Located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa is a true gem in Australia and an absolute must-visit if you’re travelling the area. Having lived there for the best part of a year, we feel like we’re in a good position to recommend a few of the best things to see and do. This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a great place to start if you’re visiting for the first time.
We recommend visiting Noosa for a minimum of 4 nights to ensure you have enough time to see everything, visit everywhere and have some time for the all important relaxation!
(Tip – if you only have a weekend there, check out out blog post on how to spend the weekend in Noosa!).
- Visit Hastings Street
Hastings Street is where the magic happens. It’s got something for everyone – gorgeous shops, delicious restaurants, trendy bars that will make you feel fancy even if you’re just ordering a diet coke, and it’s also a mere hop, skip and a jump away from Noosa Main Beach. (We love to nip into Yo-Chi – yes, it’s worth the hype – and then wander across to the beach and watch the world go by).
Hastings Street is the hub of Noosa. Gorgeous and the day and even more beautiful at night when the fairy lights on the trees light up. A lot of the bars and restaurants along the street have a daily happy hour – whether it’s cheap oysters, discounted drinks or $10 pizzas.
*Check out our Noosa restaurant guide here!*
To put it plainly, you simply cannot take a trip to Noosa without spending time at the iconic Hastings Street!
Did you know that Noosa has its very own Everglades? Yep, and it’s just one of only two Everglade systems in the world.
It’s a tranquil paradise full of stunning reflections (you won’t know which way is up!) and wildlife – we were lucky enough to spot a koala! Well, I say that…koalas are notoriously difficult to spot and sadly, I didn’t wear my glasses because I was worried I would fall out of my kayak and lose them, so I didn’t actually see it with my own eyes. There was definitely one there, and everyone else saw it. I did eventually see it through my camera lens when my fiance zoomed in. Anyway, moral of the story is that if you want to see a koala and you wear glasses, make sure you have them on. Chances are, you will not fall out of the kayak. (Disclaimer, if you do fall out and lose your glasses…sorry about that).
Anyway, you can explore the Everglades by kayak, take a guided boat tour, or do a bit of both! We chose a 50/50 tour, so half of it was a guided boat tour and half was a self guided kayak tour. Best of both worlds! Either way, it’s like stepping into another world – so peaceful!
3. Noosa National Park Walk
This one’s a classic, and it’s free! Yay!
Noosa National Park has walking trails for all fitness levels, but the Coastal Walk is the real MVP. Think dramatic ocean views, secret beaches, and, if you’re lucky, a surprise koala sighting. Make sure to pack water and your swimmers! The water in the coves along the walk is hard to resist.
Along this walk, you will find the Noosa Fairy Pools. Imo, they’re not all that and they’re a bit of a scramble to get down to. You can always enjoy the view from the main path, but if you want to get down to them, be prepared for a slightly tricky descent…and a queue of influencers!
4. Noosa Main Beach
Noosa Main Beach is the heart and soul of Noosa. It’s massive and perfect for swimming, lounging, or pretending you know how to surf. The water’s lush, the sand’s soft and its’ just an all round good vibe. Handily, it’s also the start of the Noosa National Park Coastal Walk and right next to Hastings Street!
Now, When we say everyone on Noosa Main Beach has a CoolCabana, we really mean everyone. We decided to go budget and got a beach umbrella from K-Mart. Sadly, we couldn’t get it to stay stood up and it did fall directly on to us many, many times. It was really embarrassing. Wouldn’t’ t recommend. If anyone knows how to correctly position the K-Mart beach umbrellas, hit us up.
If you aren’t fully equipped for a day at the beach, there is a handy little truck from which you can rent surf boards, camp chairs, deck chairs, umbrellas…you name it! And they’re really decent prices too.
Once you’re done at the beach (or if you prefer to look at it rather than partake!) grab a coffee or a sneaky cocktail at the Surf and Life Saving Club, The BoardWalk Bistro or Bistro C, which all overlook the beach.
5. Noosa Junction
For a slightly less touristy vibe, Noosa Junction is where it’s at. It’s got cool bars, unique shops, and some affordable (and delicious) eats. It’s a great spot to unwind after a day at the beach – cocktail in hand, obviously.
