Sofitel Noosa: What’s so good about this Sunshine Coast resort?

The Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort has large rooms with private balconies and a lagoon pool with swim-up bar.

The Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is one of several accommodation options in Noosa, Queensland. There are caravan parks in Noosa if you want to do it on the cheap, Habitat Noosa in the Everglades, and plenty of apartments and apart-hotels.

But the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is easily the most prominent accommodation in Noosa, thanks to its prime position on Hastings Street. Sandwiched between Noosa Main Beach and Noosa Sound, this Sunshine Coast resort is right in the heart of Noosa.

Hastings Street in Noosa, Queensland — Hastings Street in Noosa. Photo courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland.

Rooms at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort

The rooms at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort are remarkably spacious. Even the entry level rooms offer 55 square metres and private balconies. Don’t go expecting anything too wild and controversial from the décor, however. There is art from local artists on the walls, but otherwise the look is crisp, internationalist and slick. The rooms do feel brighter than your average business/ luxury hotel, however.

Get the best out of Noosa – 6 sensational experiences to look into

Cruise the mirror-like waterways of the Noosa Everglades – a glorious glide through stunning natural landscapes.
4WD along the beaches – AND kayak with dolphins on a day tour full of easy adventure.
Take a dolphin-watching safari down the Noosa River.
Have a go at kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding or waterbiking.
Take a tasting tour of the local craft breweries and distilleries – find out how the locals have devoted themselves to quality.
Get standing on your board by the end of a beginners’ surfing lesson.

Noosa Beach House restaurant

The Noosa Beach House restaurant is sadly no longer run by chef Peter Kuruvita, whose Sri Lanka-inspired dishes were sensational. Kuruvita has now left to set up another venture in Noosa, and the Noosa Beach House has reverted to a safer European techniques meets local ingredients menu.

If I can do just one thing in Noosa, what should it be?

The Great Beach Drive – a four wheel drive adventure up Teewah Beach towards Double Island Point – is fantastic on its own. To go kayaking with dolphins as part of the same trip makes for a genuinely superb day out.

Take it as a massive personal recommendation – the Great Beach Drive plus Kayaking With Dolphins day tour should be at the top of your Noosa wishlist.

The real stand out feature of the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is the lagoon-style pool, however. Swimming pools at Australian hotels are generally disappointingly small. And while the pool at the Sofitel Noosa is hardly gargantuan by the standards of European or Caribbean all-inclusives, it’s still substantial. And what’s more, it has a swim-up bar.

Rooms at the Sofitel Noosa cost from around $398 excluding breakfast. For more information, visit the resort website. Alternative Hastings Street accommodation includes Seahaven Noosa.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.