Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Adventures for Adults & Kids
If you’re chasing the slower side of Noosa, the magic happens with plenty of things to do around Noosa Hinterland. Here, you’ll chase waterfalls, hike lush trails or sip local gin or relax in a rainforest spa. You’ll find cute little country towns like Eumundi and Montville, packed with markets, art, and good coffee, plus some seriously tasty farm-to-table eats. And the best bit? You’re only a short drive from the beach, so you can swap hiking boots for thongs (flip-flops), in no time.
The Noosa Hinterland is all rolling green valleys, tropical rainforests, and misty mountain peaks. It’s spectacular! and you can go from rainforest to the surf in around 20 to 40 min, depending on where you’re staying.
From the calm trails of Noosa National Park to kayaking the Noosa River, there’s always something fun to do. You’ll stumble across cute little villages, quirky old pubs, and cosy boutique vineyards, great to explore on holidays. And if you’re into art, the local galleries are full of works inspired by these gorgeous landscapes.
Getting to Noosa Hinterland, QLD
Getting to Noosa is a breeze! You can either take a scenic 11-hour drive from Sydney or hop on a quick 1.5-hour flight. Once you’re here, it’s all about exploring so rent a car and hit the road to check out the hinterland and its food and wine scene for starters.
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Wellness & Pampering
- Spa Anise Spicers Tamarind Retreat
- Noosa Hinterland Retreat
- Noosa Raw
- Living Valley Health Retreat
- Crystal Waters Permaculture Village
- Ikatan Spa – Voted four times Best Destination Spa in Australia. his spa is Bali, Noosa style, set in tropical gardens for those seeking to improve their wellbeing. Group bookings are popular for whatever the reason.
- Balance Noosa – Massage & facials at the clinic, or at your hotel, resort, or home
- Salon Eumundi Medispa
- Wildfire Fitness – Pilates | Yoga | Fitness Classes | Infrared Hot Room – located at The Pavilion Eumundi
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Explore & Discover
Outdoor Activities, Day Trips and Tours
- Visit Mount Neureum, Kilkivan, Mudlo National Park, Black Snake, and to Boat Mountain near Murgon
- Take a dip at Kondalilla Falls, Gardner Falls orKinbombi Falls
- Journey to misty Bunya Mountains in Australia’s second oldest National Park
- Listen to the sounds of Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World
- Gaze across Mount Coolum’s panorama of Glass House Mountains, Point Cartwright and Noosa Heads
- Visit the quaint towns of Montville, Mapleton and Maleny (with its amazing views to the coast)
- The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is held annually, usually in April. For more information contact E: [email protected]
- Get lost in Amaze World and now into its 31st year. Solve the puzzles, riddles, tricks and twists you come across on your adventure.
- Adventure Trails horse riding
- Kilkivan 9 hole sand green golf course
- Maleny Golf Club
- Picnic at Lake Baroon
- Explore the Noosa Trail Network
- Meet the animals at Australia Zoo
- Visit Bjelke Petersen Dam
- Dickabram Bridge, Miva– Check out the oldest road-rail bridge in Queensland
- Kilkivan Pool – salt chlorinated 25m, open from Sept to April
- Have a drink at The Kilkivan Hotel (new owners)
- The Chimney and Old Copper Smelter – historic site of the first Kilkivan township site
- Mudlo National Park with walking trails and footpaths
- Day Trips through rainforest from Black Snake to Wratten National Park, or to Goomeri and Moffatdale
- Cycle the rail trail from Kingaroy to Kilkivan (88 km) – this connects to Brisbane via the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail
- Don’t miss ‘The Pumpkin Festival once a year (around 24 – 26th May)
- Clovely Estate Vineyard Cellar Door, Barambah Cellars
- Explore Bribie Island and Coloured Sands of Rainbow Beach or make your way to Hervey Bay.
- Visit the historical town of Eumundi with its famous markets and eclectic vibe
- Hire a boat and cruise the Noosa River
- Noosa’s Main Beach – surf, swim and relax
- Have an unforgettable swim at Tea Tree Bay and a dip in the Fairy Pools
- Capture the view at Hell’s Gates and Tinbeerwah Lookout
- Take a hike, in Noosa National Park, Mt Cooroora, Mt Coolum and Mt Ninderry
- Become “King of the mountain” at Mount Cooroora, Pomona
- Take the car ferry from Tewantin and take a drive along the beach at Noosa North Shore.
- One of The best things to do around Noosa Hinterland, is explore bushland and beach on horseback (permits are required for beach camping and driving on Noosa North Shore)
- Explore one of only two everglade systems in the world! Tour the Noosa Everglades – Explore the UNESCO-listed waterways and the 90m waterfall at Kondalilla Falls.
- Drive to spectacular beaches 15-20 mins away – Noosa, Peregian, Coolum Beaches
- Hire a bike to explore Noosa or the Hinterland or anywhere in between
- Visit the 25 million year old laccolith (volcanic dome) at Mt Coolum summit
Indoor Activities, Breweries and Unique Experiences
- Enjoy tasty drinks at our local gin distilleries and breweries, Terella Brewing, Pomona Distilling Co, Heads of Noosa Brewery, Land & Sea Brewery, Seabourne Distillery, 2020 Distillery
- Join the ‘Distiller For A Day’ Masterclass at The Botanik Spirit School
- Visit Noosa Regional Gallery: a must-visit with contemporary art from local and national artists, plus there are often interesting exhibitions and events.
