With glorious, long sunny days warming our shores, the early hints of summer are certainly in the air on the Sunshine Coast. Here's Coolum at the Beach's list of the best swimming beaches for the summer season.

1. Coolum Beach
Located within easy walking distance of Coolum at the Beach, this breathtaking beach is surrounded by stunning clifftops and boardwalks. With a relaxed and casual atmosphere, Coolum Beach, and the adjoining Stumers Creek Beach, are loved by swimmers, sightseers, sunbakers, surfers and dog lovers alike. Coolum Beach is predominantly a locals beach. It is rarely crowded, is well patrolled and has a terrific surf club.

It is important to note that you should remain between the flags and follow beach notices when swimming. Additional patrols are scheduled during peak seasons to ensure there is plenty of room for everyone to safely enjoy this stunning beach. See the latest weather conditions and life saving services here.

For families seeking a little more shelter, the Coolum rock pools are a fabulous location for children to explore. If you would like to extend your enjoyment of Coolum Beach beyond swimming, you can enrol in surfing lessons with Coolum Surf School and take away some new skills, in addition to your fond memories.

2. Noosa Main Beach
Noosa's Main Beach is a Sunshine Coast icon, and no visit to the Coast would be complete without a dip in the beach's glistening waters. It's one of the few north-facing beaches on Australia's east coast, and it is fully patrolled; making it a beautiful and safe destination for all members of the family.

Due to its fame, Noosa Main Beach is always buzzing with locals, tourists backpackers and families. Lined with boardwalks, boutiques and plenty of first class dining options, glamourous Main Beach is the perfect location to spend your day swimming and people watching.

The clean waves that break on either side of the swimming area make this a popular surfing location, and local sand artists often craft their creations on Main Beach, meaning there is plenty of action to take in as you unwind.

3. Mooloolaba Beach
If you are not a strong swimmer, you will enjoy Mooloolaba Beach's gentle waters. With numerous flagged areas, and a gentle gradient, the beach offers plenty of shallow water options.

Like Noosa, Mooloolaba Beach is a popular tourist destination, but don't be deterred. The crowds are drawn to Mooloolaba for its picturesque beauty, and a swim in this idyllic setting is not to be missed.

Families will also enjoy Mooloolaba Spit, which is just a short walk south of the main Mooloolaba Beach. This section of protected water is often still and glassy, and at the end of the day, you can easily enjoy takeaway fish and chips and enjoy the stunning sunset over the nearby headland.

4. Kings Beach
A regular on "Australia's best beaches" lists, Caloundra's stunning Kings Beach is protected from the northern winds in summer. Being a large beach, Kings offers safe waters as well as plenty of space to spread out, so it is popular with families enjoying a day in the sun.

A child-friendly water playground sits atop the beach's shoreline, there are plenty of rock pools to explore and there is an oceanfront saltwater pool. You may even be lucky enough to catch a musician playing in the nearby amphitheatre while you dip.

5. Peregian Beach
At Peregian Beach, you can indulge in the vast, open surrounds and salty air without the crowds. Known to locals, but off the tourist track, Peregian Beach is relaxed, private and natural.

Although there are shops, parks and cafes all within close proximity, the gorgeous dunes and plentiful casuarina trees make the beach feel remote.

Swim inside the flags, which are set just outside the Surf Life Saving Club, to ensure your safety.

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Coolum offers something for everyone and we have some of the best Sunshine Coast beaches right on our door step. With perfect weather for most of the year, it doesn’t matter when you plan your escape, because Coolum offers beautiful sun kissed sandy beaches and sparkling warm water just about 365 days a year.

Most of our beaches are patrolled and they are rarely crowded, so there is always the opportunity to find a secluded spot where you can stretch out and let all your cares fade away. Of course, there are lots of water activities to do here, so you can spend any number of days resting and wandering along our beaches and other days investigating all of our exciting watersports.

So, for your next holiday at Coolum Beach, here is a list of the best Sunshine Coast beaches:

Coolum Beach
A great beach, patrolled all year round and safe to swim for the whole family. Close to shops and restaurants and even has a surf cam so you can check out the conditions before you leave home.

Peregian Beach
If you want solitude and privacy, then this is the ideal beach. Miles of beautiful white sands with rarely a soul in sight, so bring your swimmers and a good book and prepare to chill out to the max.

Sunshine Beach
A popular beach, but big enough to not feel crowded. A great spot for all the family with a refreshing beer garden not far away.

Noosa Beach
This is a lovely beach, fully patrolled and close to shops, cafes and restaurants. Spend a few hours sunbaking then treat yourself to a lazy lunch – the perfect day.

Cotton Tree Beach at Maroochydore
An unspoilt little beach with a great boardwalk, BBQ facilities and lots of shade. Small eateries are close by, but not too close.

Mooloolaba Beach
In the lee of Point Cartwright, this north facing beach is very protected and safe for swimmers and is close to the surf lifesaving club; handy for a quick lunch or a cold drink.

Kings Beach at Caloundra
Great rock pools, child friendly water fountains with spurting water, an ocean front salt water swimming pool and protected swimming areas.

There are so many other beautiful beaches close to Coolum such as Alexandra Headland, Moffat Beach, Marcoola Beach, Warana Beach and Buddina Beach to name just a few.

However, if you want to take a rest from checking out the best Sunshine Coast beaches, then why not take some surfing lessons at or race across the water with Mooloolaba Ocean Jet Boat Ride? There is so much to do here on the Sunshine Coast, your days can be as exciting or as relaxing as you wish, we truly do have something for everyone at Coolum at the Beach.

