Romantic escape: 48 hours in Caloundra for couples

Hit the road from Brisbane mid-afternoon to make it to the coast with plenty of time to catch sunset from your self-contained apartment at Rumba Beach Resort. It has front-row seats to the water, with six beaches within walking distance and is possibly the best place to watch the sun melt behind the Glass House Mountains. Celebrating an occasion? Book the romance package to kick off the weekend with rose petals, gourmet chocolates, and a bottle of bubbly.

Or for uninterrupted views across Pumicestone Passage, endless waterfront parklands and a blissful lack of hustle and bustle, get yourself to the Ramada Resort on Golden Beach.

Dinner tonight is fresh local catch, served at Caloundra’s top-rated restaurant Tides Waterfront. Not only does it boast one chefs-hat, this Sunshine Coast seafood favourite has 180-degree views from the ocean to the spectacular hinterland.

Saturday

7am: Stroll the Caloundra Coastal Walk

Do as the locals do, and rise early to experience the coast’s morning calm. It’s like downward dog for your soul.

The best way to explore is to set off on the Caloundra Coastal Walk, which stretches 25 kilometres from Golden Beach in the south to Mooloolaba Beach in the north. It takes in Caloundra Headland, Moffat Headland and Point Cartwright - passing historic sites such as the Military Jetty used for operations in World War II and the heritage listed Kings Beach Bathing Pavilion constructed in 1937.

Do as much or as little of the walk as you please. If you’re starting from Rumba Beach Resort, head to Bulcock Beach and then follow the boardwalk to Kings Beach. Keep walking past the open-air saltwater pool, and then make a short detour to your first stop: Beau’s café.  Perfectly positioned just steps from the beach and 20 minutes into the walk, get your fill of locally-roasted coffee and fluffy pancakes, or grab a Beauritto to go and enjoy it on one of the many picnic tables that scatter along the coastal path.

Continue your walk along the headland and across to Shelly Beach, a rough non-swimming beach with nothing more than a handful of houses and a handful of leash-free dogs chasing seagulls.

10am: Hit the beach

It’s time to cool off with a dip in the ocean, and you’re spoilt for choice in Caloundra.

Kings Beach is a hit with families, home to the tidal swimming pool, 25-metre sea-water lap pool, children’s swimming pool and wading area with disabled access. Bulcock Beach, Dicky Beach and Currimundi are also popular spots.

But to find a stretch of sand that’s a little hidden off the tourist trail, make your way north to locally-loved Moffat Beach. You could spend hours soaking up the serenity here, and if you work up a thirst you’re just a short walk from one of the coast’s best cafes – The Pocket Espresso – as well as a major player in the thriving craft beer scene; Moffat Beach Brewing Co.

Winner of the Independent Brewers Association award for the best small brewery in all of Australia in 2018, Moffat Beach also wins in best beach views. Grab a schooner, a few tapas-style share plates and settle in.

2pm: Let's cruise

The peaceful waterway of Pumicestone Passage might now be lined with swanky canal estates, but it’s still a go-to for fishing, cruising and watersports. Named for the chunks of pumice that spewed out of the Glass House Mountains millions of years ago, nature lovers should head here to get up close and personal with a variety of migratory birds as well as dugongs and dolphins.  

This afternoon, explore the passage with Bill's Boat and Bike Hire, Ferryman Cruises or Caloundra Jet-Ski. All three take tours take in the pristine waters and stop to admire the birdlife that lives here – some with a little more horsepower than others!

7pm: Feast on fish and chips 

Beachside fish and chips is a quintessential part of any Queensland coastal getaway, and come sunset you’ll find the locals do the same. Especially when the seafood is this good.

Just a short stroll from Rumba, you’ll find Seafood Market @ Caloundra. Head here for a range of local whole fish, oysters, prawns and crustaceans, including mouth-watering Moreton Bay bugs. They can make up a seafood platter on request, or have them cook up your selection and take it to a waterside table at Bulcock Beach.

Wherever you go, you won’t have to fight for a spot on the sand (though there’ll be a few friendly seagulls who might want to fight you for a chip).

For a nightcap that keeps the beach views rolling, make your way to Kings Beach Bar for a casual cocktail or two. Or save room for dessert at Gelateria Milano: the Italian ice creams and sorbets here are made from scratch. 

Sunday

8am: Meet the locals

First things first: breakfast.

Wander to tree-lined Bulcock Street to beat the rush at White Picket Fence Café. This sunlit gem has coastal-chic styling down pat, where the coffee is city-worthy, but the attitudes aren’t. Grab a breakfast board of avocado toast, granola and cold-pressed juice, and say hello to the local dogs out for their morning puppacino.

You’re then just steps away from the Caloundra Street Fair, held every Sunday from 8am to 1pm. The main street transforms into a carnival each week, with local markers selling homemade wares, clothes, art and more. Browse, buy, listen to buskers – and stop for a freshly squeezed ginger beer using locally grown Sunshine Coast ginger.

If you want to spend a lazy Sunday without venturing too far, hop between creative Caloundra galleries on the arts trail, before heading back to the beach for an afternoon of sea, sand and sun.

But if you’re ready to soak up flavours instead, it’s time to jump in the car.

12pm: Lace up your apron

Spice up your weekend by learning the secret tricks to spices and Asian cooking at Spirit House, about a 35 minute drive away in Yandina.

A cooking class is one of the best things to do as a couple on the Sunshine Coast, and you’ll be learning from the best at one of the region’s most-loved restaurants.

If you love the flavours of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, but the daunting recipes and mile-long ingredients lists put you off, this cooking school is for you. Plus, you get to eat everything you make afterwards. 

5pm: Lace up your sneakers

If you can roll – let alone walk – after class, make the most of your 48 hours in Caloundra by taking in one of the most special sunset spots on the Sunshine Coast. You’ll need to work for these views, but it’s worth it.

Swap your thongs for hiking boots: you’re headed up the 3km trail to the peak of Mt Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains. The reward is sweeping views over the rugged volcanic peaks as the sky illuminates in an orange glow around you. There’s a calmness to closing out the weekend in nature, especially in a landscape so spiritually significant to the local Gubbi Gubbi people.

If you’ve got a little extra time up your sleeve, explore more hidden secrets on the Sunshine Coast, or check out the long weekend guide.

When to go

Caloundra’s coastal breeze and warm days make it perfect for a weekend escape all year ’round, but art aficianados should time their trip for the 3^rd Friday of the month, when the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery hosts the monthly art walk.

If you’re seeking a festival vibe, visit for the annual Caloundra Music Festival which showcases a huge line-up of Australian and international artists, right on Kings Beach.