Noosa is a small town along the Queensland Coast in Australia. It is super popular with backpackers and tourists and it’s easy to see why. The town boasts great shops and cafes, waves for surfing, a national park and its home to one of only two everglades in the world! There are plenty of activities to keep you busy, here are some of my top things to do in Noosa.
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Things to do in Noosa
1. Visit the Everglades
There are only two everglade ecosystems in the entire world – one in Florida, USA and one in Noosa, Australia. So if you find yourself in Noosa – this is a must visit! There are several ways to explore the everglades. One is by hiring a kayak and exploring by yourself or joining a kayak tour. If you don’t enjoy kayaking, you can also join a boat tour which will allow you to go further into the everglades in a shorter space of time. Both of these are offered by Everglades Eco Safari. The boat tours do get booked up so I would recommend booking in advance, especially if you don’t have long in Noosa.
Lastly, if the water is rough and not suitable for kayaks, you can simply drive to Habitat Noosa Campground and explore the everglades on foot by following the walking trails.
2. Explore Noosa National Park
Noosa’s National Park spreads over an area of coastline that has dramatic cliffs, serene beaches and dense woodland. There are five main walking routes ranging from 1 to 10km but several of the paths cross and overlap so you can easily mix and match segments of each and make your own route to suit your interests and timings. If you don’t have a full day to spend in the park, I recommend starting on the coastal track out to see the Hell’s Gate then loop back through the Tanglewood trail.
3. Take a dip in the Fairy Pools
Noosa’s fairy pools are part of Noosa National Park but you won’t find them marked out on the official park map. Whilst it isn’t a well kept secret, you might still have a chance of finding a fairy pool all to yourself! The pools are large natural rock pools which can be tricky to get to. Be careful if the sea is rough as the waves will come over the sides!
4. Go Whale Watching
If you visit Noosa in the winter you might have a chance to see humpback whales! Heading out on a boat tour will give you your best chance of seeing these magnificent creatures. Click here to check prices for whale watching tours in Noosa.
5. Eat out on Sunshine Beach Road
Sunshine Beach Road is full of restaurants and bars. Just a short walk up from Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach, its a great place to go out for dinner and a drink! You will find a wide range of cuisines from Mexican to Sushi, Thai and Korean food plus pastries and bakeries.
6. Take a Surfing Lesson
Noosa is known for its surfing scene. If you have never been surfing before, this could be a great place to give it a go! Click here to check prices for surf lessons in Noosa.
7. Eat at the Original Betty’s Burgers
Betty’s Burgers is a classic fast food restaurant serving up burgers, shakes, fries and frozen custard. Despite only opening its doors in 2014, the chain now has over 50 locations across Australia but the original is still operating in Noosa!
8. Stroll through Noosa Woods
A walk along Noosa Heads Beach or directly down Hastings Street will bring you to Noosa Woods. This is a small wooded area with various trails leading to differently areas of beaches and coastline.
9. Enjoy Froyo at Yo-Chi
Who doesn’t love frozen yogurt? Yo-Chi is a fro-yo cafe with chill vibes along Hastings Street. They have a huge range of flavours and toppings and are open late. Stop by after a day of exploring to relax with a delicious dessert.
10. Relax on the beach
If you have a few days in Noosa, spend some time relaxing on the beach and soaking in the sunshine. Just don’t forget your suncream! Noosa Heads is the nearest beach to town. If you go through the National Park, you can get to Alexandria Beach, Tea Tree Bay Beach, Granite Bay Beach and the secluded Allie Cove. The biggest beach in the area is Sunshine Beach, this is just a short drive away from Noosa Heads.
11. Have Brunch at Canteen
If you are leaving Noosa via bus, Canteen is a great place to fuel up before a long bus drive! Just a few minutes walk from the bus station, Canteen serves delicious breakfast and brunch options.
