Mooloolaba Activities

Mooloolaba activities run from 1200-horsepower boat rides and humpback whale swims to cage-free shark dives, helicopter flights and a high ropes course. Boats leave from the Wharf on Parkyn Parade, the ropes course and mini golf sit in Maroochydore, the helicopters lift off from Caloundra and the hedge maze is out in the hinterland at Tanawha, so it pays to group your picks by where they start. The full range of things to do in Mooloolaba is wider again, and this is the hands-on end of it.

Jet boating and fast boat rides from the Mooloolaba Wharf

Jet boating from Mooloolaba means a custom-built 12-metre RIB with 1200 horsepower, a local skipper and a group capped at 23. The jet boating rides out of Mooloolaba head down the Mooloolah River past the fishing fleet, then out along the coast.

The Mooloolaba Turtle Tour with Boat Adventure is a 1.5-hour run past the Point Cartwright lighthouse, Mudjimba Island and Alexandra Headland. Wear clothes that can get wet.

Whale watching, wildlife cruises and the aquarium

Humpback whales pass the Sunshine Coast on their annual migration, and whale watching from Mooloolaba is seasonal, running from July to October. The small group whale watching cruise is a 3-hour trip with no more than 23 passengers. To get in the water, swimming with humpback whales is a half-day trip led by PADI Divemasters, with wetsuits and snorkelling gear supplied. Swimmers only go in when the crew judge conditions safe.

Outside whale season, the high-speed wildlife safari boat tour is a 2-hour run looking for dolphins and turtles. On dry land, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast has 11 themed zones, touch pools and daily seal presentations, and a 90-minute visit covers it. More sits under animal experiences and encounters in Mooloolaba.

Snorkelling and scuba diving off the Sunshine Coast

Snorkelling and scuba diving in Mooloolaba comes in two forms: a wreck out at sea and a tank full of sharks. The HMAS Brisbane wreck double dive is a half-day trip to a purpose-sunk artificial reef, home to rays, groupers and reef fish, and it is described as an experience for certified divers. The cage-free shark dive at SEA LIFE begins with scuba training in the Learner Diver Tank before you meet the grey nurse sharks in the ocean tunnel. It runs on weekend sessions.

High ropes and zip lines in Maroochydore

The zip line and high ropes courses near Mooloolaba centre on Next Level at Sunshine Plaza in Maroochydore, where ziplines up to 130 metres long cross Cornmeal Creek. The 2-hour High Ropes Adventure includes gearing up and safety training, and the course gets harder the higher you climb. Enclosed shoes are required.

Helicopter flights over the coast and the Glasshouse Mountains

Helicopter flights on the Sunshine Coast lift off from Caloundra Airport, not Mooloolaba itself, and each is a private ride for two. The Glasshouse Mountains and Bribie Island flight is a 30-minute flight over ancient volcanic peaks, and a Coolum Beach flight follows the sand north to Mt Coolum. The ride is covered in helicopter flights from Mooloolaba and the views in scenic flights over the Sunshine Coast.

Mini golf, mazes and arcades for family days out

Amaze World at Tanawha is a living hedge maze with augmented reality surprises, puzzles, 18-hole mini golf and a water play zone. The full-day entry covers the lot, and a family version adds lunch.

In Maroochydore, Holey Moley mini golf has 18 pop-culture-themed holes, and Archie Brothers arcade and bowling adds bumper cars, a Thrill Rider and a full bar and kitchen. Both are dry, which helps on rainy days in Mooloolaba, and things to do with kids in Mooloolaba has more. Animal fans can add Mooloolaba zoos and aquariums.

How to choose between Mooloolaba activities

Time decides most of it. A 1.5-hour boat ride or a 2-hour ropes session fits around a beach morning, while the wreck dive and the whale swim take most of a day. Comfort in the water decides the rest: boat rides, the aquarium and helicopter flights need no experience, the wreck dive is aimed at certified divers, and the shark dive and whale swim need confidence in the water.

From July to October a whale cruise or swim is the obvious pick. Outside those months, cruises and the wildlife safari fill the gap.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Mooloolaba with kids?

Kids in Mooloolaba do well at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, the hedge mazes and mini golf at Amaze World and the small-group boat rides from the Wharf. Children aged 5 and over can join the Mooloolaba Turtle Tour, and the high ropes course sells junior tickets for ages 6 to 9.

What can you do in Mooloolaba when it rains?

Mooloolaba's wet-weather options include SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, Holey Moley mini golf and Archie Brothers arcade and bowling in Maroochydore. Boat trips and whale swims run weather permitting, so a rough day can mean a changed date.

When is whale watching season in Mooloolaba?

Whale watching season in Mooloolaba runs from July to October, when humpback whales migrate past the Sunshine Coast.

Do you need a dive certificate for the Mooloolaba dives?

The HMAS Brisbane wreck double dive is described as an experience for certified divers. The cage-free shark dive at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast starts with scuba training in the Learner Diver Tank, and guests need to be competent swimmers. Divers are asked to skip alcohol the night before and to leave a 12-hour gap before flying.

Boats and dives book around the weather and the whale season, so lock in the water trip first and fill the rest of the day with ropes, mini golf or the aquarium.