Fascinators on, bubbles poured, sweeps sorted. Here’s where Caloundra is watching the race that stops the nation on Tuesday 3 November.

Right, let’s be honest with each other. Most of us couldn’t pick a stayer from a sprinter if our lives depended on it, and that’s completely fine. Melbourne Cup Day was never really about the form guide. It’s about the long lunch, the outfit you’ve been quietly planning since September, the office sweep you’ll inevitably lose, and those three-odd minutes when the whole country holds its breath. And with Cup Day now less than a fortnight away, the good tables are disappearing fast.

And here’s the bit that gives us a little local swagger. The last three Melbourne Cup winners all spent their winters stabled right here at Corbould Park in Caloundra, and Half Yours even took out the Caloundra Cup in July 2025 on its way to Flemington glory. So when you raise a glass this year, you’re toasting a race with a genuine Caloundra connection.

(P.S. for our Melbourne readers… the Cup jumps at 3pm your time, which is 2pm here, because Queensland still refuses to touch daylight saving. We like our sunsets exactly where they are, thank you very much.)

The Main Event: Sunshine Coast Turf Club

If you’re going to watch the Cup, why not do it somewhere with actual horses? The Sunshine Coast Turf Club runs its own live race program from 12:30pm, with every Flemington race on the big screens in between, so you’re never just staring at a telly waiting for 2pm.

Sydney DJ duo ALLIAS & AURA headline the day, with the Coast’s own Beverly Thrills spinning from the moment the gates open at 9:30am. Billy J hosts Fashions on the Field (finally, a reason for that hat), and The Avenue comes alive with food trucks, a full bar lineup and Royal Rally Club. Last race is approx. 5pm, but the DJs keep going after the horses have clocked off.

General admission is $32 online if you book before midnight this Friday (23 October), then $37 from Saturday, or $40 at the gate ($30 concession). Rounding up the crew? A Crew Pack for four is $110 until Friday night, then $130. Under 18s get in free, which makes this a surprisingly family-friendly Tuesday.

A quick heads up: the reserved dining packages have all sold out, so this year it’s GA, the food trucks and the lawn. Honestly, that’s where the fun is anyway.

The best bit? Free return buses to Caloundra, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba after the last race. Leave the car at home and thank us later. Book your tickets here.

Long Lunch With a Water View

For some of us, Cup Day is simply the best excuse of the year for a long, leisurely lunch with the water glittering in front of us. Caloundra delivers on that front, as she does.

Acqua Restaurant & Bar, Bulcock Beach. Acqua’s Cup lunch is the stuff of local legend, with a three-course set menu and the Pumicestone Passage doing its thing out the window. Word of warning: it’s already booked out for 2026. If you’ve got your heart set on it, give the team a call on (07) 5492 8155 in case a table frees up, and pencil them in early for next year.

Caloundra Power Boat Club, Golden Beach. The Pelicans Room overlooks the water and is hosting a Melbourne Cup Luncheon from 11am. It’s $80 for two courses with a glass of bubbles on arrival, plus live entertainment and prizes for best dressed. Book on (07) 5492 1444, and make use of the club’s courtesy bus.

The Club Classics

There’s something very Caloundra about doing the Cup at the club. Good value, plenty of atmosphere and somebody always wins the meat tray. Or in this case, the seafood tray.

Caloundra RSL, West Terrace. From 11:30am in the Lower Viva restaurant, $79 gets you a glass of bubbly on arrival and a proper three-course lunch: hot smoked salmon on potato rosti, then chicken breast in a champagne and tarragon cream, finished with white chocolate panna cotta. Live entertainment, sweeps and best dressed prizes round it out. Book through TryBooking.

Dicky Beach Surf Club, Dicky Beach. Dicky’s $80 package includes an entree, main and a glass of sparkling, with a full-service TAB open from 9am. There are two seafood tray raffles, a lucky door prize, a mystery seat prize and sweeps. It’s almost fully booked, though sports bar tables with a reduced menu are still worth chasing on (07) 5491 6078. Note the club’s usual $18 specials take the day off.

The Pub Options

Kings Beach Tavern, Kings Beach. A Caloundra landmark since 1957, the tavern is running a two-course Melbourne Cup luncheon in the bistro, with the race live and loud on every screen. Best dressed, sweeps and prizes are on, and live entertainment kicks off in the sports bar from 2:30pm for anyone not quite ready to go home. Bookings in the bistro are essential.

Baringa Tavern, Baringa. No set menu, no ticket, no fuss. The TAB opens at 8am, the full menu kicks in from 11am and the $16 Pub Classics are on, so a schnitty and the Cup won’t break the bank. There are sweeps, raffles and best dressed prizes, plus a 15 metre video wall in the sports bar for the big moment. Book a table on (07) 5318 7200 or online.

Worth a Call

These local favourites have welcomed Cup Day crowds in years gone by, but hadn’t published their 2026 plans when we went to print. Give them a quick ring before you rock up.

• Pelican Waters Tavern, Pelican Waters. Canal views and a long history of Cup Day long lunches. (07) 5437 3622.
• Golden Beach Tavern, Golden Beach. A past favourite for group Cup lunches, with Legends Sports Bar for the race itself. (07) 5492 8300.
• Kings Beach Surf Club, Kings Beach. Has hosted Cup lunches with live music and sweeps before, and the view over the ocean pool is hard to beat. (07) 5491 8418.
• The Caloundra Hotel, Bulcock Street. Right in the middle of town, with a sports bar that’s handy if you just want to duck in and catch the race. (07) 5439 4555.

