NOOSA'S
warm embrace
If you're looking for a holiday that brings together the best of nature, sophisticated food, wine, and accommodation experiences, Noosa can't be faulted.
Words: Justine Costigan
Recently named one of the most welcoming towns on the planet, Noosa Heads was the only Australian town to make the top 10. It's a testament to Noosa's holiday vibe – a place where schedules are built around the surf and sun, and locals want visitors to love their home as much as they do.
Water everywhere you turn
Stay in Noosa Heads and one of Australia's best beaches will be only footsteps away. Not only is the water at Laguna Bay calm and inviting, but the broad, sweeping white sand is framed by the dramatic backdrop of the hinterland and Noosa National Park.
Start the day with beach yoga, cool off with a swim, then walk the headland trail, looking out for koalas along the way, to enjoy spectacular views across the bay. The two-and-a-half-hour walk along the trail will take you to Sunshine Beach, where you can swim in the surf or have lunch in the laid-back Sunshine Beach village. Further south, Peregian Beach offers more spectacular white sand and surf breaks.
Noosa's combination of beaches, freshwater rivers and creeks offers double the opportunity to get out on the water. The Noosa River has safe swimming spots and a variety of water activities, from fishing and kayaking to stand-up paddleboarding and river cruises.
Explore the river's quiet tributaries and wetlands for a tranquil nature experience on the water. It's a paradise for birdwatchers, especially in spring and summer when migratory shorebirds arrive from the Northern Hemisphere and gather around the river mouth to feed and rest.
Image top: Main Beach Boardwalk, Noosa Heads. Above: stand-up paddleboarding, Habitat Noosa.
Wining and dining
Noosa's long-running food and wine festival is a testament to the region's commitment to local produce and excellent dining, with local chefs taking a starring role.
Don't worry if your holiday plans don't coincide with the festival – there are excellent dining options in Noosa year-round.
You'll never run out of options, whether it's a post-swim burger at Betty's or a long lunch right by the beach at Season Noosa, where the spanner crab pasta has legendary status.
When the sun goes down, there's nowhere more appealing than Italian restaurant Locale. Surrounded by subtly backlit lush sub-tropical plants, the moody interior is the perfect setting for classic Italian fare, including handmade pasta, local seafood and Queensland-made burrata.
If it's seafood with a contemporary flavour you're after, head to Lanai in Noosaville and make the most of its open-air dining room with views of the river.
Alternatively, go back to basics with one of Noosa's best fish and chips at the Sunshine Beach Surf Club.
If you're dining in, time your visit to coincide with the weekly farmers' market or drop into Belmondo's Organic Market in Noosaville for supplies.
From Eumundi meats to fresh produce, wholefoods and a bakery, be sure to arrive hungry so you can squeeze in a Clandestino coffee and a Danish from Tanglewood's.
Not far from Belmondo's is the elegant Seabourne Distillery. Take a tour or drop in for a gin cocktail at the spectacular long bar.
The Woodshed Restaurant at Kin Kin Hotel.
Noosa Ferry & Cruise Company.
Adventure abounds
Noosa is the traditional home of the Kabi Kabi (also Gubbi Gubbi) people. Each night at 7pm, traditional custodians Lyndon Davis, Jacquie Sandy, Jaiva Davis and Yeelara Chilly from Gubbi Gubbi Dance share local knowledge and stories at the Hastings Street Information Centre via a virtual audio-visual experience. It's a must-see introduction to the region's Indigenous history.
For more Indigenous experiences, Saltwater Tours, based 40 minutes' drive south of Noosa Heads, offers bushtucker cruises, accessible canoe tours and more.
For immersion in Kabi Kabi country, the Noosa Trail Network offers everything from one to two-hour walks to multi-day treks across the Noosa hinterland.
If you want to do more than just swim in the ocean, Noosa Ocean Adventures offers nature-focused marine experiences along the coastline. Spot dolphins, turtles, rays, and whales from June to November.
There are many do-it-yourself exploration options along the river. Drop into a local hire company and set out on a boat, paddleboard or canoe for the ultimate see-what-happens adventure. If you prefer to try before you buy, a trip on the Noosa ferry offers an ideal introduction to the water.
Further afield
Head to the tiny village of Kin Kin. Less than an hour's drive from Noosa, through scenic winding hinterland roads, this small town has plenty to see and do. For a long lunch, visit the heritage Kin Kin Hotel, with the menu featuring ingredients from the eatery's market garden. Head chef Oscar Holgado is passionate about paddock-to-plate dining and has been named by Broadsheet as a chef to watch.
After lunch, drop into Kin Kin depot to browse through jewellery, country-style retro homewares or locally made candles. Book into the newly opened Kin Kin bathhouses for a relaxing soak overlooking rolling hills and farmland.
On your way home, stop in Eumundi to browse the famous Berkelouw Books and enjoy a coffee at Eumundi Coffee Roasters. If it's market day, flip your road-trip script and spend a few hours browsing the stalls before heading to Kin Kin for lunch.
With sun-drenched beaches, extraordinary dining, rich Indigenous culture, and a laid-back soul that wraps around every visitor, Noosa is simply impossible not to love.
Noosa Farmers Markets.
Sleep to the sounds of surf
Stay in Noosa Heads or Sunshine Beach and you'll fall asleep to the soothing sound of the surf every night. There's accommodation to suit all budgets, from hostels and apartments through to five-star hotels. For a truly indulgent break, book into the recently opened five-star Elysium Noosa Resort on Hastings Street (the former Sofitel Noosa) for ocean and river views, a spectacular pool and top-notch dining and spa experiences.
If you love classic Queenslander style, the newly restored heritage-listed Halse Lodge Noosa Heads offers everything from dorm rooms to luxurious private suites, plus excellent dining courtesy of acclaimed local chef Ryan Fitzpatrick.
For a complete immersion in nature, take the car ferry from Tewantin to Senses Noosa North Shore. Located within 16 hectares of native bushland, with an almost deserted beach on its doorstep, this private retreat for families and groups offers two, three or four-bedroom architecturally designed homes.
IMAGES: Tourism and Events Queensland/Tourism Australia.
