Things to do around Noosa Hinterland, QLD: Adventures and Relaxation
Noosa, located on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is known for its stunning combination of coastal beauty and undulating open space and plenty of things to do around Noosa Hinterland. This place is seriously stunning! With its lush green valleys, tropical rainforests, and beautiful waterfalls, all set against the backdrop of ancient volcanic peaks, the scenery is jaw-dropping. And just a short drive away, you’ve got the amazing Pacific Ocean, offering endless options for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts. It’s the best of both worlds!
Explore Nature and Outdoor Adventures
From the peaceful Noosa National Park to the calm Noosa River, there’s always something fun to do. The hinterland around here is full of charming little country villages, old pubs with heaps of character, and cosy boutique vineyards—perfect for a chilled day of exploring. And if you’re a fan of art, Noosa’s got an awesome art scene too, with galleries featuring local artists who are inspired by these gorgeous landscapes.
Access and Relaxation
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—rent a car and hit the road to check out the beaches, the hinterland, or the food and wine scene.
Wellness & Pampering Around Noosa Hinterland
- Spa Anise Spicers Tamarind Retreat
- Noosa Hinterland Retreat
- Noosa Raw
- Living Valley Health Retreat
- Crystal Waters Permaculture Village
- Ikatan Spa – “Luxlife 2023 global award Best Destination Day Spa Qld. APAC award Best Destination Day Spa 2023 Haute Grandeur Global Hotel and Spa Awards Best Eco Day Spa & Best Day Spa. Voted four times for Best Destination Spa in Australia. Ikatan Spa, is Bali, Noosa style with the feel of a Balinese style village, set in tropical gardens, creating an environment that embraces nature and life at a slower pace, for those seeking to improve their wellbeing. Group bookings are popular at Ikatan Spa for birthdays, pre-wedding, corporate and baby shower.”
- Balance Noosa – Massage & Facials at the clinic, or at your hotel, resort, or home. Noosa Heads & Surrounding Areas
- Salon Eumundi Medispa –
- Wildfire Fitness in Eumundi – Pilates | Yoga | Fitness Classes | Infrared Hot Room – located at The Pavilion Eumundi
Explore & Discover Around Noosa Hinterland
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 or Kinkombi Falls
- Journey to misty Bunya Mountains in Australia’s second oldest National Park
- Get lost in Bellingham Maze – Renamed Amaze World and now into its 31st year. It’s an enchanted world bursting with wonder and amazement, brought to life by imagination. It’s here, in this secret garden, where you can find a cheeky forest trickster, who likes nothing more than puzzling anyone who happens to wander into his world. While you solve the puzzles, riddles, tricks and twists you come across on your adventure, find comfort in knowing if there’s one place in the world you want to get lost, it’s here.
- 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)
- Support local businesses in cafes, galleries and shops
- The Kilkivan Great Horse Ride is held annually, usually in April. For more information contact E: [email protected]
- 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
- Check out the oldest road-rail bridge in Queensland- Dickabram Bridge, Miva
- Kilkivan salt chlorinated 25m swimming pool is 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
- Take a day trip 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
- Further explore Bribie Island and Coloured Sands of Rainbow Beach or make your way to Hervey Bay.
- Visit the charming, historical town of Eumundi with its famous markets and eclectic vibe
- Hire a boat and cruise the Noosa River
- Surf, swim and relax at Noosa’s main beach and take a hike along the Noosa National Park and 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 or 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. For an unforgettable Noosa North Shore experience, explore the 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! Book a Tour of 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: You can 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 and most charming cinemas. It’s a great place to catch a classic film or a current release in an old-school cinema setting.
- The Pomona Distilling Co – Gin Masterclass: where you can take a gin masterclass. You’ll learn the art of distilling, enjoy tastings, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how they create their craft spirits.
- The Botanik Spirit School – Distiller For A Day: If you want to get hands-on with the distilling process, you can’t miss this immersive experience where you’ll learn the craft of making gin from scratch, experiment with botanicals, and create your own signature spirit to take home.
- Noosa Brewing Co – Brewery Tour & Tasting: Join a brewery tour, sample their range of craft beers, and learn about their brewing process.