Before You Go

• Race time: the Melbourne Cup runs at 2pm Queensland time.
• Book now: most of these lunches sell out every year, and a couple already have.
• Getting home: free buses from the Turf Club, and courtesy buses at the RSL and Power Boat Club. Plan your ride before the bubbles.
• Dress the part: best dressed prizes are up for grabs almost everywhere, so dust off the fascinator.
• Bet with your head: keep it fun. If it stops being fun, Gambling Help is on 1800 858 858.

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Make a day of it. Add your Cup Day pick to your Taste Caloundra trip planner and browse the dining directory for a post-race dinner. Is your venue hosting a Melbourne Cup event we’ve missed? Get in touch, we’d love to add it to the list.

There’s a particular hour at Moffat Beach, after the wind drops, before the light disappears, that locals have been quietly hoarding for years.

Moffat’s food scene is taking it to the street. If Moffat Beach had a love language, it would be food and good vibes. Some of the Coast’s most-loved local businesses will be rolling out special offerings, bringing their best straight onto Seaview Terrace.

What it actually is

Call it part market, part mini-festival, entirely Moffat. The Moffat Beach Street Party will roll out in July, August & September on the last Thursday of the month, 4pm to 8pm right on Seaview Terrace with the surf doing the soundtrack work in the background. Entry is free. The first one rolls out Thursday 30 July.

The timing is the clever bit. Four o’clock on a Thursday is the moment the workday loosens its grip and the beach crowd starts trading surfboards for something to eat. You’re not making a night of it — you’re just wandering down. That’s the whole point.

The food

This is the part we care about most, and it doesn’t disappoint.

Expect handheld and elevated street food built for grazing while you walk, not for sitting still. Tapas at one end, dessert at the other, and cocktails that give the whole thing a proper golden-hour feel. The format rewards indecision: circle back, try the thing you walked past, order the second round.

If you’ve done the Caloundra Twilight Markets or the Currimundi Lake Twilight Markets, you know the rhythm. This one runs smaller and tighter, hemmed in by a beachfront street rather than an esplanade — which somehow makes it feel more like a party and less like a market.

Beyond the plate

Artisan stalls — handmade goods, locally sourced products and coastal finds that are worth the luggage space.

Live music — drifting down the terrace as the sun drops. By golden hour, the “we’re lucky to live here” feeling arrives right on cue.

Family-friendly — safe, spacious and genuinely welcoming, whatever age you’re bringing.

Why now

The Street Party doubles as a celebration of progress on the Moffat Beach seawall — the project reshaping and securing this stretch of coastline for the long haul. It’s a construction milestone that most towns would mark with a media release. Moffat is closing a street and putting on a feed instead.

That tells you something about the place.

Know before you go

Where: Seaview Terrace, Moffat Beach (road closure in place) When: Last Thursday of the month, 4:00pm – 8:00pm Cost: Free entry Upcoming dates: Thursday 30 July · Thursday 27 August · Thursday 24 September

Parking: With Seaview Terrace closed, park back from the beachfront and walk in. Charles Clarke Park and the surrounding streets are your best bet — arrive before 5pm if you want an easy exit.

Bring: A jumper for when the sun drops, and a strategy for not filling up on food too quick.

Proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Council and delivered in partnership by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce.

See who’s selling at the next Street Party →

Make a night of it

Moffat Beach doesn’t end at 8pm. The headland, the beach, the venues — build the Street Party into a proper Caloundra evening with the Taste Caloundra Trip Planner.

Saturday 25 July 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Kings Beach Amphitheatre, De Vene Avenue, Kings Beach QLD

Buy your tickets here

The Curated Plate is delighted to present “Picnic on Kings” – a vibrant, family-friendly celebration at the Kings Beach Amphitheatre on Saturday 25 July, from 10am to 4.00pm.

Families can expect a lively atmosphere filled with entertainment, community connection, and delicious local fare, all set against the stunning backdrop of Kings Beach.

See Bluey and her little sister Bingo during their Live Interactive Experience! Get ready to play Magic Asparagus, Magic Xylophone, Keepy Uppy and more with your favourite Heeler duo.

The event precinct will come alive with two interactive activation zones, each offering unique experiences to delight visitors of all ages

ZONE 1 – STAGE SHOW – TICKETED EVENT
Tickets must be purchased online in advance of the event or until sold out.

$16.50 General Admission for kids 1yr+ through to seniors. Kids under the age of 12months do not require a ticket and are free to attend with their family.

Stage Show: Session 1
10.00am – Gates open
10.30am – Pre event entertainment
11.00am – 4 Ingredients food competition
11.30am – Father daughter music duo Sophie and Dave
12noon – Bluey Live Interactive Experience
12.30pm – Session 1 concludes

Stage Show: Session 2
1.30pm – Gates open
1.30pm – Pre event entertainment
2.00pm – 4 Ingredients food competition
2.30pm – Father daughter music duo Sophie and Dave
3.00pm – Bluey Live Interactive Experience
3.30pm – Session 2 concludes

Attendees will be able to exit the main seating area to purchase food and beverages from the nearby activation zones.

ZONE 2 – ACTIVATION ZONE – FREE PUBLIC EVENT ZONE AREA
Bring your mini farmers and chefs to our fun activation zone open to the public for free with purchases available at the stalls.

The program includes:
🌱 Interactive planting and cooking activities
🐝 Beehive learning
🌱 Fresh produce stores
🌱 Meet a Farmer
🍔 Food trucks and live entertainment
🎨 Lawn games, face painting, petting zoo
📚 Sunshine Coast Libraries Reading corner

What to Bring
Families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and settle in to enjoy the stage entertainment throughout the day. Attendees will be able to exit the main seating area to purchase food and beverages from the nearby activation zones.

