Whether you’re looking to hang out with your gal pals or the wolf pack, kick back with the whole crew or stare into the eyes of your significant other, bar hopping along either side of Sunshine Beach Road guarantees a great night out. Small bars serving local beers and hard to find wines and whiskeys abound and with restrictions easing, you’ll always find a spot to perch up for a few beverages in Noosa Junction.
Gone are the nights when Noosa locals and visitors would head over the hill for an evening’s entertainment. Noosa Junction, Hastings Street’s little sister, has grown up and boy, does she pack a lively punch! Luckily for those staying at the Noosa Heads Motel, strolling down into heart of Noosa’s nightlife scene requires minimal effort beyond strapping on a pair of shoes, though walking back up the hill after a few beverages and an Instafood worthy meal might take you a bit longer!
Turning left out of the Motel driveway, it’s a short 100 metre walk down Noosa Drive before you hit the first notable cluster of excellent restaurants and bars. Little Sister is a small, funky and casual bar, absolutely perfect for having a drink in the afternoon sun while you decide how to approach the rest of the evening.
Further down the hill and taking a left along Sunshine Beach Road, Mr Drifter is a hole in the wall bar with plenty of outdoor seating, Ze Pickle does burgers and beers with good time feels while over the road, the Cornerstone Pub and Kitchen delivers old style pub goodness with a highly underrated view over one of the busiest intersections in Noosa: perfect for deciding on which car you want to upgrade to!
Moving further south along Sunshine Beach Road, you’ll find Arcadia St, a beautiful pedestrian friendly area with Eddie Cheeba’s a stand out with an excellent selection of drinks, beer and wine, while Paradise Arcade across the street is good for an al fresco margarita.
Perhaps the jewel in the Junction crown however, is the Village Bicycle. Considered the God Father of the Noosa Junction scene, these guys kicked off the area’s nightlife a few years ago when they were housed on the hill (where Little Sister is now). They’ve graduate to slick new digs, complete with a Melbourne Laneway vibe beer garden out the back and cool seating overlooking the passing parade at the front. ‘The bike’, as it’s known to locals, has become an institution, where local beers, good wine and honest-to-deep-fried-goodness bar food come together for a relaxed night out.
And of course, on the walk back up the hill to Noosa Heads Motel, there’s always KB’s, one of Noosa’s oldest drinking establishments. Here, backpackers, locals and visitors mix to the sounds of anything with a good beat and a singalong chorus. Avoid this place if you want to get home at a timely hour.