Family-friendly Caloundra Beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland
Table of Contents
Welcome to my tourist information guide to Dicky Beach in Caloundra. To make this post easier for you to read I have arranged it under the headings outlined below:
1. Introduction
2. Where is Dicky Beach?
3. Best Time To Visit Dicky Beach
4. What Facilities do they have at Dicky Beach?
5. How to get to Dicky Beach
6. Things to do at Dicky Beach
7. Dicky Beach Accommodation
8. Dicky Beach Restaurants
9. Final Thought
10. FAQs
I hope you read this visitor guide all the way until the end. If you do, it is my wish that it inspires you to go to this delightful Sunshine Coast beach.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you interact with them).
Read Time: 9 Minutes
Introduction
Whether it is on your own, as a couple, with friends or with your dog in tow, Dicky Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Caloundra to go to.
Situated about 2km north of the downtown area, this gorgeous sun-kissed golden, sandy beach only runs for about 800 metres, but it occupies one of the Sunshine Coast’s most pristine stretches of coastline.
Home to the Dicky Beach Surf Club, this popular north-east facing beach was named after the hapless SS Dicky, a coastal trading iron-hulled steamer that ran aground during a cyclone in 1893. While several attempts to remove it were unsuccessful, the wreck remained a fixture at the beach and even was used for dances, until the Sunshine Coast Council deemed it unsafe for beachgoers. (The majority of it was removed in 2012).
Today Dicky Beach is a place where families come to relax, sunbathe, picnic and walk their four-legged friends. It’s also a nice place to swim, surf or kayak, while a stake park and playground provide extra entertainment to young kids.
Like most other beaches on the Sunshine Coast, Dicky Beach is a coastal region you can go to all year round.
Where is Dicky Beach?
Dicky Beach is a coastal suburb and beach located in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It is approximately an hour and 15 minutes drive north of Brisbane and about a 2.5 hour drive south from Hervey Bay.
More specifically it is sandwiched in between the suburbs of Battery Hill and Moffat Beach. The suburb is bounded in the north by Buderim Street and Tooway Creek in the south. On its west is Coonowrin Street while the Coral Sea lies to its east.
The traditional, indigenous owners of the land on which Dicky Beach sits are the First Nation people of the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi mob.
Golden Beach Caloundra distance to other Sunshine Coast Beaches
Best Time To Visit Dicky Beach
Like most other beaches on the Sunshine Coast, Dicky Beach is a coastal region you can go to all year round. However, depending on your preferences, certain factors including the weather, school holidays and what you are looking to do there may impact upon your overall level of enjoyment during your visit.
The busiest time of the year is the period between December and January which coincides with the school holidays. At this time, the beach can be crowded, parking might be limited and holiday accommodation in the surrounding area will be at its most expensive. Moreover, as this is the rainy season, the weather is prone to heavy downpours and high humidity. That said, when it is not raining, there should be plenty of sunshine to enjoy the beach.
For this reason, you may want to time your visit during the shoulder seasons of October and late November and February to the week before Easter. You should find the skies are much clearer and the mercury lower. The price of holiday accommodation should be cheaper too.
The winter months of June to August can be a nice time to visit Dicky Beach during the day. The weather should still be pleasant, although the water might be a bit nippy to swim in for some people.
Generally speaking, the weekends tend to get much busier than weekdays as you might expect. If you can time your visit to sunrise or sunset you will get to see some amazing colours in the sky.
What Facilities do they have at Dicky Beach?
Dicky Beach is a popular beach with locals and tourists, particularly those coming up from Brisbane, North Lakes or Redcliffe. The beach is patrolled by the Dicky Beach Surf Club whose lifeguard tower is situated around Coochin Street.
You can access the beach via points 262 and 271. Between these points you will find decent amounts of free parking as well as public toilets, showers, barbecues and picnic tables.
There is also a skate park and playground for children to enjoy complete with swings, slides and other apparatus they are bound to enjoy. If you intend to visit with your furry friend, the off-lease area is located to the north of Ann Street. However you can also take them on-lease at any time between Buderim Street and Gothic Parade.
Dicky Beach is a lovely beach for sunbathing on a towel or relaxing under a cabana. Just make sure you put on plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses and stay hydrated while doing this.
