Escape to the country with this Noosa Hinterland guide

From luxury digs and charming B&Bs to secluded spots in the forest where you can pitch a tent and check out of the real world, Noosa Hinterland accommodation has something for every traveller.

Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp offers cabins and glamping on the shores of Queensland’s biggest natural saltwater lake, with onsite dining at Cootharabar and Bistro and the beauty of the Noosa Everglades on your doorstep.

Prefer fully self-contained accommodation? Eco award-winning Noosa Cottages features five private country cottages on 30acres, including a sprawling homestead for families (the kids will love to feed the farm animals). Nearby Cooran, pet-friendly Rosecliffe Boutique Farm Cottages is set on a 93acre wildlife conservation reserve, providing a genuine farmstay experience with daily animal feeding and an orchard for fruit picking – alongside an infinity waterfall pool and expansive views of the Pinbarren Valley.

Retreat to the sanctuary of Amamoor Lodge after a day exploring to enjoy the quiet calm of the Mary Valley region, or get a group together to rent out the Noosa Hinterland Rainforest Retreat holiday house.

Camping in Noosa Hinterland

If soaking up the great outdoors by day and night is how you recharge, take advantage of the campsites across the Sunshine Coast.

Bush and beach come together at Boreen Point Campground on the sandy shores on Lake Cootharaba. There’s free range campsites in the bushland, powered sites, as well as a tents-only section along the lakeside. Equipped with a camp kitchen and gas barbeques, this is a great spot for fishing and kayaking, and a jump-off point for the Noosa Trail Network. Campsites and motorhomes are also welcome at nearby Habitat Noosa Everglades Ecocamp.

Further north, tents, caravans and campervans (and dogs) are welcome amongst the iron bark and blue gum trees at Amamoor Creek Camping Area, and you’ll have the walking trails and swimming holes of Amamoor State Forest at your fingertips.

Pitch your tent on the land of pioneers and bushrangers at Cobb and Co Nine Mile Camping Grounds and you'll have endless things to do. Once the land of old Cobb & Co Stables, there’s walking trails and BMX tracks, a billabong and farmyard, plus train rides, pony rides and a flying fox for the kids.

Explore national parks in Noosa Hinterland

You’ll find beauty at every turn in the Noosa Hinterland, but this amplifies tenfold when you step into Tewantin National Park. Home to rainforest and open eucalypt bushland, it’s a refuge for echidnas, koalas, swamp wallabies and a birdwatchers dream: and there’s two major sections to explore.

Towering 265m volcanic Mount Tinbeerwah rises above the park, and offers 360 degree ocean and hinterland views that glisten during sunrise or sunset. Best yet? Getting here is easy: just a 500m return walk to the lookout. Alternatively, hikers and mountain bikers seek out the trails through Wooroi. Bikers have 25km of flow trails for all skill levels to explore – and this is some of the best mountain biking in southeast Queensland. If you don’t have your own gear, you can rent hardtails and dualies from local Bike On.

Some tracks in the Wooroi section of Tewantin National Park also allow horse riding, but check signage before you head out.

Lace up your sneakers and hike to the summit of Mount Cooroora in Tuchekoi National Park near Pomona. Well known for the annual King of the Mountain race, it’s not for the faint of heart, but the views are worth it; stretching towards the Cooloola Sand Patch and Great Sandy National Park. Allow 2-3 hours for this hike.

Looking to cool off? Mother Mountain Rockpools in Woondum National Park are calling, perfect for a swim surrounded by tall eucalypts followed by a picnic or BBQ in the day use area.

Things to do in Noosa Hinterland

Take a scenic drive

Nature, food, culture and country towns come together in the Noosa Country Drive. Within a few minutes of leaving Noosa’s beachside, its world will open up to you. Out here cows might outnumber people, but whether you tackle the northern, central or southern loops in a day, or plan a few days to escape and bliss out in B&Bs, you’ll experience the verdant countryside dotted with local villages, markets, galleries, cafes and history.

Stretch your legs

Adventure seekers should check out the Noosa Trail Network, which offers trails for bush walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers. If you want to take an easier pace in spectacular surrounds, Noosa Botanic Gardens in Cooroy is the perfect spot to wander manicured parklands and picnic on the shores of Lake Macdonald.

Get on the water

One of only two everglades systems on Earth, the Noosa Everglades is a 60km stretch of wilderness and pristine waters, home to one of Australia’s most diverse ecosystems and more than 40% of the country’s bird species. To experience the River of Mirrors, head out on a tour with Head out with Everglades Eco Safaris or Kanu Kapers.

The gateway to this natural wonder, Boreen Point, offers its own slice of adventure from wildlife watching to kayaking and sailing on Lake Cootharaba.

