The highlight of the Caribbean Resort - the pool with spa hidden in a cave
Mooloolooba Beach on the Sunshine Coast is a great place for a beach side getaway and the
Caribbean Resort is an extremely well positioned accommodation option. The nearest airport is Maroochydore's Sunshine Coast Airport (about 14 kms drive) and Brisbane is only 100 kms drive south down the Bruce Highway.
Cool off in the tropical style pool
The Four Star
Caribbean Resort has 56 one and two bedroom self contained apartments, all with light, breezy balconies. The Rooftop Apartments are slightly larger and feature your own private rooftop terrace with spa and BBQ facilities.
While the Caribbean Resort is not located right
on Mooloolaba Beach, the side street location suited us fine. We (2 adults and 2 small children) stayed in a two bedroom apartment and the highlight was definitely the tropical style pool. The main pool was a 25 m lap pool with a children's wading pool off to the edge. The kids loved the spa hidden inside a (slightly tacky but loads of fun, man made) cave. We spent hours being pirates here. Older kids will be occupied for hours in the Games Room, complete with its own Air Hockey facilities.
For adults, there is a well equipped gym and steam room next door - great for sweating out all those accumulated winter toxins. Another highlight for us was the roof top spa and BBQ area with clear views eastwards to the sea and westwards into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. My suggestion is to make the most of the incredible views of the setting sun by having a roof top BBQ dinner with friends and family, followed by a well earned soak in the spa under the stars no less.
It was difficult to drag the kids away from the pool
is a convenient 80 metre walk to Mooloolaba's patrolled surf beach. The beach itself is nestled into a gentle sweep of protected bay, with Queensland's soft (not grainy) sand between the toes. Kids will enjoy beachcombing or sand castle building and it's not at all far for them to walk back home. Just don't forget to bring the boogie boards, buckets and spades. For an excellent review of Mooloolaba Beach and Esplanade, see Heath's article
here.
Caribbean Resort's gym
Mooloolaba's Esplanade is a quick 80 metre walk from the
Caribbean Resort, with hundreds of stylish boutiques and restaurants to choose from. We dined at the nearby Mooloolaba Surf Club which catered perfectly to families, with magic views across the Pacific. There are also plenty of fresh fish and chip options available if you want to take advantage of the picnic tables all along the foreshore.
Day Trips to Australia Zoo:
The Caribbean Resort is only a 120 m walk to
Underwater World, where brave kids (or even adults) might like to kiss a seal, touch a sea urchin or swim with sharks.
The Caribbean Resort are also happy to arrange day trips to many of the Sunshine Coast's tourist attractions, such as Montville Village, Eumundi Markets or
Australia Zoo. My kids had a lot of fun at Australia Zoo and I highly recommend it as a day trip from Mooloolaba.
Patting an Aldabran Tortoise at Australia Zoo
If you're looking for a family friendly place to stay on the Sunshine Coast, close to all the action, without too much glitz and glam, then maybe consider Mooloolaba's Caribbean Resort.
