Noosa is hands down my favourite place in Australia. If I had to pack my bags and move to one place tomorrow for the rest of my life, Noosa would be that place. Located on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia, Noosa is one of the most charming and beautiful places to visit. So if you’re already planning to visit Noosa, you’re in for a treat. Here’s my Noosa travel guide, covering everything you need to know to plan your trip!
Noosa, Sunshine Coast: Everything you need to know
How long to spend in Noosa?
Located on Australia’s East Coast, Noosa is a wonderful destination for both a weekend getaway and a long trip, as well as an excellent stop point on an East Coast road trip.
I really love Noosa. So highly I recommend spending as long as possible here! But the good thing is, a weekend in Noosa is long enough to see the highlights. It’s just the longer you can spend, the more you can soak it up and pretend you live here too!
How to get to Noosa?
If you’re flying in from another location in Australia, such as Melbourne or Sydney, you should be able to fly directly into the Sunshine Coast airport (also known as Maroochydore). This is only 35km (30 minutes) by road from Main Beach in Noosa.
Brisbane Airport is the nearest major airport for international flights, and is approximately 145km (1hrs50) from Noosa.
You can easily pick up a rental car at both airports to head to Noosa. Alternatively, you can use a transfer service such as this one from Brisbane (from £15 per person).
If you’re arriving in Noosa by road, then the driving times are approximately:
- Just under 2 hours from Brisbane
- 3hrs from the Gold Coast
- 3hrs30 from Byron Bay
- 13.5 hrs from Sydney
- 18hrs from Cairns
- 26.5 hrs from Melbourne
Note, there is no train station in Noosa. The nearest station is 15 miles away but its train services are not very convenient.
A slightly random suggestion here, but a fun slice of Sunshine Coast history is the Big Pineapple which you can see on your way in or out of Noosa.
It started out in the early 1970s as a family-run pineapple farm and roadside attraction on the drive between Brisbane and the coast. It later closed before reopening under new ownership with a cafe, a shop, a small zoo, a children’s train ride and rainforest walks. It’s not in Noosa itself (it’s further south, near Nambour), but it makes a natural stop if you’re driving up from Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast Airport. Entry and climbing the pineapple itself are free.
When is the best time of year to go to Noosa?
Noosa is blessed with tropical weather nearly all year, making it the perfect beach destination.
The hottest time of year is from December to February, but with this comes very high humidity and increased rainfall, particularly in the afternoons.
During the winter months of July and August, the temperature does drop slightly but is still comfortable and makes for delightful beach weather.
However, it is widely considered that spring and autumn, from April to June and September to November are the very best times to go to Noosa. Visitors can expect long, sunny, dry days – the perfect weather for exploring the national parks and beaches.
If you visit in May, then your trip may coincide with the Noosa Food and Wine Festival with more than 80 chefs and sommeliers joining from across the world. And if you visit in September and October, you may spot whales from the coastline as they migrate north.
If you’re visiting other areas in Australia, then make sure to check out my detailed climate guide here.
Where to stay in Noosa?
There are some seriously beautiful places to stay in Noosa, especially near the coast. Although Noosa is a fairly upscale town, it’s easy to find accommodation in Noosa covering all budgets and preferences.
Noosa Heads, particularly around Hastings Street, puts you within walking distance of Main Beach, the national park entrance and most restaurants and shops, so ideal if you want to get around on foot.
Noosaville, a bit further along the river, tends to be quieter and better value, with easy access to the Noosa River.
Sunshine Beach, just south, is a good option if you want a more local, less touristy feel while still being close to the action.
Best luxury hotels: There are some amazing luxury hotels in Noosa. Some of best would include Noosa Shores Resort (apartments start from around £232 per night), the popular Elysium Noosa Resort – MGallery Collection (from around £300 per night) and the boutique Netanya (from around £494 per night)
However, there’s also the more affordable Tingirana (from around £292 per night) and Peppers Resort located directly on the beach (from £234 per night)
Good value stays: My favourite place to stay in Noosa is Hastings House. The rooms are simple but have a relaxed beach theme, with small balconies and a parking spot too. This small hotel is best known however for its restaurant downstairs, which is by far one of the best places to eat in Noosa! Rates start from about £165 per night.
