Noosa River Cruises

I had a go at a local Noosa river cruise the other day. It was a nice sunny day and I thought why not? I decided to go on board the M.V. Noosa Queen which operates out of Noosa Marina in Tewantin. I have to say here and now I’d recommend it to anybody. Chris and Kate, the hosts, were brilliant as was the catered lunchtime buffet that they put on. To top it off they’ve got a licensed bar so a few beers slid down nicely in the sunshine.

Chris was telling me that the boat is licensed 24 hours a day and is open for private hire so here I am thinking what a cracking place for a Christmas or New Years party it would be.

Noosaville

Noosaville is located on the Noosa River and is the departure point for cruises along the Noosa River System to Lake Cootharaba and the Everglades. All aquatic sports and hire facilities are available from catamarans to house boats, and a diverse range of budget and moderately priced accommodation is offered.

Distance From State Capital: 170km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast

Noosa Heads

Noosa is the heart of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and offers the discerning traveller a sophisticated and indulgent holiday. Noosa is definitely one of Australia’s premier destinations. 

Noosa is renowned for its proliferation of the finer things in life. On Hastings Street, enjoy alfresco waterfront dining from Michelin rated chefs. Relax at the hands of an experienced masseur in luxury accommodation or simply lounge the day away at the beach. Whatever your penchant for a relaxing holiday, you’ll find it at Noosa. 

Make sure to explore the Noosa National Park and its several walking tracks. Discover the beautiful surroundings as you enjoy lookouts to the nearby beaches where you can witness surfers braving the waves. Wander through the walking tracks that wind through the heart of the forest where you’ll be encompassed with the beauty of the eucalyptus gum trees. And make sure to look up to the treetops occasionally, as koalas are often spotted climbing from branch to branch. 

Many of the activities that Noosa offers surround the water. Noosa’s Main Beach is a protected beach with gentle surf and a great spot for beginners to learn. But nearby Sunshine Beach offers more advanced surfers some great breaks. Then there’s the Noosa River that is popular for canoeing and kayaking and the numerous tour operators that offer scuba diving lessons/trips too. 

Now for a little history, Noosa is the name for a collective group of three areas surrounding the Noosa River: Noosa Junction, Noosaville and Noosa Heads. Noosa Heads is the most commonly referred to because it is home to the renowned Hastings Street and many well-known resorts.

Distance From State Capital: 170km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast

Nambour

Nambour was settled in the 1860’s by miners disappointed after the poor returns from the goldfields at Gympie, just north. Today it has a population of over 10,000 and is a thriving rural community a short distance west of the Sunshine Coast. 

It is a major sugar production area as is much of Queensland, and here and there you will see small trains pulling their loads of precious sugar cane and you will be able to buy fresh pineapples and other farm produce for which the area is renowned. Nearby is a macadamia nut factory, a winery, a deer sanctuary, a honey farm, and many other things to see.

Distance From State Capital: 100km
Nearest Main Highway: Bruce
Nearest Airport: Sunshine Coast