Where To Stay In Noosa
Noosa River Holiday Park is one the best located parks in the country, situated on the banks of the beautiful Noosa River whilst also being an easy 25 minute walk to the world famous Hastings St. and Noosa Main Beach. This isn’t a site rich in facilities but who needs a pool when you can go for a swim in the beautiful clear waters of this vast river. There are both Powered and Unpowered Sites here but no Cabins, so if you need roofed accommodation you’ll have to look elsewhere. Ingenia Holiday Noosa North would be our pick for cabins, but it isn’t particularly conveniently located.
Where To Eat & Drink In Noosa
Mornings are often started with a stroll up to the famous Hastings St. We recommend heading up to the Western end to get beyond the main hustle and bustle and enjoy a coffee and perhaps something to eat at Moonstruck. The food is as good as the coffee and we highly recommend the Bacon & Egg Roll, or if you’re after something a bit lighter any of the sweet treats in the cabinet are fantastic. You can dine in, but when you’re such a short walk to the beach why not get your food and drinks take-away and enjoy them on the sand. If you’re not keen on making the walk from Noosa River Holiday Park up to Hastings St, the shops at Noosa Sound are only 10 minutes walk away at Quamby Place. The Noosa Nosherie is your go to there for coffee or breakfast. In this lot of shops you’ll also find a great fish and chip shop but remember to order ahead as it gets particularly busy. For something a bit fancier, Rickys River Bar (also located at Noosa Sound) is a fine dining institution serving up Modern Australian cuisine with an incredible view perched right over the river. Back to Hastings St, the Noosa Surf Club is one of our favourite places in the world to enjoy a drink with a view so be sure to get down here one late afternoon and settle in on their deck for one of the best sunsets you’ll see. For lunch or dinner on Hastings St., you’re spoiled for options. We recommend Sails if you’re after something a bit more refined, or El Capitano for delicious pizzas in a bustling kid-friendly atmosphere.
What To Do In Noosa
The Noosa Coastal Walk that tracks through Noosa National Park is an iconic path that showcases one of Australia’s most famous coastlines in all its glory. Stretching 10.8km return from Noosa Heads to Sunshine Beach, this glorious walk weaves through the National Park and the surrounding coastline, with breathtaking ocean views set amongst lush nature. If you’re lucky you’ll even spot a koala or two. Plenty of Noosa’s unique beauty is due to its river system and you can’t properly appreciate this without getting out on the water in the river itself. There’s plenty of tours available, but if you’re confident enough we highly recommend hiring a boat. There’s several available that don’t require a licence and run at a very safe speed. Of course, a trip to Noosa would not be complete without spending plenty of time down at the beautiful Noosa Main Beach. With white sands, mostly calm waters (in the shallows) and a patrol for a significant amount of the year it's a great beach for all ages.
The Essentials
Noosa is a popular tourist town and has everything you need with multiple supermarkets, pharmacies and camping stores. Whilst Hastings St. is the tourist hub of the town, if you make the short drive to the Noosaville area you’ll find several other more practical, less tourist focused shops.
The Drive
As always, we give you the rundown on the drive you’ll take from the three closest capital cities.
From Brisbane - Just 160 km with most of your driving done on the M1, you’ll arrive in less than two hours.
From Sydney - A 1,067 km trip means that you’ll need several stops along this scenic coastal route. With Coffs Harbour as approximately a halfway point, we think targeting that area for a first stop is great and highly recommend South West Rocks. If you’re after a second stop after this you can’t go wrong with the Northern Rivers Region.
From Melbourne - A significant journey at 1,925 km which will require a minimum of three stops in our experience. You’ll start your journey heading straight inland and there’s various overnight options around the Snowy Valley in NSW. After that, you’ll make your way along the coastal route and we’d recommend stopping at Seal Rocks first and then another in the Northern Rivers. There’s lots of options along this coast.