Discover local art

Visit Cooroy’s Mill Place Precinct to find Butter Factory Arts Centre, which not only showcases local and national artists but offers workshop spaces too. There’s also a library, woodwork centre and an interpretive trail to follow through restored boilers and kilns.

Art meets the outdoors at Steve Weis Gallery in Kin Kin. Set on the artist’s farm, explore a sound garden, filled with sculptures and a curious collection of art. Or sit down for a movie at The Majestic Theatre in Pomona - the world's oldest continuously running silent movie cinema.

Kick back and relax

Voted four times the best destination spa in Australia, if you’re seeking serenity and a little self-indulgence, you can’t miss Ikatan Balinese Day Spa.

Where to eat in Noosa Hinterland

Small towns have big flavour in Noosa Hinterland, and whether you’re after latte or a locally brewed beer, we’ve got plenty of hotspots to add to your itinerary.

Cafés

Fuel up at Trail 518 in Pomona and you’ll be sipping coffee from local roasters Flying West, alongside a delicious breakfast and lunch menu (the burgers are unbeatable). Cooroy locals flock to Fox and Hound Espresso, which shares its space with Richie’s Bakery, while Eumundi’s Humdrum Espresso serves up Noosaville’s Clandestino Coffee with locally made baked goods.

In Eumundi for the markets? Make sure you stop for a cuppa at Deadly Espresso; the Sunshine Coast’s only Bush Tucker café, serving up native Australian ingredients and celebrating the culture of the local Gubbi Gubbi tribe. A social enterprise café, Deadly is staffed by volunteers and charity SevGen clients to create a supportive learning environment for local indigenous communities.

And if you’re a real coffee fiend, make sure you buy local from family owned Noosa Black Coffee. The region’s only coffee plantation, the Arabica beans are produced chemical pesticide free from crop to cup, right here in the valley outside of Kin Kin.

Restaurants and Breweries

Looks may deceive you at Kin Kin General Store, as inside this historic shopfront is a quaint restaurant, convenience store and pantry that’ll quickly become your favourite Noosa Hinterland find. Dishing up paddock-to-plate fare, it’s the brainchild of long-time local Jodie and the home of Black Ant Gourmet – so you can stock up on condiments, jams and more, all made from local produce. Keep an eye out for their special events and catering too.

Another local destination sprouting paddock-to-plate philosophy is Hinterland Restaurant in Cooran. Fresh country flavours come from local growers and their own organic Old School Flats Farm, alongside genuine open-armed country hospitality.

For a locally brewed pint paired with a charcuterie platter, stout braised lamb shoulder, homemade gnocchi and an out-of-this-world dessert menu, head to Copperhead Restaurant and Brewery. From its modern flair to sleek brewery fitout, it’s a new wave brew pub focused on quality – and you can taste this ethos with every bite.

A little smaller in scale, but big on heart, is rustic microbrewery Bonsai Brewhouse. Its down-to-earth atmosphere, soaked in the smell of yeast and hops, makes for a welcoming local haunt serving up beers and snacks from Thursday-Sunday. Over in Eumundi, you could easily spend a few hours in the beer garden at Imperial Hotel and Eumundi Brewery with a pub grub menu, great beers, and live music on weekends. While you’re here, take the Eumundi Brewery Tasting Tour.

Where to shop in Noosa Hinterland

Shop your way through Noosa Hinterland and you’ll find more than just a souvenir to bring home; with bustling markets, eclectic stores and boutiques dotted throughout the villages.

One stop you can’t miss? The Original Eumundi Markets. From food to antiques, fashion, collectibles and live music – you name it, you’ll find it here amongst the 600 stalls on market days every Wednesday and Saturday. While you’re here in town, the Discover Eumundi Heritage and Visitor Centre has a captivating display of local indigenous artefacts and photographs of the local area – while Australia’s oldest bookseller, Berkelouw Books, is home to a huge collection of new, second hand and rare books.

For locally made products and locally grown produce, make tracks to Kin Kin Creation Markets held on the first Sunday of each month from 8am-12pm. Kin Kin Depot is tucked into Main Street and is the place to go for gifts and souvenirs that are a little more unique: paintings by local artists, jewellery, ceramics, vintage wares and collectibles.

Cooran local favourite The Vintage Junction is a perfect pit-stop on the Noosa Country Drive. Peruse the collectibles from retro signage and funky furniture to old records and oddities, grab a coffee, or a feed from the food trucks that arrive on Saturdays. A taste of south-east Asia comes to the hinterland at Pomona’s H…Art of Bali, home to special gift ideas, bamboo clothing, essential oils and crystals.