Noosa is located on the Queensland coast just north of Sunshine Coast. With so much to do on holiday in Noosa during the winter, you should start planning now. You can warm up on the beaches, go whale watching, plan your holiday in conjunction with one of Noosa’s winter events, explore the national parks, or drive west into the Noosa Hinterland.
Noosa Heads Beach Photo Credit: By RaffiKojian CC BY 2.5 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=575819 (Wikipedia)
Noosa Heads Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By MSTravel – http://www.strecker-photography.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19503460
Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
Hiring a Car in Noosa Heads
Noosa Heads Map Photo Credit: Google Maps
Noosa Car Hire Map Photo Credit: Budget.com.au
Noosa Heads is just 35 km north of Sunshine Coast or a little less than a two hour drive north of Brisbane. When you are travelling around the Sunshine Coast area, you can hire a car in Noosa or rent a vehicle at the Sunshine Coast Budget location. When you have a rental car to get around it means that you can see all the sights on your own schedule. Coming and going when you please can make for the best holiday. Click on the links to get a quick and easy rate quote for the best car hire rates in Queensland. While in the Noosa and Sunshine Coast region, check out these other holiday ideas from our blog:
Noosa Wine & Food Festival
Australia’s Most Popular National Park: Beautifully Diverse Noosa National Park
Great Sandy National Park
Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Mapleton Falls National Park and Kondalilla National Park
Scenic Holiday in the Glasshouse Mountains
10 Things You Didn’t Know You Could do at the Australia Zoo
Fraser Island World Heritage Site
Sandy Beaches, Blue Waters, and Whale Watching in Hervey Bay
Warm up on Noosa’s Beaches
Noosa Heads Beach Photo Credit: By Donaldytong – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30337201 (Wikipedia)
Kayaking in Noosa Photo Credit: Australia.com
Main Beach, Noosa Photo Credit: Australia.com
Noosa is far enough north that you can escape the winter chill and enjoy the beaches and ocean water sports. The waters are warm and inviting and there are many different beaches to choose from. Main Beach is one of the most popular beach choices especially for families who feel better with the calmer waters and presence of the surf lifesavers 365 days a year. Its close proximity to the shopping, resorts, restaurants and bars of Hastings Street also make Main Beach a good choice. If surfing lessons are on your agenda for your holiday, you can take lessons here on main beach or in Noosa Groyne. If you already know how to surf and want to catch some waves, there is great surfing at quite a few beaches in Noosa including First Point, Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay, Alexandria Bay, Sunrise Beach, Castaways Beach, and Marcus Beach. Noosa Spit is a popular picnic beach for locals and is also an off-leash dog beach and several spots in Noosa has off-leash dog beach sections. Other beaches to checkout in Noosa include the National Park beaches in the headland section, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach, Coolum beach, Eastern Beaches, and Nossa North Shore.
Whale Watching
Humpback Whale Watching Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
Humpback Whale Breeching Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
Winter is the time for whale watching right off the coast of Noosa. The majestic humpback whales make their way up the Queensland coast and can be seen from June through October. You might be able to catch a glimpse of them right off the coast of the Noosa headland. However, the best way to see the whales is by taking a whale watching expedition cruise. Many different ones depart from the Sunshine Coast or Brisbane. The humpback whales are gentle giants that seem to be as curious about us as we are about them. You might see them playing, breeching, or mothers nursing their young calves.
Noosa’s Winter Events
Carnivale Infusion Street Parade Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
Noosa Food & Wine Festival Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
Noosa Long Weekend Festival Photo Credit: VisitNoosa.com.au
There is always something going on in Noosa and surrounds, especially during winter. You can plan to time your holiday with an event you want to see. During the wintertime events you can plan to see include Noosa Art Award Finalist Exhibition, World Series Swims’ Noosa Open Day, Noosa Long Weekend Festival, Behind Queensland’s Words Writers Festival, Hydrothon Noosa, Noosa Festival of Water, Carnivale Infusion Street Parade, Pomona King of the Mountain Festival, Noosa Open Studios, Mid-year Noosa Hill Climb, Noosa Jazz Party, Sunshine Coast Wildflower Festival, Noosa Craft beer Festival, and the Noosa Country Show. See VisitNoosa.com.au for a calendar of upcoming events.
Explore Noosa’s National Parks
A beach in Noosa on the Headlands Hike Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By RaffiKojian CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=575824
Lake Weyba in Noosa National Park Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Bjorn Bednarek from Brisbane, Australia – Lake Weyba, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3583628
Fraser Island view of the beach from Indian Head Photo Credit: (Wikipedia) By Rhain – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49000860
At the headlands of Noosa is Noosa National Park, which is 4,000 hectares of protected land and beaches. It is divided into four sections: Headland Section, Peregian Section, Emu Mountain Section, and the East Weyba Section. Noosa National Park receives more than 1 million visitors each year and that makes it Australia’s most popular national park. While in the park, there are several beaches to relax on or swim in the waters, but that is not all there is to do in Noosa National Park. You can go rock climbing, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, and partake in other beach and watersports. Visitors should be aware of a few things, the beaches in Noosa National Park are not patrolled, there can be strong current at Alexandria Bay and the southern end of Alexandria Bay is an unofficial clothing optional spot. If visiting National parks are your thing, then there are several other parks and nature areas to visit in the region including: Fraser Island National Park, Great Sandy National Park, Mapleton Falls National Park, Kondalilla National Park, plus the Noosa River, Everglades, Coloured Sands, and Double Island Point.
Drive West to the Hinterland
Glass House Mountains viewed from Mary Cairncross Reserve Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Maleny Botanical Gardens Photo Credit (Wikipedia) By S. Newrick – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36266758
Mapleton Falls Lookout Photo Credit: nprsr.qld.gov.au Ross Naumann
West of the beaches and coastline of Noosa is the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. To take full advantage of the range of weather and scenery in the winter, as you move inland to the hills and the mountains, the weather will get cooler and you can enjoy some winter coolness. Then there are the picturesque green rolling hills and lush landscapes to enjoy. Places to visit include Mapleton Falls National Park, Kondalilla National Park, Mary Cairncross Reserve, Maleny Botanical Gardens, and the Glasshouse Mountains. Things to do in the Hinterland include enjoying food at stops like Maleny Farms, walking trails, hiking, biking, and camping. The Hinterland is quite different from the coast and Noosa’s beaches, but can make for a well rounded and fun winter holiday indeed.