Escape to Noosa

Pandanus palms, pelicans and pristine beaches, the calming surrounds of Noosa help whittle away worries no matter how you choose to spend your time. From the shops and cafes of Hastings Street to an abundance of environmental reserves, the town is not just ideal for the tourist but is increasingly staking its claim as an alternative conference destination.

A waiter at Quay West Resort and Spa Noosa points out that luxury options were lacking until the hotel opened, with a narrow choice of accommodation for high-end travellers to the area.

It has since attracted the likes of Coca Cola, Nestle and Symbion Pharmacy Services for business events, with its healthy mix of furnished apartment-style lodgings and five-star service.

On the edge of Noosa Heads and the Weyba Creek Conservation Park, the resort opens out on to a wetland sanctuary abounding with grass trees, palms, gum trees and tea trees that paint the landscape with strokes of green, yellow and brown hues.

From the west-facing pool and bar these colours are illuminated by a spectacular sunset over Mount Tinbeerwah in the distance, with an ambience that might make you forget you’re only a short drive outside Brisbane.

This backdrop makes it very easy to stay put in the resort, especially with the benefits of the Mii Spa and Restaurant Aroona, or the tennis court and gym for the active.

Quay West is just a short walk from Noosa Junction which is a more local commercial district, but the resort also offers shuttle services to Hastings Street for the travellers who want to be where the action is.

Facing Noosa’s Main Beach, the street includes a plethora of shops, galleries and restaurants, as well as the iconic Massimo’s Gelateria, with a wide range of gelati that will melt in your mouth or the cone under the sun of the boardwalk.

Heading northeast from Little Cove, the Noosa National Park headland provides excellent bushwalks and secluded beaches, with the rugged cliff faces of Hell’s Gates at the end of the point.

In the park it is not uncommon to see koalas if you’ve got a sharp eye, while at the right time of year the migration of whales is a sight to behold too.