Screens off kids, it’s time to egg-splore

With the Easter Bunny delivering the goods and the temperature beginning to cool, the autumn school holidays are the perfect time to get out and about on our Sunshine Coast.

Packed with plenty of free and low-cost things to do, our school holiday guide includes Sunshine Coast Council’s best offerings for keeping the kids busy on their break.

With so many options, you best hop to it. Start planning now and remember, places are limited for some events, book early to avoid disappointment and be sure to check for public holiday closures.

Sunshine Coast Council's autumn school holiday guide

Seasonal Sessions enjoy a picnic and enjoy the sounds.

Experience sunset musical delight

Kick back and enjoy live, local music at Seasonal Sessions this Easter long weekend.

Come along to this family friendly event and celebrate autumn at the Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden on Saturday,  April 13, 3-6pm. 

Please note, this event has been postponed until April 13, 3-6pm (was previously scheduled for Easter Saturday, March 30).

Bring your own picnic, including chairs or rug, and be prepared take your rubbish home.

Tickets available online and are strictly limited due to Botanic Garden carpark capacity.

Cost is $30 per vehicle (no matter how many passengers so the more friends and family on board, the cheaper per person). Pre-booked active arrival tickets available if you walk, ride or get dropped-off, $10 per person.

When: Saturday, April 13, from 3 – 6pm.

Where: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Palm Creek Road, Tanawha.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

The City Makers workshop equips kids to engage in creative play. Image Tim Birch.

Creative play wonderland

The MET, in partnership with Wildlings and Sunshine Coast Council’s Living Smart initiative, will run the City Makers – Loose Parts Workshop across three days, encouraging kids aged three to 12-years to create art, tinker, design and construct miniature cities.

Kids can also engage in nature-based play activities in the kitchen garden area with Robyn Cook, the Kitchen Garden Teacher.

Trained staff will help kids learn how to use the real hand-tools provided to bring their imaginings to life.

Tickets are $8 per child, per session and online bookings are essential. Be sure to bring a hat, water, sunscreen, snacks, plus a picnic rug or chair for parents.

When: April 3, 4 and 5, 9.30 – 11.30am.

Where: The MET, Corner First Ave and South Sea Islander Way, Maroochydore.

Details: Visit The Met website.

Juliet Buckley | Hidden perspective | 2024 | Gouache on paper (image courtesy of the artist).

Arty family outing

Take the chance to check out the 40 finalist works from Sunshine Coast artists in the Local Contemporary Art Prize 2024.

Vote for your favourite in the People’s Choice Award, sponsored by The Friends Regional Gallery and Geoff Lyons Solicitors, for a chance to win a gallery store voucher.

Plus, be inspired by the regions budding artists in the Local Student Art Prize exhibition.

When: Friday March 22 – Friday 5 May. Open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am – 2pm.

Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

TurtleCare

Turtlely terrific

A fun opportunity for primary school aged children to discover more about turtles, run by the TurtleCare Sunshine Coast volunteer team.

Learn about the turtles who nest here on the coast, their lifecycle, biology and fun facts.

Help save our turtles and find a solution to pollution. Bring your curiosity and creativity.

This event will include both indoor and beach activities with some teamwork required.

All participants will require adult parent or guardian attendance throughout the session.

When: Tuesday April 9, 8.30 – 10.30am and 11am to 1pm.

Where: Windansea Community Clubhouse - Ballinger Beach Park, Buderim Street Currimundi.

Details: Book the 8.30am session or 11am session via EventBrite.

Bankfoot House

Make musical memories

Dance your way to the Mary Grigor Centre these school holidays and see what music was like for the families that lived at Bankfoot House.

Explore the exhibition House Music or dance to the foxtrot whilst the pianola plays. Don’t worry if you have two left feet – you can always make your own kazoo and hum along.

Free. No bookings required.

When: Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 3pm.

Where: Bankfoot House, 1998 Old Gympie Road, Glass House Mountains.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Race around gorgeous gardens

Have your kids tried the Great Botanic Race? This self-guided orienteering activity is a great way to enjoy an active, all-ages day at the Botanic Garden.

Older children love racing their friends and solving the puzzle while they explore the bushland.

Grab a map at the entrance in the lower part of the garden, or download and print before you arrive.

When: Open 7am – 6pm daily.

Where: The Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, 51 Palm Creek Road, Tanawha.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Create a work of art

Kids Art Attack puts a spotlight on scratch art using oil pastels and black paint.

Budding artists can learn to create their own. So be ready to have some fun and a little bit messy.

Suitable for children aged four to 10-years-old. Drop-in style activity. $2 per child.

When: Saturday, April 6, 11am – 1pm.

Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Landsborough museum

Hop into history 

Step back in time and explore the Landsborough Museum. During the holidays you can enjoy Easter for a little longer and follow the bunny trail.

Free. No bookings required.

When: From Wednesday April 3 to Sunday April 14. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-3pm.

Where: Landsborough Museum, 4 Maleny Street, Landsborough.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Showcasing nature

Once you’ve explored the wonders of the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, visit the Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre and be uplifted by the creativity of the Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden.

