New to the Sunshine Coast? Here’s 5 Kid-Pleasing Local Drives

If you are new to the Sunshine Coast, visiting from interstate, or freshly moved here in search of idyllic family living (congratulations – great move!), you’ll be pretty keen to get out and explore your new environment. The Sunshine Coast offers a perfect variety of family entertainment to suit your weekend or holiday mood. Try these five kid-pleasing Sunshine Coast drives to start you off. 

Strawberry picking

Fill your baskets and your bellies with the freshest strawberries in Queensland. The Sunshine Coast strawberry season generally runs from June to November, and there are many berry farms to choose from. Here are our favourites to program into your sat-nav… 

• Rolin Farms, 124-190 Rutters Road, Elimbah – Just north of Caboolture, Rolin Farms is a super kid-friendly working strawberry farm. Every school holidays, they host strawberry themed activities for children, and there is a playground and shop onsite. 
• LuvaBerry Farm, Ziviani Road, Wamuran – In the foothills of the spectacular Glass House Mountains Conservation Park, this strawberry farm offers more than just strawberry picking. Kids can enjoy a special playtime adventure with Panda, the farm’s pup, while parents enjoy a cream tea or browse the other strawberry-themed products in the shop.
   

Bribie Island

Pack up the Kluger and take a day trip to Bribie Island! Bribie is the only island in Queensland connected to the mainland by bridge, so you can easily access it any time you want. 

Visit Bongaree Beach for its calm waters and amazing flying fox; check out the wildlife, including giant goannas in the Bribie Island National Park; or enjoy a peaceful afternoon at the Bribie Island Butterfly House. There’s lots to explore on Bribie Island – it’s one of those Sunshine Coast drives you’ll make again and again! 

Montville

A drive out to Montville will take you into the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland. Perched atop the Blackall Range, Montville is a quaint historic village with spectacular views in every direction. Your drive will take you through rural pasture before climbing high up the mountain pass, with lookouts and Insta-worthy photo opportunities along the way (the cute little Toyota Yaris poses so prettily up here!).  

The kids will love the Russell Family Park, or going for a swim at Kondalilla Falls, and the olde-worlde village shops are a treat! 

Maleny

No family drive out to Maleny is complete without a visit to Maleny Dairies. This working dairy farm offers tours and demonstrations where kids can get hands-on milking the cows and bottle-feeding calves, before enjoying a ride on the tractor.  

Make a full day of your trip to Maleny by visiting Maleny Botanical Gardens. There are over 18 acres of incredible themed gardens, plus a petting farm and Bird World – four walk-through aviaries with over 700 exotic birds from around the world. 

Lake Weyba

Take a Sunshine Coast drive to Lake Weyba, one of Noosa’s best kept secrets. Lake Weyba is a natural inland saltwater lake. The waters are home to several rare bird species, and shallow enough for you to spot rays and reef sharks from its banks. 

If you fancy something a bit more active than a lakeside stroll, load the kayak onto the roof of the RAV4 and take to the water. The lake has an average depth of only one metre, making it a great choice for families. 

The best car parking option is by the Lake Weyba Foreshore Park on Lake Weyba Drive. 

Explore more

These five Sunshine Coast drives will take you to the beach, lake, mountains, hinterland, and farms, but there are many more places to explore. Now you have a taste, where will you go next?