Discover endless fun with Sunshine Coast Council’s treasure trove of free and low-cost activities to keep the kids busy these school holidays.
From creative workshops and outdoor adventures to festive events and historical explorations, there’s something for everyone.
With so much on offer, start planning now and remember, places are limited for some events, book early to avoid disappointment.
Visit Sunshine Coast Council’s website for more details and to register.
Sunshine Coast Council’s summer school holiday guide:
Pioneer play workshops
Journey into the past for free, with hands-on workshops, Christmas craft, butter churning, gold panning, wash day pioneer style and wooden games at Bankfoot House.
When: Various dates from Sunday, December 1 – Friday, January 24, 11 – 11.40am. Bankfoot House is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 3pm.
Where: Bankfoot House Heritage Precinct, 1998 Old Gympie Road, Glass House Mountains.
Details: Council’s website.
Get crafty this Christmas
Free fun abounds at the Landsborough Museum these school holidays.
Make a paper flower, create a snowflake, decorate a Christmas card or wooden ornament to place on the tree or take home.
While you’re there, explore Victorian-era photography in the interactive portrait experience.
When: Wednesday to Sunday from Sunday, December 1 – Sunday, December 22. The Landsborough Museum is open from 10am – 3pm Wednesday to Sunday.
Where: Landsborough Museum, 4 Maleny Street, Landsborough.
Details: Council’s website.
Unearth the stories of the forest
The forest has many stories to tell for those who look and listen carefully. Visit the Rainforest Discovery Centre these holidays and you can:
Write a letter to your favorite tree at the Giant Fig Tree.
Listen to the Jinibara story of the carpet python and the storm.
Record your story of visiting Mary Cairncross in the recording nook upstairs.
Borrow a free Junior Ranger Kit or Nature Journaling Kit to use while you explore the forest track and Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Create a story map of your walk in the forest.
All activities are free and suitable for all ages.
When: From Saturday, December 7. Open daily from 9.30am – 3.30pm (excluding public holidays).
Where: Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, 148 Mountain View Road, Maleny.
Details: Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve website.
Unique walk of HeART
Bring your family and go on a free Wild HeART Walk this summer at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden.
The Wild HeART Student Art Prize asked children and young people from the Sunshine Coast and neighbouring regional areas to create artworks depicting native species and the places they belong.
The Wild HeART Walk is an outdoor gallery trail celebrating the 21 outstanding finalist artworks across age categories 5 – 18 years.
From birds to bats and turtles to orchids, come and marvel at the larger-than-life artworks and read about why the species were chosen by the young artists. An experience suitable for all ages.
More school holiday events and activities at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden will be announced soon, keep up-to-date on their website.
When: From Saturday, December 7 to Friday, February 7 during daylight hours.
Where: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Palm Creek Road, Tanawha.
Details: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden website.
Naturally wonderful story time
Discover the magical world of children’s environmental literature at Rainforest Reads these holidays.
Three local authors will share their books with daily story time sessions, art and craft activities and inspiring displays.
Fall in love with a shy and beautiful moth, a bum-breathing turtle looking for a friend and the little wallum sedgefrog who’s habitat is sprouting back to life after bushfire.
Hear the authors read their stories every day at 9.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm. Register for your preferred free sessions via Eventbrite. Suitable for zero to nine-years-old.
When: Saturday, December 14 to Tuesday, December 17 and Thursday, December 19 to Sunday, December 22.
Where: Rainforest Discovery Centre at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, 148 Mountain View Road, Maleny.
Details: Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve website.
Draw and discover
Visit the Caloundra Regional Gallery and take part in a self-guided drawing activity in conjunction with Nature and Culture – animal as object in the Gallery Artroom Space. Free activity during open hours. While there, be sure to check out the Nature as Culture exhibition, it’s showing from December 13 to February 2.
When: Tuesday to Friday, 10am – 4pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 2pm.
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
Details: Caloundra Regional Gallery website.
Celebrate summer
Set amongst the grandeur of gum trees and stunning feature gardens, Seasonal Sessions is like a big community picnic with songwriters intimately serenading the sunset.
This summer solstice, come and enjoy the original music of SOLUA, Hayden Hack, and Seamus Butler.
Creative nature craft activities for the kids and plenty of space to play make this a fun family event.
Gather your friends, pack a picnic and soak in the ambience of the bushland. All ages welcome.
This is a ticketed event, cost is $30 per vehicle or $10 individual (active arrival only). Secure your ticket now.
When: Saturday, 21 December from 2.30-6pm.
Where: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Palm Creek Road, Tanawha.
Details: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden website.
Kids Art Attack
Draw, cut, collage, paint, fold, create on the first Saturday of every month. Cost is $2 per child.
When: Saturday, January 4, 11am – 1pm.
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
Details: Caloundra Regional Gallery website.
Become a citizen scientist
Come along to one of the guided ClimateWatch Trails happening across the Sunshine Coast.
These school holidays, you can become a citizen scientist by discovering and snapping photos of plants and animals to help understand how climate change is affecting our environment.
