In our quest to find all things awesome in and around Brisbane, Brisbane Kids recently headed to the Sunshine Coast to review Oaks Oasis Resort in Caloundra. Who knew that you could have such a fun-filled family break just a short drive from the city?
We packed our bags for our trip to the coast and headed up the Bruce Highway. After just an hour’s driving, we reached the Caloundra exit, and just minutes later, we were checking into Oaks Oasis Resort. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, not just at reception, but throughout the resort. The check-in process was fast and smooth, and as it was large resort, we were glad to be able to park right outside our block so we didn’t have far to walk with our bags.
Our accommodation at Oaks Oasis
We checked in to a Family Executive Room, which is perfect for a family of four. There are also many other accommodation options available, from hotel rooms to large villas, to suit any family size or budget.
As the hotel has been fully refurbished, our room was beautifully modern and clean. It had all the expected facilities of a top-end hotel, like reverse cycle air-conditioning, ironing equipment and tea and coffee making facilities. It also had extras like a large table and chairs, small fridge and crockery, cutlery and glassware, so that we could eat in the room if we chose to.
The room also had cable TV and came with 30 minutes of free Internet access per day. But with so many attractions on offer at the resort we didn’t even log on once!
The view from our room
The resort is set in tropical grounds with lovely open green spaces, tall palm trees and a lake filled with lilies. The kids loved watching the families of moorhens on the lake and searching for frogs in the water.
Everyone’s a water baby at Oaks Oasis
Our absolute favourite thing to do at Oaks Oasis was play in the water! We loved the tropical pool. The water was a perfect temperature for jumping straight in, and meant the little ones could continue playing until they were well and truly wrinkly without the usual shivers and blue lips! There was even an awesome heated spa that was perfect for adults to relax in and kids to enjoy the bubbles! Plus the pool was open from 7am to 10pm, so no matter what we did during the day, we could always fit in some pool play time as well.
The highlight of our stay for the kids was the Oasis Waterpark. The waterpark is fully fenced and fully heated, so it was the perfect temperature for kids. We went down fast slides with a great splashdown at the bottom, and tunnel slides loved by my less adventurous little one.
We played with the spraying water and water chutes, ducked under showers and tried not to get hit by the tipping bucket soaker!
We were also very pleasantly surprised by the number of sun loungers and chairs and tables here. There were always plenty of seats available and plenty of shady places to take a break from all the water fun and have a picnic or enjoy some refreshments from the snack shack.
Other activities on offer
Oaks Oasis also had loads of other activities on offer, from hiring bikes and borrowing sporting equipment, to playing tennis and beach volleyball. The kids also enjoyed the fun children’s playground in the fenced waterpark area, which was covered by a shade sail.
When we visited, they also had a new Adventure Zone under construction, with an 18-hole putt putt golf course, huge bouncing pillow, climbing frame and sand pit.
There was more to do than we could possibly fit in to our short trip, and even if you stayed here for a long family holiday, you could easily find something new to do every day, without even leaving the resort!
Location of Oaks Oasis
Another thing that we loved about Oaks Oasis was the location. There were plenty of amenities close-by, including a supermarket literally across the road, so we were able to stock up on supplies as soon as we arrived. Just a few minutes’ walk further down Bulcock Street is the centre of Caloundra, and all of its lovely shops, cafes and restaurants.
Just across the road from the resort was Golden Beach, and we walked from here along the lovely coastal path to Bulcock Beach, manned by surf lifesavers. Sheltered by the northern tip of Bribie Island, the waters here were calm and perfect for swimming in and cooling off on a hot Queensland day!
Eating at Oaks Oasis
Whatever we were doing at Oaks Oasis, we always worked up an appetite, so having the onsite Reflections Restaurant and Bar was very much appreciated! It is located in the centre of the resort and surrounded by the lily pond with its lovely ambient water features.
We started each morning by stocking up on energy with a full buffet breakfast. There was a wide selection of hot and cold treats on offer, from cereals and toast to fresh fruit, delicious pastries and bacon, eggs and all the trimmings.
We also enjoyed eating at the restaurant in the evenings. The menu was unpretentious, showcasing local, fresh produce. Forget your usual frozen fish sticks, these were freshly made fingers of local snapper! The service was friendly and fast, which is great when you’re waiting with hungry kids, and the food was tasty and really reasonably priced!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Oaks Oasis and would highly recommend it for any fun-filled family holiday. There was so much to see and do that we barely scraped the surface, and with it being so close to home and with even more attractions coming soon, we will definitely be back to visit again soon!
For more information, or to make a booking, visit oakshotelsresorts.com/oaksoasis. Oaks Oasis Resort is located on the corner of North Street and Landsborough Parade, Caloundra.
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