Noosa is such a beautiful place to visit with a young family, with lovely beaches, incredible playgrounds and lots of family-friendly places to stay. We love a winter break from the cold of Sydney up to the Sunshine Coast, and have just returned from our latest trip to Noosa with our toddlers. It was the most relaxing and stress-free family holiday we have had in the last few years, so I am sharing my guide to making the most of a long weekend in Noosa with kids.
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Where is Noosa?
Noosa or Noosa Shire is an area on the northern end of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, about a two-hour drive north of Brisbane. It includes the coastal suburbs of Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach and Sunrise Beach, as well as lovely hinterland spots such as Doonan, Cooroy and Tewantin.
Where to Stay: Family-Friendly Accommodation in Noosa
Noosa is a popular holiday destination with a wide variety of accommodation options for families.
My recommendation:
Essence Peregian Beach is a boutique retreat a short stroll from the sands of Peregian Beach and the shops and cafés of Peregian Village. The resort offers architecturally designed studios and two-bedroom apartments, as well as luxury three to five-bedroom beach homes. Facilities include two heated magnesium pools – one with a pool bar – and a state-of-the-art gym. We stayed at Essence during our most recent Noosa holiday, and it was such a great spot for families. We had a three-bedroom house, with a lovely outdoor dining area, and an open-plan lounge and kitchen. There is an IGA a minute walk away for stocking up on supplies, and we enjoyed breakfast at home each morning before heading out to explore. It felt like a home from home. They are very accommodating to families and provided us with a stair gate and a cot during our stay.
Other family-friendly resorts in Noosa:
Horizons at Peregian is a relaxed, family-friendly beachside accommodation just a short walk from Peregian Beach and a few minutes’ drive from the village shops and cafés. The property offers spacious self-contained apartments, each with full kitchens, laundry facilities, and private balconies or courtyards. There’s a heated outdoor pool, spa, and BBQ area for guests to enjoy, plus secure parking and easy access to the coastal walking path.
The Islander Noosa Resort is set across landscaped tropical gardens in the heart of Noosaville, directly opposite the river foreshore. Accommodation is in self-contained villas, each with a kitchen, laundry facilities and a private patio or balcony. The resort’s facilities are spread throughout the grounds and include three swimming pools (two heated), a children’s wading pool, spa and sauna, tennis courts, gym, and a games room. There are also multiple barbecue areas and a clubhouse for guests to use. Cafes, restaurants, and shops along Gympie Terrace are just a short walk away, and Hastings Street and Main Beach can be reached in a few minutes by car or ferry.
Getting to Noosa
When travelling with kids, you really want to minimise travel time and stress. Noosa is a perfect destination in this regard, as the Sunshine Coast Airport (MCY) is small, fast, and efficient, and it’s only a 15-minute drive to Peregian Beach and 30 minutes to Noosa Heads.
Getting Around the Sunshine Coast
For this itinerary, you need to hire a car. If you’re staying in Noosa Heads, you can see quite a bit without one, but for flexibility (always useful when travelling with kids), I really recommend car rental.
Noosa Long Weekend Family Itinerary
Day 1: Hinterland Adventure & Relaxation
Morning:
Enjoy breakfast at Essence Peregian Beach before jumping into the car and heading inland to Cooroy.
Cooroy is a charming country town, known for its friendly, laid-back vibe and creative community. You’ll find great local art galleries like the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts and boutique shops, and cafes. It takes about 30 minutes to drive from Peregian Beach. Bring snacks and the kids’ swimsuits for a morning of fun at the Hinterland Adventure Playground.
This is one of the best playgrounds I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot! It’s huge with a variety of zones for all ages and abilities, and activities including a sensory garden, a water creek/pool, an inclusive flying fox and some impressive climbing frames.
Once the kids have burned off some energy, head for lunch. If you have kids who nap (like mine) and don’t want to risk an early car nap, then it’s a good idea to have lunch in Cooroy. Good options include Crackerjack or Fika Cafe. Alternatively, hop back in the car and drive 15 minutes to The Doonan. A beautiful venue set on two hectares with outdoor dining and an outdoor kids’ playground.
Before leaving Cooroy, make a quick visit to Miny & Moe, a great kids’ store, selling preloved clothes, toys and books.
Afternoon:
Spend the afternoon at the hotel pools or head to Peregian Beach for a dip. Essence of Peregian has a family pool, where you can order snacks and drinks via QR code, making it a very easy and hassle-free way to relax with the kids.
If you prefer the beach, then it’s a short stroll through the village to the wide sandy shores of Pergeian Beach. It’s a long beach, so you’ll have plenty of space, but with kids, it’s a good idea to stick to the section by the Peregian Surf Life Saving Club where the flags and lifeguards are.
And if you fancy a surf, you can book lessons or hire boards from Elite Surf Coaching in Peregian Beach.
Evening:
Head back for a quick shower and change before dinner at The Peregian Beach Hotel. This is a great family venue with both indoor and outdoor seating and lots of kid-friendly options on the menu. I recommend the whole fried fish – it was delish.
Day 2: Barbecue Boat Trip & Beach Fun
Morning:
After a light breakfast, jump in the car and drive to Noosa Watersports in Noosaville. Grab a coffee and then climb aboard your barbecue boat for the morning’s adventure (book this in advance). You don’t need a license to drive these boats, and you can sail up and down the Noosa River before anchoring up for a barbecue brunch. This is an excellent way to admire the beautiful houses along the river and choose your future home (if only!).
We chose to moor up at the Noosa Spit Recreation Reserve, and the toddlers played in the shallows while we cooked our bacon and egg rolls. I even managed to get my two-year-old to nap in the pram while sailing back – success!
After disembarking in Noosaville, you can stop at the Noosa River Pirate Playground for a play, or grab a drink at one of the cafes lining the riverside.
Afternoon:
Head to the beach in the afternoon. From Noosaville, it’s an easy 10-minute drive to Noosa Main Beach. Parking can sometimes be tricky on the weekends, so you can always drive back to Peregian if you want a quieter spot and easy parking.
Evening:
As you had brunch (instead of lunch), you’ll want an early dinner, and the Sunshine Beach SLSC is the perfect spot for it. You can also enjoy the sunset from the outdoor seating area. We drove to and from the club, but if you fancy a drink or two, there is a courtesy bus that serves Peregian Springs, Coolum Beach, Peregian Beach and Tewantin.
Day 3: Nature & Markets
Morning:
Get up early (which isn’t usually difficult with kids), and drive to Noosa National Park. If you can make it before the sun comes up, it’s a great spot to watch the sunrise. There are lots of trails for all abilities throughout the park, and we chose to walk part of the coastal path starting from Noosa Heads that goes all the way to Sunshine Beach. The full coastal path is 7km, but I recommend stopping at one of the beaches for a morning dip and then retracing your steps back to the car park.
If it’s a Sunday, then hop in the car and drive to Noosa Farmers Market for lunch. You’ll find locally produced and seasonal fruit and vegetables as well as delicious eats, including curries, dumplings, okonomiyaki and more. The markets close at 12, so make sure you get there before 11:30 to get your order in.
If it’s a Wednesday or Saturday, then you can check out the famous Eumundi Markets (open until 2pm), for food and drink, art, furniture, fashion, gifts and more.
Afternoon:
Wander the shops at Peregian Village and grab a snack before your flight home. There’s also a playground between the beach and the village if the kids need to let off a bit of steam before heading to the airport.
