fun and affordable school holiday outing need look no further than Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World, where nature, wildlife and spectacular scenery combine for a memorable day out.
Set across 23 acres of beautifully maintained gardens overlooking the iconic Glass House Mountains, the attraction offers more than eight kilometres of walking paths winding through waterfalls, lakes and vibrant displays of flowers and plants.
A new feature is the Fairy Garden with the magical walk-in mushroom and its resident unicorns – sure to delight visitors of all ages!
Visitors can also discover the popular Bush Tucker
such as lemon myrtle and native violets showcase the traditional uses and cultural significance of Australia’s unique flora.
Bird World remains a favourite with families, featuring five walk-through aviaries housing more than 600 native and exotic birds.
The farm precinct is equally popular, with miniature goats, alpacas, babydoll sheep, miniature donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and other friendly animals delighting young visitors.
Open seven days from 9am to 4.30pm, with family passes available for $132, covering two adults and two children.
For more information, visit online or call 5344 0010.
My Staycation
By Desley Arnold
RECENTLY I had a week’s holiday, and so hubby and I decided to take some time out from renovating and explore our own backyard.
Armed with a very comfortable new hybrid car and the luxury of returning home each night, we planned a series of day trips across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions.
We allowed for a couple of wet-weather days, which mostly involved scenic drives and eating out, and then set off on our adventure.
While we didn’t manage to tick everything off our list, we certainly discovered
some wonderful places and experiences that we thoroughly recommend.
One of our favourite drives took us along country back roads to Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay, where we enjoyed the changing scenery, interesting roadside signs and charming little whistle stops along the way.
We also spent time at the historic Apollonian Hotel at Boreen Point, beside beautiful Lake Cootharaba. The food was excellent, the grounds were lovely and, best of all, we could take our fur babies along too.
A high tea and tour at Sunshine Butterflies in Tewantin was another
highlight, offering a wonderful opportunity to support a local charity while enjoying a unique experience. The standout for us was a boat tour through the Noosa Everglades from Habitat Noosa EcoCamp. With only two everglade systems in the world, it was a truly memorable experience. Friendly kangaroos, great food and a relaxed atmosphere made it even more enjoyable. We also enjoyed lunch at Spirit House in Yandina, explored Maleny Botanical Gardens and Birdworld, sampled local produce at Maleny Cheese, stopped for an ale at Montville Hotel and visited the Ginger Factory.
Sunshine Coast boredom
Discover endless fun with a treasure trove of free and low-cost activities for kids
SCHOOL’S out and the winter school holidays have arrived, bringing plenty of opportunities for kids to get creative, explore and have fun across the Sunshine Coast.
School holiday movie fun is coming to Limelight
SCHOOL holidays are almost here. Which means the countdown has begun until the first “What are we doing today?” or “I’m bored” arrives from the back seat. Luckily, Limelight Morayfield has plenty to keep the whole family entertained these winter holidays.
Leading the line-up is Toy Story 5, with Woody, Buzz and the gang returning for another big-screen adventure. This time, the toys are facing a challenge many parents will recognise — competing with phones, tablets and technology for the attention of kids. Packed with humour, heart and
From animal-themed scavenger hunts and hands-on craft workshops to LEGO engineering challenges, board games and interactive storytimes, there are activities to spark every imagination. Libraries across the region are transforming into adventure zones where children can follow mysterious hoof prints, discover wild book characters, create colourful llama-inspired crafts and test their skills through games and challenges.
Whether your family is looking for free activities, creative experiences or simply a fun way to fill the school break, there’s no shortage of options to keep young minds engaged and entertained.
Here’s your guide to the best school holiday fun on the Sunshine Coast.
Hoof It! Scavenger Hunt
The ungulates are loose in the library! Find the hoof prints and discover the identities of the odd and even-toed animals who left them! All libraries, Drop in sessions, during opening hours.
Wild Reads Adventure Quest
Slither, gallop or fly into the Junior collection and test your knowledge of popular animal characters. There are so many new reading adventures to be discovered! 5 years+. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Animal Face
Use the craft materials supplied to make the craziest animal faces ever! 4 years +. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Maleny Library Wednesday July 8, 10am - 11am.
Board Game Hangout
Drop in and play a board game or two. Bring friends or come solo and make some new ones, join in and enjoy the fun! 12 years+.
Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Llama Yarn
Create your own yarn animal, but don’t get in a tangle with this fuzzy llama craft! 7 years+. Registration not required. Drop-in session. Caloundra Library,
plenty of Pixar magic, it’s set to be one of the family movie events of the year.
Looking for laughs?
Minions & Monsters lands on June 25, bringing a fresh dose of mayhem from everyone’s favourite yellow troublemakers. Expect
plenty of silly fun, outrageous antics and enough Minion madness to keep the whole family smiling. Also arriving on June 25 is Supergirl, starring Australian actress Milly Alcock as DC’s iconic hero in a spectacular new adventure perfect for older kids, teens and superhero fans.
Then from July 8, Disney’s
beloved Moana returns in a stunning live-action reimagining. Australian actress Catherine Laga’aia takes the lead role, with Dwayne Johnson returning as Maui, bringing a fresh new take on the much-loved story.
And for movie lovers already looking ahead, July has even more blockbuster excitement in store, with The Odyssey and SpiderMan: Brand New Day both set to hit the big screen.
To help families make the most of the holidays, Limelight’s Legends Rewards Family Pass returns for the holidays, with selected family movie tickets from just $11.50 per person for Legends members. Membership is free, leaving more money for the important stuff — like popcorn.
So gather the family, grab the popcorn and make Limelight Morayfield part of your school holiday plans.
busters
and wild animal magnet. 6 years+. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Beerwah Library, Thursday July 2, 10am - 12pm.
Hee Haw Activity Station Mazes, word searches, dot-to-dots, colouring and many more activity sheets to complete. Join the animals for these mind-bending challenges!
3 years+. Registration not required. Drop-in session. Future Engineers Club Get ready to design, build and unleash your creativity with LEGO, magnetic tiles, geometric shapes and much more. 6 years+. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Puppet Story Time: Track and Field Fun
Enjoy stories brought to life with delightful hand puppets in this engaging and interactive storytime session. Children will be captivated as stories about track and field and sporting adventures come to life, encouraging imagination, movement, and a love of reading. The session will also include the opportunity to see museum objects up close, allowing for deeper engagement with the stories told. Perfect for young audiences, this fun-filled experience combines storytelling, puppetry, and participation to inspire little learners through sportthemed stories. Free event. Registration essential. At Landsborough Museum. Perfect for children aged 5 and under.
Pony Rides and Pioneer Play
Bring the farmyard to life these school holidays at Bankfoot House! Enjoy gentle pony rides, a hands-on petting zoo, and interactive farmyard fun for all ages. Kids can meet and care for friendly animals, make their own butter through Pioneer Play, and discover what life was like on an early farm. Explore wooden games and open spaces while caregivers relax with free tea and coffee and scenic mountain views. A fun, free day of animals, history, and handson play!
Free school holiday fun at The Ginger Factory
FEW spaces spark warm feelings of excitement quite like The Ginger Factory, and during school holidays, it truly comes to life! Join us for free activities with our highland cow kisses that will delight animal lovers in Week 1. Meet our fluffy highland friends and cuddle up to cute sheep and mini donkeys! In Week 2, its time for splashes of colour and sparkle with custom face painting. Brace yourself
for big grins and whimsical delight.
Let the kids be creative with free craft activities or drift into Kids Corner where story time magic awaits. You can hop aboard Moreton the Ginger Train or sail away on the Overboard boat ride . Make sure to try our delicious gelato and decorate your own gingerbread man cookie!
A highlight of the school holiday program is meeting Zog – our resident friendly
dragon for a true touch of magic. Snap a photo, share laughs and enjoy the delight of the Ginger Factory.
With so many free activities running throughout the week, it becomes an easy, family day out that won’t break the bank. It’s a wonderful way to turn an ordinary holiday into something special, full of imagination, connection and family fun! Entry is free. *Rides incur costs
JOIN US FOR FREE SCHOOL HOLIDAY FUN
Adventure Camp Adventure Camp
MONDAY 29 JUNE TO SUNDAY 5 JULY 10:30am - 1:30pm daily IN THE ATRIUM
HEY EXPLORERS! READY FOR AN EPIC SCHOOL HOLIDAY ADVENTURE?
Experience the fun of school holiday camp without leaving town! Climb to new heights on the rock wall, practice your aim with axe throwing challenges, try the camp themed baking activities and jump into awesome camp games led by our fun-loving camp leaders!