4 Pines Brewery, Mr Drifter, Monkey Punch, Light Years and Someday’s Pizza are just a few of the options for food and drinks at Noosa Junction. There are also some great spots for breakfast and grabbing a coffee and even a cinema.
On select days there is live music on at both The Village Bicycle and New York Minute and 4 Pines even has a nightly specials on food and drink and a quiz night!
6. Gympie Terrace
Gympie Terrace is the perfect spot for a laid-back afternoon. Situated along the Noosa River, it’s packed with picnic spots, BBQ areas, and enough restaurants to keep your foodie heart happy. It’s also a great place to rent a boat (see below!) or just sit and watch the world go by.
The Boathouse has a first floor bar which is a great place to grab a cocktail and watch the sunset over the water, as well as having a takeaway fish and chip shop and hosts live music on the lawn every Friday (weather dependent!).
Not only is the river a great place to spot the local pelicans, it’s also home to one of Australia’s iconic ‘Big Things’…The Big Pelican! So that’s one to cross off your bucket list. (We’re only half joking with this. We passed the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour a lot of times on our road trip and now the ‘Big Things’ has become a bit of a thing for us. Lol).
Anyway, see number 7 for another must-do in Noosa, that you can do from Gympie Terrace!
7. Hire a Boat
So, speaking of the Noosa River, why not hire a boat for a day? This is a fan fave in Noosa and something you absolutely have to do when you visit!
Sail along the river and admire all of the fabulous houses, dock for a barbecue and if you fancy, try your hand at fishing . Hopefully you’ll have better luck than us. Spoiler – we didn’t catch anything and snapped the line on the first cast. Oops. Most of the boats for hire offer fishing gear for no extra charge and have a built in barbecue. You can even hire a bluetooth speaker, bring your own drinks and enjoy a few hours on the river.
You don’t need a license for most of them, so even we managed to pull this one off without crashing into anything. Pack a cooler, bring your mates, and just cruise around.
8. Jet Ski Ocean Tour
Feeling adventurous? A jet ski safari is a great way to get your pulses racing!
Starting from the Noosa River, the jet ski tours take you out via Noosa Spit to the ocean. Have some fun, ride the waves and if you’re lucky, you might even spot some dolphins!
Now, I’m going to be honest. Jet skiing is really not my thing. And a word of warning, those waves do not mess around. In other words, yes, we did tip over and fall off the jet ski. Then we couldn’t get back on. It’s harder than it looks, okay?! So yeah, be careful. Anyway, although generally speaking, jet skiing isn’t my number one choice, the rest of the group absolutely loved it. The thrill, the freedom, the coastline! I can see why this is a really popular activity, and Noosa is a great place to do it.
9. Catch a Noosa Sunset
Okay, this is a non-negotiable. You must make time to catch one of Noosa’s spectacular sunsets.
The sky at sunset is gorgeous anywhere in Noosa, but there are a few spots that we love to catch it from. Noosa Spit, Culgoa Point, Noosa River, Laguna Lookout are just a few great places.
*Check out our Noosa sunset guide here!*
Whether you enjoy watching the sun go down at the beach, in a bar sipping a cocktail, eating dinner or on top of a mountain, the Noosa sunsets are guaranteed to delight.
10. Eumundi Markets
We might technically be cheating by including this because it’s in Eumundi, not Noosa. But trust us, it’s worth the short drive (or you can get a bus ride from Noosa!). If you are driving, just a heads up that the markets are super popular, so parking can be a but of problem. There are paid car parks available, and there is also free parking on the street.
These markets are actually incread. They’re huge and have everything! From quirky handmade jewellery to local honey and cookies that will change your life, there’s something for everyone.
The Eumundi Markets are on every Wednesday and Saturday, 7:30am – 2pm and you can spend hours there. They have amazing food, live music, massage tents, psychic reading…like we said, everything!
Pro tip: If you’re around on a Sunday, check out the Noosa Farmers Market for fresh produce, coffee, and a more low-key atmosphere.
There you have it, our top 10 recommendations for your visit to Noosa.
It really is an amazing place to visit, and there is loads to do here, but this list is a great place to start!
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