Fantastic Things to do in Noosa From Wonderful Beaches to The Beautiful Hinterlands
Looking for things to do in Noosa? Wondering where exactly Noosa is?
Located approximately 149km north of Brisbane in Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa is a somewhat ‘fashionable’ place to visit for a long weekend or permanent stay. The price tag of the properties situated on the Noosa River will certainly back this up!
However, when you start exploring away from the glitz of the million dollar houses, you will find plenty of affordable things to do.
Here are our top picks for fantastic experiences in Noosa from the wonderful beaches to the beautiful hinterlands!
Find Your own Stretch of Sand on the Noosa River
The Noosa River is not the brown colour that you would expect from a river. It’s a lovely green-blue and is incredibly clean with many sand banks to choose from. There is a great spot at the Lions Park on the Corner of Noosa Drive and Noosa Parade.
We loved this spot because despite being really close to Hastings St (where the shopping, cafes and main beach is at), this lovely stretch of sand along the river bank wasn’t at all overcrowded.
There is also a neat little kids playground, surrounded by a huge green grassy area giving the kids plenty of things to do. The downside to this spot? Unless you get in early, getting a car-park is nearly impossible.
Visit Lake Cootharaba at Boreen Point
Lake Cootharaba is a huge salt-water lake away from the traffic of Noosa Heads. We actually camped right on the lake for the duration of our stay at the Boreen Point Campground. The lake is really shallow and is therefore a great thing to do in Noosa for little kids who can’t swim yet but just want to splash around.
Hire a paddle-board or kayak to explore the lake or just find a spot on the sand and watch the resident ducks. There is a nice day use area with a kids playground and a shop that sells ice-cream within walking distance. If you are into geocaching, there are a few hidden around the lake!
Enjoy the Sand and Water at Noosa Spit
Noosa Spit is where the mouth of the Noosa River meets the ocean. It’s a great spot for younger kids as the water is fairly calm compared to Noosa’s coastal beaches, which are ideal for surfing. There is heaps of sand to play in (especially at low tide) and much like the rest of the Noosa River, it’s also a popular spot for stand up paddleboards, kayaks, jetskis and boats.
This is a popular thing to do in Noosa and due to it’s proximity to the main hub of Noosa Heads, it can be hard to get a parking spot here unless you get in before 9am. The beach and grassy areas themselves are not overcrowded, just the parking lot!
Walk the Coastal Track in Noosa National Park
The Coastal Track Walk in the Noosa National Park headland section is amazing. This was one of my favourite things to do in Noosa!
The walk is approximately 5.4km one way (10.8km return) or you can do what we did, a 2.7km walk (5.4km return) to a section called ‘Hell’s Gates’. You will pass by a number of surf beaches that are worth a break to play in the sand and watch the surfers.
A section of this walk is noted for koalas and we were lucky enough to see whales breaching in the water, surrounded by a pod of frolicking dolphins!
I wrote a separate blog post about the Noosa Coastal walk which you can read here.
Check out the Shops on Hastings Street
Hastings Street is home to boutique clothes shops, international standard resorts, restaurants and trendy cafes. It’s not just for the wealthy though! There are some lovely affordable clothes shops as well as burger joints and the usual eateries.
The shop enjoyed by all member of the family?
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream! This is Ben and Jerry’s ice cream the way it was originally intended. Not in a tub from the convenience store, but from a proper ice-cream shop with a scoop.
Eating Ben & Jerry’s by the ocean under the warm Queensland sun is one of the most satisfying things to do in Noosa!
Enjoy the Iconic Beaches of Noosa
All of Noosa’s beaches are beautiful and it’s worth visiting more than one if you have the time. There are beaches for swimming, surfing, fishing, stand-up paddling and off-leash beaches for dogs. Surfers come from all around the world in March each year for the Noosa Festival of Surfing.
Hire a Boat (no Licence Required) and Cruise the Noosa River
This is my first pick for things to do in Noosa with kids! It’s one of those activities that everyone enjoyed for a couple of hours and it was a unique experience that can’t be had in every holiday destination.
There are numerous places to hire a small run-about along the Noosa River. We went with O-Boat Hire and it was an easy process with clean and well maintained boats. You can find them at 222 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville.
No licence is required and the river is calm and snakes right through the hub of Noosa. I particularly enjoyed checking out the multi-million dollar houses on the river as we cruised on by.
Kayak the Noosa Everglades
The Noosa Everglades is one of only two everglades systems on Earth. It’s a 60km stretch of pristine narrow waterways with plenty of flora and fauna. The Everglades are often referred to as the River of Mirrors due to the reflections in the water.
The Everglades can be explored by a self-guided kayak tour or jump on board one of the great cruise and canoe tours on offer.
Buy Something Special at the Eumundi Markets
The Eumundi Markets are located around 15 minutes drive west from Noosa Heads. These markets are really something special, full of locally made products and artisan treasures.
There is handcrafted furniture, artwork, clothing, homewares, jewellery and more. There are street musicians and some amazing food stalls. Pay a visit to the Eumundi Market Website for more information.
Ride a Horse Through the Shallow Waters of Lake Weyba
Noosa Horse Riding offers a relaxing horse ride through and around the shallow waters of Lake Weyba. There is a good chance of spotting kangaroos, goannas and birdlife as you ride around the lake and you will also enjoy the views of Noosa Heads down to Peregian Beach across the lake.
Horses are available for both beginner and advanced riders, but children need to be over the age of eight years. Exceptions can be made for younger riders if they are experienced.
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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It’s been way too long since I visited Noosa. Your post brought back some very fond memories of summer holidays spent visiting my aunt there. Thank you for sharing
You’re very welcome 🙂 I last visited many years ago as a kid and was surprised by how much it has grown. Although I shouldn’t have been .. Noosa has a lot to offer!