Noosa
We have a soft spot for Noosa as we lived here for a few years. I love the beaches because they cater for everyone; there are great spots for the kids with shallow waters, surf for the boarders and some of the most beautiful beaches your dog will ever play on. As a local I would spend weekends picking up a coffee from one of our local cafes and heading for a play at a beach, playground or park with the kids. Noosa has an amazing foodie scene as well so drop into the Noosa Farmers Markets (it is a health nuts heaven) or if you’re lucky enough to be in the area at the right time the food and wine festival is the place to be.
Things We Can Suggest
Noosa national park is a track with breathtaking views following the coastline. You will see dolphins and whales at the right time of year. Koalas inhabit this area as well and can sometimes be seen in the trees. It’s an easy walk up, although plan to take about an hour and a half there and back. The local surfers will run past barefoot with their boards. To avoid the main beach crowds you can pack your swimmers and stop off at one of the bays along this walk.
Gympie terrace river walk is another family friendly thing to do. Bring your bike or take a stroll watching the boaters go back and forth. You are able to hire boats and other water sports equipment along here as well. Or for a less aerobic way to enjoy the river you could take a cruise on a ferry. The river is also a great spot for littlies to enjoy a swim; park yourself at the playground end and they will be amused for hours.
Main beach can be done in conjunction with a browse along the famous Hastings street or after a walk through the national park. It’s a great beach for swimming and a lot of beginner surfers start out here. Noosa surf club overlooks the beach and is a good way to take a break from the sun. The only bad part about here is the parking- good luck!
Noosa doggie beach (Noosa spit)can be found by driving on Hastings street and through Noosa woodlands. From here you can see the 4WDs across the mouth of the river.
Sunshine beach is a gorgeous surf beach and at the end closest to the rocks is a section where your dog can have a run while off the lead. The surf club here is not as busy as the Noosa one and it still has magnificent views. They have a grassy area outside where the kids can have a run so this is another tick for my family. There are cafes and restaurants here as well which are all equally amazing.
Noosa Everglades is a must for the outdoor enthusiast. You can hire a kayak and camp your way along. The Mirrored dark waterways reflect the trees alongside. It took me a long time to explore here and with young kids I still haven’t seen it in all its glory. Seeing as we had young kids we drove to Harry’s hut (heard it won’t be open to the public soon) with camping gear to explore this section of the Everglades. If I found a babysitter though I would have done the full kayak/camping experience. It’s still on my to do list.
Laguna lookout is a quick stop off you can do whenever you get the time. It is a short drive for views over Noosa and the North Shore. You can also do a hike down to Hastings street from here. Last time I did this it wasn’t well signed but you do eventually get there in the end.
Noosa North Shore can be accessed by 4WD from Tewantin Ferry. There is a bit more info in the ‘Inskip peninsula’ section of my page.
Tips
- Although Noosa mostly is a dog friendly place (you will find a lot of cafes accomodate dogs) there are still parts like the national park and Cooloola coast beaches that don’t allow dogs. Web sites such as Madpaws and Pawshake have a large number of pet sitters if you are going to be gone for a while.
- If you are having parking troubles leave your vehicle at Noosa junction and catch a bus to Hastings.