Best hostels: Nomads Backpackers is the best spot for backpackers and travellers in town, and it has some really impressive facilities. Dorm rooms start at £30, or a double is £71. Another option is camping at the Noosa North Shore Campground if you fancy sleeping in the heart of nature.
It’s worth noting that you cannot stay in the popular Noosa National Park, not even camp. It is very much only open for day visits.
Where to eat in Noosa
There are some amazing places to eat in Noosa, covering delicious açai bowls, smoothie bowls, Mexican food, Spanish food, delicious burgers and local Aussie delicacies such as grilled barramundi and kangaroo fillets.
Here are some of my favourite foodie spots:
- TEN (located at the bottom of Hastings House)
- Taco Boy for Mexican cuisine
- Betty’s Burgers for the best burgers and concrete milkshakes around
- Noosa Surf Lifesaving Club for hearty portions of seafood and a beer (or three)
- Olakino for smoothies and brunch
- Halse Lodge, known for its excellent fish tacos!
- Bistro C is right on Hastings Street and known for its seafood, oysters, steak and a signature seafood pasta.
- SAILS offers fine dining and widely regarded as one of Noosa’s best restaurants.
Getting Around Noosa
Exploring all the best attractions in Noosa can easily be done on foot, if you’re staying centrally near Hastings Street. Otherwise, I recommend hiring a car in order to get around easily and to also explore more attractions on the Sunshine Coast.
We found parking in Noosa could be a little tricky, but normally a space would become available after a few rounds of the car park.
There is a public bus system in Noosa which is fairly comprehensive, and tends to cover most of the main beaches and attractions. You can find out more here.
Alternatively, there are plenty of well-priced tours and excursions covering all the main attractions and places to visit from Noosa.
Quick FAQ
Is Noosa safe for swimming? Noosa’s main beaches are patrolled by lifesavers, and it’s worth always swimming between the flags, particularly at Main Beach and Sunshine Beach. Conditions can change quickly, so check flag status and any posted warnings before heading in, especially at less-patrolled spots like the Fairy Pools.
Are there sharks in Noosa? Sharks are present in the waters around Noosa, as they are along most of the Australian coastline, but attacks are extremely rare and shark nets are in place at patrolled beaches to help protect swimmers.
Best things to do in Noosa
Visit the Noosa Heads National Park
This is the first thing any travel guide suggests as the best thing to do in Noosa, and for good reason. This stunning national park is so accessible, with phenomenal scenery, free entry and countless things to do and see. The park is beautifully maintained, with easy walking tracks and the chance to spot koalas in the eucalyptus trees above.
You can walk to the entrance from Noosa Main Beach along a wooden boardwalk besides the ocean, meaning you don’t even need to use transport or a car to get there.
If you do drive, there is parking at the entrance which is free – but fills up quickly. If you’re planning to spend the day, then I recommend going early. You will also find clean toilets, a small shop and picnic tables.
My favourite beaches in Noosa are Little Cove Beach (alongside the boardwalk), Tea Tree Bay (approx 20 minute walk from the entrance) and also Alexandria Beach (approx 45 min walk from the entrance).
There are 5 main walking tracks to consider. The Coastal Track is the most popular and is 10.8km return. It takes in all the beautiful beaches along the coast, before finishing at Hell’s Gate. The first portion of this track is paved so accessible, and later on the route, it becomes more uneven and rocky.
