Golden Beach, Caloundra

A Walk, a Paddle and time by the Water

I often stop at Golden Beach with my packed lunch on a workday. There are picnic tables overlooking the water, somewhere to stretch my legs, and a playground if you’re visiting with children. Sometimes, sitting down and enjoying the view is quite enough.

Golden Beach is where I’d send you for a relaxed few hours away from the centre of Caloundra. There are holiday apartments and resorts here, but it still feels like an older Australian neighbourhood. In the evening, people are out jogging, walking their dogs, taking a quick dip or letting the children have another turn at the playground before heading home.

We come here to walk, paddleboard, watch the soldier crabs at low tide, or bring dinner down to the waterfront. You don’t need much of a plan.

Where to start at Golden Beach

If you were meeting me here, I’d suggest the corner of Earnshaw Street and the Esplanade. There’s a carpark, toilets, a playground and picnic tables above the beach.

It’s a useful starting point for exploring the waterfront. Head north towards Caloundra, or south towards Nelson Street and, further along, the mangroves near the Power Boat Club.

The picnic tables are up on the grassy foreshore, so your lunch spot doesn’t disappear when the tide comes in. We also bring a beach blanket and sit down on the sand. Later in the afternoon, the trees behind the beach cast shade across it—a good reason to linger a little longer.

Low Tide at Golden Beach: Watch for Soldier Crabs

Low tide is my favourite time here, especially when the soldier crabs are out.

Sometimes there are thousands of them moving across the sand. When you approach, they disappear remarkably quickly. Stand very still where you’ve seen them, give them a little time, and they may begin emerging again.

With some patience, you can have little blue crabs scurrying right over your feet. They don’t hurt, and watching them go about their business is surprisingly entertaining. Some are tiny; others are a more substantial version of tiny.

Look for patches of sand dotted with little balls, then stop and watch for movement. We don’t see huge gatherings every visit, which makes finding them all the more enjoyable.

Low tide also exposes more sand and leaves shallow pockets of water that can become wonderfully warm. At high tide, much of that extra beach disappears. In the sections we use, there is usually still a strip of sand to sit on, but how much space you have varies along the shore.

Paddleboarding and kayaking at Golden Beach

For paddleboarding, we usually head south to the corner of Nelson Street and the Esplanade. We’ve found this part more sheltered, and the beach is often reasonably quiet outside busy holiday periods. It’s a good spot for kayaking too, if you prefer exploring from a seat rather than standing on a board.

We enjoy paddling at low tide, although the sandbanks can make choosing a route interesting. The sand shifts, and a stretch you paddled across previously may now be too shallow. Sometimes you need to take the longer way around.

This is also when I tend to spot stingrays in the shallows. Keep an eye on the sandy bottom as you paddle past.

In the height of summer, I’d aim for around sunrise, provided the conditions suit. Christmas, Australia Day and other holidays can bring plenty of people down to the waterfront. An early paddle is a lovely way to enjoy it before the busiest part of the day.

What is swimming at Golden Beach like?

Where we usually go, the entry is sandy and the water is shallow at low tide. Even at high tide, it doesn’t immediately become deep. In summer, we sometimes finish our foreshore walk with a quick dip.

Golden Beach sits beside the Pumicestone Passage, giving it a different feel from Caloundra’s ocean beaches. However, calm-looking water still needs care: Golden Beach is unpatrolled, and currents, changing sandbanks and boat traffic are things to consider. Check conditions before entering, supervise children closely and choose a patrolled beach if you want lifeguards on duty.

Walking along the Golden Beach foreshore

Our usual walk starts at Earnshaw Street and heads south towards Chill Bistro and Nelson Street. How far we go depends on the weather and how much time we have. There’s no particular turnaround point you need to reach—walk until you feel like heading back.

We sometimes bring our dog along the foreshore path. In summer, she generally stays home; it can be too hot for little paws, and we may want a swim afterwards.

Walking a dog along the waterfront and taking one onto the sand are different matters here. Much of Golden Beach itself is off-limits to dogs, so check the signs at the beach access rather than assuming your dog can follow you down.

There are beach showers at various access points along the waterfront, handy after a sandy walk or dip.

A morning walk through the mangroves

Towards the southern end of Golden Beach, not far from the Power Boat Club, there’s a short boardwalk through the mangroves.

I like this walk in the morning, at any time of year. Look for crabs below the boardwalk and birds among the trees. Stay on the boardwalk and give yourself time to stop and watch.

Midday in the height of summer wouldn’t be my choice. Nor would sunset without insect repellent!

I’ve seen turtles around this area too, although rarely. Treat a sighting as a bonus rather than the reason to come. There’s plenty to watch even when the turtles keep to themselves.

Bring dinner and stay for the evening

One of our favourite ways to enjoy Golden Beach is to bring dinner down to the water. We’ll pick up takeaway in Caloundra or pack a picnic dinner, find a table or spread out our blanket.

There are also free public barbecues along the foreshore, including the area opposite Riviera Sands. If you prefer eating out, there are restaurants nearby, although they can be busy during summer.

This is when Golden Beach feels particularly familiar to me: people walking their dogs, children playing, someone fitting in an evening jog, and others sitting beside the water with dinner.

Bring something to eat and give yourself time to stay.

More places to explore around Caloundra

For another waterfront walk, head towards Bulcock Beach and Happy Valley. We spend plenty of time there too, with cafés close by and places to stop along the water.

If you’re deciding where to spend your next beach day, my guide to local beaches on the Sunshine Coast will help you compare the options.

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