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Sunrise at Mooloolaba Beach
What is a more romantic start to the day than the local way: barefoot, coffee in hand, watching the horizon turn peach-pink over Mooloolaba Beach. Voted among the best beaches in the South Pacific, the gently curving sand here faces north-east, so the first light slips across the water at an angle that flatters every selfie.
Pro Tip: Brew a thermos in your motorhome or pick up a takeaway flat white from one of the esplanade cafés before claiming your spot on the sand. Many open by 5:30 am to catch the pre-surf crowd. Or if you’re feeling a little more extravagant, why not pack a picnic (check out our guide to picnic food ideas for couples in a motorhome for more ideas).
Take a sunset cruise for two
Want something a little special? Why not join a Sunset Cruise departing from The Wharf and watch the day close over the Mooloolah River with a glass of bubbles in hand. You can kick back while the catamaran hugs the shoreline, giving you uninterrupted views back to Point Cartwright and north towards Noosa. Or better yet, head up to the front of the boat and see if you can spot a dolphin or two diving at the bow.
Visit the Mooloolaba esplanade boutique stores
Hand-in-hand window-shopping might sound cliché, but the Esplanade’s indie boutiques make it worth it. Here you will find everything from quirky jewellers who repurpose sea glass, local designers who stock breezy resort wear, and weekend pop-ups who sell small-batch chocolate.
Dine with a view: romantic seafront dining
After a day of sandy toes and campervan exploring, there are plenty of opinions for a romantic dinner out. Two stand-outs on the Mooloolaba esplanade include:
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Pavilion Mooloolaba offers uninterrupted views of the shoreline through floor-to-ceiling glass, so well that you’ll feel the tide creeping toward your table. Order Fraser-Islander prawns, clink a crisp chardonnay and watch surfers' silhouettes against a tangerine sky.
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Bella Venezia Restaurant has plated coastal-Italian classics here since 1983. Couples rave about the candle-lit ambience and the seafood linguine piled with Mooloolaba trawler prawns.
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If white tablecloths aren’t your style, grab fish-and-chips from the Wharf, spread a blanket on Mooloolaba Beach, and let the stars handle the mood lighting.
Underwater adventures at Sea Life Sunshine Coast
Holding hands while 80 metres of acrylic tunnel curves above you—sharks, rays and glittering reef fish drifting overhead—puts an aquatic twist on any date day. The Ocean Tunnel at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast is iconic for a reason. Want the full show? Upgrade to a behind-the-scenes tour or brave the Shark Dive Xtreme, the only cageless shark dive on the coast. Emerging into daylight, you’ll have a shared adrenaline high and a stack of photos that prove why Mooloolaba is famous for marine encounters.
Private kayaking or paddle boarding on the canals
Swap horsepower for paddle power and glide past million-dollar homes fringed with palm trees. Local outfitters—Epic Ocean Adventures can deliver gear to the launch point—rent single or double kayaks and SUPs by the hour. With no surf to battle, even first-timers can keep a leisurely rhythm, spot stingrays on the sandy bottom and wave to pelicans on jetty posts. For a more curated outing, book a guided couple’s eco-tour that ends with fruit and pastries back at the dock. Few things to do in Mooloolaba feel this tranquil.
Indulge in a couples spa treatment
Long driving days in a motorhome can tighten shoulders (cue the plush robes). Waterfall Day Spa, tucked steps from the surf, offers synchronised aromatherapy massages in a private suite. Alternatively, five minutes north, Tank Riviera Day Club & Spa blends hydro-therapy pools, a riverfront bar and sunset cabanas—perfect for lingering after your treatment. Book a late-afternoon session, then drift back to the campsite loosened, refreshed and ready for the next leg of your campervan hire adventure.
Explore the hinterland from Mooloolaba
Want to explore the Sunshine Coast hinterlands? Mooloolaba sits an easy 30-minute climb from the lush Blackall Range, making a half-day hinterland loop an effortless add-on to any Sunshine Coast travel itinerary. Point your campervan west through eucalyptus forest and pull up in story-book Montville for artisan fudge and sweeping Glass House Mountain views. Then, continue to Maleny for cellar-door tastings, rainforest boardwalks and a cosy meal at the romantic mountainview cafe.
Beach picnic at Alexandra Headland or Point Cartwright
Sometimes romance is as simple as a blanket, gourmet nibbles and the rush of waves. Alexandra Headland, just north of town, hides grassy knolls perfect for a secluded lunch. For sunset, drive your camper to Point Cartwright Lighthouse; from the headland, you’ll catch silhouettes of passing ships and surfers as the sun dips over the ranges.
