra.

For more of a hinterland vibe with lots of local craft and knick-knacks, head to Maleny Sunday Market.

• Noosa Farmers Market: Sundays, 7am-12pm
• Eumundi Market: Wednesdays, 7:30am-2pm, and Saturdays, 7:30am-2pm
• Cotton Tree Market: Sundays, 7am-12pm
• Cotton Tree Park Twilight Market: First Friday of the month, 5-9pm
• Fishermans Road Market: Sundays, 6am-12pm
• Kawana Farmers Market: Saturdays, 6am-12pm
• Currimundi Lake Twilight Market: Third Friday of the month, 4-8pm
• Caloundra Street Fair: Sundays, 8am-1pm
• Caloundra Twilight Market: Last Friday of the month, 5-9pm
• Maleny Sunday Market: Sundays, 8am-2pm

2. STROLL THROUGH A BOTANIC GARDEN

There’s not just one botanical garden on the Sunshine Coast, no, we have four. Three of them are free and fun while the Maleny Botanical Garden is private and thus money-attached.

• Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha: Quiet and a great spot if you want more of a bushland experience. Has BBQs and a fun kids walk.
• Noosa Botanic Gardens: A more “manicured” and varied botanic garden, and beautifully situated at Lake MacDonald. The grounds make for a great stroll around, including to a lily pond, an amphitheatre and lots of spots for picnics.
• Ben Bennett Botanical Park, Caloundra: A bushland botanical park offering several short walking tracks as well as BBQs and picnic tables.

Which leads me to my next freebie activity…

3. HAVE A PICNIC

I love picnics.

I think it’s because we didn’t really go to restaurants much when I was a child, and we’d always bring our own food on outings and eat outdoors.

And somehow food always tastes better outdoors.

So here are some of the places that I like for having a picnic. They all have public BBQs. (And no, no beaches, I don’t like sand in my food, thank you.)

• Wappa Dam, Nambour: A personal favourite. I really like the park and I’ve had some great laughs here with friends.
• Buderim Village Park: Great views and lots of lawn to lounge around. I’m also partial to the Lions Park in Buderim (more great views and picnic tables).
• Cotton Tree Park: A very popular park, rightly so, along the Maroochy River. Huge playground and safe swimming in the river.
• Glass House Mountains Lookout, near Beerburrum: Not a ton of space but fabulous views of the Glass House Mountains. Skip the walk unless you need some exercise.
• Alexandra Headlands Park: Very popular spot, particularly for sunset drinks on the weekend.
• Mary Cairncross Reserve, near Maleny: A great park with even greater views of the Glass House Mountains.

4. HIKE TO A WATERFALL

The Sunshine Coast doesn’t have the incredible waterfalls that the Gold Coast Hinterland boasts but we still have some lovely ones. They’re best after rainfall, otherwise all you might see is a tiny trickle (like when you go in August and there hasn’t been rain in months).

• Kondalilla Falls, near Montville: The largest of the falls on the Sunshine Coast, can be gushing after heavy summer rainfall. There’s a decent swimming hole halfway down (if the water is flowing). The hike to the base of the falls involves many steps and is about 5km in total.
• Serenity Falls, Buderim: If it’s quiet, they’re beautiful but these falls are well-known so it’s unlikely that you’ll be there by yourself and enjoy serenity. Some gorgeous rainforest though and a pretty bridge from which you can admire the waterfall.
• Gherulla Falls, near Mapleton: Not as spectacular as either Kondalilla or Serenity Falls but if you want a longer hike, this is a good choice. Definitely more than a trickle after heavy rains and not really for swimming.

5. CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

Since we’re talking physical exercise, climbing a mountain on the Sunshine Coast is nowhere near as strenuous as you might expect. You don’t have to tackle the hard ones like Beerwah or Tibrogargan (both can be dangerous and should only be attempted if you have rock scrambling and climbing skills).

Instead try Mount Coolum (easier than you might think), Ninderry, Beerburrum or Mount Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains.

For something really easy, give Mount Tinbeerwah near Noosa a go, it’s only 1km return and you can get nice sunset views.