Wet Weather Policy
Please note that Picnic on Kings is an outdoor event and may be cancelled or postponed in the event of inclement weather. Should a cancellation be required, notification will be provided 24 hours in advance, and any ticket refunds will be processed directly to the purchaser. Please note that the schedule of the performance may change if weather is not ideal, no refunds on the day will be processed if you miss the event. We encourage that everyone be inside the gates ready for the first schedule performance.

Presented by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Market Team, the revitalised twilight market experience promises an exciting evening celebrating local flavours and fresh produce, alongside the Chamber Craft Bar featuring local brews from Moffat Beach Brewing Co., Brouhaha Brewery and Your Mates Brewing Co., all complemented by live entertainment and community connection in the heart of Aura.

Visitors can look forward to a delicious line-up of the region’s favourite food trucks, fresh produce stalls, a curated selection of artisan vendors, family-friendly kids’ activities, live entertainment and a welcoming atmosphere designed to bring the community together.

Whether arriving by bike, foot or car, organisers are encouraging locals and visitors alike to come along and enjoy the relaxed Friday evening atmosphere.

Mike Shadforth, President of the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, said the return of the markets represents an important opportunity to strengthen community connection while supporting local businesses and producers.

“The re-launch of the Aura Fresh Twilight Markets is about bringing people together and celebrating everything that makes our local community special. These markets create an incredible platform to support small business and for local food vendors, artisians, entertainers and families to connect in a relaxed and vibrant environment. We’re proud to see this community event return.”

Josh Sondergeld, Development Director, Stockland Aura, said the return of the Twilight Markets reflects Aura’s commitment to fostering a vibrant, connected community. “The Aura Fresh Twilight Markets are a fantastic example of the kind of community experiences we’re proud to support at Aura. They create a welcoming space for residents and visitors to come together, enjoy local food and entertainment, and connect with the people and businesses that make the Sunshine Coast unique. We’re delighted to see the markets return as a regular event and continue to grow as part of the Aura community.”

Dan Vinson, Commercial Manager for the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce, is leading the delivery of the refreshed market concept and says the event is designed to create an ongoing community experience. “We’re excited to bring the Aura Fresh Twilight Markets back as a regular monthly event that locals can genuinely look forward to. It’s about supporting local businesses, creating activation within the community and delivering a fun, family-friendly atmosphere for everyone.”

The Aura Fresh Twilight Markets are proudly presented by the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce Market Team, continuing their commitment to celebrating local connection, community spirit and regional business growth. For further information about the all of the markets that the Caloundra Chamber of Commerce delivers visit www.caloundramarkets.com.au

Event Details: Aura Fresh Twilight Markets
📅 First Friday of every month – commencing 5 June 2026
🕓 4:00pm – 8:00pm
📍 Aura, Sunshine Coast
🎶 Live entertainment | Kids’ activities | Food trucks | Fresh produce | Craft bar

Media Contact – Caloundra Chamber of Commerce
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.caloundrachamber.com.au

One of the things that makes Caloundra so special is the experience of the place itself.

It’s the ability to spend a morning walking along the beachfront at Moffat Beach, grabbing a coffee, browsing through a boutique, meeting friends for lunch, then wandering through our local streets and discovering something new along the way.

That lifestyle is shaped by the small businesses that bring our local villages to life.

Across Caloundra, our cafés, restaurants, breweries, boutiques, gift stores and specialty retailers create more than just places to shop or dine – they create connection, atmosphere and community.

At Moffat Beach, businesses like Moffat Beach Brewing Co., Rust Boutique and the newly opened Mummas Deli all contribute to the relaxed coastal energy the precinct has become known for. It’s the kind of place where people meet for lunch, stop for a drink, browse local stores and spend time enjoying the area rather than simply rushing in and out.

The same can be said for Bulcock Street, where boutique businesses like Rayana Boutique and Sweet Charlotte add personality and vibrancy to the town centre, encouraging people to slow down, wander, shop local and enjoy the experience of being in the heart of Caloundra.

At Golden Beach, businesses like The Real Grocer and Koko Style continue to create a strong sense of local identity — places where locals regularly connect, support one another and enjoy the convenience and character that independent businesses provide.

Today, shopping is no longer just transactional. People are looking for experiences. A coffee catch-up becomes boutique browsing. Lunch with friends turns into discovering a new local store, finding a gift, or supporting a family-run business.

Hospitality and retail now work hand in hand to create vibrant local precincts.

That’s why supporting local through the Buy Local campaign is so important.

Behind every café, brewery, deli or boutique is an incredible amount of unseen effort. Small business owners are constantly balancing rising costs, staffing, deliveries, marketing, social media, websites, supplier management and long operating hours … often while working directly in the business themselves.

For many family-run operators, the financial return rarely reflects the time and energy invested. Yet they continue because they genuinely care about what they are building for the community.

Businesses like these help create local employment opportunities, support other local suppliers and give Caloundra the personality and lifestyle people love.

That’s also why initiatives like TasteCaloundra.com.au are so valuable.

The platform helps showcase the incredible food, beverage and lifestyle experiences across Caloundra, making it easier for locals and visitors to discover where to eat, drink, shop and explore. In today’s environment, digital visibility is essential for small businesses, and platforms that help communicate opening hours, locations, imagery and experiences all play a role in helping businesses grow.

At the same time, local publications like the Caloundra Chronicle continue to play an important role in sharing stories, promoting businesses and keeping the community connected.