Their exhibition, Inspired by Nature 2024, showcases the diverse works of 12 artists in ceramic, pencil and paint. 

Free entry.

When: Open daily 10am - 2pm.

Where: Maroochy Arts and Ecology Centre, located at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Palm Creek Road, Tanawha.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Discover how rainforest thrives

Meet the Forest Fellowship in the Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.

This exhibit is bursting with features for families to explore:

• make your own felt forest
• touch and feel different types of tree bark
• borrow a free Junior Ranger Kit
• zoom in on the Microeye
• discover the dark room
• read in the kids nook.

When: Open daily, 9.30am – 3.30pm.

Where: The Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, 148 Mountain View Road, Maleny.

Details: Visit Council’s website.

Try NFL Flag Football

Sunshine Coast Council are inviting kids aged 9-12 years to come and try NFL Flag Football at the Kawana Sports Precinct.

The modified, non-contact version of American Football involves five players a side, with both boys and girls playing together.

Players wear belts with flags to be pulled instead of tackling in this invasion game, where touchdowns score.

When: Sunday April 14, 9am – 12pm.

Where: Field 5, Kawana Sports Precinct, 320 Nicklin Way, Bokarina.

Details: Register on the NFL website.

ClimateWatch guided walks

Come along to one of the guided ClimateWatch Trail walks happening across the Sunshine Coast this school holidays.

These school holidays become a citizen scientist and contribute to understanding how climate change is affecting our environment at our three guided walks along our local ClimateWatch Trails.

To participate you will be need to download the ClimateWatch app on your smart device.

Free. Booking required.

When and where:

Kawana Forest

• April 3 - 8:30 – 10:30am 
• Book ticket here 

Currimundi Lake

• April 11 - 8:30 – 10:30am 
• Book ticket here 

Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve 

• April 12 – 8:30 – 9:45am 
• Book ticket here

Details: Visit the ClimateWatch website for more details on these trails. 

Sunshine Coast Libraries

Prehistoric adventure awaits, with dinosaur themed activities available for all ages at libraries across the Sunshine Coast these school holidays.

Registration essential from Monday March 25 at 4pm. Find out more below and visit Sunshine Coast Libraries website for all the details.

Scavenger Hunt

Search the library for all of the hidden dinosaur eggs. Follow the clues, answer correctly, and move onto the next!  Can you find them all? Suitable for all ages. From Tuesday April 2 – Sunday April 14. Available at all library locations during opening hours. 

No registration required.

Game on

Challenge your family and friends with a wide range of board games. Who will be the champion? Suitable for all ages.

Beerwah

• April 5 - all day
• April 11 - all day

Caloundra

• April 3 - 10am  - 12pm
• April 11 - 10am - 12pm

Coolum

• April 3 - all day
• April 9 - all day

Kawana

• April 4 - 10am - 12pm
• April 9 - 10am - 12pm

Kenilworth

• April 5 - all day

Maleny

• April 3 - 10am - 12pm
• April 11 - 10am - 12pm

Maroochydore

• April 3 - 10am - 12pm
• April 10 - 10am - 12pm

Nambour

• April 5 - all day
• April 12 - all day

Volcanoes and velociraptors

Make your own dinosaur small world, complete with a Jurassic volcano. Use a collection of cardboard, cellophane, paper, foam and other assorted collage materials to bring your world to life. Volcanic eruption not included. Suitable for ages five and above.

Beerwah

• April 9 - 9.30 - 11:30am

Caloundra

• April 4 - 10am - 12pm

Coolum

• April 4 - 9.30 - 11.30am

Kawana

• April 11 - 9.30 - 11.30am

Kenilworth

• April 12 - 10am - 12pm

Maleny

• April 9 - 9.30 - 11.30am

Maroochydore

• April 4 - 9.30 -11.30am

Nambour

• April 9 - 9.30 -11.30am

Stop go animation

Dinosaur mania! Unleash your inner film maker and learn simple animation techniques that use photography, back drops and props to create magnificent stories. Suitable for ages seven and above. 

Beerwah

• April 4 - 10 – 11.30am

Coolum:

• April 11 - 10 – 11.30am

Get up close with a baby dinosaur

Visit a pre-historic world lost in time and learn everything there is about dinosaurs. Experience petting a baby dinosaur puppet, take a peek at a life-size dinosaur egg and even try your hand at fossicking. No real baby dinosaurs will be featured in the show. Suitable for ages two and above.

Caloundra

• April 12 - 9.30 - 10am and 10.15 - 10.45am

Maroochydore

• April 11 9.30 - 10am and 10.15 - 10.45am

Nambour

• April 11 12.30 - 1pm and 1.15 - 1.45pm

Adventure Sunshine Coast

Looking to get outdoors with the family these school holidays?

For more than 250 walking, running, paddling, cycling, mountain biking and horse riding trails on the Sunshine Coast, visit Council’s Adventure Sunshine Coast website and choose your next adventure.

Need even more school holiday inspo?

Why not pack a picnic and visit one (or many!) of Council’s marvellous parks and gardens, make a splash at a Council aquatic centre, hone your skills at a Council skate and bmx park, or snap a selfie along Council’s scenic Coastal Pathway.