6. MARVEL AT THE RAINFOREST

There are pockets of beautiful rainforest all around the Sunshine Coast, and you don’t even have to work hard to see it.

Some of my favourite short rainforest walks include:

• Rainforest Walk at Mary Cairncross Reserve
• Buderim Forest Walk
• Wompoo Circuit, Mapleton Falls National Park: You get dry sclerophyll forest as well as rainforest here.

7. VISIT A MUSEUM

So what do you when it’s raining?

Well, rainforests are pretty great in the rain, too, minus the leeches, they can be pesky. If you want to stay indoors, you could visit a free gallery or historic museum.

• Caloundra Regional Gallery: This is actually quite a big gallery (for a regional museum) with rotating exhibitions. It’s usually free unless there’s a special exhibition. Open Tue-Fri, 10-4pm, and Sat-Sun, 10-2pm.
• USC Art Gallery: The University also has an art gallery. It’s a small space but they tend to exhibit very interesting pieces. Open Mon-Fri, 10-4pm, and Saturdays, 10-1pm.
• Yandina Historic House: The historic house functions as the information centre, art gallery, café as well as a museum showing some historical displays on the area and the house. Open Mon-Fri, 10-1pm (historic house, shop and café open slightly longer).
• Rainforest Discovery Centre, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve: Interactive eco-information centre that’s great for the whole family. The boardwalk is especially fun! Open 7 days, 9:30-3:30 pm.

8. LISTEN AND LEARN AT A TALK AT THE LIBRARY

Going to a talk or workshop at the Sunshine Coast Libraries is actually really great.

I’ve learnt heaps about digestive health and other health issues, photography, reducing waste, composting and more at talks at the library. I’ve even spoken about my life in Australia at a multicultural workshop once.

Events filled up quickly so you do need to pounce as soon as talks and workshops are announced.

But if you’re not too concerned about the location, you can often get a spot at some of the smaller branches, e.g. in Beerwah.

To attend, you need to be a library member but it’s free and you can easily sign up online when you register. Plus you can get some book reading done while you’re on holidays.

Find out What’s on at the Sunshine Coast Libraries.

9. GO ON A LONG (OR SHORT) HIKE

We have a fair few short and long hikes on the Sunshine Coast, and obviously they’re all free. There should be enough to keep you busy for a few days!

If you just want a stroll, anywhere along the Coastal Pathway is great but I especially like the Caloundra to Currimundi section, Mooloolaba to Cotton Tree, or around Coolum Beach. The boardwalk section there is great, especially if you don’t feel like puffing up Mount Coolum but still want some ocean views!

Keep in mind that longer hikes like the more exposed Trachyte Circuit in the Glass House Mountains or the Coastal Track in Noosa National Park can get pretty brutal in the heat and humidity of summer. To avoid a thumping headache at the end of the day, I often use Pure Electrolytes (‘Superfruits’ is my favourite! :)).

10. TAKE A SCENIC DRIVE

If hiking is too much exercise for you (or it’s just too hot), go on a scenic drive around the Sunshine Coast.

• Glass House Mountains: Meander around the volcanic outcrops better known as the Glass House Mountains; you can take in some viewpoints and stop at a café or two for a coffee and more.
• Blackall Ranges: To see some fantastic views of the coast from the hinterland, do the Blackall Ranges scenic drive that takes you into Mapleton, Montville and Maleny.
• Mary Valley: For a scenic drive that explores more of the rural hinterland and heads out towards Kenilworth (great cheese there!), explore the Mary Valley Tourist Drive.

11. SEE A BIG “P” THING

If you’re a collector of big things, here’s your chance to see the Big Pineapple or the Big Pelican.

Located at Woombye near Wildlife HQ Zoo (Nambour Road), the Big Pineapple was once the showpiece of a giant pineapple plantation. Open every day (9-4pm) and you can finally climb up the pineapple again for 360° views! 🙂

And you can ride the Pineapple Train (but sadly, that’s not free).

And while we’re talking pineapple, you should probably try some local pineapple (though, admittedly, they’re also not generally free but they are delicious!).

The Big Pelican is found along the Noosa River in Noosaville’s Lion Park (along Gympie Terrace).

