The best things to do in Noosa with kids

Noosa is famous for its waterways and that adds up to scenic, easy bike paths for all ages. For one of the best rides, follow the river from Noosa Heads along Gympie Terrace to Noosaville and Tewantin. Alternatively, ride the trails around Lake Macdonald at Noosa Botanic Gardens.

Prefer off-road adventures? A collection of easy and intermediate mountain biking trails can be found at Wooroi day use area, or at Apex Park in Cooroy.

Need to hire bikes? Try Bike On or Ecotekk, which specialises in e-bikes and even offers fat-biking beach tours. 

Seek serenity at Boreen Point

Boreen Point is a secret only a local would know, but the kids will love. Situated on the banks of Lake Cootharaba, it’s a family-friendly paradise that offers fishing, sailing, kayak, SUP, bike riding and playground.

Want to stay the night? Habitat Noosa is one of the best kid-friendly campgrounds on the coast with glamping tents for those who don’t want to pitch their own. It's also the jump off point to exploring the Noosa Everglades - more on that later.

Let imaginations run wild at the park

You don't have to sail the high seas to become pirates in Noosa. Make your way to the best kid’s park this side of the Caribbean – Noosa’s Pirate Park. The park features a Liberty swing, a sunken ship called The Liberty, a spinning digger, a sand conveyor belt, and several slides. It's right on the river, perfect when you need to cool off with a dip. 

Afterwards, stroll the river path to the iconic Noosa Boathouse restaurant where you can grab casual fish and chips from the unique eatery floating on the river. The kids will love the resident pelicans!

Explore Noosa National Park

This has to be among the best coastal walks in Queensland. Noosa National Park's trails wind along the headland, offering incredible views, plenty of quiet beaches and coves to cool off in, and great wildlife spotting too. The Coastal Walk is 10km return, but you can simply wander as far along the path as little legs will allow before turning around. 

Paddle out

Noosa's river and protected beaches make it the perfect spot for kids of all ages to paddle and play. 

Noosa River has both SUP and kayak hire and a sheltered waterway that’s hard to beat for young ones. Noosa Stand Up Paddle has hourly or daily hire, while Noosa Paddle Sports can get you sorted with equipment hire, guided kayak tours and more.

If you've got teens seeking adventure, sign the family up for Epic Ocean Adventure's kayak tour. You'll head out by 4WD to Noosa North Shore's Double Island Point, then paddle out with the chance to see diverse wildlife including bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, turtles, rays, sea birds, soldier crabs and more. 

Browse and bite through the farmers market

Fix the “I’m hungry” cries with a visit to Noosa Farmers Market, held each Sunday from 6am until noon. This is one of the region’s best markets, featuring local, seasonal produce and handmade products. Little ones will love the plant stall where they can pot their own herbs, while you grab yourself a well-deserved coffee.

Find it at the AFL grounds at 155 Weyba Rd, Noosaville.

Hit the beach - on horseback

For a totally unique beach experience, Equathon offers horseback rides on Noosa’s unending North Shore Beach. They welcome children from 10 years and over (unless they’re already an old hand), or seven years old for private beach rides.

Relax on Noosa Main Beach

Noosa Main Beach is up there among the most family-friendly beaches in Queensland, and is also patrolled all year round. Once you’ve taken your sandcastle building skills next level, wander the boardwalk, have a splash, and grab a morning snack from Hastings Street, just steps from the sand. 

Treat the family

Hastings Street might mean high-end shopping, hip restaurants and stylish resorts to anyone else, but to kids, it means only one thing: ice-cream. Moments from the beach, you'll find Happy Pops, Massimo’s Gelateria, Gelatissimo, Ben & Jerry’s, Royal Copenhagen and Frenzy Ice Cream Van. The only hard part will be choosing what flavour you get. 

Cruise the river

One of the best ways to appreciate Noosa with kids is to cruise along the sparkling Noosa River, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Noosa Ferry Cruise runs from Tewantin to Noosa Sound with seven different stop-off points, and is a pretty affordable way to take in the sights. BYO sunset cruises also run seven days a week and start at $17 for kids (aged 5 - 17 years) and $29 for adults. 

Want to explore on your own terms? Rent a luxury electric picnic boat from Eco Noosa. Self-drive boats with no boat license required, up to 8 passengers can cruise the river's calm waters in style, stopping at sandbars for a swim. 

If you want to cook up a BBQ on board, O Boat Hire offers self-drive BBQ pontoon boats, and can also help with essentials like fishing gear and eskies.

Splash out

Craving a little time by the pool? Put aside a few hours for Noosa Aquatic Centre, home to 25 and 50m pools, a toddler pool, heated bubble pool, crèche and café on site. The giant inflatables come out in school holidays, and there’s a skate park right next door.

Meet Australia's very own Everglades

A true hidden gem of the Sunshine Coast, Noosa Everglades is a designated UNESCO biosphere and one of only two everglades systems on the planet - so a visit here is pretty special. And if you're in search of wildlife, you've come to the right place: Noosa Everglades is home to over 40% of Australia's bird species. 

There are two main ways to explore: take a cruise and canoe tour with Everglades Eco Safaris or a guided kayak adventure with Kanu Kapers. Either way, paddling through the 'river of mirrors' is a serene experience.

Take a 4WD adventure

Pack a picnic; the family will be gone all day on this 4WD beach escape! Take the car ferry from Tewantin and then onto Noosa North Shore, then drive along Teewah Beach all the way to Double Island Point, about 45km.

This is real, unplugged family time where you can make your own adventure: from swimming to fishing, to exploring the Cooloola Recreation Area. If you time it right with the tides, you can make it all the way to the colourful cliffs of Rainbow Beach. Permits are required for vehicle access and camping.

Don't have a 4WD? Check out day tours with Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours. 

Learn to surf

If the kids want to learn to surf, it may as well be from a pro. Managed by two-time Australian and World Pro-Am Champion, Merrick Davis, Noosa Learn to Surf will teach you the surfing ropes plus offers school holiday programs for children seven years and up.

For a list of other surf schools on the Sunshine Coast head here.

Spot humpack whales during migration

If you’re visiting between August and November, treat the kids to a whale watching tour as majestic humpacks make their annual trip up and down the east coast of Australia. Check out tours from Noosa Whale Watching, Noosa Oceanrider and Noosa Wave.

Participate in a community event

A bustling events calendar means there are always new things to do with kids in Noosa. If you've got aspiring athletes in the family, consider signing them up for the Noosa Summer Swim, Noosa Marathon (the 10km race is open to those aged 10 years or older) or Noosa Festival of Surfing (even if they don't surf, this festival is well worth attending for its atmosphere, activities and dog-surfing competitions). You could even get creative with sandcastle workshops and the entertaining annual NOOSA alive! festival.

Ready to take that holiday? Use this Noosa family guide, explore Noosa accommodation or find more things to do together on the Sunshine Coast here.