Noosa
Noosa is one of the major draws of Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Low rise resorts, upmarket shopping and dining line the sheltered beaches, waterways and parks.
Understand
The name Noosa is loosely applied to the following areas:
- Noosa Heads is the resort area that contains Hastings Street and the main tourist area behind Hastings Street. The main beach fronts onto Hastings Street. At the end of Hastings Street are the Noosa Woods and Noosa Spit. At the eastern end of Hastings Street is the Noosa National Park.
- Noosaville is alongside the river, a bit quieter.
- Noosa Junction, the business area.
- Sunshine Beach is to the south of Noosa Headlands.
The name Noosa comes from the local Aboriginal Kabi Kabi language for "shadow". It also has a strange claim to fame as the largest Finnish speaking community in the southern hemisphere.
Towns
Other destinations
- 1 Cooloola Recreation Area – the only other everglades system (outside Everglades National Park)
Get in
By plane
Fly to Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY IATA) at Maroochydore, 30 km to the south. From the airport, take the 622 bus to Noosa Junction or Henry's airport transfer, or rent a car. A taxi from the airport can cost around $80.
Fly to Brisbane Airport. The best way to reach Noosa is to use one of the transfer services. They will meet you at the baggage carousel for domestic arrivals and in the arrivals hall for international arrivals. Pre-booking is important. A taxi from Brisbane to Noosa is over $400.
By train
The nearest stations to Noosa are at Eumundi, Cooroy, Nambour, Pomona and Maryborough, with a connecting bus or taxi required.
By car
Drive north from Brisbane along the Bruce Highway for approximately 150km, which takes approximately three hours.
Get around
Discover Noosa’s natural environment. Watch whales, enjoy pristine beaches, explore the dramatic hinterland landscape, and visit the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island.
See
- Tewantin State Forest and Forest Reserve, Tewantin Forest Reserve, Tewantin, Noosa Heads, ☏ +61 1300 130 372. A rainforest with beautiful hilly views.
- 1 Noosa National Park. A large park, and surprisingly the state government has put a lot of facilities into this park, something that's very unusual for Queensland. The park is divided into many sections, though realistically, most people only visit the sections in Noosa, as the others are "too far" and have fewer facilities and bushwalking trails.
Sunset by the Noosa River, in Noosaville. - Noosa Marina, 2 Parkyn Ct, Tewantin, ☏ +61 7 5473 0166. A marina with shops, restaurants and ferry cruises on the Noosa river.
- 2 The Majestic Theatre, 3 Factory St, Pomona. This heritage-registered theatre was built in 1921 and caters all different types of community events. It has been promoted as the oldest silent movie theatre in the world and the oldest continuously operating movie theatre in Australia.
- 3 Mount Cooroora, Tuchekoi National Park, Pomona. A 439-m mountain peak and volcanic plug with beautiful provisional panoramic views and a variety of native Australian flora and fauna.
- 4 Noosa Shire Museum, 29 Factory St, Pomona. Established in 1985, this historical museum, housed in a former shire hall, is operated by the Cooroora Historical Society and preserves Noosa Shire's pioneering past. It houses a display of Australian antiques and maintains a Keeping Place of indigenous cultural objects once used by the Gubbi Gubbi peoples.
- 5 Yurol State Forest, Yurol Forest Dr, Pomona. A very lush and beautiful forested area with numerous winding 4x4 tracks and hiking trails.
Tours
There are some excellent organised tours originating in Noosa. Most tour operators will pick you up from your accommodation.
The stunning unspoiled scenery that surrounds Noosa provides opportunities for a number of wildlife and eco tours. Most eco tours use a 4WD and provide a soft adventure that will give wonderful memories of your time in Noosa.
The hinterland behind Noosa has some wonderful villages and scenic spots. Most usually involve a trip to Montville and may continue south to the Glasshouse Mountains. Some of the tours combine the hinterland trip with visits to some of the main attractions that include the Ginger Factory at Yandina or the Big Pineapple. A popular one day tour is to the Australia Zoo which is offered as one tour or maybe in combination with a hinterland tour.