As a community, we all have a role to play in supporting the businesses that help shape our local lifestyle.

Because every time we choose local – whether it’s coffee at Moffat Beach, lunch in Bulcock Street, boutique shopping in Golden Beach or dinner with friends at one of our local venues — we are investing back into the people and places that make Caloundra unique.

Supporting local isn’t just good for business. It’s what keeps the heart of Caloundra beating.

Birthdays, anniversaries, hens, bucks, family reunions, milestone celebrations, or just an excuse to get the crew together. Caloundra is the quiet overachiever for group weekends: enough independent craft breweries and distilleries to keep the drink-focused happy, enough refined waterfront venues for the main-event dinner, enough beach for the morning walks that fix Saturday night’s decisions, and a compact enough footprint that you can base the whole weekend in one place.

A quick honest note before we start: Caloundra’s dining culture is early and classy, not late and rowdy. Most kitchens close by 8:30 or 9pm. There’s no strip of nightclubs, no bottle-service scene, no late-night chaos. What Caloundra does brilliantly is long lunches, sunset dinners, afternoon tasting paddles, and the kind of group experiences where the memorable moments happen over shared plates and a properly set long table. Plan around that and you’ll have a weekend that actually delivers.

Here’s how to do it.

The Group Breakfast

The weekend starts with getting 10 sleepy humans into the same place for coffee. You need somewhere with capacity, a reliable kitchen, and an opening time that accounts for at least one person who needs rescuing from the previous night.

Coffee Cat On Kings Beach is the sunrise option. Under the Rolling Surf Resort with no road between your table and the waves, open from 5:30am daily, and serving their own house blend Catnip Brew. The deck can comfortably seat a spread-out group, and the breakfast menu goes well beyond the usual suspects (the Quinoa Nasi Goreng and the Shakshuka are the standouts). #1 of 14 restaurants in Kings Beach on Tripadvisor.

For a destination breakfast worth the booking effort, One Block Back at 106 Nothling Street, Moffat Beach, is the pick. This tin-shed-turned-warehouse café was voted #6 Best Cafe in Queensland by the Courier Mail, seats 100, and handles groups if you book ahead. Signature Okonomiyaki, Eggs Benny with house-made hollandaise and tomato-maple jam on artisan sourdough, braised pork bao buns, and a Cuban toastie that has a cult following. The 4.7 OpenTable rating across 300+ diners tells you everything.

Izba Espresso at 1-13 Bells Reach Drive is the suburban option if the group has a mix of adults and kids: Fonzie Abbott coffee, Turkish-influenced menu alongside the Aussie classics, and an adventure playground adjacent to the dining area (climbing nets, rope ladders, rock wall) that keeps smaller members of the group occupied.

The Afternoon Activity

The afternoon is where Caloundra really earns its keep as a group weekend destination. Three strong options depending on the crew’s vibe.

The Brewery Crawl. Caloundra West and Baringa form a compact brewery and distillery zone that works brilliantly for a group on wheels (designated driver or pre-booked minibus, not DIY). Moffat Beach Brewing Co Production House at 51 Caloundra Road is the industrial-scale anchor: 20 rotating taps, low-and-slow BBQ smoked on-site, brewery tours available, and enough floor space to host a group without making the regulars feel displaced. Brouhaha Brewery Baringa at 1 Edison Crescent is the neighbouring stop: production brewery plus taproom, headed by Matt Jancauskas (ex-Beavertown London, 2017 Beeries Best Brewer), famous for the Strawberry Rhubarb Sour.

The Distillery Tasting. For groups who want something more refined than a brewery paddle, Beachtree Distilling Co at 14 Industrial Avenue is Australia’s only certified First Nations distillery, co-founded by Steve Grace (Kamilaroi) and Kirra Daley. Beachtree won World’s Best Craft Producer in both 2024 and 2025, plus World’s Best Sustainable Distillery in 2025. The cellar door is open Wednesday to Saturday, with group tastings available (book ahead for groups of 8+). Try the Organic Koala Gin, the Organic Quokka, or the Native Skippy Gin with native botanicals. Every sip contributes to their “You Sip, We Plant” initiative (25,000+ trees planted and counting).

The Coastal Activity. If the brewery crawl doesn’t suit (or is being saved for Saturday night), the Coastal Pathway from Kings Beach to Bulcock Beach is a genuinely lovely group walk with plenty of stops for gelato and coffee. A group stand-up paddle session on the Pumicestone Passage is the active option (local operators run SUP hire from Golden Beach). Happy Valley playground and the grassy foreshore make natural midway meeting points.

The Long Lunch

Long lunches are where Caloundra shines for groups. Build the weekend’s centrepiece meal around one of these.

Caloundra Power Boat Club at Golden Beach gives you three dining options in one venue: the Quarterdeck Restaurant for à la carte, the Galley on Pumicestone for Asian-inspired seafood, and the Portside Café for something more casual. Deck seating sits directly on the Pumicestone Passage with views across to Bribie Island, 90% of supplies come from local producers, and the venue handles large groups comfortably. For a long weekend lunch with the tide lapping below the deck, this is hard to beat.

Bocca Italian at the corner of Bokarina Boulevard and Longboard Parade in Bokarina (a 10-minute drive north of central Caloundra) is purpose-built for groups: 80 inside, 50 outside, plus a private room for 14. Exec Chef Harry Lilai (ex-Cecconis Melbourne) runs a share-style Italian kitchen with hand-stretched pizzas from a Moretti pizza oven imported from Italy, fresh pastas, salumi, and the signature Osso Buco. The private room books out well in advance for group celebrations.