For Kids (Special Addition)
- Lake Weyba offers safe swimming spot for the kids
- Watch the cows being milked at The Maleny Dairies
- 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
Good Eats Around Noosa Hinterland
- Kingstons House
- New cafes in Cooroy, Pomona and Kenilworth
- Forage in this cafe with their eclectic menu – 2/19 Tozer Street, Gympie
- Farm to table experience at Cooroy
- 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 (check reopening time) Beautiful feijoa 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! Located at 131 Browns Rd at Belli Park near Eumundi on the Sunshine Coast. It’s Australia’s only certified organic commercial feijoa orchard, set up by Peter Heineger and Sally Hookey in 2008 with approx 750 feijoa trees and 5 varieties. Feijoas are a sub-tropical fruit from South America, and are full of vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals and fibre. They are great eaten fresh, or used in juices and smoothies and baking. (check for opening times)
- 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
- Julie’s Cafe, Kilkivan – 15 Bligh St, Kilkivan QLD 4600
- Flying West Coffee Roasters – Drop by and experience Flying West Coffee at the wholesome and open-plan industrial style cafe. They’re dedicated to sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices with cafe and coffee roastery, solar powered. Their cafe produce is sourced as locally as possible, using the freshest ingredients
- The Mexican Joint – 5/187 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville QLD 4566
- Mrs Brown’s Diner (classic American diner café/restaurant) – 2 Browns Rd, Belli Park QLD 4562
- Moonstruck Noosa – local house blend coffee, “Dutch Courage” and gin. This is a quaint, European style café known as a secret local gem of Hastings Street, serving exceptional bagels, salad and breakfast bowls, and lunch menu, coffee and gin and a wide range of cold drinks, organic teas and elixirs. Café by day and stunning gin bar by night with a unique, small batch all Australian gin collection, serving specially paired gin and tonics, signature cocktails, and classic cocktails with a Moonstruck spin. They offer share plates in the evenings as well. Moonstruck also offer local Beers and Australian Wines great food serving a breakfast and lunch menu that is easy to take away down to beach. Plus, there’s gluten free, dairy free and sugar free options.
- 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)
Foodies Delights Around Noosa Hinterland: Markets & Gourmet Flavours
- Goomeri Bakery with European bread and pastries
- The Vinovalet Wine tour – Clovelly Estate Vineyard Cellar Door, Barambah Cellars, Dusty Hill Vineyard, Moffatdale Ridge
- Barambah Cellars
- Maleny Chocolate
- Yandina Ginger Factory and Market
- Lucio’s Marina (seafood trattoria and bar)
- Vanilla Food at Belmondos Organic Market
- 250 Grammi Food and Wine bar (authentic Italian with a twist)
- Somedays Pizza (wood fired, seasonal takes, seasonal plates, curated cocktails)
- Pick up some award winning beef jerky and the homemade bacon at Kilkivan butchers
- Rick’s Artisan Pies and Sourdough (extensive range of bread, pies, baguettes, tarts, salads)
- Sum Yung Guys – Innovative Asian-fusion small & share plates served in an airy space with a cool street-food vibe
- Whiskey Boy (Aged beef -60 day old), volcanic char grill, or choose from daily fresh seafood options,churrasco platters, fresh seafood and rotating local catches. With 75+ whisky on offer at any given time, and bottles being added often, Whisky Boy is able to offer something from each corner of the globe, and for all price points. 10/203 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville QLD
- 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
Retail Escapes Around Noosa Hinterland
- Dusty Butts – horse boutique and cowgirl couture
- Wimberley and Co Book store – 9 Moore St, Goomeri QLD 4601
- Dev’s Costumes – Indian, belly dancing and bohemian costumes for men and women
- The Goomeri Emporium – country outfitters and saddler
- Kilkivan railway station market Sunday morning
- Coastal Vintage –
- Kim Wallace Ceramics – From their hands to yours, they love making beautiful ceramics for your home. All ceramics are carefully crafted by hand in Noosa by a small, vibrant team of potters, glazers, designers and creative thinkers. They are all makers at heart and delight in producing beautiful pieces for your home
- Eumundi Style – is a unique women’s fashion, gift & lifestyle store that offers a carefully curated selection of Australian apparel and accessories.
- Berkelouw Books
- A Little Shop of Soul– Bookshop and Cafe. You’ll find them down a quiet lane off the main street, so you won’t hear any traffic noise as you browse books, or sit in the garden courtyard with a cuppa. As well as a selection of popular New Release Fiction and Non-fiction, they also stock great kid’s books & games, mind body spirit, cooking and gardening books. Also, journals, gifts, gifts, greeting cards…& more!
- Noosa Markets Sunday Markets
- Fruits of Noosa
- Hastings St, Noosa Heads
- The Pavillon Eumundi – boutique shopping, located on the main street Eumundi directly across the road from the Original Markets.
- The Real McCaul Handcrafted Australian Made Leather goods. Sunshine Coast Owned and Operated by Paul McCaul and his family. Specialising in Kangaroo and Cowhide.
