Mooloolaba to Noosa drive: Distance, time & best stops

The Mooloolaba to Noosa drive covers a 41km distance in around 38 minutes. The best road trips stops along the way include Marcoola and Coolum Beach.

The drive from Mooloolaba to Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is a short one. It is pretty easy to use one of these Sunshine Coast towns as a base for experiences in the other.

Mooloolaba brings whale-watching cruises, amphibious vehicle tours and the Sealife Sunshine Coast Aquarium.

Noosa, meanwhile, offers nature cruises through the Everglades, waterbiking and tasting tours around local breweries and distilleries.

What to pre-book in Mooloolaba

A sunset cruise along the palm-lined waterways
The Aquaduck tour – it’s a bus tour, and then it’s a cruise, all in the same amphibious vehicle.
A canal cruise – on a historic wooden ferry.
Sealife aquarium tickets – visit the biggest aquarium on the Sunshine Coast.
In season, a whale-watching cruise – get close to the migrating humpbacks.
Your accommodation.

Mooloolaba to Noosa distance and driving time

The Mooloolaba to Noosa drive is 41km in distance, with a driving time of around 38 minutes. This is using Noosa Heads – generally the most popular part of Noosa – as the end point.

The quickest route heads out of Mooloolaba along Buderim Avenue, then joins the Sunshine Motorway. This route skirts the edge of Maroochydore and crosses the Maroochy Bridge.

The motorway runs parallel to several appealing beach suburbs, including Mudjimba Beach and Marcoola. If you’ve got plenty of time on your hands, you can always peel off and go for a swim.

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.

Stops on the Mooloolaba to Noosa drive

Point Arkwright and Coolum Beach are further north, but you leave the Sunshine Motorway at Peregian Springs. Branch off here onto David Low Way, which hugs the coast past Peregian Beach, Sunrise Beach and Sunshine Beach before continuing into Noosa Heads.

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.

Good things to do in Noosa include shopping on Hastings Street and surfing lessons. You can also try spotting koalas in the Noosa National Park, taking a Great Beach Drive tour to Double Island Point and Rainbow Beach, or enjoying a Noosa Everglades cruise.

Accommodation picks include the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, Habitat Noosa and Seahaven Noosa.

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.