Lush and luxurious Noosa has been described as Australia’s playground for the rich and famous thanks to its upscale atmosphere. The area in which Noosa is situated is collectively known as the Sunshine Coast, and it comprises a sumptuous lifestyle, gorgeous natural splendor and all 12 months of sunny, warm weather. Sound like paradise? It’s that and more. From impeccable accommodations to first-class fine dining, and soothing spas to outdoor adventures, multifaceted Noosa is just as suited for honeymooning lovers as it is vacationing families that brought all the kids. If money is no object and you’re looking to indulge all your senses, a luxe holiday in Noosa beckons, ready to indulge all your little pleasures.
Accommodations on a Grand Scale
If you expect the best of the best, make Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort and Spa your hideaway during your Noosa stay. The sumptuous five-star resort is practically located within Noosa National Park, making it abundant in both luxury and natural beauty. Guest rooms come with apartment-style, villa and penthouse options with views of either the park or the village upon which the resort is laid out. Hotel amenities include several pools, gym, small theater, while rooms come equipped with LCD high-def televisions, bottled water, CD players and, in some instances, private balconies. The accompanying spa is full-service, with all manner of indulgences like manicures and pedicures, body wraps and scrubs, massages and aromatherapy treatments.
Keeping with the merging of nature and luxury, the Eumarella Shores Noosa Lake Retreat is an absolute lakefront resort that features cottages, lake houses and a very special luxury lake pavilion. The eco-friendly hideaway offers guests complimentary use of a canoe for lake exploration, handmade soaps and organic shampoos, in-house catering options for intimate dining and private poetry recitals with poet Harry Donnelly. The resort offers many options for communing with nature, like bike rides and bush-walking trails, but if pampering your body is more your speed, the on-site spa will soothe away tensions with massages, mineral baths, facials and nail care.
Wining and Dining
The Gold Coast boasts a plethora of wineries, a dozen or so in all. Various tours are offered, ranging from short private tours lasting part of the morning into the early afternoon to full-day excursions which can last up to eight hours and feature stops for tastings at wineries such as the Maleny Mountain Winery and Mason Wines. Set off on your own and try the Eumundi Winery with its award-winning Merlot and live music, or the incomparable (and incomparably morbid) Little Morgue Winery, located in what was once a working morgue and now offers Murder in the Morgue Mystery Dinners.
Speaking of dinners, the Wasabi Restaurant in Noosa Heads, overlooking the Noosa River, offers up gorgeous water views with fine Japanese dining, including a tasting menu, chef’s choice menu and items a la carte. For fine Italian, consider Linoni’s, a highly awarded restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and upscale cuisine, where the risotto is to die for. If you’re seeking a modern take on Australian dining, where the seafood is fresh and the menu evolves with the seasons, try Bistro C overlooking Laguna Bay.
High-End Shopping
Without a doubt, Hastings Street is the ultimate destination for avid shoppers. The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, with specialty boutiques, high-end designs, handmade crafts and local labels. If you seek jewelry, housewares, accessories, flowing tunics and ceramics, Hastings Street is a must-stop. Even better, the beach is only a short distance away, so sunshine-happy shoppers have every reason to purchase designer suits and sunglasses before putting them to immediate use.
Outdoor Adventures
Twin Waters Golf Club is an elite golf resort on a world-class level. Noosa is also a fisherman’s haven, with estuaries and reefs aplenty. The water is a major source of fun, as visitors can rent kayaks, pontoons or fishing skiffs all along the coast, as well as, take advantage of the ample beaches which are both safe and pleasant. Turning inland, Noosa has plenty of lush foliage and wildlife in the Noosa Heads National Park, Noosa Everglades, Wooroi State Forest or Cooloola National Park. Enjoy the sights from camelback, horseback, on mountain bikes or even from above with hang-gliding.
Tara McPherson is a travel writer and chef. For the last ten years, she’s been all over the globe experiencing the best of what the world has to offer. She takes inspiration from down-under fare especially and has utilized her food experiences in Australia to put a twist on her own recipes.
I’d be interested in the outdoor activities and shopping in this town, Noosa. I’m heading to Australia next February and I’ll be near this area. Eumundi Winery is definitely something I will be checking out with my husband. I love wine!