Noosa Heads is one of the most popular beach destinations on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, about 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Unlike the high-rise sprawl of the Gold Coast, Noosa has kept its development low-rise by local ordinance, and the town sits comfortably among subtropical vegetation with a distinctly relaxed feel. It is expensive, fashionable, and genuinely beautiful.
The main beach curves along a north-facing bay that is sheltered from the prevailing swell, making it one of the safest swimming beaches in Queensland. Hastings Street, the short strip of restaurants, boutiques, and cafes that runs parallel to the beach, is where most of the action is. At the eastern end, the Noosa National Park begins immediately — a rare thing for a resort town — with well-marked walking trails through coastal bush to secluded bays like Tea Tree Bay and Granite Bay, where you might spot koalas in the trees overhead.
Surfing is excellent at the national park's headland breaks, which produce long, clean right-handers at First Point that are perfect for longboarding. The Noosa Everglades, accessible by kayak or guided tour from nearby Tewantin, are a pristine waterway through paperbark forest that feels a world away from the beach scene. For food, Hastings Street has upscale dining, but the better-value spots are along the river at Noosaville, a short drive or bus ride away.