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Coolum is renowned for surfing. Not only is it the home break of pro surfer Julian Wilson, but it produces some of the best waves on the Sunshine Coast. A series of sheltered bays protect the area from all but the most direct onshore winds so there is always a wave and the large expanse of Coolum main beach offers a number of wave types.

Coolum offers a great learner wave and also provides a more challenging wave for the more experienced. Staying at Coolum at the Beach and keen to get into the water this summer? This one is for you.

Coolum still prides itself on its laid-back attitude and ingrained surf culture. Back in the 1950’s and 60’s the sport of surfing was relatively frowned upon. Back then surfers were purists, perpetually on the quest for pristine waves and with hundred of miles of coastline to explore between Byron Bay and Noosa, surfers were richly rewarded. Especially when arriving in Coolum. The one-time fringe sport blossomed in Coolum and surfing at Coolum today, you’re aware of the areas rich surf history and local pride of the sport. Resident pro surfer Julian Wilson still surfs his home break frequently between ASP legs, whilst the Sunshine Coast at large has also produced its fair share of other world-class surfers.

Coolum waves are for all different levels

Surfing at Coolum isn’t just for the experienced. There are plenty of waves along the coastline that beginners will love.

• To help you stand on your feet sooner, Coolum Surf School offers an award winning service operating a mere stroll away from your door when staying at Coolum at the Beach. The friendly staff are encouraging and practical in their lessons, so you’ll be up in no time. They also offer intermediate and advanced lessons ensuring your surfing journey is always growing.

Where to surf when staying at Coolum

• The Coolum Beach stretch takes in a number of bays and the main beach itself goes all the way to neighbouring Peregian Beach and beyond.
• Offering a number of surfing options to suit all levels there is a wave for everyone at Coolum Beach. More experienced surfers will be rewarded with a steep take off and long right-handers at Point Perry and Point Arkwright.
• First Bay provides a sheltered area that escapes the majority of winds and is easily surfable for intermediate and advanced surfers and neighbouring beach Yaroomba is sheltered from northerly winds and with the right conditions is a goofy footers dream.
• Beginners will be best heading straight out from Coolum Main Beach with a long foamy wall forming, there are plenty of opportunities for learners and beginners to get a feel for surfing without being intimidated by larger swells.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been surfing for years and are looking for that next perfect wave or just keen to learn and have fun. Coolum has a wave for everyone and by surfing at Coolum, we know that you will have a great time and fit in like a local.

Staying at Coolum at the Beach is great for visiting surfers with our great location ensuring you’ll be pulling into waves within five minutes of leaving your spacious apartments.

Thinking of learning to surf these holidays or even escape to the waves whilst away? Coolum at the beach is the right place for you. Get started and book today!

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Summer is a very special time of year especially when you are on holidays. Summer in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast is extra special. It has magnificent beaches, action-packed and fun outdoor activities, fresh local food and is the perfect place to spend warm days and evenings with family and friends.

We’ve put together 5 things that you can do in a day or over a few days that will make your stay at Coolum at the Beach even more special.

1 – Embrace the morning waves

What better way to start the day than with time spent in the ocean? Coolum Beach is just a short stroll away and is the perfect place to take a morning dip or surf. You won’t be disappointed.

2 – Chase the perfect coffee

Some people chase the perfect wave, others storms but in Coolum why not chase the perfect coffee. There’s a great selection of places to get your morning coffee fix that are well worth trying. Take a walk down to Birtwill Street and be drawn into a coffee shop by its aromas or head down to David Low Way which runs parallel to the beach where you will be spoilt for choice.

3 – Cook up a storm

Australia is one of the few places in the world where you can rock down to the beach and find not only incredible white sand and crystal clear water but also a free barbeque for your cooking pleasure. There are loads of BBQs located around Coolum that come complete with epic views so why not grab an esky and stock it with your favourite seafood or marinated meats and spicy sausages and some chilled drinks (there’s a Coles supermarket directly across the road from us), grab a picnic blanket and cook up a storm by the beach? Swim, anyone?

4 – Climb to the top of a mountain

At an impressive 208 metres above sea level Mount Coolum is certain to get your pulse racing. This dome shaped mountain is located in the Mount Coolum National Park and is high enough to be visible from several areas around the Sunshine Coast. But why look at it when you can climb it, right? The 1.6km return trail to the top is steep and a little difficult to climb so you will need to be reasonably fit to reach the stunning lookout point at the top with its panoramic views of the Sunshine Coast area. Interested? You’ll need to set aside a little over two hours for the return trip.  Don’t forget your camera and some water.

5 – Watch the sun go down on the Noosa River

The best place to watch the sun go down on the Sunshine Coast is from the water so for the ultimate sunset experience check out the Catalina. It has two decks including a weatherproof Riverview Bar and Lounge and umbrellas on the Terrace Bar, boasting unrivalled views of Noosa’s unspoiled river. You can purchase tickets to a Friday Night Social, Tropicale on Saturdays, and Saltwater Sundays which all sail in the early evening as the sun is setting. Enjoy scrumptious cocktails, DJs and music and an incredible atmosphere on-board this luxurious boat. The boat departs from Catalina Jetty, 172 Gympie Terrace in Noosaville, which is a ½ hour drive north from Coolum. Bookings are essential.

The Sunshine Coast is the perfect summer-time place with loads of beach and hinterland activities to enjoy. Check out ExperienceOz for some fantastic experiences and activities in and around Coolum.

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