The other tracks are:
Palm Grove Circuit: 1.1km circuit through the rainforest. Approx 15-30 minutes
Noosa Hill Track: 2.8km return through the woodlands. Approx 1-1.5 hours
Tanglewood Track: 8km route through the rainforest and woodlands, finishing at Hell’s Gate so combines well with a return along the Coastal Track
Alexandria Bay: 4.2km return to the furthest point within the national park, taking up to 1.5-2 hours
Another spot worth finding are the Fairy Pools. Tucked near Granite Bay inside Noosa National Park, the Fairy Pools are natural tidal rock pools formed by waves eroding the basalt coastline. They fill with seawater, giving you a sheltered spot to swim without the open-ocean current, though conditions can still change quickly, so keep an eye on the sea.
They’re roughly 45 minutes’ walk one way from the car park. To get there, follow the Coastal Track towards Hell’s Gate, then bear off-trail to the right once you reach it. There are only two pools, no facilities, and the track gets rocky, so pack water, snacks, sunscreen and proper shoes. Water levels shift with the tide. Low tide gives you calmer pools to actually swim in, while high tide means more wave action washing through.
Explore Hastings Street
This is the main street in Noosa, which runs parallel to Main Beach. It is charming, with fairy lights strung between the trees that dazzle in the evening. There’s something about Noosa that feels so different to other beach towns in Australia. It has such a pleasant, atmospheric feel and the most relaxed, welcoming vibe.
The restaurants lining both sides of Hasting Streets spill into the pavement in the afternoon and evening for al fresco drinks and dinner. The tables often face outwards like in Paris, so you can watch the world go by over a delicious cocktail or wine.
There’s also some excellent shopping, from quaint boutique stores, surf shops or high end clothes stores. You’ll see everyone shopping alongside you, from backpackers to honeymooning couples.
Visit the Farmers Markets
Australia loves farmers markets, and Noosa is no exception.
Noosa hosts a Sunday market from 7am to 12pm at the Noosa AFL Grounds on Weyba Road, with local growers and producers selling organic produce such as raw honey, kombucha and delicious homemade preservatives. This is a market more focused on food, but in nearby Eumundi, there is another popular Farmer’s Market, running Wednesday and Saturdays until 1pm or so since 1979.
This is one of the most established markets in Queensland, with hundreds of stalls covering local produce, handmade pottery, hand-blown glass, jewellery, sandals, soaps and street food, plus regular live music, especially over the Christmas period. It’s easy to lose a whole morning here.
Watch the sunset from Laguna Lookout
Perched on top of Noosa Hill, Laguna Lookout is a large circular concrete platform giving sweeping views over the town, the Noosa River, and out to sea — and on a clear day, all the way to the Glasshouse Mountains. There’s a dial set into the platform pointing out exactly what you’re looking at in each direction, which is a nice touch if you’re not familiar with the area. There are no benches here, so bring a blanket or something to sit on if you want to properly settle in for sunset.
Get surfing
Noosa is famed for its watersports and surf lifestyle. Whether you’re a regular surfer, or keen to learn, you won’t be disappointed with the waves in Noosa.
The lessons take place in the shallow, calm waters of Noosa Main Beach and are all with qualified local surfers. Book your surf lesson online in advance here (from £50).
Visit Land & Sea Brewery
Noosa’s first brewery, Land & Sea, opened in 2018, and is located in an awesome industrial style venue, complete with a restaurant and bar. There’s also a free shuttle bus to take you back to Noosa, so no worries and getting home after a few beers!
Adjacent is also Noosa’s first gin distillery, Noosa Heads Distillery (home of Fortune Fine Spirits), so this can definitely be a full day activity if you fancy!
Or why not join a half-day craft brewery tour, visiting this brewery plus three others (from £159 per person).
Hike Mt Coolum
Just under 30 minutes’ drive south of Noosa (or reachable by the #620 bus if you’re not driving), Mt Coolum is a dome-shaped peak rising 208m above sea level. Local Aboriginal legend tells of a warrior named Coolum who was killed in battle and beheaded. His body became the mountain, and his head is said to have floated out to sea to form Mudjimba Island.