Cruises
Cruise along Noosa River to the Everglades. Tours travel the full length of the Noosa River taking in Lakes Cooroibah and Cootharaba and the Everglades which are part of the Great Sandy National Park. The dark still waters of the upper Noosa River provide stunning mirrored reflections. Most tours involve a BBQ or tea break at Harry’s Hut. All tours are led by enthusiastic guides who will bring to life all the varied wildlife and birds that will be seen. The tour is best done as a day trip but can be done as a half day tour.
- Noosa Cruising Restaurant offers a river cruise with breakfast, lunch, or a sunset dinner on board. The food is cooked on board.
Do
Walking
There are some nice walks in the national park at Noosa Heads. Pick up a trail map from the information center in the park. Probably the best is to start along the coastal path (keep your eyes peeled for Koalas) and then cut back along Tanglewood Track. This will take about 2 hours. The National Park has several beaches at which to take a dip, however Alexandra Bay is only for experienced swimmers as there can be dangerous rips. Alexandra Beach is unofficially clothing optional.
Running
- King of the Mountain. An annual running festival held on the fourth Sunday of late July, in which competitors run up the slopes of Mount Cooroora in Pomona.
Fishing
Fishing from Noosa is great year round, with seasonal changes in species, so there is always something to fish for. The reef and bait grounds off Noosa are close, so travel time is at a minimum. Beach fishing, and river fishing is fantastic too.
- Laguna Charters Noosa, ☏ +61 7 5449 7454. Sheraton Jetty Noosa Heads. Noosa's Laguna Charters can cater from the complete novice, to expert. Fully catered (by the Sheraton Noosa Resort) 1/2, 3/4 and Full day fishing trips are available. Noosa's Laguna Charters are the people to see for all river, and offshore fishing from Noosa.
Scuba diving
For more details see Scuba diving in Australia Scuba diving in Laguna Bay.
- Blue Water Dive +61 7 5447 1300
Surf
Many surf schools operate in the area
Kite surfing
Noosa is one of the best kite surfing destinations in the world, as the prevailing wind directions are almost always favourable.
Australian Kitesurfing Academy - Martin Reeves IKO senior instructor and Codie Stephenson IKO level 2 conduct lessons 20 min north of Noosa at Lake Cootharaba. AKA has been training since 2001 on the Sunshine Coast and offers lessons where the student is in the water within 30 min of kite setup. Quality assured and fully insured. one-on-one student/instructor radio communication at all times.
Boating
Hire a sail or motor boat along the Noosa River.
- U-Drive Boat Hire 256 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville 5449 9248
- Noosa Beach Sailing Hire a catamaran to sail in Noosa's Laguna Bay. Instruction available if necessary.
Golf
- Noosa Valley Country Club, +61 7 5449 1411,Links Drive Noosa Heads. About 15 minutes from Noosa, 9 holes.
- Tewantin Noosa Golf Club. +61 7 5447 1910. Beautiful course, and probably the best value in the area. About 10 minutes from Noosa.
- Kabi Golf Course +61 7 5485 3494, 59 Kabi Road Boreen Point. Organic golf course consisting of 18-par 3 holes and 7 regular holes (you play two holes twice to get 9 in).
- Noosa Springs. Fantastic high quality championship (but public access) course.
Buy
Noosa's most famous shopping strip is Hastings Street, a veritable paradise for the shopaholic. Just be careful to spend within your limits, which is not always easy to do.
Eat
- Jasper, Hastings Street 42, ☏ +61 7 5474 9600. Daily from 7:30AM. Excellent fish on barbecue. Pleasant terrace.
- Berardo's Restaurant and Bar, Hastings Street 07 5447 5666
- Maisie's Seafood & Steakhouse Restaurant Noosa, 247 Gympie Terrace Noosaville, ☏ +61 7 5449 7497. On the waterfront of the Noosa River. 20-year track record of serving seafood and steaks.
