I was one of those kids who hardly ever took a sick day at school, so it’s no surprise that I’ve never ‘chucked a sickie’ at work. For non-Aussies, that’s slang to describe when someone fakes being sick to score a day off work – usually for a bit of fun, a hard reset or to kickstart a long weekend.
This winter, Visit Sunshine Coast launched what I’m calling one of the greatest tourism campaigns of all time, where they gave away ten all-expenses-paid 48-hour holidays to Aussies bold enough to chuck a sickie. Almost 1,000 hopefuls from across the country threw their hat in the ring to win a trip (worth up to $3,756 each), with the option to pick from three itineraries: a Forest Bathing Reboot, Haycation Rejuvenation or Vitamin Sea Booster.
The Sunshine Coast is one of my favourite winter escapes in Australia, and since I already had a trip planned, I decided to put one of these itineraries to the test – without my boss knowing, of course (I guess she knows now). After turning on my out-of-office reply, it was all systems go.
My first stop after landing in the Sunshine Coast on a sunny Friday afternoon was Tank Bathhouse. Perched on the Mooloolah River, this Italian Riviera-style day spa, bathhouse and restaurant is the perfect place to fully switch off while still being social. I drifted between six botanical-infused magnesium baths, rising in temperature from a cold plunge to a steamy 39 degrees. Cocktails were delivered on demand if I fancied, and I even had the beautiful artisan dry sauna and wet steam room all to myself.
That evening, I escaped to the Mediterranean at the newly opened Casa Restaurant in Mooloolaba. My sister and I shared creamy burrata and flash-fried calamari to start, followed by fresh pasta for mains, paired with a Sicilian Spritz. Falling asleep afterwards to the sound of crashing waves at my beachside pad at Newport Mooloolaba Apartments was almost too easy.
I'm a runner, so the next morning, I went for a big, 30-kilometre jog along the stunning Sunshine Coast Coastal Pathway (yeah, it sounds insane, but we all have our own ideas of relaxation), finishing with a salty dip in the sea. After a bit of downtime, I then set off on a gorgeous sunset cruise with Saltwater Eco Tours. As we sailed along the glistening Mooloolah River aboard a beautifully restored 114-year-old sailing vessel, we were serenaded by live acoustic tunes from a talented local artist. Then, when the sun began to dip below the horizon, I enjoyed a seasonal grazing box featuring native bush tucker ingredients, plus cocktails and Champagne from the bar.
Of course, I extended my Sunshine Coast escape beyond a single 'sick day'. Over the weekend, I ventured deep into the hinterland, spending a night at Australia Zoo’s brand-new Crocodile Hunter Lodge, passed through Montville, Australia’s most welcoming town, and went for a big hike in Noosa National Park. By the end of the trip, I felt relaxed yet energised, and ready to dive back into work. If you’re feeling burnt out, I’m all for chucking a sickie – and I’d totally do it again (just don’t tell my boss).