Pholklore at 110 Bulcock Street takes group bookings of 10 or more (walk-in for smaller numbers). This Vietnamese-inspired Asian fusion restaurant has communal tables, share-style plates, Vietnamese beers (Beerlao, Beer Hanoi, 333), and the cult Chicken Pho x Laksa fusion that’s become legendary across their five locations. The energy is right for a group that wants a buzzing lunch rather than a formal one.

The Big Group Dinner

This is the weekend’s anchor meal, the one everyone remembers. Caloundra’s refined end is smaller than the Gold Coast’s but genuinely excellent.

Acqua Restaurant and Bar inside the Grand Pacific Resort on the Bulcock Beach Esplanade is the waterfront occasion venue. Every seat looks out across the Pumicestone Passage to Bribie Island, the Mediterranean-meets-Modern-Australian menu leans into local seafood (the calamari and barramundi get called out constantly), and the venue has won an AGFG Reader’s Choice Award in 2022 and a Diners’ Choice in 2025. Book the larger back section if you can, which handles groups better than the scattered tables at the front.

Three Restaurant Bar and Grill on the Dicky Beach village strip is the more refined alternative: #3 of 146 restaurants in Caloundra, signature 300g Wagyu rump alongside fresh local seafood, proper wine list, and a terrace that’s lovely on a warm evening. Better for a slightly smaller, more considered celebration (8-12 people works best).

Bianco Italian Cuisine and Bar at 5 Tay Avenue lifts a celebration with weekly live jazz. Head chef Ibrahim Haddad runs a handmade pasta and Pizza Contemporanea programme, with a wine list served by the glass via Coravin and a bar built for post-dinner drinks. Book the bar seats or the back section if you want the group’s energy to feed off the room.

The Casual Local Night

Not every night needs to be the big event. Caloundra’s pubs and taverns handle the “let’s just have a good time” evening brilliantly.

Kings Beach Tavern at 43 Burgess Street is the biggest live music venue on the Coast, named QMA Regional Venue of the Year. Hilltop ocean views from the expansive deck, a full bistro menu, and live music programmed most weekends. This is where groups end up when the main dinner has ended and nobody wants to call it a night yet.

Thirsty Beaver Bar and Kitchen at 79 Bulcock Street runs a Red Dirt Smoker producing 18-hour pork ribs, beef short ribs and brisket alongside nine local beers on tap. Wednesday is rib night. The share-style BBQ format is perfect for a group that wants to graze, drink and chat without a formal dinner structure.

Caloundra Hotel (CBX) at 12 Bulcock Street has 24 beers on tap, char-grilled steaks, a spacious deck, and a Wednesday pool competition. O’Hara’s Irish Bar within the hotel adds a different energy if the group splits into subgroups as the night develops.

The Recovery Brunch

Sunday is about soft light and easy food. No big decisions, just a group reforming itself around coffee and something comforting.

The Pastry Lab at 2/80 Lower Gay Terrace (enter via Knox Avenue) near Happy Valley is the destination pastry option. Family-owned French fusion patisserie, Chris and Emily since 2020, 4.8 rating on Restaurant Guru, with croissants genuinely comparable to what you’d find in Paris. Grab a share platter of croissants, cruffins and tarts, First Batch Coffee roasted in Noosa, and set up on the grass at Happy Valley nearby.

The Happy Turtle Cafe at Happy Valley Playground on the Esplanade is the relaxed waterfront option: converted shipping container, painted with a Pumicestone Passage mural by local Caloundra artists Thom and Marni Stuart, with halloumi breaky wraps, acai bowls and cabinet slices. Run by Chloe Donaldson with a strong eco-conscious ethos. The grass around the café works as natural group seating.

Pro Tips for Group Weekends

• Book everything ahead. Caloundra venues book out on weekends, especially the occasion dinner spots (Acqua, Three Restaurant, Bianco, Bocca) and the destination breakfasts (One Block Back especially). For groups of 8+, most venues need notice.
• Sort the transit. Caloundra is walkable if you’re basing yourself near Bulcock Street or Kings Beach. For the brewery crawl or the Bocca dinner, book a local minibus or rideshare in advance. Don’t leave “who’s driving?” to sort itself at 3pm.
• Time the cellar doors. Beachtree is Wednesday to Saturday only. Moffat Beach Brewing and Brouhaha both run 7 days. If your weekend skews Sunday-Monday, plan the makers loop on Saturday.
• Build in a swim. This is still a coastal town. A group ocean swim before breakfast or between activities completely changes the rhythm of the weekend. Kings Beach has the best swimming, Happy Valley is the most sheltered for a lazy float.
• Check the live music calendar. Kings Beach Tavern, Moffat Beach Brewing Beachside, Coffee Cat (Fri/Sat/Sun), and Bianco (weekly jazz) all run live music programmes. Building the evening around a set you actually want to see turns a standard pub night into the group’s highlight.
• Dress the part. Caloundra isn’t Cavill Avenue. Good shirts, smart-casual, and proper shoes will get you into the refined spots (Acqua, Three Restaurant, Bianco). The pubs, breweries and beachfront cafés are as relaxed as they look.

Plan Your Group Weekend

Our interactive trip planner lets you filter venues by capacity, live music, or neighbourhood. Whether you’re organising a 60th birthday, an anniversary weekend away, a hens or bucks, or just a massive group get-together, Caloundra delivers the goods: honest food, independent craft booze, waterfront views, and the kind of easygoing coastal energy that makes the weekend feel like a proper escape.