12. Browse Boutique Shops
If you have some spare time – head to Hasting Street to browse boutique shops. You’ll find lots of high end and independent stores selling clothes, shoes, jewellery and surfwear. There are also plenty of restaurants here so it is a great place to go in the evening.
Day Trips from Noosa
13. Day trip to Brisbane from Noosa
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and less than two hours away from Noosa. Whilst you could easily spend multiple days in the city, you can still see a lot in just a day trip. Start with a visit to Brisbane City Hall where you can see free history and art exhibits. Next stroll over to South Bank and the Street Beach via the Brisbane sign. From here, you can take a ferry over to Howard Smith Wharves – a great spot for lunch and a drink!
2 hours, 160km
Click here to check bus prices and times
14. Day trip to Australia Zoo from Noosa
Australia Zoo is the Irwin family’s world famous zoo. Here you can get up close and personal to Koalas and Kangaroos and see some of Australia’s most exciting animals. The zoo does a lot of conservation work and even has an onsite animal hospital.
50 mins, 88km
15. Day trip to Rainbow Beach and Great Sandy National Park from Noosa
If you’re looking for even more beaches, Rainbow Beach and Great Sandy National Park are just 90 minutes away from Noosa!
1.5 hours, 117km
Click here to check bus prices and times
More Noosa Travel Tips
Where to stay in Noosa
Noosa is a popular tourist town so there are plenty of accommodation options to suit a range of budgets.
Luxury Accommodation in Noosa: If you’re after a 5 star luxury resort, take a look at Sofiitel Noosa Pacific Resort. The hotel has a spa and huge pool, plus its very close to the beach. If you still want luxury but something a little more private, check out Little Cove – a rainforest retreat on the edge of the National Park. This is a stunning home with a private pool that easily sleeps 8 guests.
Midrange Accommodation in Noosa: For midrange accommodation, you might find better deals further from the coast and national park. Take a look at Ocean Breeze Resort, Hotel Laguna, L’Auberge or Noosa Parade Holiday Inn.
Budget Accommodation in Noosa: We stayed at Halse Lodge, a YHA hostel in a historic building in Noosa. The staff were super friendly and helpful plus there were daily activities like movie nights and yoga at the hostel. The facilities were great with access to shared kitchens and bathrooms. With it being an old building I thought it would be noisy and draughty at night, there wasn’t even glass in the window above our door that led into the hallway but it was actually really quiet and we slept well!
Camping in Noosa: Habitat Noosa is a great campsite if you want to be near to the everglades. If you prefer to be closer to town, try Noosa River Holiday Park.
How to get to Noosa
Driving: If you are exploring Australia in a car or campervan, Noosa is super easy to get to. It is just less than 2 hours north of Brisbane.
Bus: The Greyhound bus stops at Noosa. You can get the bus from Brisbane as well as various other stops along the east coast of Australia. Overnight buses run from Sydney and Airlie Beach. Click here to check bus times and prices. If you are travelling along the coast making various stops, it might be worth getting a Greyhound Whimit pass.
Plane: The nearest airport to Noosa is Sunshine Coast Airport. This airport has direct flights to and from lots of cities across Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Cairns and Perth. There are also international direct flights from New Zealand, Bali, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai and LA.
How long to stay in Noosa
I would suggest spending 2 or 3 days in Noosa if you’re travelling around Queensland. If you’re basing yourself in Noosa and want to do day trips from there, you could easily fill a week.
24 Hour Noosa Itinerary
If you only have 24 hours to spend in Noosa, here is the one day itinerary I would recommend:
Morning: Stay with a walk around Noosa National Park. Wear your swimming costume under your clothes and bring a towel so you can take a dip in the fairy pools while you’re there.
Afternoon: After lunch, enjoy the afternoon boat trip along the everglades – make sure book this in advance!
Evening: Enjoy dinner at the original Betty’s Burgers and enjoy frozen yoghurt afterwards at Yo-Chi with an evening stroll along the beach.