Revised 5/2/20.
Have you been to the larger cities of Australia but looking for something slower pace? Why not travel to Noosa, Australia, a resort region on the Sunshine Coast known for great coastal trails, strong ocean waves for surfing, water activities, Noosa Everglades, outdoor markets, boutique shops and restaurants. I’d like to put wine tasting also on the Noosa map! I visited my mates down under for two weeks starting late September. We hit a few Australia locations (Cairns, Noosa and Brisbane) and had a wonderful time! Here are the activities we enjoyed and my recommendation on how to spend three days in Noosa, Australia.
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Early October is the end of winter in Australia making this shoulder travel season a perfect time to avoid higher costs and more tourist in Noosa, while enjoying some amazing weather as I mention in my Australia travel tips. Noosa’s October weather, not to mention terrain and scenery, reminded me much of California – warm, sunny, no humidity and nice breezes. Day temperatures ranged from the high 70’s/low 80’s F (25 – 28 C), with fair evenings in the 60’s F (16 – 18 C). However, two days before we left the weatherman was calling for a heatwave of 91 F (33 C). I’m glad we missed that!
Like Cairns, Australia, Noosa is a great family, couple or solo destination. Depending on where you are staying, much of Noosa can be done without renting a car. However, if you want to try some of the fun things to do Noosa I mention, I would recommend having a vehicle.
To reach Noosa you can fly into the Noosa Airport or fly into Brisbane, which is just under a two hour’s drive away. It can be hard to find parking in Downtown Noosa so being flexible and mixing up your transportation in Noosa, like walking, biking, Ubering, or using the Noosa TRANSLink bus system – easy and inexpensive (a bit more expensive than Cairns) – can be part of fun in enjoying your stay.
I love to promote public transportation because it is budget-friendly, not to mention environmentally-friendly.
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Our three days in Noosa were full yet relaxing, so I highly recommend checking out these seven amazing, and sometimes FREE, activities for when you spend three days in Noosa, Australia.
Nothing can make you truly appreciate the beauty of this area than walking the trails of Noosa National Park – a must when in Noosa. Very easy to access, take a right on Park Avenue at the downtown roundabout and follow the seaside walking path to the park trailhead. Entrance to the park is FREE. There are some hills, but the walk is easy. Do as little or as much as you like. Picnic areas and beach showerheads are available. The Coastal Walk provides many picturesque views of the ocean and great overlooks, like Hell’s Gate or Boiling Pot, ideal for coastal photo ops. You may also get to see some of the local wildlife. Work your way to Laguna Lookout for a scenic coastal view of the Noosa Laguna before ending your park experience.
Working your way back from Lagoona Lookout, why not take a break on the Coastal Walk and sunbathe on Noosa’s white, sandy beaches? The park provides some more secluded, smaller beaches, like Tea Tree Bay or Little Cove Beach.
If you want to be closer to town, head out of the park to town and absorb the sun on the Noosa Heads Main Beach. Noosa Heads Main Beach can get crowded in higher tourist seasons, so if you visit Noosa at that time, you may want to get there early.
Heck, you could spend three days in Noosa, Australia on the beaches alone, so why not mix up the beach scene? All of the beaches are public and the beaches are known to be safe for swimming all year round.
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Sunning and swimming have made you hungry? Head back to town and grab a bite on one of the many restaurants that line Hastings Street in Noosa Heads. Hastings Street, a short, tree-lined street offering open air restaurants and shops. The area can be touristy and get crowded so eating here or elsewhere is up to you. If shopping is your thing, stroll down the street to see what the town has to offer.
Note: if you want to be in the height of Noosa action, this is the place to stay. If you want something quieter, I recommend staying West of downtown. I would also try to avoid driving here as parking can be hard to find, so walking or other transportation to downtown Noosa is recommended.
Noosa is fabulous for outdoor and water activities, and paddle boarding is very popular here. This is fun for anyone to do, novice or experienced. I had never done it before but found it very easy. And inexpensive! You can find many rental shops renting paddle boards by the half hour ($10AU) or hour ($15AU). For the best experience, paddle board the Noosa River in the morning when the water is calmer (and the sun not so hot).
Kayaking the Noosa Everglades in the Great Sandy National Park is another great outdoor activity providing a chance to see one of only two everglades systems in the world and 40% of the country’s bird species.
However, if you can’t make your way to the everglades, don’t worry because kayaking is also available on the Noosa River – same rental costs as the paddle boards. If you have never tried kayaking, I highly recommend it.
Want a day out of Noosa, why not check out the Eumundi Market? A half hour drive southwest of Noosa, this expansive, outdoor market happens every Wednesday (8am – 1:30pm) and Saturday (7am – 2pm) and is not to be missed. You’ll enjoy an array of food and produce vendors as well as local artist tents ranging from jewelry and clothing to handcrafted furniture. This market is great for “window” shopping, buying those unique Australia gifts to bring back to friends and family, or just sinful snacking.
Love to go wine tasting? The Sunshine Coast has that, too! After you’ve filled up at the Eumundi Market, drive just a half hour North to Dingo Creek Vineyard in Traveston (or 45 minutes from Noosa). They offer lovely whites, reds, bubbly and port. Open regular hours Thursdays to Saturdays, you’ll get 5 tastings for $12 and you get to keep the Dingo Creek wine glass! Lounge on their covered porch or soak in the sun on the gravel path. I highly enjoy the wine selection. I even purchased a bottle of bubbly. Dingo Creek is definitely worth the visit.
Have more time for wine? Try Flame Hill Vineyard, a 50-minute drive from Dingo Creek Vineyard (same distance from Noosa)? Also nice in quality, but with a slightly larger selection, wine tastings are $14 for six selections between whites, rosé’s and reds. Flame Hill sits high on a hill offering stunning views of the hills and ocean in the distance. You can also lounge on their outdoor patio with a bottle of wine or stop into their restaurant.
If you have more than three days in Noosa or some of the above doesn’t strike your fancy, perhaps rent a boat for the day, visit the Noosa Botanical Gardens or Australia Zoo, or even take surfing lessons. Being bored is unlikely when visiting Noosa with all it has to offer.
I would love to hear if this was helpful to you. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below!
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Gwen is the Founder of CORR Travel and a global traveler and photographer with over 25 years of solo travel experience. She is also the Founder of the www.CORRConcepts.com sustainability blog. Travel is her passion and environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection is her "religion".
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