Noosa
The Noosa region is part of Australia’s Sunshine Coast, about 160km (100 miles) north of Brisbane. The town is edged by the Noosa River on one side and the Noosa Headlands and the National park on the other. The area includes the urban areas of Noosa Junction and Noosaville.
During the 1800s, Noosa’s economy was dependent upon the timber and milling industries. After World War 2, gold miners from Gympie discovered the area for R&R and tourism took off. Noosa Heads now has a resident population of around 10,000 people, but this swells with more than 250,000 visitors each year.
Noosa Heads is the most popular area with visitors and has a superb main beach and many smaller sandy bays which are well known for their excellent world-class surfing. The long peeling waves have perfect barrel sections but it can be crowded at times. One of the best known contests is the Noosa Festival of Surfing which draws longboarders from far and wide. The event now incorporates Stand Up Paddle Surfing and many fundraising auctions with live entertainment.
The cosmopolitan town of Noosa Heads offers many fine restaurants and hotels along with a delightful coastline and beach area. Hastings Street is situated on the southern shore of Laguna Bay, to the west of Noosa Headland. It is lined with attractive clothing and souvenir shops as well as great dining.
The word “Noosa” comes from the aboriginal word meaning “shade” which probably referred to the shady areas beneath the tall forest trees. The Kabi tribe of aborigines occupied the area for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived in the 1800s, attracted by the area’s timber and logging. The area at the mouth of the Noosa river was considered sacred to the aborigines and celebrations such as the Bunya Nut Festival were practiced here.
Noosa National Park is best known for its koalas which can be seen here year-round. It was declared a Town Reserve in 1879 and a National Park in 1930 thereby protecting its green forest from any development. Walkers can enjoy the unspoilt area with breathtaking views of the ocean, dolphins, turtles and surfers.
Image: Noosa Sunshine Coast