You just need to know which tables to book.

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Start planning your Caloundra food trail now – explore the Taste of Caloundra dining directory and interactive map to discover what’s on your next plate. Have a favourite Caloundra dining spot we should know about? Get in touch, we’re always hungry for recommendations!

Family Fun & Food: The 2–3 Day Caloundra Survival Guide

Because let’s be honest: a holiday with the tribe only counts as a “vacation” if the kids are fed, the parents are caffeinated, and nobody has had a meltdown before midday.

Caloundra is the ultimate playground for this. We’ve got the gentle water that won’t scare the toddlers, cafés that actually expect a bit of noise, and enough activity to ensure they’re zonked by 7:00 PM. Here is how to tackle a few days in town without losing your sanity or settling for mediocre coffee.

Day 1: Sand, Salt, and Strategy

Morning — The Breakfast Base Layer Start at the waterfront. You need a spot where the kids can see the ocean (keeping them occupied) while you get that first essential brew.

• Where to sit: Kings Beach Bar is the perfect jump-off point. It’s right near the saltwater pool and the fountain, so you can transition from eggs-on-toast to “can we go in the water yet?” in about thirty seconds.

Midday — The Low-Stress Lunch After a morning at the Kings Beach rock pools or a paddle at Bulcock, keep lunch casual. No one wants to be shepherd-herding sandy kids into a formal dining room.

• Where to sit: Grab some legendary local fish and chips or a casual bite at Drift Bar. The breezy terrace means you aren’t boxed in, and the menu hits that sweet spot between “proper food” for you and “I’ll actually eat this” for them.

Evening — The Sunset Finish Walk the Coastal Pathway toward Bulcock Beach. It’s scooter-friendly, pram-friendly, and offers plenty of spots to stop and look at a passing dolphin.

• Where to sit: Wrap up the day at The Caloundra Hotel. It’s right in the thick of it on Bulcock Street, offering a reliable family menu and that relaxed pub vibe where a dropped fork isn’t a national tragedy.

Day 2: Hinterland Magic & Paddock-to-Plate

Morning — The Green Behind the Gold Load the crew into the car and head thirty minutes inland. The Sunshine Coast hinterland is basically a giant, edible classroom.

• The Plan: Hit the farm gates around Maleny or the Glass House Mountains. Let them see where the milk and strawberries actually come from. Many local producers offer tastings that are surprisingly kid-friendly (especially the chocolate-coated macadamias).

Lunch — The Mountain Reset Stay in the hills for a bit of fresh air and a paddock-to-plate lunch.

• Where to sit: Look for the small village cafés that champion local dairy and produce. It’s a great way to show the kids that food doesn’t just come from a supermarket shelf.

Evening — The “We’re Home” Reward Head back to the coast for a final swim as the sky starts to turn.

• Where to sit: Golden Beach Tavern is the ultimate Day 2 closer. Why? Because it has a dedicated play area. You can actually finish a conversation (and a meal) while the kids burn off the last of their energy within eyesight.

Optional Day 3: Adventure & The Final Treat

If you’ve got a third day, make it about the “choose your own adventure” style.

• Morning: Hire a stand-up paddleboard at the passage or hit the Caloundra skate park for the older kids.
• Lunch: A classic picnic at Happy Valley. Grab some local sourdough and fresh prawns, find a patch of grass, and just let the day unfold.
• The Grand Finale: End the trip at White Picket Fence. It’s a bit of a local “hidden gem” that feels special for the grown-ups but remains completely welcoming for the little ones. It’s the perfect spot to toast to a successful holiday.

Pro-Tips for the Road

• The 5:00 PM Rule: In Caloundra, early dining is the local way. You’ll get the best seats, the fastest service, and you’ll be out before the “witching hour” hits.
• Pack the Togs (Always): In this town, you’re never more than five minutes from a splash. Even a “quick walk” usually ends up with someone in the water.
• Use the Directory: If the kids decide they only want tacos or must have pancakes, use the Taste Caloundra directory to filter by cuisine and find the closest match instantly.

We’ve done the legwork so you can focus on the important stuff—like making sure everyone has enough sunscreen.

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Start planning your Caloundra food trail now – explore the Taste of Caloundra dining directory and interactive map to discover what’s on your next plate. Have a favourite Caloundra dining spot we should know about? Get in touch, we’re always hungry for recommendations!

Because the Sunshine Coast is best explored with a full stomach and a scenic view. Caloundra isn’t just a destination—it’s the perfect base for coastal day-trips where beaches, lookouts, and local cuisine collide. Whether you’re here for a weekend escape or a longer stay, combining food with sights is the best way to see the Coast like a local.

Here’s a guide to three unforgettable day-trips that let you eat well while taking in some of the Sunshine Coast’s most stunning vistas.

1. Caloundra to Moffat Beach & Kings Beach Loop

Start your morning with a coffee and breakfast at a laneway café in Caloundra. Smoked salmon bagel, tropical smoothie, or a simple smashed avo—whatever fuels your morning.

From there, stroll along the Coastal Pathway to Kings Beach for sunrise views. The walk takes you past sandy coves and rugged headlands, offering picture-perfect lookout spots along the way. Stop for a quick paddle or a snapshot at Kings Beach Rock Pools, then continue to Moffat Beach for a quieter, family-friendly vibe.

• Breakfast Suggestion: White Picket Fence is the ultimate laneway start, tucked away from the main drag with a creative, seasonal menu.
• Lunch Suggestion: Grab fish tacos or a seafood platter at a waterfront spot like Moffat Beach Brewing Co – Production House. Fresh, local, and perfectly timed for your midday refuel.

