Under-rated Caloundra beach on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland
Table of Contents
Welcome to my information guide to visiting Shelly Beach in Caloundra. To ensure this post is easier for you to read I have categorised it into the different headings below:
1. Introduction
2. Where is Shelly Beach?
3. Best Time To Visit Shelly Beach
4. What Facilities do they have at Shelly Beach?
5. How to get to Shelly Beach
6. Things to do at Shelly Beach
7. Shelly Beach Accommodation
8. Shelly Beach Restaurants
9. Final Thought
10. FAQs
I have tried to include as much information as I can in this guide, so please take the time to read it until the end. Once you get there, I hope you will be inspired and informed enough to plan a holiday to this wonderful 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: 10 Minutes
Introduction
Shelly Beach is possibly the most under-rated of all beaches in Caloundra, or even the Sunshine Coast for that matter. Boasting a tranquil vibe, this stunning, east-facing stretch of rugged beach is a bit of a throwback to the days when the entire region was little more than a sleepy hamlet.
As the beach is not patrolled, it offers a different kind of holiday or day trip experience than other beaches like Bulcock Beach, King’s Beach or Moffat Beach – one that allows you to relax, unwind and appreciate the beauty of nature.
It is not completely remote, there are plenty of facilities here including toilets and barbecues, but the fact it is never really crowded and doesn’t have any resorts or hotels directly overlooking it, provides you with a sense of serenity that is hard to find elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast.
Like all the other beaches in Caloundra, Shelly Beach is a place you can visit all year round. It averages around 7 hours per day of sunshine and has daily average annual temperatures of around 24-25°C.
Where is Shelly Beach?
Shelly Beach is a popular beach located within the suburb of Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It is roughly a 90 minute drive north of Brisbane and about a 20 minute run down from Mooloolaba.
More specifically, it resides around the base of the Caloundra Headland near the historical landmark Wickham Point, with the Moffat Headland Lookout bookending it on its other side. The Des Dwyer Walkway links both headlands via the Caloundra Headland Foreshore Reserve.
Either side of Shelly Beach lies Moffat Beach to its north and Kings Beach to its south. It looks out directly to the Coral Sea.
Kings Beach distance to other Caloundra Beaches
Best Time To Visit Shelly Beach
Like all the other beaches in Caloundra, Shelly Beach is a place you can visit all year round. It averages around 7 hours per day of sunshine and has daily average annual temperatures of around 24-25°C. That said, you might find certain times of the year more preferable than others.
Generally speaking, the period between May to September is when you have the greatest probability of experiencing clear skies and pleasant temperatures of between 20°C and 25°C. By contrast, between December and February, the mercury can regularly top 30°C and humidity can be above 70%. While it is a good time to sunbathe and top up your tan by the Coral Sea, the threat of rain or heavy storms is constant as it is the rainy season. February is usually the month that experiences the most precipitation. At other times of the year, August tends to be the driest month, while October is the sunniest.
While Shelly Beach is never really crowded, you will most likely find more people there during school and public holidays and at the weekends.
What Facilities do they have at Shelly Beach?
As compared to most of the other beaches in Caloundra, Shelly Beach has less facilities overall. But those they do have are of a very good standard.
At this stretch of beach you will find an excellent toilet block which is well maintained and regularly cleaned. There is also a good amount of parking, as well as showers, a sheltered barbecue area with a handful of sheltered picnic tables, other picnic tables, benches and a lovely playground for children to enjoy.
For those with dogs, there is an off-lease and unfenced dog area for your furry friend to run around in. Nearby, Kings Beach, which is only 1km away, has plenty of other facilities including cafes, shops and restaurants and an ocean facing swimming pool.
Most people who come to Shelly Beach just want to relax and the area is perfectly set up for it.
How to get to Shelly Beach
Shelly Beach is a straightforward destination to get to from either Brisbane or further north from Gympie and beyond. Depending on where you are coming from you will probably need to take the M1. However, you might also take the Sunshine Motorway, Caloundra Road or Sugar Bag Road to get there.
The best thing you can do is to use a satellite navigation software like Waze, which I find provide very accurate directions.
