3 Days in Noosa Itinerary | thegood.guide | thegood.guide
itinerary
3 Days in Noosa: The Perfect Itinerary
Three days is the right amount of time in Noosa. Enough to hike to Alexandria Bay at sunrise, eat pork belly at Bistro C, find the quieter stretch of Sunshine Beach, and still have an evening at Aqua Day Spa. This itinerary moves through Noosa Heads, Noosaville, and Sunshine Beach with specific times, specific plates, and no filler.
The Good Guide20 April 2026
3 Days in Noosa: The Perfect Itinerary
Three days is the right amount of time. Enough to slow down, enough to cover ground, enough to eat well twice and still have a meal left. This itinerary moves through Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Sunshine Beach, and the hinterland edges, with specific times, specific plates, and no filler.
How to Get Around
Noosa is compact enough to walk within Noosa Heads, but you will want wheels for days two and three. A hire car gives you the hinterland. Bikes are genuinely useful for the Noosaville river path, and several accommodation providers can point you toward hire. The Sunbus Route 620 runs between Noosa Heads, Noosaville, and Sunshine Beach frequently enough to be useful if you are not driving. For the National Park in the morning, arrive before 9am or the Parkedge Road car park fills. Rideshare works well for the beach access points at Sunshine Beach where parking is genuinely limited.
Day 1: Arrive, Orientate, Eat Well
Morning: First Look at the Heads
Settle in, drop your bags, and walk to the water before you do anything else. Boiling Pot Lookout is 300 metres from the National Park entrance and takes fifteen minutes from most of Hastings Street. The tide pushes through hollowed granite below and churns in a way that earns the name. Dolphins work the point regularly in autumn, and Laguna Bay spreads south toward Sunshine Beach in a clean arc. It is fully paved and takes no effort. Do this before the day has any agenda.
If you are staying in Noosa Heads, Bali Hai Apartments Noosa sits between Hastings Street and Noosa Junction with hinterland and river views from the upper floors. Managers Michael and Suzanne know the area well. No lift, but the location at this price point is hard to argue with.
Afternoon: Hastings Street at Your Own Pace
This is your afternoon to get calibrated. Walk Hastings Street end to end once. Swim at the main beach. Have a coffee at Aromas Restaurant & Bar Noosa on the terrace and watch the foot traffic. The croissants are the right call here, and the lemon tart is better than it needs to be. This is not your serious meal of the trip; it is the long sit that signals you have arrived somewhere worth slowing down for.
Book Bistro C for dinner and time it for sunset. It sits directly on Laguna Bay's boardwalk, and the light at 5:30pm in autumn is worth planning around. Order the pork belly. The seafood is locally sourced and the prices are high; the kitchen earns them. This is your arrival dinner, the one that sets the tone for the trip.
If the budget wants a breather, Betty's Burgers on Hastings Street does exactly what it promises. The Classic Betty holds up even in peak crowds, the buns are fresh, and the soft-serve combinations at the end are a genuine pleasure. Affordable by Noosa standards, reliable by any.
Day 2: National Park, River, Spa
Morning: Noosa National Park
Leave before 8am. The National Park car park at Parkedge Road fills early, and the walk to Alexandria Bay takes around 45 minutes through coastal scrub and banksia. The bay itself is secluded, south-facing, and noticeably quieter than anything near Hastings Street. Golden sand, no facilities, no dogs. Pack sunscreen and water and arrive at sunrise if you can manage it. This is the walk that justifies the trip.
On the way back, Boiling Pot Lookout catches the mid-morning light differently to the evening before. Worth a second look.
Late Morning: Belmondo's for a Proper Feed
Post-hike, drive or cycle to Noosaville. Belmondos Organic Market on Thomas Street opens from 6:30am on weekdays and operates as part wholefood market, part serious café. Skip the sit-down menu and go straight to the food bar: the brisket burger and beef tallow potatoes are the order. The coffee holds its own. This is a mid-week traveller's advantage; weekends here get crowded fast.
Afternoon: The Noosa River
Noosaville's river path runs along the northern bank of the Noosa River and is best covered by bike or on foot. The water is calm, the views across to the North Shore are easy, and the pace drops noticeably from the Heads. This is the part of Noosa that tourists miss because it does not have an obvious drawcard. That is the point.
If you are travelling with family or want to add something with a bit more energy, Aqua Park Coolum is a 20-minute drive south at Coolum Beach. Floating inflatable obstacle course on open water, timed sessions at $30 per person, shaded BBQ spots for spectators. It is harder than it looks and cheaper than you would expect.
Evening: Spa, Then Bang Bang
Aqua Day Spa on Hastings Street is the right call after a long walking day. A glass of bubbles on arrival, warm soaking pools, and therapists who get requested by name. Book the aromatherapy massage and ask for the house-blended tea. It runs on quiet precision and the reviews are consistent: people come back.
Dinner at Bang Bang Noosa requires a booking made well in advance if you are visiting Thursday through Saturday. The garlic chive miang and sticky pork belly are the reasons people queue before noon on walk-in days. Share plates, serious cocktails, a feed-me banquet that earns its price. This is the meal of the trip.
Day 3: Sunshine Beach, Hinterland, Farewell Dinner
Morning: Sunshine Beach
Sunshine Beach sits just south of the National Park and operates at a different frequency to Noosa Heads. Less polished, more local. Two access points worth knowing: Beach Access 29 cuts through coastal rainforest via steep timber steps to a quieter stretch with noticeably fewer people at the bottom. Go light on gear and earlier than you think necessary. Beach Access Points 26 is the more accessible southern entry, with rideshare recommended over driving given the limited street parking. Dogs are welcome at this one.
Breakfast at Chalet & Co on the Sunrise Beach strip, directly across from the water. The banana waffles and Pink Dragon smoothies draw a loyal local crowd for good reason. The eggs Benny uses sustainably sourced ingredients and holds up to scrutiny. Order your coffee when you sit down, not after. It runs busy; go before 9am or wait for a table.
Midday: Hinterland Option
If you have a car and want to push the geography, the Noosa hinterland starts about 20 minutes inland from Sunshine Beach. The Sunshine Coast hinterland towns, including Eumundi and its twice-weekly markets, sit within easy reach and add texture to a trip that might otherwise stay coastal. This is the part of the itinerary that differentiates three days from two; the extra morning lets you go further without rushing back.
For those staying closer to the coast, Bounce Noosa in Noosaville is worth knowing about as a base if you are travelling on a tighter budget. Pool-centred, genuinely clean, app-based entry, and staff who give good local advice. The Thursday night shuttle to It's The Rock has its fans.
Evening: Farewell Dinner
End where you started, more or less. Aromas Restaurant & Bar Noosa works for a light final evening on the terrace, watching Hastings Street wind down. Alternatively, if Bang Bang was fully booked earlier in the trip, this is your second attempt. Book ahead regardless.
Before You Go
Autumn in Noosa runs warm and quieter than the summer peak, which makes mid-week travel genuinely good value. The National Park is best before 9am any day of the week. Book Bistro C and Bang Bang Noosa before you arrive, not after. If you are driving, the Parkedge Road car park for the National Park fills fast; arriving early solves this entirely. Three days covers the Heads, the river, the beach, and a reach toward the hinterland. That is the right shape for this part of the Sunshine Coast.