Located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Noosa is one of Australia's most fashionable resort towns. It’s an effortlessly pretty place, with pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and lush, subtropical rainforest – all on its doorstep and easily accessible with a hire car. The town itself is located within the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, which is a Unesco-recognised area renowned for its exceptionally diverse ecosystem.
In contrast to its stunning scenery, you’ll also encounter Noosa’s fancier side, with designer boutiques, high-end restaurants, and canal-side villas, all attracting well-heeled urbanites escaping the city.
It’s not just the wealthy that flock to Noosa, the beach and bushland attract all manner of surfers and backpackers who come for the laid-back vibe. Noosa consists of three main areas, including upmarket Noosa Heads, chilled-out Noosaville, and the more suburban Noosa Junction.
Noosa is a place that feels like an intimate and exclusive enclave of paradise. When visiting Queensland, a trip here is a must-do. And the best way to see it all is by hiring a rental car.
Get to know a peaceful paradise
Noosa is the perfect destination for a little rest and relaxation in the tropics. With its main beach ranked third-best in the South Pacific, this peaceful paradise is also home to some of Australia’s best waves. Surfers flock to Noosa all year round, while the annual Festival of Surfing, held in March, attracts top surfing professionals from all over the world.
The festival takes place at Noosa Main Beach over the course of eight days. Even for non-surfers, watching the festival provides a spectacle of skill, which is thoroughly entertaining to watch. There’s also plenty of live entertainment and food on offer to keep you satisfied.
Adventure through Noosa National Park
The Noosa National Park is easily accessible on foot, and has plenty of walking tracks with varying degrees of difficulty. Around the park, you’ll see some stunning natural attractions such as Devil’s Kitchen – a rocky outcrop overlooking Alexandria Bay – and the Fairy Pools – two tidal pools that appear at low tide. As you’re trekking through the park, keep your eyes peeled for some of the native wildlife, many of which are rare and endangered species.
Take to the water
As a holiday destination, Noosa Heads offers a plethora of activities to keep visitors entertained – and all within driving distance. The town is surrounded by water, with plenty of beaches on each side and the shallow Lake Weyba at its centre. This allows for water activities such as surfing, swimming, jet-skiing and fishing. There’s also plenty of water tours, including scuba-diving and whale watching.
Meet the wildlife
For adventure a little further out, visit the Ginger Factory, in Yandina, or enjoy close encounters with wildlife at the Australia Zoo or Underwater World, Mooloolaba. Movie buffs may also enjoy a trip to the Majestic Theatre in Pomona – the world’s last silent film theatre.
Noosa and the surrounding region is a stunning place to visit at any time of the year. For the best way to see it all, jump in a rental car and hit the road.
Wherever you want to go, you’ll get there in a rental car from Hertz.
