Is Noosa the best beach town in Queensland?
Queensland has several good coastal towns – 1770, Burleigh Heads and Mooloolaba all have their merits. But the truly outstanding Queensland beach town is Noosa.
Queensland has a partially justified reputation as Australia’s sunshine state. It’s the place Australians go to for beach holidays when it starts getting cold in the southern states, and there are plenty of resort towns to choose from.
But there’s a big secret that no-one wants to admit: Many of these Queensland coastal towns have disappointing beaches.
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.
Beaches in Queensland coastal towns
This is partly due to the Great Barrier Reef, which runs parallel to the central and northern Queensland coasts. From just south of Gladstone, the Reef blocks the surf from getting up. The Town of 1770 and Agnes Water – both lovely, chilled and underrated beach towns – have the last genuine surf beaches along the coast.
From about Rockhampton onwards, the tropical waters also attract box jellyfish and saltwater crocodiles. Going swimming from the beach can be a bit dicey, even if the sands look inviting.
Best Queensland beach towns: Mission Beach and Port Douglas?
This rules out the likes of Airlie Beach, Mission Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation as Australia’s best beach town. Others further south might not have the creature conundrums, but many have the surf blocked by large sand islands.
Fraser Island, for example, blocks Hervey Bay, while North Stradbroke Island and shipwreck snorkelling hotspot Moreton Island block Brisbane. Rainbow Beach, meanwhile, is sheltered from the surf by the Double Island Point peninsula in Cooloola.
In fact, Queensland will hate to admit it, but New South Wales has a better collection of beach towns. Byron Bay is the best known, but others such as Yamba, Crescent Heads and camel-riding hotspot Port Macquarie line the coast.
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.
Best Queensland coastal towns: Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast
So, for the title of best beach town in Queensland, you’re essentially left with the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
Both are collections of smaller towns, all with different vibes. The Gold Coast has brash Surfers Paradise, more laid-back Burleigh Heads and surf-centric Coolangatta, amongst others. They each have their own charms, but the Sunshine Coast further north feels less aggressively mass-market.
Here, family-friendly Mooloolaba has the most to do and Coolum is the spot to kick back and relax.
Noosa – the best beach town in Australia?
The star of the show, however, is Noosa – which is arguably the best beach town in Australia, let alone Queensland.
Noosa has the beaches – several of them, in fact. They face in different directions, so there’s almost always good surf at one of them. There’s also excellent shopping on Hastings Street, one of the most stylish streets in the country, and a sprinkling of high quality restaurants.
Noosa’s outrageously photogenic waterways lend themselves to boating, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding. And the national parkland at the edges of the town centre is marvellous for bushwalks, clifftop views and spotting koalas. You can also take a cruise along the Noosa River into the Great Sandy National Park.
Perhaps best of all, Noosa is easy to get to. It’s 148km from Brisbane Airport – about a one hour, 40 minute drive. The best beach town in Queensland makes for a fine first stop after arriving in the country.