The best of the beautiful beaches in Noosa
Are you ready to experience the best of the beautiful beaches in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast? Noosa has a beach for everyone. From families with kids looking for some calm waves to surfers looking for something a little more gnarly. I guarantee you will find a beach in Noosa that you fall in love with.
You can find Noosa beaches for surfing, swimming, SUPboarding, fishing, boating, kite-surfing, snorkelling or even just for walking. You will even find beaches in Noosa that you can share with your furry friend.
So without further ado, here are the best beaches in Noosa.
Noosa Spit (one of the most iconic beaches in Noosa)
The Spit is where the mouth of the river meets the ocean and it’s one of the most iconic beaches in Noosa. It’s a popular spot for picnics and your dog is allowed to visit as well. Hit up this Noosa beach at low tide as there is plenty of sand to spread out and play on for the kids.
Find Noosa Spit right down the end of the ever popular Hastings St. There are a few car parks to choose from but during school holidays, it can be tricky to get a spot. It’s best to get in early as this is one of the most popular beaches in Noosa for families.
The Noosa River
Head to the Noosa River for wave-free beaches in Noosa. Right next to Lions Park on the corner of Noosa Parade and Noosa Drive is a top spot. The park has a neat little playground and a huge grassy area for kicking a ball around. This spot is excellent for families with younger kids.
Launch a stand-up paddleboard from the shore (hire or bring your own), or rent a no-boat-licence-required small run-about to explore it as you please. Getting a park here is also tricky. You’ll need to get in early or get lucky.
Noosa Main Beach -(one of the most popular beaches in Noosa)
Noosa Main Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Noosa and also one of the few that face north in Australia. It’s really great for families and those wanting to take a surf lesson as it has gentle waves and a year-round surf lifesaver patrolled area.
Find it easily on the doorstep of Hastings St but be warned, this beach does get busy and it’ can be hard to find a park during school holidays one of the hardest beaches in Noosa near which to find a parking spot in the school holidays. Shopping, accommodation, restaurants and bars are all within walking distance.
Lake Cootharaba (one of our favourite beaches in Noosa)
Lake Cootharaba is a massive saltwater lake at Boreen Point in the Noosa Hinterlands. It’s really shallow so adults can’t manage proper swimming, but it’s perfect for sitting in whilst young kids can safely splash around in the water.
Visitors come here to camp, swim, stand-up paddle board and canoe. There is a decent stretch of clean sand to play in within a beautiful natural bush setting. Even though it doesn’t have the beautiful blue waters of Noosa’s coastal beaches, or the green of the Noosa River, it’s still a lovely place to visit and as far as I’m concerned, one of the best beaches in Noosa for families with younger kids.
Boreen Point is around a 25 minute drive from Noosa Heads and there is a great council-run camping ground here.
Peregian Beach
Peregian Beach is one of the beaches in Noosa that’s particularly loved by locals. It’s located around 15 minutes drive from Noosa Heads on the southern end of Noosa’s coastline and is patrolled year-round with plenty of space to spread out.
Families can stroll down to the beach before enjoying the trendy cafes and boutique shops in the town centre. Don’t miss the monthly market on Kingfisher Drive.
Sunshine Beach (one of the more popular beaches in Noosa)
Formerly known as Golden Beach, Sunshine Beach is one of the more popular beaches in Noosa. This doesn’t mean it’s crowded, though. The beach is wide and open and as a result, there is plenty of room for everyone. Much like Noosa Heads, it has a bit of a stylish cafe and boutique feel.
Out of all the beaches in Noosa, this one is perfect for an afternoon with the family. Surrounded by pandanus palms, you can watch the whales go by from June to October.
Granite Bay
Granite Bay is a 50-metre-high headland in the Noosa National Park with a walking trail down to the beach. This is one of the many Noosa beaches popular with surfers. Even if you’re not a surfer yourself, it’s fun to visit and watch them in action.
Grab your surfboard or boogie board, pack your lunch and set up for the morning or afternoon here.
Tea Tree Bay
I’ll start by saying that Tea Tree Bay is unpatrolled and not recommended for swimming. However, it’s also one of our favourite beaches in Noosa. Located in the Noosa National Park, if you’re doing the coastal walk you will pass right by it. There are flat rocks to sit on, a lovely stretch of sand and shady pandanus trees. Low tide exposes rock pools closer to the water.
Koalas can be spotted in the nearby trees and there are toilets within walking distance. In general, it’s one of the prettiest beaches in Noosa to stretch out on a picnic rug, let the kids play on the sand or rocks, and relax and watch the surfers.
Marcus Beach
Marcus Beach can be found between two other beaches in Noosa, namely Peregian Beach and Sunshine Beach. As a bonus, parts of this beach are dog-friendly. Golden sands, sparkling blue ocean and space for your furry friend…what more could you want?
This beach is popular with locals and, as a result, is not usually crowded like Noosa’s main beach.
Planning and Booking Your Holiday to Noosa
Getting to Noosa:
Road
If driving, Noosa is approximately 2 hours north of Brisbane, 3 hours from the Gold Coast, and 12 hours from Sydney. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, or are flying in, compare rental car prices here.
Rail
Trains run regularly from Brisbane, stopping at both Nambour and Cooroy. From here, Sunbus collects passengers heading to Noosa. More information on rail and bus timetables can be found at www.translink.com.au
Air
The Sunshine Coast Airport is the closest airport to Noosa. It’s located in Maroochydore and is only 35 minutes drive away. Direct flights are available from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Where to Stay in Noosa:
There are lots of accommodation options in Noosa!
Boreen Point Camp Grounds is great for families wanting to get away from the hustle of Noosa!
Budget options include Ingenia Holidays Noosa and the Villa Noosa Hotel.
Mid-range to more expensive options include Noosa International Resort and the Noosa Sun Motel.
High end options include the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort in a fantastic location on Hastings St, and the RACV Noosa Resort which has a toddler pool for little ones.
Travel Guides to Noosa:
Check out the official Tourism Noosa Page for more information on things to do in Noosa.
Looking for Family Holiday Destination and Activities Inspiration?
For more information on visiting the Sunshine Coast with kids, head on over to our Sunshine Coast page. Head on back to the home page for both Australian and worldwide inspiration.
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