Image: Tourism and Events Queensland
Visit local markets together
Wondering what to do on the Sunshine Coast at night? Time it right and the Mooloolaba Wharf Twilight Markets answer in neon fairy lights: street-food vans, acoustic duos and artisan stalls line the boardwalk on selected Friday evenings.
Here you can grab bao buns, browse botanical-print homewares and let the sea breeze cool your evening stroll. Mid-week, smaller pop-ups along the Esplanade serve up cold-brew coffee and croissants, and are the ideal low-key date before casting off toward your next road trip stop.
Stargazing at night in your campervan
When the evening crowds drift home, point your campervan a few kilometres out of town, toward Buddina’s beach car park or up to a quiet hinterland lookout, and pull out your camping chairs for a view of the Milky Way. Want to get extra cosy? Why not throw open the rear doors, pile up pillows and stream a mellow playlist through the sound system while you map constellations with the free Night Sky app (or SkyView Lite for Android users). The app’s augmented-reality overlay calls out Orion, Scorpius and passing satellites; all you have to do is tilt your phone —one more tick on your list of things to do in Mooloolaba after dark.
Seasonal experiences for couples
Looking for season-based adventures? Here are a few of our top seasonal experiences for couples looking for things to do in Mooloolaba on their upcoming holiday:
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Whale-watching (June–October): Book a morning whale watching cruise and watch humpbacks breach just beyond the headland before they arc north toward Hervey Bay.
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Festival season (May–August): The Sunshine Coast’s foodie reputation peaks at events like The Curated Plate and the Noosa Eat & Drink Festival. Think chef-hosted long lunches, boutique distillery tastings and live jazz at sunset.
Best campsite options in Mooloolaba
If you’re exploring this region in a campervan, then there is no better place to park up for the night than at a campervan park. With an easy place to park, electricity and all the amenities you need, here are a few of our top picks for campervan parks in and around Mooloolaba:
Mooloolaba Beach Holiday Park
If waking up steps from Mooloolaba Beach is on your road trip wish-list, Mooloolaba holiday park delivers. Powered sites sit behind low dunes, so you can wander from your campervan to the surf flags in under a minute. The Surf Club, SEA LIFE aquarium and Wharf dining precinct are all an easy barefoot stroll, which means you can park the motorhome and forget about driving for a couple of days.
Mudjimba Beach Holiday Park
Ten minutes north, this leafy hideaway is wedged between the Maroochy River and a quiet, patrolled surf break. Couples will love the sense of seclusion surrounded by tall paperbarks and serene walks along Mudjimba’s uncrowded sand and feel worlds away from town. It’s a smart base if your travel itinerary includes early-morning paddling or a sunset river cruise.
Ingenia Holidays Rivershore
Fancy a little resort polish with your campsite? Rivershore spreads along the Maroochy River and features oversized sites (great for larger camper rigs), a lagoon-style pool, and the Driftwood restaurant for effortless date-night dining. Book a riverside pitch to watch pelicans glide past your awning at breakfast.
Cotton Tree Holiday Park
Cotton Tree balances convenience and scenery by hugging both the river and the ocean foreshore. Launch a SUP at high tide, grab artisanal bread from the weekend market across the road, then cycle the flat coastal path back to Mooloolaba Esplanade for sunset cocktails. It slots neatly into any campervan hire journey that favours walk-everywhere freedom.
Tips for camping in Queensland
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Pick your season: South-east Queensland’s best camping weather falls between April and October: warm days, low humidity and slim rain chances. If you’re pushing north later, remember the tropical wet season sets in from December.
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Book early: Winter school holidays and long weekends sell out quickly; use the free thl Roadtrip app to lock a powered site from the road.
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Tread lightly: In order to help do your part to make sure your trip is sustainable, be sure to top up reusable water bottles at public fountains and separate recyclables on board. Looking for more tips? Check out the full guide to responsible travel.
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Plan for distance: Queensland is vast and fuel stops thin out once you leave the coast. So if you’re planning on heading inland after the Sunshine Coast, keep this in mind. For this same reason, we highly recommend keeping spare drinking water and a paper map in the glove box for any outback adventures.
Planning your Mooloolaba road-trip
From sunrise strolls and shark tunnels to hinterland wineries and back-of-van stargazing, Mooloolaba bundles more variety into a single postcode than many cities deliver in a week. Looking for more tips on things to do on your upcoming road trip? Check out some of our other top guides to this region:
Then, when you’re ready to start planning, you can easily book your maui motorhome online, choose a handy pickup from any of the maui branch locations, and start plotting pins on your couples-only map of the sunny coast.