If you are not very technologically minded, follow the signs to Kings Beach or Bulcock Beach and make your way over to Shelly Beach from there.
Shelly Beach distance to other Sunshine Coast Beaches
Things to do at Shelly Beach
Most people who come to Shelly Beach just want to relax and the area is perfectly set up for it. As the beach is not patrolled, the waves are unpredictable and there are quite a few rocks under its surface, swimming in this part of the Coral Sea is not recommended. For this reason, you will find people walking up and down the beach without venturing into the water past their ankles.
The beach offers plenty of seating areas which make a great spot to take in views of the waves. When the tide is out the receding shoreline reveals plenty of rockpools with varied marine life that are fascinating to explore. These include Blue Periwinkles, Black Sea Cucumbers and Rose Barnacles that captivate adults and children alike.
If you are into fishing, Shelly Beach offers good opportunities to catch bream, whiting, tarwhine, sweetlip and snapper. You might even be able to snare pelagic species like mackerel or mack tuna if you are lucky.
Away from the beach there is a children’s playground with a slide, swings and a fort that will keep your little ones entertained. There is also a bit of greenspace for you to play a bit of bat and ball and barbecue facilities to cook up a storm.
For those visiting with dogs, there is an off leash area around beach access point 279, just north of Russell Street between 4pm and 8am. The rest of the beach is only off leash during the hours of 4pm and 8am between 1st May and 31st October.
Shelly Beach Accommodation
If you are wondering where to stay in Shelly Beach there are no major hotels or resorts in the immediate vicinity. Indeed, what accommodation there is tends to be privately owned holiday rental or Airbnb type homes, apartments or units.
That said, one of the more notable places you can make a reservation at here is the Shelly Beach Holiday Home, which is a fantastic beach house close to the sand with a full kitchen and balcony.
You might also like to stay at the Sea Eagle Apartments which is so called because you get to see the sea eagles fly by, as well as stay in comfortable accommodation that offers a good selection of amenities and facilities.
Due to there being relatively few options, you might choose to stay at Kings Beach or Moffat Beach instead. You can check out all the Caloundra beach holiday accommodation options here.
If you want to escape the crowds that tend to descend on Kings Beach, Bulcock Beach and Moffat Beach, there is no better place to go than Shelly Beach.
Shelly Beach Restaurants
Unfortunately there are no restaurants or cafes in the immediate surroundings of Shelly Beach. So, if you want something to eat when you are here you are going to have to bring your own picnic or barbecue food.
That said, within a couple of minutes drive or a 10-15 minute walk up or down the coastline you will find plenty of eating venues at Kings Beach or Bulcock Beach to the south or Moffat Beach to the north.
If you don’t feel like driving or walking to these venues, you might be able to get Uber Eats to deliver to you directly at the beach. Moreover, if you are visiting during the busy periods, such as school or public holidays, there might be a food truck or coffee van knocking around.
Other Notable Restaurants in Caloundra
Final Thought
Regardless of whether you are on a Queensland beach holiday or a day trip, if you want to escape the crowds that tend to descend on Kings Beach, Bulcock Beach and Moffat Beach, there is no better place to go than Shelly Beach.
As it is not patrolled by lifeguards, this serene, under-the-radar spot rarely gets busy. However, it is the perfect place to sit on a bench or lay down a towel and feel all your stresses ebb away. Don’t be surprised if you spend a good few hours here.
FAQs
Where is Shelly Beach Caloundra?
Shelly Beach is a lovely coastal suburb situated within Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. If you are driving from the Brisbane CBD it will take you about one hour and 40 minutes to drive the 104 km up the Bruce Highway to this lovely beach.
Is Shelly Beach Caloundra patrolled?
Shelly Beach Caloundra is not patrolled by surf lifesavers, so swimming in the Coral Sea is not encouraged. If you do enter the water you will be doing so at your own risk and should be mindful of drags and rips.
Is Shelly Beach dog-friendly?
There is an off-leash area at Shelly Beach that operates between the months of May to October. During this time dogs can run around this Queensland beach freely between the hours of 4 pm to 8 am.
