Ever since the children were toddlers I’ve tried to take them away for a summer vacation. This year we decided to go to Marcus Beach, Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Marcus Beach is located on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It’s the next beach after Peregian Beach travelling north and just south of Noosa Beach. I’ve been going to the Sunshine Coast since I was a baby and it’s my most favourite part of the world. We usually vacation at Coolum Beach, just south of Marcus Beach but leaving it until the last minute, I couldn’t find any accommodation for the dates we needed so we found a cute little house at Marcus Beach. 

I love the Sunshine Coast for it’s unspoilt beauty. No high rise buildings, no fancy hotels. Just wide open spaces, beautiful beaches, sand dunes, natural bushland adjoining the beach and crystal clear ocean. Except for the busy times people walk their dogs, you can sometimes feel like you’re the only person on the beach.

Accommodation

When my husband and I vacation just with our two dogs, we take any accommodation but because we had the children, we chose a place with a swimming pool. When we weren’t at the beach they were in the pool. It was so refreshing to see them get back their childhood with absolutely no electronic devices brought with them at all.  

Even the dogs went in for a quick dip. The drive up was so hot. We put them in to lower their body temperatures. They aren’t too keen on the water at the best of times.

My husband is such a good step Dad. The kids absolutely adore him. He loved playing with them in the pool and they loved it too.

The house we rented had a real retro feel about it, resembling something like a Swedish sauna with timber internal walls and vaulted ceilings. We had all the creature comforts of home and that’s all we needed. As long as we have a bed, a shower and somewhere to cook, we’re happy. Considering the small window of time we were able to go away, the house was really reasonably priced for the location. Only 1 street away from the beach and surrounded by beautiful trees and nature.

The evenings were spent watching television, playing board games and winding down from a hot, tiring day.

The Beach

In the afternoon, we took the dogs for a walk along the beach. It was a bit windy the first day and there was a really bad storm brewing back home in Brisbane so we didn’t stay long.

The second day we went back to our favourite place, Coolum Beach and a walk through Stumer’s Creek, a dog friendly beach that we love. The dogs immediately remembered it and felt right at home.

Our little miniature Fox Terrer, Bonnie will be 16 years old after Christmas and she still goes alright for an ‘old girl’. She loves the beach and keeps up with us walking even having a little game with ‘Dada’. (We love our dogs and they come everywhere with us.)

My husband is such a joy to go away on vacation with. He packs the car, unpacks it, looks after the dogs, looks after me and makes holidaying a real joy.

It was only 3 days long but hopefully the time we spent together will have a lasting memory for the children. Holidaying with them as they’re getting older is definitely a lot easier compared to when they were toddlers.