MatchPoint Cafe

MatchPoint Cafe is a small courtside coffee spot at the Sunshine Coast Tennis Centre on Nicklin Way in Buddina, doing Hunter Roasters coffee and quick bites for players and passers-by. It is a pull-in stop rather than a destination, but the outdoor tables and the big council car park make it an easy coffee break with the dog before a walk along the Point Cartwright side of the suburb.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome around the casual outdoor courtyard and courtside seating, where there is room to sit alongside the table. It is a compact setup and water bowls can be hit-or-miss day to day, so carry a travel bowl. Weekend mornings are the most reliable window, with other hours tracking tennis-centre activity and coaching schedules, so check the cafe's Instagram before a dedicated trip.

Pepsi: Grab the coffee and cookie combo, then point the car at the beach end of Buddina. The dog gets sand time and you get a courtside flat white.

Worth knowing

The menu is quick bites, cold drinks, sweet treats and post-match snacks, with running specials like a coffee and cookie combo. Do not come expecting a big sit-down breakfast; come for a good coffee poured by people who watch a lot of tennis.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at the tennis centre off Nicklin Way, with ample parking in the centre car park, so access is straightforward even on weekends.

While you're out there

Buddina's dog walking is genuinely good. Sunshine Coast Council allows dogs off-leash at all times on the Buddina Beach stretch between Mawarra Street and Talinga Street (accesses 210 to 217), and on the eastern side of the Point Cartwright headland. The Point Cartwright walkway is an on-lead coastal stroll to the lighthouse, and the fenced dog park on Kawana Island at Grand Parade is a short drive for social dogs. La Balsa Park itself is on-lead only, so save it for a leashed picnic.

Pair the stop with other dog-friendly cafes along the Buddina stretch, from Little Miss Saine to Sandy Feet Cafe, and check the Buddina destination guide for the rest of the neighbourhood.