This loop is ideal for combining exercise, sightseeing, and casual dining without leaving the town’s coastline.

2. Bulcock Street & Bribie Island Day-Trip

Take your car or bike over the bridge to Bribie Island, a 30-minute ride from Caloundra. Start with breakfast in town, then head north for a day exploring beaches, foreshore trails, and mangrove boardwalks.

• Breakfast Suggestion: Coffee Cat on Kings Beach or Coffee@4551 are perfect for that pre-trip caffeine hit and a hearty bite.
• Local Tip: Pack a picnic from a Caloundra deli or café—cheeses, fresh bread, and seasonal fruit. The Pastry Lab is a must-visit for artisan treats to take with you. Enjoy it at one of the island’s quiet picnic spots.

Afterward, return via Bulcock Street to enjoy a late-afternoon coffee or gelato at The Happy Turtle Cafe while watching the sun soften over the Pumicestone Passage. It’s a blend of adventure, fresh air, and indulgence that feels effortless but rewarding.

3. Caloundra to Glass House Mountains & Hinterland

For those wanting a mix of coastal views and hinterland charm, head inland to the Glass House Mountains. Stop at a local café on your way for coffee and breakfast, then explore the walking tracks or lookouts.

• Lunch Stop: Many hinterland farms and boutique eateries offer seasonal lunches with local produce—think farm-to-table salads, wood-fired breads, or freshly baked pies.
• Refined Finish: For a relaxed pub vibe after a hike, hit the Golden Beach Tavern.

This trip combines active sightseeing with hands-on culinary experiences, giving you a taste of both coast and country.

Local Tips for Coastal Day-Trips

• Start early: Morning light is best for photos and less crowded walks.
• Mix walking and driving: Some destinations like Drift Bar are close enough to walk to after your stroll, others need a short drive.
• Pack snacks: Local bakeries and spots like The Walkway Village Cafe are everywhere, but a fruit or nut snack keeps energy up between stops.
• Check tides and opening hours: Some beaches, lookouts, and producers are best visited at certain times.

Exploring Caloundra by day with food as part of the journey is the ultimate way to see the Coast. You taste it, walk it, and live it—all without feeling rushed.

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Start planning your Caloundra food trail now – explore the Taste of Caloundra dining directory and interactive map to discover what’s on your next plate. Have a favourite Caloundra dining spot we should know about? Get in touch, we’re always hungry for recommendations!

If you think a trip to Caloundra means just sitting on the sand with a servo sandwich, you’re doing it wrong. We’ve designed a 48-hour itinerary that proves Caloundra isn’t one place. It’s a series of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character, its own food culture, and its own version of a perfect Coast morning.

No need to pack and unpack. Just grab the keys (or comfortable walking shoes), bring an appetite, and prepare to see why this stretch of the southern Sunshine Coast has quietly become a heavyweight in the food and drink world.

Day 1: The Coastal Heart (Kings Beach to Bulcock Beach)

Day 1 is built around the Coastal Pathway. You can do the entire day on foot, hopping between neighbourhoods and letting the beach be the through-line.

Morning, Kings Beach

Start at Coffee Cat On Kings Beach under the Rolling Surf Resort, which opens at 5:30am every day and roasts its own house blend, Catnip Brew. There’s no road between your table and the waves, and the breakfast menu has earned this place the #1 ranking of 14 restaurants in Kings Beach on Tripadvisor. Order the Quinoa Nasi Goreng or the Shakshuka if you want to go beyond the standard. This is your foundation.

Walk it off with a stroll along the Coastal Pathway from Kings Beach toward the headlands. The grassy lookouts, the elevated views back across the cove, and the occasional whale sighting between May and November (if you’re here in season) make this the most rewarding morning walk in town.

Midday, Kings Beach

Loop back for lunch at Kings Beach Surf Club at 1 Spender Lane. This elevated club gives you the surf life saving experience without the sand in your socks: ocean views from the deck, a full bistro menu, and the genuine satisfaction of knowing every meal supports the volunteer lifesavers below. Open from 10am to 10pm seven days a week.

For something more casual, De Lish Fish @ Kings at 8 Levuka Avenue does famous beer-battered chips, fresh local seafood, family seafood packs, and runs an award-winning gelateria on the same premises. The dual-purpose lunch and dessert option in one beachfront stop is genuinely hard to beat.

Afternoon, Bulcock Beach

Continue along the Coastal Pathway toward Happy Valley and stop at The Happy Turtle Cafe. This converted shipping container, painted with a Pumicestone Passage-inspired mural by local Caloundra artists Thom and Marni Stuart, sits right at the playground at the Esplanade. Run by Chloe Donaldson with a properly eco-conscious ethos (bring your own cup for a Sea Life Trust donation, all cups recycled on-site), it’s a perfect afternoon pit stop. Grab a coffee and a cabinet slice, set up on the grass with the headland in view.

Continue to Bulcock Street for an artisan pastry pause at 22 Cribb St (90 Bulcock Street), the Caloundra branch of head pastry chef Dhanushka Manjula’s well-loved Landsborough original.

Evening, Bulcock Beach

Time the sunset for Acqua Restaurant and Bar inside the Grand Pacific Resort on the Bulcock Beach Esplanade. Every seat in the house looks out across the Pumicestone Passage to Bribie Island, and the Mediterranean-meets-Modern-Australian menu leans heavily into local seafood (the calamari and barramundi get called out constantly in reviews). Acqua has picked up an AGFG Reader’s Choice Award in 2022 and a Diners’ Choice in 2025, and the waterfront setting at sunset is the most refined dinner experience in central Caloundra.

