Travel: There's more to Noosa than the Hastings Street strip

Ahh Noosa, Melburnians’ long-loved holiday spot. Gone are the days where you find yourself venturing only to Hastings Street surrounded by “Prue and Trude” types, draped in coordinated white linen outfits with freshwater pearls gracefully draped around the collar.

There is life beyond Hastings Street, as shown by a bustling restaurant and shopping scene minutes away in Noosa Junction. Some would credit this to savvy people hailing from Melbourne, making the move and bringing to Noosa what we love most: top-notch coffee, quality food and keeping the best places secret, away from pesky tourists.

EAT

Let’s start with breakfast. Noosa is relatively new to the brunch game but, by George, have they caught up fast. Put your first-home purchase on hold and head straight to Vanilla Food in the Noosa Junction. Serving up only organic ethically sourced produce, the perfect start to your day of beach-filled chilling has to be the Medley Tomato Bruschetta with fresh herbs, burrata and black olive tapenade.

Then, when you are feeling a little more peckish for dinner and your cheeks are looking nice and rosy from your day in the sun, try the “trust the chef” set menu at Sumi Open Kitchen.  At $60 a head for four courses and with the menu changing frequently based on seasonality, it gives you the chance to enjoy the best of what Noosa has to offer right on your plate. For a more casual affair or an after-dinner tipple, mosey on down to Cali-Mexican inspired Paradise Arcade. Cool down with their house margarita (my vote for the best one in Noosa) or take a group of friends for their $30 a head “Just feed me bro” banquet.

SHOP

If taking a little slice of the Noosa lifestyle home is your vibe, look no further than homewares mecca CLO Studios. Founded by mother-daughter duo Trudy and Chloe Tozer, this store is filled with chic furnishings, decor and beauty products. With each piece being carefully selected and displayed to perfection, it’s hard to not get carried away here planning your next room re-do. For an extra special memento, choose a mesmerising piece of art from local artist Lisa Morgan or a brass trinket from CLO Studio’s own range.

For adventure lovers, a locally-made board from Water Pistols Surfboards simply cannot be beat, and you can grab a latte while you browse. With a focus on developing new methods for board-making that are kinder to the environment, this family-run business is truly one of a kind.

PLAY

Now there is to be no dissing Noosa main beach, but if you are tired of being flanked by other tourists grabbing their slice of the sunshine there are other places and ways for you to relax. And they’re easily accessed at that. Nestled behind the main drag to the left is the little-known Noosa Dog Beach, which stretches all the way to the river mouth and overlooks the sandbanks. Make your trip to nearly empty paradise complete by hiring a “Barbie Boat” from the team at Boardwalk Boats just behind the Sofitel.

Comfortably seating up to 11 people and with no boat licence required, there really is no better way to experience Noosa. Cruise up the river canal and check out some seriously extravagant waterfront homes – who knows, you might even spot a celeb. Once past the canal you can anchor your vessel right on Dog Beach or the nearby sandbank. Now it’s time to crank up the tunes, blow up your lilo and enjoy Noosa.

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