Caloundra, just 90 minutes north of Brisbane is one of our favourite places to visit in Queensland and we make it a priority to get there every year for a well deserved long weekend.

Being on the Sunshine Coast, its a perfect getaway for those of us living on the Gold Coast and even closer for the many urban dwellers in Brisbane who need a stress-free weekend away.

Caloundra is a haven for almost every watersport and outdoor activity you can think of, a beachfront restaurant and cafe mecca and a hub for all things creative and arty.

If you can’t find something in this delightful destination to keep you entertained, exhilarated or energised, then check your pulse!

Here are just 5 ideas to get your travel juices going, but these are just some of the many things available for visitors looking to get their Sunny Coast holiday vibe going….

1. Swim in the Ocean Pool….

Caloundra’s $4 million tidal swimming pool is set on the rocks at the northern end of the beautiful Kings Beach foreshore and is free to use.

In addition to its shade sails, 25-metre sea-water lap pool, children’s swimming pool and wading area it is also the only sea pool on the Sunshine Coast.

The change rooms and showers are housed in the adjacent heritage listed Kings Beach Bathing Pavillion, built in 1937.

The sea pool is open all year round from 4.30am until 9.00pm

….get there via the Esplanade

Walk to the pool along Caloundra’s stunning esplanade and enjoy a dynamic 20 minute immersion into this coastal city’s soul. There is so much to see – joggers and walkers on the boardwalk, surfers and kite surfers harnessing the waves and the wind, yoga and tai chi in the park, bustling beachfront cafes, nippers training and bulky tankers passing by in the shipping lane. All this amidst the salty, laid back atmosphere of the postcard perfect beachfront.

2. Walk the Caloundra Street Art Trail

Start at the Caloundra Regional Gallery and explore this gorgeous beachside city’s street art on the Caloundra Street Art Trail ☀️🏄‍♂️🖼🎨

Rich in history and creativity the plethora of murals and sculpture adorning Caloundra’s urban streets and structures is a delight to behold.

The Caloundra Street Art trail loop will take you along main streets, through laneways and into the back alleys of Caloundra over approximately 1.7km.

Featured below are:

1. Pavilion: Lamkin Lane – Artists: Adam Lewczuk, David Houghton and Ryan Sullivan

2. Impossible Machines, Impossible Solutions: Caloundra Regional Gallery, corner of Omrah Avenue and Otranto Street – Artists: Kyle Hughes-Odgers and Andrew Frazer

3. Street Sculpture in Bulcock Street

4. Bulcock Street Mural: Artists: Steven Bordonaro and Cassie Munson

5. Lighthouse, Caloundra: Lamkin Lane – Artists: Adam Lewczuk, David Houghton and Ryan Sullivan (You can also visit the real Caloundra Lighthouse[s], the1968 signal Station & 1896 Lighthouse, situated at 3 Canberra Terrace, near Arthur Street, Kings Beach. The grounds are open all year round but to get up close and personal, you can take a tour twice a month on Saturday mornings via Friends of the Lighthouse)

6. The Caloundra Water Tank is located at 22 Queen Street, stands 7m tall and is approx

80 years old. This iconic landmark, once a target for graffiti vandalism, has been artistically reinvented by Phantast Cultural Music and Arts Association, who were inspired by stories from Maroochy Baramabah, a song-woman of the Turrbal people.

Although not officially part of the Art Trail Loop, this beautiful representation of “Tank Art” should not be missed and is on the way to the Caloundra Lighthouses in King Beach.

3 Jet Ski the Pumicestone Passage

Jetskiing……an adrenalin rush like no other!

We joined Caloundra Jetski to learn the art of flying over water while traversing the beautiful Pumicestone Passage ⚓

“We are a water based safari company offering small group tours of nature, wildlife and ancient volcanos aboard clean, green, fun machines.”

Operating from Bulcock Beach, Jetski Caloundra will take you on a variety of tours depending on your interests and experience.

As novices to ‘flying’ over water, we chose the City Explorer, a 45minute, 10km explore from Bulcock Beach, in which we learnt how to handle a jetski as we travelled along the western bank of Bribie Island, across Pumicestone Passage and up to the Power Boat Club at Golden Beach.

Next time however, we’ll spread our wings and try the more challenging 90 minute ‘Glasshouse Twister’.

“Ride deep into the Moreton Bay Marine Park, sliding your ski through 60km of a narrow mangrove lined marine channel. Snake through the Roys, the Narrows, the Hazards, the W’s and the Skids until this natural rollercoaster spits you into the tranquil Tripcony Bight where you are immersed in a marine park green zone dominated by the awe inspiring ancient volcanos of the Glasshouse Mountains. This is home to dolphins, dugongs, turtles and 360 species of migratory and wading birds. On the way home, test the agility of our clean green fun machines in our Lighthouse Reach hot lap.” Yes Please!!

4 Catch a flick at the Vintage Cinema

On the corner of Bulcock St and Knox Ave is the historic BigScreen Cinemas, established in the 1930s as the Amusu Theatre.

Now renamed BigScreen Cinemas Caloundra, it has become a modern multiplex cinema showcasing all the current and biggest movies seven days a week, while still retaining its delightful retro charm.

5 Cruise Caloundra Markets

Caloundra has not just one, but 3 fun and entertaining markets to explore!

The Caloundra Street Fair featuring over 120 unique stalls is held every Sunday 8am-1pm, on the beautiful tree-lined Bulcock Street boulevard. Along with live entertainment, on offer is a huge variety of goodies from fresh fruit and vegetables, street food stalls to arts and crafts, fashion, artisan jewellery, natural remedies and massage.

As an added shopping bonus, the stores and cafes lining each side of Bulcock St are also open during the street fair 👏👏👏

The Caloundra Twilight Markets

On the last Friday of each month (except July/August) from 5pm-9pm, the beautiful atmosphere of The Caloundra Twilight Markets comes alive. As the sun slips behind the stunning Glass House Mountains, enjoy live entertainment and colourful street theatre performances, delicious street food and artisan stalls stretching along the waterfront of Bulcock Beach Esplanade.

Caloundra Country & Farmer’s Market

If you are after fresh seafood, fruit and vegies to stock your holiday pantry, look and walk no further than the Caloundra Country & Farmer’s Markets in beautiful Central Park on Arthur Street, held every Sunday 7am-12 noon.

Here you’ll find lots of bargains in the form of handmade clothes, tools, books, arts, crafts, collectibles as well as car boot sales.

Caloundra is without doubt a holiday destination for everyone.

Add to the above ‘must do’ list many great casual and fine dining venues, plenty of boutiques and shops plus stunning beachfront accommodation to stay in, and you have everything you need for a happy, healthy holiday all in one laid back lovely place.

…..and when you’re done exploring, just sit back, relax and drink in the exquisite natural beauty of Caloundra’s scenic and magical vistas over the Glasshouse Mountains to the west, Pumicestone Passage to the south and the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean to the east.

I’ve found my happy place :)