Moffat Beach:
Coastal Walks, Coffee and Time by the Sea

Moffat Beach is a lovely spot to slow down for a while. On the southern Sunshine Coast, in Caloundra, it brings together a surf beach, grassy parks, cafés and a coastal walk with plenty of reasons to stop along the way.

The point break attracts surfers, but you don’t need a board to enjoy being here. There’s plenty to watch from the shore, whether it’s someone catching a wave or a cargo ship passing out at sea. Add a coffee or a packed lunch, and you have the makings of a very pleasant outing.

One thing to know before packing your swimming things: Moffat Beach isn’t patrolled. I’d plan this visit around the shoreline, park and coastal views. If swimming is the main reason for your beach day, nearby Kings Beach is worth considering, with swimming between the red and yellow flags when patrols are operating.

Enjoy Moffat Beach Without Rushing

There’s no need for a long list of activities here. Walk along the sand, sit beneath the trees or spend some time watching the waves roll in.

Moffat Beach has a neighbourhood feel, with homes, cafés and parkland close to the water. That doesn’t make it a secret beach! It’s a well-known part of Caloundra, and a sunny weekend can bring plenty of people out to enjoy it.

If your idea of a good morning is a beach walk followed by something to eat, this is an easy place to put those two things together.

The beach and park also give you different ways to enjoy the same stretch of coast. You can get your feet sandy, then head back to the grass when you’ve had enough sun. You don’t have to spend the whole visit carrying everything up and down the beach.

Watch the Surfers at Moffat Point

The surf is a big part of Moffat Beach’s character. When conditions are right, the point at the southern end draws surfers out into the water.

Watching from shore can be an activity in itself. There’s the waiting, the paddling and then the moment someone catches a wave. You can enjoy all of that with dry clothes and a drink in your hand.

Keep an eye on the horizon too. The cargo ships offshore give you a sense of just how much ocean is out there, especially when there’s a surfer in the foreground for comparison.

Walk Over the Headland Towards Shelly Beach

For a change of view, follow the coastal pathway south over Moffat Headland towards Shelly Beach. This takes you above the shoreline, where you can look out across the water and back towards the beach.

You don’t need to commit to a long walk. Head out for a look, stop to enjoy the view and turn back whenever you’re ready. Give yourself time to pause rather than treating the coastline as something to get past.

For a longer outing, keep following the coast towards Kings Beach. Council lists the Moffat Beach to Kings Beach section as approximately 2.9 km one way, so remember to allow for the return journey if you’ve left your car at Moffat.

Beyond Kings Beach, you can continue towards Happy Valley and Bulcock Beach. These connected beaches make it easy to explore Caloundra a section at a time, with places to stop for food or a rest along the way.

Take water and a hat, especially on a warm day. A sea breeze can make the walk feel comfortable while you’re still getting plenty of sun.

Tooway Creek and the Northern End of the Beach

At the northern end of Moffat Beach, you’ll find Tooway Creek, with Dicky Beach beyond.

This end gives you another part of the shoreline to explore. Walk along the sand, look back towards the headland and enjoy the open space. There’s no need to head far to get a different perspective on the beach.

Although the creek can look calmer than the surf, I wouldn’t describe it as a guaranteed safe swimming spot. It isn’t a patrolled alternative to the beach, and conditions can change. For a family swim, choose a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

My beach safety guide explains what to look for if you’re unfamiliar with Australian beaches.

Bring a Picnic to Eleanor Shipley Park

Eleanor Shipley Park sits behind the beach, giving you a grassy place to take a break from the sand. Trees, picnic shelters and barbecues make it useful for a longer visit, particularly if you’re bringing lunch.

You can enjoy the ocean setting without spending every minute on the beach. Spread out a picnic, find some shade and let lunch take as long as it takes.

For families, a park-and-beach outing can be enough on its own. Bring something for digging in the sand, a ball for the grass and food that’s easy to unpack. You don’t need to add another attraction to make it a worthwhile day.

If you’re planning to stay a while, my beach packing list can help you get everything together before leaving home.

Coffee or Lunch Near Moffat Beach

The cafés and eateries near the beachfront make it easy to combine a walk with breakfast, coffee or lunch.

You could start with something to eat and walk afterwards, or head out along the coast first and come back hungry. Having food close by also means you can keep the visit simple if you don’t feel like packing a picnic.

I haven’t singled out a café here, so have a look at the menus and see what suits you on the day. Sometimes the deciding factor is simply an available table in a spot where you’d like to sit.

If you’re visiting from overseas and wondering about flat whites, long blacks and the other options on the menu, my guide to ordering coffee in Australia will help.

Can You Bring Your Dog to Moffat Beach?

Moffat Beach has designated areas where you can bring your dog, including timed off-leash access. The boundaries matter, though, and the rules don’t apply in the same way to the entire beach, headland and rocky foreshore.

Before setting out, check the Sunshine Coast Council dog-access map and follow the signs where you enter. Council changed dog-access rules in July 2026, so older guides may have different information.

Bring water, waste bags and a lead, even if you’re visiting during off-leash hours.

Leave Some Time to Sit and Enjoy It

A visit to Moffat Beach doesn’t have to fill the whole day. A walk, something to eat and a little time watching the sea can be plenty.

Bring a book if you like, or leave it in your bag and watch what’s happening in front of you. The surfers and passing ships provide enough to look at without needing to organise anything.

If you’re exploring more of Caloundra, pair Moffat with Kings Beach or a walk around Bulcock Beach and Happy Valley. For a different waterfront setting, Golden Beach looks across the Pumicestone Passage towards Bribie Island.

You can also browse my local Sunshine Coast beaches guide to find a beach that suits the sort of day you have in mind. But if today calls for coffee, coastal views and nowhere urgent to be, you could happily spend a little longer at Moffat.

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