Keswickian

Our family will be ending our visit to Australia in this area. We would greatly appreciate suggestions on good restaurants, must see/do, and best resort.
These posts have been a huge help with our planning!

Elisabeth

Daisy2

Hi Elisabeth.

Must do? Go to the National Park on the headland to the right of Noosa and take a walk on one of the walking tracks. One of the prettiest follows the shoreline around to Ti Tree Bay - the prettiest beach. One day we were walking on this track and saw dolphins. Oh, and in the gum trees near the car park, if you look upwards you may see koalas.

There are heaps and heaps of restaurants of every budget. We like Ricky Ricardo's on the Noosa River. You can get there by ferry from the back of the Sheraton, if you don't have a car. Also Berardo's has two restaurants - one in Hastings Street and another on the beach.

Also there's Season and Cafe Du Monde. But there are lots. Also there are lots of places in Noosaville, along the river a little from Noosa itself.

As for best resort, I'm probably not the best person to ask as we don't actually stay at a big resort. Depends a lot on your budget, I guess.

Another thing, you can hire small motor boats or surf skis from a place at the back of the Sheraton and potter around all the canals and stickybeak at the fancy homes!

tropo

Without seeming to be negative, Noosa Heads 30 years ago, was a little bit of heaven, small seaside village, however, now its full of tourists, and a bit tacky in places. However, still go there, and try & stay in an apartment away from Hastings Street, and stay on the headland around towards the national park entry, with water views etc.
I would recommend at least one day on a tour to either Double Island Point or Fraser Island, seeing you that close to both of these wonderful natural scenic areas of Qld.
If you have a rental car, then take a drive to the little rural villages of Cooroy, Pomona, and have a coffee in one of the cafes. Also a drive to the Glasshouse Mtns (a little bit south of Noosa), is a must, as well as the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, to places like Maleny, Montville, etc.
If you really want to see some beautiful australian countryside, drive your rental out of Noosa and go south on the Bruce Highway, until you see a sign indicating Kenilworth, then take that road, driving through Kenilworth, then up the village of Imbil. At Imbil, go back across to the Highway, and drive over to the Cooran, then Booreen Point, then back to Pomona, then back to Noosa. I'm sure you will love the drive, we never tire of this one.

Lyndie

We usually stay on the Noosa River at a serviced apartment-cannot for the life of me remember the name-will post back when I can! Also Ricky Ricardo's has some of the finest food anywhere in the country! A must visit restaurant right on the water! My mouth is watering!

Lyndie

The place we stay is Cayman Quays Apartments at Noosaville, right on the river. You would need to hire a car to get around. There are some great day trips around Noosa (take a peek at Boreen Point)and Noosaville is a much quieter area than the Beach/Heads. Great for families and lots of good places to eat!

tropo

Just finished reading the Travel Section of the Brisbane Sunday Mail newspaper, and I saw a coloumn, wherein, an American couple who visited Australia, stopped at Cooroy outside of Noosa Heads, and had a pie at Petes Pie shop, and he said it was the best pie he had ever tasted.
Pomona is a quiet alternative to visit after Noosa's hectic lifestyle. Treat yourself to visiting one of these small villages, with the quaint cafes. Pomona with the surrounding bush, and a ancient volcanic plug behind, makes for some interesting photography.
Ooops, a friend just walked into my place, and said that we shouldn't talk about "our" secret village gems, as hordes of people will start to visit them, and then end up like Noosa & rest of the Sunshine Coast.
* Please disregard this message *

PinotNoir

We were in Noosa last November and would highly recommend a tour of the Everglades up to Harry's Hut. We used Everglades Water Bus Co. and were very impressed.
Everybody here loves Ricky Ricardos but next door is Riva which IMO is better. Also would recommend Sails restaurant on Hastings Street.

Bokhara

Eumundie markets - Saturdays & (I think) Wednesdays are fun and a good way to see something of the hinterland.
Have a beer and/or a meal on the verandah of the pub opposite. A couple of other good restaurants in Eumundie, too. Noosa Yacht club is on the river, very casual and good chance to mix with the (real) locals - good food, too. For something a bit different, try Spirit House at Yandina for a meal - or try a cooking course ( half-day) there. Mainly Asian and a great hands-on experience.

How long are you planning to spend on the Sunshine Coast?

touristblob

try an apartment instead of a resort
www.accomnossa.com.au is the place to start also look out for no1 hastings street ,great views and big quality apartments .nice and quiet but central.
most of the restaurants in noosa are excellent and the bar at the sheraton does a great snack/lunch

Daisy2

Keswickian, what does your "family" comprise? The reason I ask, we stay at a really nice small place only a very short walk from Hastings Street and the beach, but it's tucked away overlooking a pretty canal. The apartments are more for couples, but I have seen families there. It's called "Caribbean Noosa" and they have their own website. If you want, I can check their web address, or you could just Google it.

bendigo

Two years ago we stayed in a 2 Br apartment at "Saks" on Hastings Street.

We booked thru Accom Noosa;

www.accomnoosa.com.au

"Saks" can be found this page:

http://www.accomnoosa.com.au/an/prop...?listing_id=71

With three young kids, we found the location fantastic. Across the road from the beach, pool in the complex, with rooftop sauna and spa.

Hastings street has some great restaurants and boutique shopping.

The location was also great for early morning walks on the beach (where we saw dolphins frolicing in the surf!), a coffee and cake mid-morning, and an ice-cream and walk on the beach before bed time.

The surrounding country-side is beautiful - Eumundi Markets a delight; if in School Holidays, a Ranger guided tour (walking) in the National Park is a delight, with fun trying to find koalas in the trees.

Further around the walking tracks in the National Park, you will find Alexandria Bay, an unofficial Clothing Optional (ie Nude) beach, which is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole country!


Rob