Caloundra in January: Summer Holidays, Australia Day and the Quiet Week After

The short version: January is peak summer in Caloundra. Days are hot and humid, the water is at its warmest, and Queensland school holidays run until Tuesday 26 January 2027, which is also Australia Day. School goes back on Wednesday 27 January, and from then on the coast feels very different: same summer weather, far fewer people.

Weather and water

Expect hot days, often around 29 to 30°C, warm nights and high humidity. Afternoon storms are common, usually short and dramatic, and they often roll in from the west over the Glass House Mountains. Sea temperatures sit around 25 to 26°C, so this is the easiest month of the year to swim.

Swim at patrolled beaches between the flags. Kings Beach is patrolled and has a free ocean pool next to the sand. Bulcock Beach, on Pumicestone Passage, is calm and shallow near the shore, which suits small children, but it is not patrolled and the tide can run strongly. See our Caloundra beaches compared guide for more.

Australia Day 2027 is on a Tuesday

Australia Day falls on Tuesday 26 January 2027, so the public holiday is on the Tuesday and there is no long weekend. Sunshine Coast Council has run a free, alcohol-free family day at the Kings Beach amphitheatre and foreshore in past years. The 2027 program is usually published in December, so check the council's events page before you plan around it.

Expect Kings Beach to be very busy on the day. If you want a quieter Australia Day, walk the coastal path north towards Moffat Beach early in the morning, or keep to Bulcock Beach and the Passage.

The quiet week after school goes back

This is the local secret. From Wednesday 27 January, families head home and the beaches, cafés and car parks empty out, but the water stays warm and the days stay long. If you have flexibility, the last week of January and early February are some of the best days of the year to be here, especially for couples and anyone working remotely.

Things to do in Caloundra in January

• Early swims and coffee. Beat the heat with a swim before 8am, then breakfast on Bulcock Street. Our cafés guide has the picks.
• Caloundra Street Fair. Every Sunday morning on Bulcock Street, with local makers, food and live music.
• The coastal walk. Kings Beach to Moffat Head is best early or late in the day. See the coastal walk guide.
• Rainy afternoon plans. Storms pass quickly, but if one settles in, try our rainy day ideas.
• Sunset on the Passage. Bulcock Beach faces west, so the sun goes down over the water.

Where to stay

Caloundra Escape Apartment is at 111 Bulcock Street, two minutes' walk from Bulcock Beach, with a shared Level 12 rooftop pool, spa and sauna. It sleeps four in two bedrooms, and air conditioning helps on the hottest nights. Check January dates on our availability calendar, or join the Guest List to hear about open summer dates first.