If you want something with more buzz and less linen, Bianco Italian Cuisine and Bar at 5 Tay Avenue is the alternative. Head chef Ibrahim Haddad runs a kitchen built around handmade pasta, Pizza Contemporanea (the lighter, long-fermented style), and a wine programme served by the glass via a Coravin system. Weekly live jazz lifts the room without overpowering the conversation.

Day 2: The Wider Postcode (Moffat Beach to Golden Beach)

Day 2 needs a car. You’re heading north to Moffat and Dicky, west to Caloundra West and Baringa, then back south to Golden Beach for sunset. The geographic loop covers roughly 25 minutes of driving across the day, and shows you the parts of the postcode most visitors never see.

Morning, Moffat Beach

Drive north to Moffat Beach for breakfast at One Block Back at 106 Nothling Street. This unassuming tin shed in a suburban side street has been voted #6 Best Cafe in Queensland by the Courier Mail, with a 4.7 OpenTable rating from over 300 diners. The signature Okonomiyaki, the Eggs Benny with house-made hollandaise and tomato-maple jam on artisan sourdough, the braised pork bao buns, the Cuban toastie: this is a destination breakfast that’s worth the early start. Open 7am to 2:30pm daily, bookings strongly recommended for weekends.

After breakfast, walk one block back (literally) to Moffat Beach for a stroll along the headland and watch the surfers at the famous Moffat right-hand point break.

Late morning, Dicky Beach

Continue north along Esplanade Bulcock Beach to Dicky Beach village strip for a wander. The strip is genuinely worth exploring: a cluster of cafés, the iconic SS Dicky shipwreck site (one of the few accessible shipwrecks anywhere on the Australian east coast), and Three Restaurant Bar and Grill, which sits at #3 of 146 restaurants in Caloundra and does fine-dining seafood and Wagyu if you want a long, considered lunch.

Afternoon, Caloundra West and Baringa

Drive 10 minutes inland to Caloundra West for the makers loop. Beachtree Distilling Co at 14 Industrial Avenue is Australia’s only certified First Nations distillery, co-founded by Steve Grace (Kamilaroi) and Kirra Daley. Beachtree won World’s Best Craft Producer in both 2024 and 2025, plus World’s Best Sustainable Distillery in 2025. The cellar door is open Wednesday to Saturday. Try the Organic Koala Gin or the Native Skippy Gin. Their “You Sip, We Plant” initiative has put more than 25,000 trees in the ground.

Continue to Moffat Beach Brewing Co Production House at 51 Caloundra Road, an industrial brewery space with 20 rotating taps, low-and-slow BBQ smoked on-site, and the kind of atmosphere where you can see the tanks while you work through a paddle. Or push on to Baringa for Brouhaha Brewery Baringa at 1 Edison Crescent (production brewery and taproom run by Head Brewer Matt Jancauskas, ex-Beavertown London).

Evening, Golden Beach

Wind back south to Golden Beach for sunset on the Pumicestone Passage. Caloundra Power Boat Club has deck dining so close to the water you’d need to shuffle your chair back at high tide, with three dining options: the Quarterdeck Restaurant for à la carte, the Galley on Pumicestone for Asian-inspired seafood, and Portside Café for something more casual. 90% of supplies come from local producers. The view across to Bribie Island as the sun drops behind the Glass House Mountains is one of the best sunset spots in town.

For a more relaxed final-night option, Golden Beach Tavern at 32 Bowman Road does $19 rump steaks Monday to Thursday from 5:30pm and has an outdoor kids’ play area if the day’s energy needs working out of someone smaller. It’s the unpretentious local pub experience at its best.

A Note on the Wider Region

Technically just outside Caloundra’s postcode but close enough to fold into a weekend, Bocca Italian at the corner of Bokarina Boulevard and Longboard Parade in Bokarina (about 10 minutes north of Caloundra) is worth the visit. Exec Chef Harry Lilai (ex-Cecconis Melbourne) runs a share-style Italian kitchen with hand-stretched pizzas from a Moretti oven imported from Italy, fresh pastas, an osso buco that’s become a cult dish, and a limoncello meringue dessert that’s worth the drive on its own. Open 7 days, 11am to 10pm.

Pro Tips for the Weekend

• Walk Day 1, drive Day 2. The Coastal Pathway makes Day 1 entirely walkable. Day 2’s wider geography needs wheels.
• Book the big ones. Acqua, Bianco, Three Restaurant, One Block Back and Coffee Cat (for dinner Thu-Sun) all reward bookings, especially on Friday and Saturday. The pubs and clubs are walk-in friendly.
• Time the cellar doors. Beachtree opens Wednesday to Saturday only. If you’re doing the makers loop on a Sunday or Monday, swap in a different brewery stop.
• Build in a swim. This is a coastal town. A morning ocean swim before breakfast, or a sunset dip after an afternoon at the brewery, completely changes the rhythm of the weekend.
• Stay local. By keeping your accommodation in Caloundra, you’re never more than a 15-minute drive from any stop on this itinerary. The proximity is the whole point.

Caloundra isn’t one neighbourhood. It’s six (and counting). Two days, six neighbourhoods, more than a dozen distinct food and drink experiences. You just need to know which streets to walk and which roads to drive.ke.

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Start planning your Caloundra food trail now – explore the Taste of Caloundra dining directory and interactive map to discover what’s on your next plate. Have a favourite Caloundra dining spot we should know about? Get in touch, we’re always hungry for recommendations!