Couples Escape to Mooloolaba
Updated: Mar 09, 2025
Mooloolaba is the perfect destination for couples on the Sunshine Coast, with great wining and dining, shopping, fun adventures and one of Australia's most beautiful beaches to relax on.
According to Global travel website, TripAdvisor, travellers have voted Mooloolaba the 4th Best Beach in Australia, with the award showcasing beaches across the country.
Whether for a day trip, weekend or romantic holiday, there's an abundance of incredible accommodation options and things to enjoy, from sea plane rides and cocktail cruises to top notch foodie experiences and beautiful beach walks.
And what better way to start the day as the locals do, with an early morning walk, starting with a spectacular sunrise over Mooloolaba Beach before a 20-minute stroll to Alexandra headlands, one of the most picturesque spots on the Sunshine Coast. Keep walking to where the sea meets the river at Cotton Tree then pick up a coffee from the Alex Heads Surf Club on the return.
If you can drag yourself away from the sand and surf during the day, there's some great shopping to be had right cross the road from the beach. The Mooloolaba Esplanade is home to an excellent shopping precinct by the water, where you can buy everything from beach towels to designer label clothes, vintage jewellery, homewares and the latest swimwear and art works.
From shopping precincts to foodie precincts, no trip to Mooloolaba is complete without sampling the famous Mooloolaba prawns straight from the trawler at Parkyn Seafood Precinct, a working port and go-to for the freshest seafood on the Sunshine Coast. It's a short amble from the beach so order a kilo of Mooloolaba prawns from one of the many retailers that line the shore. Or why not ask you accommodation provider to arrange a decadent basket for you and enjoy a picnic on the sand.
Come sundown you can indulge in more seafood, accompanied by a cocktail at one of the many cocktail bars along the esplanade.
There's plenty of awesome day adventures to be had too, including an exhilarating jet boat ride or a discovery lunch tour, where you can be a marine explore for a day and spot dolphins, turtles and other marine life and between May and November you can even swim with whales. For something more laidback there's also a peaceful and informative one-hour Mooloolaba canal cruise or spend a couple of hours getting up close to marine life at Mooloolaba's amazing SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast aquarium.
When it comes to wining and dining, Mooloolaba is hard to beat, with its esplanade lined with quality cafes and restaurants as well as a host of hip and happening bars including a piano bar, wine bar, vintage bars and live music joints.
Meanwhile hidden gems just off the main stretches include Backlane Tapas & Wine Bar, TAPS Mooloolaba (a beer lovers heaven), The Velo Project (retro-style cafe) and water view restaurants The Dock restaurant and Bar at Mooloolaba Wharf and Ebb Waterfront restaurant (with views across the Maroochy River).
If all this entices you to steal away to Mooloolaba, you can snap up an amazing deal on StayMooloolaba accommodation including free breakfasts, late checkout, free bottles of bubbly, cheese platters, free nights and half price accommodation!
Stay Mooloolaba is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com
