Coast Kids is a love letter to the Australian coastline, designed for sandy car boots and childhood memories that last. But who's behind these beautiful beach toys?
First, if you're new here - I'm Andrea, the founder of Mini Marketa, and this is the third post in our Meet the Maker series. A series where we chat to the people behind the toys our kids love, and find out how they got started and why they keep going.
Morgan and her sister Mallory run Coast Kids out of Woonona on the NSW South Coast. They make beach toys, buckets, moulds and reusable water splashers. They're designed for travel and durability, all while looking good in the process. What I love about their range is that it feels considered. The colours are beautiful, the materials are thoughtful, and every product is named after an Australian beach. As a huge admirer of Aussie beaches myself, this drew me right in!
When I found out they grew up as nippers at Bulli Surf Club, it made complete sense. These aren't just products, they're an extension of how these two grew up. (P.S. If you haven't been to Bulli Beach on the NSW South Coast, you are missing out!).
I sent Morgan a few questions and her answers were inspiring and informative! But as always, don't just take my word for it, have a read for yourself below:
What's the story behind Coast Kids? What inspired you to create beach toys?
Coast Kids was born in Woonona during COVID in 2021. My sister Mallory and I are both mums who grew up as nippers at Bulli Surf Club, and when the world slowed down, our local beach became our escape.
We were spending endless days outside with our kids, but we couldn't find beach toys that felt beautiful, durable, thoughtfully designed and aligned with the way modern families live and travel.
So from our lounge room, we decided to create our own.
Coast Kids is really a love letter to the Australian coastline, designed for long beach days, sandy car boots, family holidays and childhood memories that last.
We love that your toys are named after iconic Australian beaches. What's the story behind that idea, and do any of the beach names hold a personal connection for you?
Naming our products after Australian beaches felt natural, the coast is at the heart of everything we do.
Each name is intentional. Many hold personal meaning, beaches we grew up visiting, places we holiday with our own children, or spots that reflect a particular colour palette or mood.
For example, our Wategos, Shelly, Noosa and Palm Beach pieces all carry a different personality, just like the beaches themselves.
It's our way of celebrating Australia's coastline and helping families feel connected to it, wherever they are in the world.
What's your most popular product, and why do you think it resonates so well with families?
Our silicone reusable water splashers have become a standout favourite, along with our beach buckets and sand mould sets.
Parents love that the splashers are reusable, magnet free and come in a recycled net bag, they solve the single use water balloon problem in a simple, sustainable way.
Our buckets and moulds resonate because they're timeless. We've reimagined them in modern colours, flexible materials and thoughtful designs that are easy to pack, durable and aesthetically pleasing.
They feel nostalgic, but elevated.
What goes into designing one of your beach toys? Can you tell us a bit about the materials you use and why you chose them?
A lot more than people might expect.
Every product starts with a problem to solve, whether it's bulkiness in luggage, durability, sustainability or functionality.
We work with engineers and specialised designers to refine proportions, flexibility and usability. Many of our pieces are made from flexible silicone so they can squash into luggage and pop back into shape, perfect for travel.
We prioritise materials like food grade silicone, recycled plastic bottle mesh bags and regenerated nylon in some accessories.
We're always asking, will this last multiple summers? Will it reduce waste? Will it make beach days easier?
If the answer isn't yes, we go back to the drawing board.
What's one thing you wish more parents considered when choosing outdoor toys for their kids?
Longevity.
It's easy to buy cheap, bright plastic toys that crack after one season. We encourage families to think about durability, versatility and environmental impact.
Outdoor toys should withstand salt, sun and sand, travel easily, grow with the child and not end up in landfill after one summer.
Investing in well designed pieces means fewer throwaway purchases and more meaningful play.
Is there anything else you'd like to share, anything exciting on the horizon for Coast Kids?
On the product side, we're always innovating, exploring more sustainable materials, unique hero beach toys and travel friendly designs that make family holidays easier.
We're constantly asking how we can reduce waste, improve functionality and create pieces that feel both nostalgic and modern at the same time.
But at our core, Coast Kids will always be about one simple thing.
Encouraging families to unplug, head outside and soak up those endless coastal days together.
There you have it! As a digital product manager by day, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between building tech products and building physical ones. The best products always start with a problem to solve! That's what Morgan and Mallory from Coast Kids have done, and why their products stand out.
If you've ever packed a bag for a beach day and thought "there has to be something better than this," Coast Kids is your answer.
You can find Coast Kids at coastkids.shop, and on Instagram.
If you know a maker we should feature next, message us on Instagram or email hello@minimarketa.com.