The main trail is about 1.5km one way, starting through forest before the vegetation thins to shrubs near the top. It’s a steep climb and gets slippery when wet, so it’s best avoided straight after rain. The reward at the top is a 360-degree panorama over the Sunshine Coast.
Explore Noosa’s beaches
The Sunshine Coast in Australia is renowned for its world class beaches, and Noosa’s are postcard-perfect. The sand is perfectly white, and the water clear and turquoise. Some of the beaches are best for surfing, such as Noosa Main Beach or some of those in the national park such Alexandria Bay. Some are dog-friendly such as Noosa Dog Beach and some are perfect for swimming, particularly those at Noosa Spit where the water is protected, so it is extra calm and shallow.
I personally love Tea Tree Bay and Little Cove Beach in Noosa. Both are lined with palm trees and offer calm, transparent water for swimming.
Noosa Main Beach also hosts daily beach yoga sessions each morning, with mats provided, making it an easy way to start the day before the crowds arrive. Classes are aimed at all levels, so it’s not just for the experienced. If you’d rather do your own thing without a class, Sunshine Beach and Castaways Beach are quieter alternatives for a solo stretch at sunrise or sunset.
Wander through the Noosa Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens cover around 8 hectares just behind Main Beach and is a good option for a quieter, shadier few hours, especially in the middle of a hot day. Highlights include a subtropical plant section with picnic areas, a Bush Chapel known for its flowering displays, and an outdoor stone amphitheatre with water views that occasionally hosts live music and events.
The gardens have free entry and are open 24 hours a day.
Hire a boat and explore the Noosa River
The beautiful, sparkling Noosa River winds its way around the tiny inland islands, mostly home to stunning houses and rentals, before meeting the Coral Sea near to Noosa Main Beach. A day spent on a small boat around the canals of the Noosa River is magical. You can anchor the boat wherever you please and jump in for a swim, or maybe even find your own secluded beach. Most of the boats have cooler boxes (called eskies in Australia) as well as BBQ facilities, so come prepared and you can spend the full day on the water.
You don’t need a license to hire a boat, called a BBQ pontoon boat as they are simple to drive and manage. For a 6 seater, for example, prices cost approximate AUD$105 for the first hour, then AUD$52 after that, or AUD$469 for the full day. They have all the equipment and tools needed for a BBQ, as well as SUP boards and fishing equipment.
There’s also a smaller variety of boat called a polycraft which takes 5 people, with rates starting at AUD$60 for the first hour, and AUD$30 after that.
If you’d rather not take charge of a pontoon boat yourself, the Noosa Ferry runs cruises to seven stops along the river. Choose from daytime sightseeing cruises with commentary on the local wildlife and islands, sunset cruises, or lunch and dinner cruises for something a bit more special.
Book a Noosa River Sunset Cruise here! (from £20 per person)
Kayak around the Noosa Everglades
Not only does Noosa have an amazing national park, world class beaches and a beautiful river, but it is also one of two places in the world with an Everglades system. The other is in Florida near Miami.
The Noosa Everglades are considered one of the region’s ‘best kept secrets’, and are a hidden oasis, where you can float along in admiring the nature and appreciating the gentle sounds of the surrounding forest. You must first cross Lake Cootharaba which is a little more strenuous, but then you can float and bob along the narrow waterways. Here you can spot up to 700 animals native to Australia and hundreds of bird species too. There are also 1,365 species of plants in this area.
Arrange your Everglades kayaking adventure here (from £52 per person)
Enjoy a dolphin-watching safari
Go on a dolphin-watching safari by kayak (from £95 per person), where your chances of seeing dolphins are super high. Departing from the harbour in Noosaville, you head out by speedboat, so make sure to hold on!
Not only can you spot dolphins, but you may also see sea turtles and other marine life. It’s also a magical way to take in the views and landscape of Noosa National Park from the water.
