Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort
IN my humble opinion, Noosa is the new Byron.
Clean, serene and undeniably beautiful, this beachside town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is the stuff weekend getaway dreams are made of.
We fly in from Sydney, and my husband Jason, our son Xander and I are greeted by Ron from Noosa Car Rentals, who we’ve hired a car from.
We receive that oh-so-Queensland hospitality; warm with that distinct ‘nothing is a problem’ attitude. I know it and I’m used to it because I grew up in the Sunshine State.
We drive a short 45 minutes to Noosa, where we arrive at a beachside town that feels European because of its cleanliness and the array of boutiques and dining options but also distinctly Australian thanks to its calm beaches that runs east as far as the eye can see.
We arrive at our hotel, the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, mid-afternoon.
Perfectly positioned just a street away from the beach with views of the ocean, the hotel is modern and stylish with white and timber furnishings.
We spot the pool area out past the reception and while we’re waiting for our room, we go for a swim. A large pool snakes around a swim-up bar and there are enough loungers for everyone. Thank goodness, because on the second day everyone has the same plan as us, to lie by the pool and sip cocktails.
We’re blown away by the size of our Prestige Suite, hugging a corner of the property with views over Hastings Street and an oversized private balcony.
We have a separate main bedroom and ensuite and in the bathroom, there’s an oversized spa bath beside a large shower area.
On the side of the bath, there are foam letters that spell our son’s name and we’re treated with similarly personalised service throughout our entire stay.
We enjoy a glass of Champagne while we watch the sun set from our oversized day bed. We put our son to bed in his cot in the living room and are thankful for the second TV in the main bedroom as we watch a movie, with the soothing sound of the ocean as background noise.
We fall asleep and wake to the most beautiful sunrise over Noosa main beach, ready for a day of slow exploration.
Season Restaurant
We arrive a little early so we head out to the beach, which is just steps from where we’ll dine. Families play together, as happy as we are to be in this seaside village for the weekend. Locals smile as they pass us on their sunset walk.
When it’s time to dine, we’re whisked inside to a table for two and a high chair in what must be prime position – right at the front as close to the sand as possible. The service is fast and friendly and we are completely blown away by the food when it arrives.
We share the watermelon and feta salad and a prawn entrée, followed by yellow curry seafood and snapper. We sip on a house Sauvignon Blanc as Xander pours pasta all over himself. We’re happy and full as we watch the ocean softly roll into the beach.
Peter Kuruvita’s Noosa Beach
On day two, we wake up and head down to the Sofitel’s buffet at Peter Kuruvita’s Noosa Beach House restaurant, which is included in our room tariff. The buffet is impressive, with pastries and hot options as well as cereals. We order a hot meal of scrambled eggs on toast and fuel up for the day ahead.
EXPLORE
Noosa National Park
We walk along the boardwalk, which runs alongside the beach to the entrance of Noosa National Park.
We take a short stroll through the trees and spot the most beautiful little beaches – first Tea Tree Bay then Alexandria Bay and Granite Bay – where the clear waters of Laguna Bay lap the white sand. There are plenty of lookouts along the way and plenty of open areas for our energetic one-year-old to explore.
www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/noosa/about.html
Noosa Main Beach
We spend the rest of the day on the uncrowded Noosa Main Beach enjoying our own space, unlike the beaches back in Sydney which are overcrowded in the summer heat.
The surf is calm and the water is warm, perfect for kids and adults alike. We find as the day progresses, the winds make the small waves slightly choppier on the open beach but down towards the national park to the west, the water is even calmer.
Betty’s Burgers and Concrete Co.
At lunchtime, we head over to Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co and enjoy the classic burger shack serving mouth-watering burgers. We share a house-made concrete desert of ice cream and lolly mixes as we walk back to the hotel for an afternoon in the pool.
TIP: For a fancy meal, head to Ricky’s on the riverfront. The water is crystal clear and we enjoy beautifully fresh fish and paired wine while watching boats bob along in front of us. Expect impeccable service.