- Eumundi Heritage and Visitor Centre: Learn about the town’s rich history, check out exhibits on local life, and discover the stories behind Eumundi’s famous markets.
- The Majestic Theatre: Located in Pomona. It’s one of Australia’s oldest cinema. It’s a great place to catch a classic film or a current release in an old-school cinema setting.
- Noosa Brewing Co – Brewery Tour & Tasting: Join a brewery tour, sample their range of craft beers, and learn about their brewing process.
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: For Kids
- Lake Weyba offers safe swimming for the kids
- The Maleny Dairies – Watch the cows being milked
- Kids will love the Noosa river pirate playground
- Enjoy Bli Bli Watersports Complex and Thrill Hill Waterslides
- Tree Top Challenge at The Big Pineapple
- The Ginger Factory (fun rides, tours, retail)
- Play amongst the trees at Dick Caplick Park – Memorial Dr, Eumundi
- Take the kids for fish and chips from Noosa Boathouse, listen to live music while the kids swim in the Noosa River. Fish food is available for $2 a bag to feed the Bream waiting eagerly for a feed along the jetty
- Have fun on the rides at Aussie World
- Fossick for gemstones at Opals Down Under
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Good Eats
- Kingstons House
- New cafes in Cooroy, Pomona and Kenilworth
- Forage’s Deli Cafe with their eclectic menu – 2/19 Tozer Street, Gympie
- Farm to table experience at Cooroy, try Farm Table, Fairhill, Tati’s, Olivea, The Farm Table and Cosecha
- Brouhaha Brewery, Maleny
- Joe’s Grand Hotel with good food and wine from Dusty Hill winery (specials on Friday) Goomeri
- Dusty Hill Restaurant and Bar- Moffatdale
- Clovelly estate – Pizzas- Moffatdale
- Moffatdale Ridge
- The Velo Project Mooloolaba: Highly recommend, beautiful people, artisan Coffee. 19 Careela Street, Mooloolaba, QLD
- Flame Hill. Montville
- Hungry Feel Eating House, Main St, Buderim
- Cake and coffee at Hinterland Feijoa. Beautiful feijoa (sweet jelly) gourmet products, an artisan farm gift shop, a retro coffee van named Myrtle serving organic coffee and tasty baked treats, and lots of beautiful farm animals for the kids to pat. It’s Australia’s only certified organic commercial feijoa orchard, set up by Peter Heineger and Sally Hookey at 131 Browns Rd at Belli Park near Eumundi
- Eumundi Coffee Roasters – Formed by a fellowship of baristas with decades of coffee experience, together fell in love with the culture, the story and the creative art of coffee making
- Flying West Coffee Roasters – dedicated to sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices with cafe and coffee roastery
- The Mexican Joint – 5/187 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville
- Mrs Brown’s Diner – classic American diner meals at 2 Browns Rd, Belli Park
- Café Doonan (has a grassed area and sandpit for the little ones)
- Little Cove Coffee Co (high quality Arabica beans). Named after a local surfing reserve, the coffee here is roasted to perfection using top quality Arabica beans, from the green bean to the cup
- Refuel at the Imperial Hotel (the cornerstone of Eumundi village)
- Kenilworth Bakery (30 mins from Eumundi)
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Foodies
- Goomeri Bakery – European bread and pastries
- Vinovalet Wine tour – Clovelly Estate Vineyard Cellar Door, Barambah Cellars, Dusty Hill Vineyard, Moffatdale Ridge
- Barambah Cellars
- Maleny Chocolate
- Yandina Ginger Factory and Market
- Vanilla Food – Belmondos Organic Market
- 250 Grammi Food and Wine bar – authentic Italian with a twist
- Somedays Pizza – wood fired, seasonal takes, seasonal plates, curated cocktails
- Kilkivan butchers -Pick up some award winning beef jerky and homemade bacon
- Village Bicycle – quality craft beer, food and live music
- Popina Eumundi – seasonal local produce
- Bask Eumundi – lazy long lunches, intimate dining and events
- Kenilworth Dairies
- Noosa Chocolate Factory
Distilleries and Breweries Around Noosa Hinterland
- Terella Brewery
- Pomona Distilling Co
- Land & Sea Brewery
- Heads of Noosa
- Seabourne Distillery
- Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co
Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Retail
- Dusty Butts – horse boutique and cowgirl couture
- Wimberley and Co Books– 9 Moore St, Goomeri QLD 4601
- Dev’s Costumes – Indian, belly dancing and bohemian costumes for men and women
- Goomeri Emporium – country outfitters and saddler
- Kilkivan Railway Station Market – Sunday morning
- Eumundi Style – is a unique women’s fashion, gift & lifestyle store that offers a carefully curated selection of Australian apparel and accessories.
- A Little Shop of Soul– Bookshop and Cafe
- The Pavillon Eumundi – boutique shopping, located on the main street Eumundi directly across the road from the Original Markets.
- The Real McCaul – Owned and operated by Paul McCaul and his family. Sells handcrafted Australian made leather goods, specialising in kangaroo and cowhide in the Sunshine Coast Owned and Operated by Paul McCaul and his family.
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