- Moondoggies in Noosaville is good for breakfast
- Cafe Le Monde on Hastings Street is good for breakfast
- Noosaville Fish Market, 90 Hilton Terrace, Tewantin, ☏ +61 7 54497127. W Th 11AM-7:30PM, F Sa 11AM-8PM, Su 11AM-7:30PM. Great calamari!
- Thomas Corner Eatery, 1/201 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville, ☏ +61 7 54702224. M-F 11:30AM-11PM; Sa Su 8AM-11PM. Bright restaurant with river views for modern Australian meals with a focus on seafood.
- Beloporto Noosa, 2/14 Thomas St, Noosaville, ☏ +61 7 54705228. Daily 9AM-9PM. Delicious burgers with fresh ingredients.
- Sushi Yah Man, 7 Sunshine Beach Rd, Noosa Heads, ☏ +61 7 53241071. Daily 9AM-9PM. Jamaican-themed sushi restaurant, friendly staff, and a sushi train. Authentic Japanese cuisine in a friendly environment with a reggae twist.
Drink
- Global Cafe, William Street, Noosaville. Noosa's best kept secret. Great value meals & relaxed atmosphere
- 1 Pomona Hotel, 1 Railway St, Pomona, ☏ +61 7 5485 1187.
Sleep
Budget
- Nomads Noosa, 44 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads, ☏ +64 7 5447 3355, toll-free: 1800 666 237, bookings@nomadsnoosa.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Backpackers can choose from dorm share, twin share and double rooms. The accommodation at Nomads Noosa (formerly known as Koala's Beach Resort Noosa) is surrounded by tropical gardens with direct access to the resort pool and volleyball court.
- Sandy Court Holiday Units, 30 James Street, ☏ +61 7 5449 7225. Noosaville. Tucked down a quiet street, but still only a few minutes walk from the riverfront with its shops and restaurants. Has swimming pool. The owner is helpful. Quiet is enforced from 10PM till 7:30AM. From $65 per night.
- YHA Halse Lodge, 2 Halse Lane. I Noosa Heads. Very close to Hastings Street. Dorm beds from $26 per night with card.
Mid-range
- Wolngarin Holiday Resort, 27 Munna Crescent, Noosaville, ☏ +61 7 5449 8755. Offers clean, comfortable self-catering apartments. 2 bedroom townhouses or villas, swimming pool, hot tub, poolside BBQs, half size kids tennis court, opposite small park with playground, 2 minutes walk to the closest beach and fishing area on the Noosa River. From $120 per night.
Splurge
Noosa is famous for its upmarket and luxury hotels.
- Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, part of the global chain and with everything you would expect from a Accor hotel.
- NoosaRiviera[dead link] is a small boutique resort located near the beach, Hastings Street, and Gympie TCE.
- Lookout Noosa. A resort on Hastings Street, right near the beach itself.
- The Sebel Resort Noosa, 32 Hastings Street, ☏ +61 7 5474 6400. Between the Noosa River and Hastings Street and within easy walking distance of the Noosa National Park and Noosa's Main Beach.
- Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa, 94 Noosa Drive, ☏ +61 7 5341 6300. Luxury hotel, close to all Noosa attractions. Noosa resort-style apartment accommodation moments from Hastings Street, Noosa beach and National Park.
- South Pacific Resort & Spa Noosa, 179 Weyba Rd, ☏ +61 7 5473 1200. Bungalow resort, with a wide range of facilities set amidst a backdrop of tropical gardens that reflect the tranquility and decor of the South Pacific islands.
Connect
Stay safe
Noosa is a sheltered beach, and south of the groyne usually experiences waves of around half a metre forming a continuous wave across the entire beach. North of the groyne (less protected by the headland, and more influenced by the river currents) is more likely to experience larger waves and rips.
The red and yellow flags which mark the safest and patrolled part of the beach, and you can check the beach conditions located on a small blackboard near the surf club.
Don't leave valuables unattended on the beach when swimming. There are lockers located in front of the police station on Hastings St.
Go next
| Routes through Noosa |
ENDS at N  S ← |
W  S |
→ Coolum → Caloundra |
| END ← | N  S |
→ Coolum → Brisbane via |
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