The Best Dog-Friendly Spots on the Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is one of the best parts of Australia to have a dog. The beaches are accessible, the cafe culture is relaxed, and the general attitude toward dogs in public is genuinely welcoming. Here is a guide to making the most of it.

Beaches

Several beaches on the Sunshine Coast allow dogs off-lead, which makes them genuinely different from the packed main swimming beaches where dogs are restricted during peak hours. Alex Headland Beach has off-lead areas early morning and evening. The section of beach between Maroochydore and Cotton Tree is dog-friendly outside of restricted hours. Kings Beach in Caloundra has an off-lead area at the southern end.

Check current Sunshine Coast Council guidelines before you go as hours and zones are reviewed periodically. The council's website has a searchable map of off-lead areas across the region.

Cafes and coffee

Mooloolaba Esplanade is a reliable run for dog-friendly cafes, with most outdoor tables along the strip welcoming dogs. The Surf Club precinct, the small strip near the canal, and the main beachfront all have options. In Noosa, Hastings Street and the surrounding streets in Noosa Heads have a number of cafes with good outdoor areas. Most will bring a water bowl without being asked.

If you have a small dog in a carrier, the range of places you can take them expands considerably. A dog sitting quietly in a bag is usually welcomed without comment, even at cafes that might otherwise hesitate.

Markets

The Eumundi Markets, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, are large, busy and completely dog-friendly. Dogs on leads are the norm and small dogs in carriers attract regular admiration from strangers, which most small dogs enjoy thoroughly. The Kawana Shoppingworld Twilight Markets and the various beachside weekend markets are similarly relaxed.

Parks and walking paths

Buderim Forest Park and Eudlo Creek have walking paths suitable for dogs on leads. The Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary has specific sections open to dogs. The Cotton Tree foreshore and the river walk along the Maroochydore waterfront are popular for early morning and evening walks.

On practical terms

A carrier is useful for any of the above, particularly at markets and along busy esplanades where small dogs can get overwhelmed or tired in a crowd. The Hollydaz folds flat in your bag and opens in seconds, so your dog can walk when they want to and ride when they need to. It was made here on the Sunshine Coast for exactly this kind of day.