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Exploring Noosa, Australia: The Ultimate Destination for Nature Lovers

A great getaway destination always has a strong identity. Noosa is one of those places. As a travel destination, it has been celebrated locally and globally for decades. A lot of this has to do with Noosa’s array of natural riches. From its sweeping beaches to its mountain trails, Noosa provides a great mix of everything that makes Queensland wild and wonderful to explore – and all just a stone’s throw from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

For those looking to visit Australia’s sunshine state within a limited timeframe, a trip to Noosa is simply a must. Be sure to fill your trip itinerary with some of these superb natural attractions. 

Noosa Heads & Other Beaches

Few places in Australia pack such a diverse selection of beaches as Noosa. No matter the season or the weather outside your accommodation this morning, a visit to at least one beach here is essential. In fact, we recommend finding waterfront accommodation in Noosa so you can head out into the warm ocean water as early as possible.

What beaches should you hope to see out your hotel window? Well, you can’t beat Noosa Main Beach in Laguna Bay. With good surf conditions and easy access to the town centre and all its many eateries and other amenities, Noosa Main Beach is the perfect setting for a lazy beach day.

And if you’d rather spend your Sunday doing something a little quieter but more active, take the Noosa Coastal Walk. This path will carry you to Tea Tree Bay and Granite Bay, home to smaller yet no less stunning beaches. It’ll also take you to gram-worthy selfie spots like Hell’s Gate and Fairy Pools. If that’s not enough, you can walk right around the Noosa headland to Alexandria Beach, a place where (perhaps controversially, perhaps not) boardies and bikinis are optional.

Cooloola Great Walk

Show someone photos of the Cooloola Great Walk without context and they’re likely to assume this adventure is somewhere well off the beaten path. Well well off. The good news? It’s not, well not really. 

In truth, the Cooloola Great Walk is a 102 km trail that’ll take you through the Cooloola rainforests, coastal walks, and into some of the breathtaking regional hinterlands. This trail effectively connects Noosa North Shore (in the south) with Rainbow Beach (in the north), and is typically a five-day/four-night walk in its entirety. 

For fans of long distance hiking, the Walk is sure to provide plenty of enrichment and great opportunities to really feel present in Noosa’s magnificent wilderness. And so long as you’re comfortable carrying a rucksack and sleeping in a tent, the walk itself will likely feel a lot shorter than just over half a week. Simply put, if you’re already an avid camper, embarking on the Cooloola Great Walk should feel like second nature. And if you are feeling a bit out of your element, then rest assured that the payoffs for this walk, like the opportunity to witness the Carlo Sandblow, far outweigh a few days of food in your backpack. 

Noosa Everglades

Now an attraction for those looking to experience Queensland’s tropical wetland regions: the Noosa Everglades. A fascinating landscape teeming with tropical plants and a diverse population of animal species, the Noosa Everglades is actually one of only two Everglades systems in the world; the other is the Florida Everglades. This fact alone warrants deeper exploration. And with 60 km of waterways making up this diverse biome, there’s naturally a lot to be explored. 

How you traverse the Everglades is up to you. Canoe, kayak, or paddle board up the Noosa River, it doesn’t matter. A guided tour of the Noosa Everglades might prove a wise choice, however, as 44% of Australia’s bird species call this home. This includes rare bird species like the elusive black cockatoo, jabirus, eagles, ospreys, cormorants, and many more. Trust us, you’ll need a local to help you spot not only all of these feathery friends, but also the echidnas, possums, and other Australian marsupials that make up this rich ecosystem. 

K’gari (Fraser Island)

If a place is World-Heritage listed there can be no argument; it goes on your itinerary. Not that anyone would feel the need to question K’gari (also known as Fraser Island). If you’re Australian, this place already owns a fair chunk of real estate in your imagination, like its neighbours the Whitsundays and other iconic islands and isles found across the Great Barrier Reef.

Now, you have two choices. You explore K’gari on your own, which requires the right vehicle permits, or you book Fraser Island Adventure Tours, an award-winning team that knows how to deliver an environmentally friendly experience without compromising on fun and excitement. With a professional tour, you can make sure you see everything that needs seeing, from Lake McKenzie to Eli Creek to the Kauri Pine forests that tower over the inland tracks. As K’gari is considered a ‘once in a lifetime’ destination, you’ll want to make sure you experience it the right way. 

Mountain Ninderry & Other Peaks

Be honest: mountain climbing isn’t the first that comes to mind when someone mentions Noosa. Which is fine. If this activity flies under the radar for most, all the more reason for you to take the opportunity with both hands. And both feet. 

But the fact of the matter is that Noosa basically has just as many mountain trails as it does beaches! The Noosa region is home to several impressive mountains, each with unspoiled views in every direction. You needn’t be a seasoned climber to get involved, either. Beginner climbers can enjoy Emu Mountain, an excellent climbing option for kids, or Mount Tinbeerwah, the go-to mountain for picnics.

If you’re after something more pulse-raising, Mount Ninderry or Mount Coolum will satisfy your appetite, with Mount Ninderry being more local and thus more popular with a lot of Noosa tourists. But don’t sleep on Mount Coolum either! A fun fact to keep in your pocket for your next pub trivia game: Mount Coolum is also the world’s second-largest rock.

And if you’re a more seasoned climber, don’t worry – Noosa has plenty of peaks for you too. For confident mountain climbers we have to recommend Mount Tibrogargan, a member of the famed Glasshouse Mountains, and Mount Cooroora, a short but steep (there’s a chain to help you ascend and descend) climb. Both of these bigger peaks let you admire both the coast and the hinterland. Can’t ask for much more than that.

Prepare your Noosa Itinerary Now

What’s brilliant about Noosa is that once you’ve filled your cup with nature, you still have all its food, shopping, and entertainment to enjoy. And you can do it on your own time, at your own pace, which is not insignificant. A place that can offer the full spectrum of experiences and do so without demanding that you adjust your rhythm to match its own is a place worth visiting again and again. For that reason, it truly qualifies as an ultimate destination. So be sure to add a Noosa getaway to your Aus travel to-do list!