Fuel your exploration at Hastings Street, Noosa

Restaurants on Hastings Street

beachfront dining at Bistro C, Hastings Street Noosa

Soak up absolute beachfront bliss at Bistro C.

Spilling over its well-trodden pavements with freshly untangled seafood, seasonal ingredients and warm hospitality, many of the best restaurants in Noosa congregate on the main stretch. Hastings Street is home to eateries catering to all tastebuds plus some of Noosa’s best cafes (i.e. killer coffee), whipping up pure sunshine every morning.

For holiday long lunching and epic Asian flavours, Bistro C   and Bang Bang Noosa are legendary and I love Locale for a date night that’s heavy on the carbs (their Italian dishes are unbeatable). If you’re looking for fancy, say yes to Sails because it’s a special occasion stalwart offering Main Beach views and endless elegance. For takeaway, I try to keep things light and healthy with a visit to the Sydney cult favourite that expanded north, MissChu Upstairs – it’s the best for authentic Vietnamese favourites.

a table-top view of food at Cibaria Noosa, Hastings Street

Dine on authentic Italian classics at Cibaria Noosa.

Finally, if you’re visiting Hastings Street after December 2025, make a booking at Cibaria Noosa , opening on the street level at Elysium Noosa Resort in the now-closed Noosa Beach House. The crew hail from Cibaria Manly in Sydney and they’ve got huge shoes to fill (Noosa Beach House was beloved by locals, once run by the awesome Sunshine Coast chef Peter Kuruvita) so it’s bound to be pumping.

Top shops on Hastings Street

Bowery 475 shop on Hastings Street, Noosa

Bowery 475 features luxury brands from international and local designers. (Image: Taylah Golden)

Fuelled your engines, ready to splurge? Hastings Street flows with some of my favourite holiday homewares, coastal-inspired wardrobe heroes and mainstream brands. I wander down the footpath closest to the beach for non-stop shopping o’clock before winding back down the inland side for arcades bursting with local creations and a couple more stand-out boutiques.

inside the Alterior Motif shop in Hastings Street, Noosa

Pick up modern coastal fashion finds at Alterior Motif. (Image: Supplied)

For trend-driven garments and killer accessories, I’ve loved Alterior Motif since I was a teenager. It’s a local institution that’s basically a part of the furniture on the famous strip. Other top fashion brands include Kivari , Bowery 475 up the southern end of Hastings, DISSH , The Upside , which opened in September 2025, Aje , White Story , and Akubra , which only opened its doors at the beginning of October 2025.

a look inside the Kivari store at Hastings Street, Noosa

The sleek and minimalist Kivari boutique is just a stone’s throw from the main beach.

I also can’t leave Noosa without dropping into Lamington for a new tea towel and other homewares I never knew I needed. It’s a tight squeeze in there, right down the Noosa Woods end of Hastings, but the team source some of the cutest bits and pieces around so its treasure box feels are endlessly rewarding. Don’t miss it if you’re looking for gifts, too, and while you’re thinking of spoiling others, add Little Cove to your must-shop list – it’s a great spot for the little ones in your life, plus there’s a small edit of trendy homewares. Meanwhile, Noosa Longboards specialises in incredible surfboards, plus cult-adored streetwear, and Bay Village is an unpretentious shopping centre with its own collection of speciality stores and a food court. National chains that always steal plenty of my time, too, include MECCA, Peter Alexander, Country Road, Seed, Witchery and Cotton On.

Accommodation on Hastings Street

For the ultimate Noosa stay, book a room at Seahaven Noosa.

You really can’t go wrong with accommodation in the heart of Noosa Heads, but some of the stays on Hastings Street, Noosa really blow me away. Luxurious resorts, hotels, multi-bedroom apartments and studios provide some of the best Noosa accommodation with endless adventure right on your doorstep. Think uninterrupted ocean views, only a couple of steps away from Main Beach and Instagram-perfect spaces to pretty your feed. I always loved Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort and it’s only going to get better when a multi-million-dollar enhancement and new ownership is unveiled at the end of 2025.

the terrace at the wellness suite of Elysium Noosa Resort

The luxe Elysium Noosa Resort offers unparalleled coastal charm. (Image: Supplied)

Elysium Noosa Resort will retain the standout accommodation star’s famed pool as the perfect spot for countless cocktails, and the rooms are promising unparalleled Hastings Street luxury, particularly the Wellness Suites which feature their own infrared sauna, terrace spa and personalised wellness practices. I also really like On The Beach Noosa Resort , Netanya Noosa (only if I’m able to splurge, mind you, because it’s deliciously ritzy), and Seahaven Noosa . Plus, there are Hamptons-inspired apartments overlooking a glistering pool, that in turn overlooks Noosa Main Beach, at Tingirana Noosa .

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.

The ultimate entertainment guide to Hastings Street, Noosa

Plan where to stay, splurge and dine along Hastings Street, Noosa with our tried-and-tested guide.

Restaurants on Hastings Street

Top shops on Hastings Street

Accommodation on Hastings Street

This coastal town just beat Byron Bay as Australia’s favourite

The best holiday rentals and Airbnbs in Noosa

The ultimate guide to Noosa camping, glamping and caravan parks

The best cafes in Noosa to embrace lazy mornings with

What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

Exploring K’gari

Unwind at sunset

Indulge and disconnect

Getting there