Long term readers of this blog may or may not know that I grew up on the Sunshine Coast, near Noosa. My parents still live there, at a place called Pomona. It’s a small, sleepy town, however with the beaches of the Noosa region only 25 minutes away, it was a great place to grow up.
A few years ago, after too many New Year’s Eve parties filled with much hype and expectations; my husband and I decided to have a short holiday break at Noosa for New Years Eve. That was about five years ago, and we’ve been there every NYE since, bar last year when Hannah was only a few weeks’ old.
This most recent New Year’s Eve we (along with a few friends) hired a house located at Castaways Beach, near Sunrise and Sunshine Beach. We found the house on Stayz and with the knowledge that it had a pool set off for our little holiday. We spent five nights and days lolling about, swimming in the pool, eating and enjoying a few drinks; and doing a few of my favourite Noosa activities, of which I thought I’d share with you today.
Noosa is one of those holiday destinations that allows you to spend what you want to spend. Sure, you can travel to Noosa and live in the lap of luxury with fantastic restaurants, five star hotels and amazing boutiques at your doorstep – but it’s also quite easy to holiday in Noosa cheaply.
Here’s a bit of a low down on my picks of what to do, where to stay and of course most importantly, where to buy your morning coffee hit in Noosa.
Where to stay
Firstly, hiring a house is a cheaper option than hotels, especially if you’re travelling with a group or a large family. Check out Stayz.com, and for ease of access to Noosa Heads and Hastings St, try Noosa Sound, Little Cove, Noosa Heads or Noosa Hill. If you don’t mind staying out a bit further, try Noosaville, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach or Castaways. Noosaville (especially along the river or near the river) is a fantastic spot for families – there’s plenty of restaurants, cafés and kids can swim in the river; or jump in the car for a 5 minutes drive to Hastings St and Main Beach.
Sunshine, Sunrise and Castaways Beaches are beautiful however are all unprotected from the weather and the surf can be quite rough – something to keep in mind if you have small children. Castaways Beach is not patrolled, although it is a dog-friendly beach.
If you can afford to stay at a hotel, the options along Hastings Street are perfectly in the action. Check Wotif for good options, many offer specials on 3 or more nights. There is no really bad time to travel to Noosa, however the Noosa Triathlon (1 November 2015) is a huge event and unless you’re competing, I’d steer clear. Christmas and Easter are also extremely busy periods so book early if you’re after those times.
Many hours were spent swimming in this bad boy.
Where to eat
There are so many options in Noosa, but here a few of my favourites.
For coffee, try Aromas on Hastings Street for a spot of people watching; Little Cove on Weyba Road, Noosaville for a strong coffee and roastery; and Wonderland on Hastings St (up near the French Quarter hotel) for a good takeaway to take onto the beach.
For breakfast, some of my favourites in Noosa Heads are The Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, or the fancier options Bistro C, Gaston, Rococo or Season.
Lunch and dinner, try any of the lovely restaurants on the beach (it’s best to book, or alternatively try the Surf Club or Sunshine Beach Surf Club for a casual meal) or if you do travel further out, try Noosaville. We also cook a lot of our lunches and dinners – there are a multitude of Coles and Woolworths in the region, the closest to the beach is at the Junction.
Lucky we have friends who know how to cook 🙂
Crispy skin barramundi from the Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club
Wonderland coffee on Hastings St
Where to shop
Hastings Street is my go-to for holiday shopping (or browsing) with plenty of affordable options among the expensive buys. One of my favourite cute clothes shops is Goddess on Hastings St, for affordable sundresses, tops, shorts and playsuits.
If you’re a thrift shopper, my favourite op shop is at Noosa Outlook in Tewantin – it’s run by the local Carramar retirement village and there’s often some really amazing buys to be had. If you’re up for a little drive, give it a go. Last time I was there I picked up a little vintage top for about $2.
The closest shopping mall to Noosa Heads is Noosa Civic – easy to get to from the major areas and includes the closest discount department store, Big W. If you’re after affordable groceries and drinks, the Noosa Village shopping centre is near a large Dan Murphys store too.
Affordable things to do
Of course, Noosa’s calling card is the beach. It’s free, parking is plentiful early in the morning (or late in the afternoon, if not try your luck or catch a taxi/bus) and there’s plenty of showers etc to wash off afterwards. It’s a great place for swimming, people watching or just relaxing with a good book. And if you’re the active type, there’s plenty of surfing lesson companies or stand up paddle boarding to be had.
There’s also the walk through the national park – it’s a must-do at least once. Another great active thing to do is climbing Mt Coolum or Mt Cooroora at Pomona. They’re both only a short drive away from Noosa.
One of my favourite things to do in Noosa now we have a baby is to have breakfast (at home or at a beachfront restaurant), grab a coffee then stroll along the beach and then go for a swim once the breakfast has worn off. Morning is a great time for Hannah, and once we’ve been for a swim she’s often ready for a nap.
If you’re up for venturing out, try one of the local markets. Eumundi is super popular but I haven’t been in years as it got a little too busy. It’s also on Wednesdays so try it then for a smaller crowd. Most small local towns have village markets too that are worth a look.
The drive from Sunshine Beach to Maroochydore along the ocean is so picturesque so if you’re after a cool drive, give it a try. Coolum is another lovely place to stop for a swim or fish and chips on the beach.
One of the best things about Noosa, I find, is the relaxed vibe. Grab a book, or two, and just chill out.
If you’re without kids, you’ll also find once the sun goes down, the relaxed party vibe of Noosa is in full swing. One of our favourite cheap and cheerful (and fun) nights out is karaoke at the Surf Club on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Great for a laugh.
Sunrise Beach, Noosa
Hannah now loves the sand 🙂
What to wear
Apart from your swimming costumes, you’ll need a couple of cover-ups (kaftan or cool sarong), a couple of floaty beach dresses, some shorts, tshirts and runners for the national park walk and a couple of dressier (but not too dressy) outfits for dinner. Everything is dialled down a bit in this holiday town, so don’t stress about heels – some nice sandals, a pair of thongs and perhaps a pair of wedges or mid-level wooden heels will do you in the shoe department. (Note, I wore this gorgeous St Frock maxi dress {gifted} on New Year’s Eve – it’s AUD$69 here)
Here’s what I wore New Years Eve this year. It’s from St Frock.
Outfit for lolling about the pool.
One of my favourite dresses at the moment is this Mexican dress I bought at the markets.
Getting there
Noosa is an easy drive from Brisbane – about 1.5 hours north, and is easily accessible off the highway.
Have you been to Noosa? Any travel tips I have missed that you’d like to share?