No prior experience required, Sunshine Coast Council staff will be providing information and supporting you along these ClimateWatch Trails.
To get started create an account and register for the NatureWatch Sunshine Coast program in Better Impact using or login with your existing account.
In the Opportunities Calendar, secure your spot on one or more trails:
Kawana Forest – 8.30am – 1.30pm Monday, January 6.
Lake Currimundi – 8.30 – 10.30am Thursday, January 9.
Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve – 7.30 – 9am Monday, January 13.
If you have any questions, email naturewatch@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.
Details: Council’s website.
Draw animal objects
Join artist Deb Mostert for a children’s drawing workshop. Suitable for children aged 6+. Cost is $15 per child.
When: Friday, January 10, 10 – 11.30am.
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
Details: Caloundra Regional Gallery website.
Diorama Workshop with Deb Mostert
Make your own miniature museum display in a box. Suitable for children aged 12+. Cost is $15 per child.
When: Friday, January 10, 1–4pm.
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, 22 Omrah Avenue, Caloundra.
Details: Caloundra Regional Gallery website.
Attention junior artists
These school holidays, create a masterpiece on paper and enter the student art prize.
It’s for children aged five and up and there’s a prize pool of $1500. Entry is free.
When: Entries close February 16.
Where: This one can be done from home, on holidays or wherever you like to get creative.
Details: Caloundra Regional Gallery website.
Sunshine Coast Libraries
Library Explorers Club
Join the Library Explorers Club for a summer of adventure. From December 1 to January 31, kids can complete weekly challenges at their local library or online for a chance to win a $100 book voucher.
Each challenge earns an entry, and participants can collect stamps on a special boarding pass to track their progress. Visit any Sunshine Coast Library or visit the Libraries website to embark on this fun reading journey.
When: December 1 – January 31.
Where: All Sunshine Coast Library locations and online.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Library elf on a shelf scavenger hunt
Our library staff have been masquerading as elves at the North Pole and we have the pictures to prove it! Grab a scavenger hunt clue sheet and see if you can find all the elves…on the shelves. All ages. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
When: December 14 – December 24.
Where: All Sunshine Coast Library locations during open hours.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Busy elves station
Make elf ears, hats or just get creative and make something elfmazing! Ages 4+. Registration not required. Drop in for as long as you like.
Beerwah – Tuesday, December 17, 10am-12pm.
Caloundra -Tuesday, December 17, 10am-12pm.
Coolum – Tuesday, December 17, 9.30-11.30am.
Kawana – Wednesday, December 18, 9.30-11.30am.
Kenilworth – Friday, December 20, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Maleny – Tuesday, December 17, 9.30-11.30am.
Maroochydore – Wednesday, December 18, 9.30-11.30am.
Nambour – Wednesday, December 18, 10am-12pm.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Deadly Australians
Learn interesting facts, curious habits and little known ‘secrets’ about the venomous wildlife that inhabit our suburban backyards, bush, beaches and ocean. Ages 4-12 years. Registration required.
Caloundra – Friday, December 20, 10-11.30am.
Coolum – Thursday, December 19, 1.30-3pm.
Maroochydore – Thursday, December 19, 10-11.30am.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Adventurers scavenger hunt
Going on an adventure? You’ll need to pack! Travel around the library and find all the hidden items that you’ll need for your next expedition! Can you find them all? All ages. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
When: December 27 – January 25.
Where: All Sunshine Coast Library locations during open hours.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Badge making
Drop in to create a one-of-a-kind button badge using old books, comics or get inspired and design your own. Ages 6+. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Kawana – Wednesday, January 8, 9.30-11.30am.
Maleny – Wednesday, January 8, 9.30-11.30am.
Coolum – Tuesday, January 14, 9.30-11.30am.
Beerwah – Thursday, January 16, 2-4pm.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Comic express cartoon workshop
Learn how to create your own original cartoon character with the help of cartooning legend Phil Judd.
Ages 7-12 years. Registration required.
Maroochydore – Wednesday, January 8, 10-11am.
Nambour – Wednesday, January 8, 1.30-2.30pm.
Kawana – Thursday, January 9, 10-11am.
Caloundra – Thursday, January 9, 1.30-2.30pm.
Details: library.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Paper engineering
Make a paper plane or flying craft. Will it fly and how far? All ages. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
Kenilworth – Friday, January 10, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Kawana – Wednesday, January 15, 9.30-11.30am.
Caloundra – Wednesday, January 15, 10am-12pm.
Nambour – Wednesday, January 15, 10am-12pm.
Maleny – Thursday, January 16, 9.30-11.30am.
Maroochydore – Thursday, January 16, 9.30-11.30am.
Coolum – Tuesday, January 21, 9.30-11.30am.
Beerwah – Tuesday, January 21, 10am-12pm.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
Wooden hand drum
Drop in to decorate your very own wooden hand drum and make some music! Ages 4+ years. Registration not required. Drop-in session.
When: Wednesday, January 8, 9.30-11.30am.
Where: Kenilworth Library.
Details: Sunshine Coast Libraries website.
