Noosa Gold Coast

Blessed with a wonderful climate all year-round, there is no bad time to make a trip over the Tasman to the beautiful Noosa.

Situated less than two hours drive north of Brisbane, Noosa has so much to offer any visitor who is lucky enough to find themselves on The Sunshine Coast.
From the golden-sand beaches that run as far as the eye can see to the variety of cafes and restaurants that line the famous Hastings Street – you will have no trouble filling in the days with pure fun and relaxation.
Whether it is a girls’ weekend away or the next family holiday, Noosa will provide wonderful holiday memories.

GETTING THERE

The easiest way to get there is by flying into Brisbane and then getting a transfer up to Noosa. There are quite a few companies running this sort of service and the general charge is $40 one-way per adult.

Or alternatively, pick up a rental from Brisbane airport and make the easy drive north yourselves.

Pacific Blue are now offering fares from as low as $99 one way to Brisbane. If you can book at the right time, and for the right time then make the most of these! I flew Pacific Blue and given that I had fairly low expectations (and as a result my own water and food for the flight) it was very adequate. If you do end up on Pacific Blue, take your own entertainment as well – the only electronic entertainment available is $15 plus $2.50 for earphones.

ACCOMMODATION
Noosa is made up of three small Noosas. There is Noosaville, Noosa Junction and Noosa Heads. If you choose not to have a rental car, I would recommend staying at Noosa Heads. It’s within walking distance of everything you will need and is a truly stunning spot.

ACTIVE ACTIVITIES
A trip to Noosa is not complete without a walk, run or ride through the beautiful Noosa National Park, the most visited park in Australia. There are numerous well-maintained tracks of varying distances, from 4km to 26km. There are also several lookouts along the tracks with panoramic views of the coast, hinterland and valleys.

At the start of the tracks there are very detailed maps where you can choose your route then follow the signposts.

For the even more adventurous among us drop into one of the ‘learn to surf’ companies and take the plunge in the rolling Noosa surf. From $55 for 2 hours it is money well spent if this is on your life’s list of ‘things to do’.

If not, perhaps the following category will be of more interest.

NOT-SO ACTIVE ACTIVITIES
Needless to say the beaches are just fabulous and a day (if not days) can be spent just relaxing on the golden sand. The water is warm and the rolling surf makes for some great body surfing.

There are numerous options when it comes to fishing trips or boat tours through the maze of canals and rivers that surround Noosa. Or hire your own boat and explore the greater Noosa area by water.

Hastings Street offers some great options for the shoppers at heart. Also, if time allows, check out the Eumundi markets – every Wednesday and Saturday mornings and only a short bus trip away.

The Brisbane Zoo became famous around the world after the passing of great Australian, Steve Irwin. It is located on the highway between Brisbane and Noosa, so allow some extra time on the way up or back and duck in for a gander!

For lots more information on the numerous things to do in Noosa check out the Stay and Play section of the Noosa Tourism website. www.tourismnoosa.com.au