Little Sunny Coast’s Abi and Zara share top spots for young families
A pair of mums sharing guides for young families in a Queensland tourism destination have put together their picks for the region, and what is still missing.
A pair of best friends who amassed thousands of followers for their Sunshine Coast family guides have shared their insights for the region’s top parks and kid-friendly eateries.
Abi Benaud and Zara Young launched their social media page Little Sunny Coast in August last year to share their guides, reviews and recommendations for parks, family-friendly spaces, activities and events.
As parents of young children themselves, the pair share content predominantly targeting the same demographic.
Since their launch, Little Sunny Coast has gained 17,000 followers across Instagram and Facebook.
“The support has been incredible, and it’s been so special seeing the difference it’s making for local families and businesses,” Ms Benaud said.
The pair are preparing to celebrate another milestone for their community of parents; in December, their Little Sunny Coast website will launch to offer Sunshine Coast recommendations in one place.
When asked what they hope to see improved upon on the Sunshine Coast, Ms Benaud said they wished to see more venues and activities catering for children under five.
She said they were “lucky” with two spaces in Caloundra — Mum Hub x Elate and the upcoming JuJuba Play Cafe — opening this year for young age groups, but a gap still remained which became particularly prominent during school holidays.
“Once the holidays start, so many programs for little ones pause while the focus shifts to school-aged kids and that can make it tricky for parents with toddlers and preschoolers,” Ms Benaud said.
“Playgrounds get crowded and there aren’t many dedicated spaces for the younger kids to enjoy.”
The pair love outdoor spaces on the Sunshine Coast for family outings including beaches, playgrounds, bush walks and other nature adventures.
“The Sunshine Coast is such a beautiful place to raise children, we feel really lucky to call it home,” Ms Benaud said.
Off the back of Little Sunny Coast, Ms Benaud and Ms Young have launched a private Mumma Meet-Ups group with more than 1000 members to host free catch-ups every month.
Ms Benaud said it was “really special” to see genuine friendships emerge from the group.
“It’s been incredible watching it (the community) grow and seeing mums message us to share new places or thank us for helping them discover somewhere new,” she said.
Their pair continue “dreaming up ideas,” with aspirations to eventually launch an app and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli suggesting they start a podcast.
“For now, our goal is to keep finding ways to make life easier for parents on the Sunshine Coast, easing the mental load wherever we can, with the time and resources we have,” Ms Benaud said.
