The weather has started to warm up in Noosa signalling the official start of a long boardshort and bikini season. Getting out on the water is an essential part of your stay here, and can involve as little or as much ‘getting wet’ as you can handle. From tackling the waves to sedate paddles on the river, Noosa offers something for everyone- and you don’t even have to take your hair wet!
If you’ve brought your foam and fibreglass stick with you, just a quick stroll over the hill from the Noosa Heads Motel will find you in your very own surfing nirvana. Noosa was heralded a World Surfing Reserve in 2017 and with good reason: a series of points from First Point on Main Beach all the way out to the Noosa National Park offer clean, regular waves on most wind directions. If you’re a beginner, stay close in at First Point. Consider yourself a few steps above kook? The locals know that the further you walk into the National Park, the less crowded the waves will be. Complete novice? There are a number of Learn to Surf companies offering private and group lessons at the Noosa groin, along the far end of Main Beach. Surfboard and boogie board hire is also available on Hastings St and in the Junction.
Prefer something a little less strenuous? There are a number of beautiful beaches, private coves and bays to explore within walking distance of Noosa Heads Motel. Main Beach is a great spot to perch up for the day- hire a few deckchairs on the beach, take a swim between the flags, grab a burger from Nosh or Betty’s, enjoy the sunshine and the passing parade: there’s always something to look at on Main Beach! If the waves of Main Beach are too hectic for you, keep walking along the beach toward the river mouth and around to what the locals call The Dog Beach. Here, calm river water is flushed in an out by the tides, providing safe swimming out of the wind. This is very popular with families (and obviously, those people with dogs). Another great spot for safe swimming with the little ones is the Lions Park at the bottom of Noosa Hill. There’s lots of shade, a playground, a little sandy beach on the Noosa River, free BBQs and lots of grass for the kids to run around on.
Want to get on the water but don’t want to take your sunglasses off? Stand Up Paddleboarding is the water sport for you! Head over to Gympie Terrace in Noosaville where a number of SUP hire places are located right on the river. Noosa Stand Up Paddle offer classes, hire, tours and even the option of a nauticycle to get around the river on! Take a leisurely paddle around the exclusive waterways of Noosa and take a look at how the other half live. If you’ve brought your SUP, the Lions Park is the closest and safest place to launch your board and wake up your core.
Paddling sounds great, but it ain’t going to be fast. Kick your adrenal glands into overdrive and hire a jet ski for a burl along the river, over the Noosa bar and out onto the bay. There are a number of hire options on Gympie Terrace, with some offering guided tours out around the headland where you’re sure to see all kinds of marine life while bumping over the ocean.
There’s plenty of ways to get out onto the water but sometimes you just want to laze by the pool and read a book. Noosa Heads Motel has a beautiful pool area, sun lounges and a BBQ area for just that, perfect for soaking up some the relaxation on your Noosa holiday!