How to Spend A Perfect Day In Noosa Heads, Queensland

Spending the day in Noosa? This one-day itinerary covers the best things to do in Noosa Heads and beyond, including scenic walks, blissful beach time and ocean adventures!

We’d had Noosa recommended to us by a few people we met in Australia, and it fit perfectly as a two night stop on our Sydney to Cairns road trip. A resort region on the Sunshine Coast, Noosa is a stylish coastal haven, home to stunning beaches and charming seaside town areas. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve encompasses the trails of Noosa National Park and the Noosa Everglades – one of only two everglades wetlands in the entire world.

With an upmarket feel and classy beachside restaurants and bars, I’d absolutely recommend adding a Noosa Heads stay into your Aussie travels! Here’s what to do for a perfect day in Noosa:

_{*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I’ll earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you)*}

Noosa One Day Itinerary

Morning: Walking in Noosa National Park

We chose to combine the Coastal Walk and Tanglewood Walk, for a 7km loop trail that takes in both headland views and forest paths. To access the trails, you can either walk along the boardwalk from town or drive and park in the car park – although this does get busy during peak season.

The Coastal Walk to Hell’s Gates is a mostly paved trail with some steep sections. The Tanglewood Walk is an inland bush trail, mostly downhill from Hell’s Gates, that can be muddy in parts during wet weather periods.

Noosa Coastal Walk

The Coastal Walk is the most popular route in Noosa National Park, with winding pathways over rugged cliffs offering spectacular sea views. Passing the beaches of Tea Tree Bay and Granite Bay, viewpoints at Boiling Pot and Dolphin Point are worth stopping at – make sure you keep an eye out for marine life, as dolphins and even whales are frequently seen at sea!

The charming Noosa Fairy Pools are an idyllic set of saltwater pools on the headland. The pools are accessible by a small trail a little way after Granite Bay Beach – look out for a bench on the left, as the trail entrance is just after it. You’ll need to scramble across some rocks to get there.

Afternoon: Town, beach and water activities

After a morning of walking, you might be pretty hungry – luckily, Noosa Heads offers plenty of places to grab a bite to eat.

With hot chips being one of my favourite foods, we had to give Chip’n’Mix a try, for self-serve loaded chips. The fries were good quality and the toppings were lots of fun, however it’s a bit on the pricey side for what you get.

If you’re treating yourself to sit-in lunch, try Season Restaurant for thoughtful, fresh dishes and sea views. For a more casual vibe, grab a sandwich or salad bowl from Milk Bar Grocer to enjoy at the beach!

We spent most of our afternoon wandering through town, splashing in the sea and relaxing on the iconic Noosa Heads Main Beach. But if just stretching out on the sand isn’t your style, there are plenty of activities and tours in Noosa to keep you busy.

• Take a two hour surf lesson to learn the board basics at Noosa Head Main Beach.
• Explore Great Sandy National Park and kayak with marine life on an afternoon tour to Noosa’s North Shore.
• Take an afternoon boat tour along the Noosa Everglades, one of only two wetland everglades systems in the world.

Evening: Eating & Drinking

If you’re spending the night in Noosa, expect a laid-back evening – this small town doesn’t have much of a party scene, but plenty of upscale restaurants and stylish drinking spots.

• Bang Bang – Asian fusion eatery that tops TripAdvisor as the #1 restaurant in Noosa!
• Bistro C – beachfront restaurant specialising in fresh seafood, alongside steaks and pork dishes.
• Miss Moneypenny’s – social and vibrant dining spot with pizza, sharing platters and premium dishes.

If you didn’t get the chance to get out on the water earlier, there’s a Noosa River sunset cruise that departs late afternoon. Bring some starters to nibble as the sun sets, and follow up with a pizza at Zacharys!