“I’m Bored” is something you should hear rarely on a Noosa Family Holiday, as there is so much to do.

Spoilt for choice, there is nothing worse than arriving somewhere everyone has been excited about, only to discover the kids are too short, too tall or not old enough. Or worse still that the activity is considered ‘lame’ by the tweenies.

 All ages are catered for on the Sunshine Coast, so we have listed some of our attractions and activities by age group, to make it easy to find the best options for your family.

0 – 2 years

Parks and Playgrounds

 There are a few special parks around Noosa which cater for toddlers.
If you love your cheese, visit Kenilworth and make sure you take a picnic, the kids will make sure you are there for a while!

 With a separate park for the smaller children, fenced off for safety, which means you can play with relative relaxation- Kenilworth Park is conveniently located opposite the cheese factory has a boat, helicopter and an assortment of play equipment for the younger crowd.

For those looking for more excitement, there is a flying fox and lots of spinning pieces. We have an absolute ball here.

 Panda’s Playland

There is a wonderland for the littlies and parents looking for a retreat especially on rainy days – head for Panda’s Playland. The new owners have created a retreat for families whatever the weather.

Located at 1 Gateway Drive Noosaville in the Officeworks complex on the edge of Noosaville, there are lots of things to climb, slide and generally have fun safely. The food is tasty too.

In the same complex, you will also find Pure Innocence. Andrea the owner of this delightful baby store has collected an incredible range of the best for babies, Mum’s and toddlers. Everything from the latest in Nappy Bags, clothing and some wonderful items which are sure to become family heirlooms, just the place to head to if someone deserves spoiling.  

 2- 4 years

I love this age group, they party hard, eat everything and sleep like logs – when they finally give in! Everything is new and exciting.

We have so many terrific walking tracks around our parks, it’s the ideal way to let off steam. If you are near Hastings St, pick up a gelato and walk to the mouth of Noosa River to view the sunset. It’s a postcard view, so take your camera.

If you have the kid’s bikes let them go for it. It is a long walk for the smaller kids, but take your time and watch for the animals and birds. We’ve seen goannas and bush turkeys along here.

One of the best beaches for the littlies is Little Cove, a meander up the shaded wooden walk way – fun in itself – will bring you to a shaded beach which isn’t as busy as Noosa Main Beach.

 4 – 7 years

For older children who are starting to stretch their independence, you’ll find a few special spots just for this age group. For a meal where the kids are looked after and your taste buds have an experience where they know they are on holiday, Noosa Kids has found the very best locations for you.

 Many of the eateries in and around Noosa have clued onto the fact if you keep the kids happy, everyone is happy.

Breakfast at Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club on Sundays will start your day off well. Trio’s on the River at Noosa Marina is open all afternoon from lunch, so no matter when your children get hungry, a delicious menu will be waiting for along with terrific family friendly staff – complete with fishtank.

 Our parks will have most kids occupied for hours on end, make sure you pack a picnic from a trip to Belmondos, the best place to go food shopping in Noosa. They have everything – and I mean everything you’ll need for a delicious packed lunch. Belmondos even has fridge bags for an afternoon out on Noosa River. Boat Hire can be the highlight of your trip, getting out and doing something so different from your normal routine.

 Even if you don’t have boating experience, check in with Geoff at Noosa Boat Hire for details on how to get to some of the best fishing and swimming sections of Noosa River. The Frypan is a place of discovery for kids, especially in the afternoon, when the little blue ‘Snap Crackle and Pop’ crabs come out in droves. 

 7 – 12 years

The J in Noosa Junction has Green Zone discos for the kids at 6pm on the first Friday of the month. These well supervised discos are a ‘mosh pit’ for preteens. So if you have come with a few kids in this age bracket, drop them off for some fun.

 Aussieworld and Top Shots at Maroochydore will have the preteens engaged in all out fun. Challenge the kids to the climbing wall, golf and all the other jam packed action at Top Shots. For a day of thrills, head to Aussieworld for rides galore. There is a range of shops close by which have a variety of interests.

 For those Harry Potter fans, Bellmaze will have them reliving the Goblet of Fire story, as they take on the challenge of the star shaped maze.

You can also make your way up to The Valley Rattler at Gympie to experience the Wizard Express – or if that’s not your thing – book in for the Pirates of the Valley, Wild Wild West or Christmas Capers. This is a wonderful day for those interested in railways or just some outstanding fun!

 For a meal out that is also an event for the kids is to head down David Low Way, enjoy the beauty of our coastline and arrive at Maroochydore RSL. The new entertainment for the kids - Mystery Island  Kids Club will have them locked into fun active play and the popular electronic games. You can have a meal and enjoy a drink without the hassles of a babysitter!

 If you just need to take a day off from the kids, a great alternative to a babysitter is Outside Hours School care programs. Many have casual bookings and parents can be confident of the level of care on offer, as all the OSHC services have undergone Accrediation. Eumundi State School OSHC offers a full day of care with meals for as little as $45 per day.

The Child Care Benefit and Rebate applies to most of these services.

 12 and up

Get the older kids out of their comfort zone and put them on a horse.

 The Clip Clop Horse Trek on the edge of the scenic Lake Weyba will show them a side of life many may not have had before.

 Other activities are learning to surf – you can even learn to surf dance!

 Lots of water based activities – kayaking, fishing and in the school holidays, you can book into the Sailing Programs at Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club. This program fills up quickly so book in early.

 Noosa Bike Hire also has a great service to access extensive  bike tracks around Noosa. Most of the tracks are fairly level, unless your heading for Noosa Junction – then the hill could be walking.

 Noosa Junction would be a great destination for this age group with the Cinemas, Surf Shops and cheap eateries – they could spend most of the day here.