12. GO FOR A SWIM

Needless to point out that are a million and one spots for having a swim or a surf on the Sunshine Coast.

But I’m neither a water baby nor am I into swimming in the ocean. Plus, the open beaches on the coast can be quite rough and full of gutters.

That said, I do also like to cool down on those hot summer days so here are some of my favourite places for a cooling but calm swim:

• Cotton Tree Park / River: Possibly one of the busiest spots these days but swimming in the Maroochy River here is so much easier and calmer than around the corner at Maroochydore Beach.
• Chambers Island, Maroochydore: Also on the Maroochy River but further upstream (off Duporth Avenue); very popular but great fun and accessible via a foot bridge.
• Currimundi Lake: Further south towards Caloundra, Currimundi Lake is a good spot for a calm swim.
• Kings Beach Ocean Pool, Caloundra: Public tidal pool with sun shades and a water fountain for kids, open 4:30am-9pm
• Mooloolaba Beach: Very well known but since it’s quite sheltered it’s often very safe for swimming and frolicking in the waves

13. WATCH THE SUNRISE OR SUNSET

I’ve seen some pretty amazing sunsets on the Sunshine Coast, there are just so many great spots.

Obviously, you won’t see the sun setting unless you’re facing somewhat west but you can still get some gorgeous sunset hues over the ocean.

Try these sunrise or sunset spots on the Sunshine Coast:

• Mount Tinbeerwah, Noosa: Depending on the time of year, you can see the sunrise. Generally also good for sunset.
• Mount Coolum or Mount Ninderry: Sunrise or sunset. Bring a torch to avoid stumbles.
• Alex Headland Park: Very popular for sunset drinks, especially on weekends.
• Maroochy River Mouth, Cotton Tree: Another popular spot for sunset drinks.
• La Balsa Park, Buddina: Great spot for both sunrise or sunset.
• Mount Ngungun, Glass House Mountains: Popular for both sunrise and sunset, bring a torch.
• Wild Horse Mountain Scenic Lookout (Bruce Highway): Panoramic sunset views over the Glass House Mountains.

14. GO KAYAKING OR SUP-ING

Obviously, kayaking or SUP-ing is only free if you already have a kayak (or canoe / SUP). But if you do, here are some fabulous places for paddling on the Sunshine Coast.

• Noosa: Noosa River, Noosa Everglades (Cooloola), Lake MacDonald, Lake Cootharaba, Lake Weyba
• Mooloolaba/Maroochydore: Maroochy River Canoe Trail, Maroochy Water Canals, Mooloolah River (incl. Mooloolaba Canals and Kawana Canals)
• Mudjimba: Twin Waters Canals, Bill Kear Waterway
• Landsborough: Ewen Maddock Dam
• Maleny: Baroon Pocket Dam
• Caloundra: Currimundi Lake, Pumicestone Passage

You can also rent kayaks or go on a tour in Caloundra and Golden Beach, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore, and Noosa.

15. GO FOR A BIKE RIDE

The Sunshine Coast isn’t as incredible for recreational bike riding like places such as Melbourne might be. But there are still plenty of routes you can explore, whether you’re looking for an easy ride or more of a challenge.

The best place for fun bike riding on the Coast is the Coastal Pathway.

This track stretches from Pelican Water (in the south) to Tewantin (in the north), covering some 73km. Some sections are really fantastic but other bits aren’t quite properly connected (yet).

The best thing is to just pick a starting point and start riding as far as you want, then turn around.

If mountain biking is more your thing, there are some amazing trails in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Check out Bushrangers (Sunshine Coast MTB club) for more details on all their tracks, including Parklands Conservation Park, set to become the home of mountain biking for the 2032 Olympics.

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WHAT DID I MISS?

So, that’s it, 15 different kinds of activities you can enjoy for free on the Sunshine Coast! I hope this helps you get out there without spending a fortune.

If you’re curious about the bits and pieces I actually pack for these activities—including the only sun hat I’ve found that fits my tiny head—you can find my updated mini gear list here.

If I’ve missed your favourite activity or place, do let me know in the comments below. 🙂

Happy exploring,

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