Escape to a lake instead of the beach
If you fancy a change from saltwater, Currimundi Lake on Noosa’s North Shore is a good option. It even once won an award for Queensland’s cleanest beach and sits alongside a surf beach, so you get both in one spot (though the ocean side can get a bit rough for swimming).
Lake Cooroibah, closer to town, is another calm freshwater alternative, good for kayaking, paddleboarding or a bit of fishing and birdwatching away from the main beach crowds
Best things to do near Noosa and surrounds
Visit K’gari (formerly Fraser Island)
Famous for being the world’s largest sand island, this amazing natural wonder is just 2 hours’ drive from Noosa. Fraser Island was officially renamed K’gari in June 2023, restoring the traditional name used by the Butchulla people, its traditional owners — you’ll now see it referred to as K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) across signage and tourism material. You can visit as a day trip, but if you can spare the time, it’s incredible to spend a few days exploring and camping at night.
Tours leave daily from Noosa to K’gari and this is an absolute must-do on the East Coast. Highlights include 4×4 safaris on the off-road tracks, beach driving, swimming in sparkling lakes, tubing on Eli Creek and bonfires in the evening, if you stay overnight.
Organise your K’gari adventure here!
Rainbow Beach
Often considered the gateway to K’gari (along with nearby Hervey Bay), this is a lovely area to visit – especially for its epic sand dunes. It’s great fun to climb over the dunes and appreciate the stunning views along the coastline, but you can also arrange exhilarating horse riding along the beach.
To add to the adventure, if you have a 4WD, you can drive along the Great Beach Drive (part of the Great Sandy National Park) from Rainbow Beach back to Noosa. This roughly 70–80km stretch of bright white sand is easily one of the most beautiful drives in Australia. If you don’t have a 4WD, then you can join a tour such as this one.
Go hiking in the hinterland
Away from the beach, Noosa is located a short drive from the beautiful hinterland, where there are scenic hiking routes as part of the Noosa Trail Network. One excellent hike is the nearby Mount Tinbeerwah, and another is a little further out in the Glasshouse Mountains.
It can definitely be easier to visit the hinterland on a tour such as this one (from £90 per person), which takes you to the mountains, along rainforest routes and to lesser known waterfall spots.
Skydive over the beautiful Sunshine Coast
An absolute must for thrill-seekers! Jumping from a 15,000ft plane offers views like no other across the spectacular Sunshine Coast!
Book your Noosa tandem skydive in advance here! (from £174 per person)
Meet Australia’s unique wildlife at Australia Zoo
Just around an hour away from Noosa is one of the East Coast’s most iconic attractions, Australia Zoo. Made famous by, of course, the beloved Steve Irwin, the zoo is an incredible day out with countless opportunities to get up close and personal with some of the native creatures of Australia.
Included with this awesome tour is entry to the zoo and the wildlife hospital, as well as return transfers from the Sunshine Coast, making it a hassle free outing! (from £90 per person).
Noosa Travel Guide
So that’s my guide to the beautiful town of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.
I hope this guide is useful for you if you’re heading to Australia. If you’re planning to travel the East Coast of Australia, then do make sure to check out my detailed road trip itinerary guide here.
For further Australia features, you may find the following useful:
- Sailing the Whitsunday Islands in Australia: A Complete Guide
- Best Day Trips from Cairns: 10 Activities Not to Miss Near Cairns
- Cairns to Cape Tribulation & The Daintree Rainforest: A Road Trip Itinerary
- Exploring the Australian Outback: Darwin to Alice Springs on the Ghan Train
- Best Time to Visit Australia – Climate Guide to All Regions in Australia
- Australia East Coast Road Trip Itinerary: A Complete Guide
If there’s anything else I can share or answer for you, please do let me know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This Noosa travel guide is based on multiple visits to Noosa, Australia. There was no involvement from any local companies or the tourist board. However icelolly.com arranged the local tour to go dolphin watching in Noosa.
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