How to get to Dicky Beach
Dicky Beach is an easy beach to get to by car. The specific route you take will depend where you are coming from, but should involve taking the Bruce Highway (M1) if you are coming north from Brisbane or south from Gympie and beyond. If you don’t have it on your smartphone, I recommend downloading the Waze app which provides clear and accurate directions.
If you don’t have access to a car you can rent one from Brisbane, at the Sunshine Coast Airport or at several locations throughout the Sunshine Coast. Alternatively, you can catch a Greyhound bus from Brisbane to Maroochydore. From there you will be able to take the 600 bus to Cooroy Street near Coochin Street which is about a 400 metre walk to the main entrance to the beach area.
Dicky Beach distance to other Queensland destinations
Things to do at Dicky Beach
Dicky Beach is a lovely beach for sunbathing on a towel or relaxing under a cabana. Just make sure you put on plenty of sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses and stay hydrated while doing this.
If you fancy a swim, the waves at Dicky Beach are fairly gentle, though you should only do this between the surf lifesaving flags and avoid the area around the rock platform and bluff that is situated around its southern end. Surfing is also possible here. The beach break is usually low, although you can get a high to moderate swell which often produces a peaking left and right down by the northern rocks. Additionally, paddleboarding and kite surfing are also popular activities.
Those into fishing can catch the likes of Dart, Jewfish, Tailor and Yellowfin Bream at either end of the beach where the rocks are located. Should you not have any rods or reels with you, there are some fascinating rocks pools which you might want to explore.
Dicky Beach Accommodation
If you are wondering where to stay in Dicky Beach you will find that accommodation options are family limited – mainly revolving around holiday homes and Airbnb accommodation that is privately advertised by the owners or local real estate companies. That said there are a couple of standout options you might want to try, namely the Dicky Beach Family Holiday Park and Portobello by the Sea.
The Holiday Park is directly adjacent to the beach and offers a range of powered sites for trailers, RVs and camp sites. If you stay here you will be able to access the beach directly and also enjoy a dip in the onsite swimming pool, play tennis or do your washing in the laundry room.
At Portobello by the Sea you can stay in stylish 1-3 bedroom apartments that are just a two minute walk from the beach. They are well appointed and feature balconies or terraces with either a view of the pool or garden, full kitchens, open-plan living spaces and flat-screen TVs. Guests can swim in a heated outdoor swimming pool and enjoy the benefit of complimentary parking.
You will find plenty more holiday accommodation options in the surrounding suburbs of Caloundra.
For those looking for places to eat in Dicky Beach Caloundra there are some decent options in the immediate vicinity.
Dicky Beach Restaurants
For those looking for places to eat in Dicky Beach Caloundra, there are some decent options in the immediate vicinity. One of the most popular choices is the Dicky Beach Surf Club which offers a terrific selection of trusty favourites like burgers, pizzas, Thai curries, steaks and fish and chips that come in very good portion sizes. If you intend to eat here it is worth making a reservation as it can get very busy here.
For those fancying pizza, Nick’s Pizza Co on Beerburrum Street offers an excellent selection including plenty of choices for vegans. Depending on what night you go there you can also listen to live music.
Another good option, from breakfast all the way through to dinner is The Sanctuary Cafe. Also on Beerburrum Street, it offers excellent coffee and an all-day menu which features stand out burgers and delicious wraps.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of other restaurants in Caloundra you can choose to dine at.
Notable Restaurants in Caloundra
Final Thought
The Sunshine Coast is blessed with many excellent family-friendly beaches and Dicky Beach is right up there with the best of them. It doesn’t matter if you heading there on your own, with your partner or as part of a family holiday, you should definitely include this beautiful beach on your list of where to visit in Caloundra when you go there.
The beach is very safe and has a really relaxed vibe, so you should set aside several hours to really enjoy it.
FAQs
How Far Is Dicky Beach from Brisbane?
Dicky Beach is a coastal suburb in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It is located about 103 km north of Brisbane and you can drive to it from the CBD in about one hour and 20 minutes along the M1.
Can you swim at Dicky Beach?
Dicky Beach is patrolled all year round so it is a terrific beach for swimming and surfing. Just remember to stay between the flags at all times because if they can't see you they can't save you.
Is Dicky Beach dog-friendly?
Dicky Beach has an off-leash area, so it is a good place to take your four-legged friend for a but of exercise.
