Noosa is a region, not a town, and that shapes every decision about where to sleep. For anyone searching for Noosa holiday homes, the useful question is which part of the shire suits your trip: the beachfront near Hastings Street, the river at Noosaville, the quieter North Shore, or a park a short drive down the coast.
This page covers the settings of the area, the five caravan and holiday parks on this site, and the practical details of climate and travel.
The Noosa setting and why it suits a stay
The Shire of Noosa lies about 130 kilometres north of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast district of South East Queensland. It covers 870 square kilometres and had 56,298 residents at the 2021 census. Our Noosa destination guide gives the wider picture; here we focus on beds and sites.
The shire has no high-rise buildings, thanks to local community pressure and council planning action, and much native forest remains. About 34.8% of the district is national park, conservation park, state forest or other protected land. For a guest, that means a stay here is low-rise and green rather than a wall of towers.
Noosa Heads is also one of the few north-facing beaches on Australia's east coast. Noosa Beach is therefore relatively protected from the prevailing on-shore wind and from storms, which is a fair reason to want to stay close to it.
Areas to base yourself
Noosa Heads and Hastings Street
This is the polished face of the Sunshine Coast: a national park headland, boutiques on Hastings Street and the gateway to the Everglades. Draft development plans in the early 1980s focused on keeping the character of Hastings Street, Noosa Junction and Tewantin. Read more in our pages on Hastings Street and the Noosa National Park.
Noosaville and the river
Noosaville sits on the Noosa River, described as the cleanest river in South-East Queensland. It is also where one of the listed holiday parks is found. Artisan shops and galleries are tucked into Noosaville.
Tewantin and the hinterland villages
Tewantin was laid out as a port in 1871, and by 1877 it had two hotels, a boarding house, a school, a police station and a telegraph office. Inland, an extensive trail network links lifestyle villages including Cooroy and Pomona. If you want quiet over beach frontage, these are the settings to consider.
Caravan and holiday parks
Five parks are listed on this site. Contact each park for current rates and availability before booking.
In the Noosa Shire
- Noosa River Holiday Park in Noosaville, a holiday park.
- BIG4 Park Lane Noosa North Shore at Noosa North Shore, a caravan park with powered sites and cabins.
Down the Sunshine Coast
- Cotton Tree Holiday Park in Maroochydore, with powered sites and cabins.
- BIG4 Maroochy River in Maroochydore, with powered sites and cabins.
- Ingenia Holidays Rivershore in Diddillibah, with powered sites and cabins.
The last three sit in the Sunshine Coast Regional area, not the Noosa Shire. The Noosa to Sunshine Coast drive is 32 km, about 31 minutes, so they work as a base if you accept a bit of driving.
If a park is not what you want, our Noosa accommodation hub covers the other categories, including apartments, resorts and luxury stays.
Weather through the year
Noosa's climate is mild. Summer is warm and wet, with February the wettest month at 214.7 mm over 17 rain days. Winter is drier and cooler, and July has the lowest average maximum at 19.8 C. September is the driest month, with 49.9 mm.
| Month | Max C | Min C | Rain mm | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.4 | 23.1 | 154.6 | 14.8 |
| February | 27.0 | 23.3 | 214.7 | 17.0 |
| March | 26.1 | 22.4 | 167.7 | 17.6 |
| April | 24.4 | 20.6 | 113.1 | 14.8 |
| May | 22.2 | 18.1 | 116.9 | 13.5 |
| June | 20.2 | 15.9 | 91.7 | 11.4 |
| July | 19.8 | 14.9 | 52.6 | 8.6 |
| August | 20.7 | 15.2 | 59.6 | 6.3 |
| September | 22.8 | 17.0 | 49.9 | 7.2 |
| October | 24.2 | 18.7 | 86.5 | 9.5 |
| November | 25.6 | 20.4 | 87.2 | 10.9 |
| December | 26.7 | 21.9 | 145.2 | 14.3 |
These are 1991 to 2020 averages for the Noosa area. Sunny days stay close to 25 to 29 a month all year, so even the wetter months leave plenty of bright weather.
Getting there and getting around
By road, Noosa is 134 km from Brisbane, about 114 minutes. The Gold Coast is 214 km away (about 171 minutes), Hervey Bay is 182 km (about 152 minutes) and Bundaberg is 258 km (about 202 minutes). Rainbow Beach is 136 km, about 115 minutes.
From Sunshine Coast Airport, a private transfer takes roughly 30 minutes. We list a transfer for up to two passengers from AUD 155, and a transfer for up to five from AUD 195. Leaving, the seven-seater to the airport is from AUD 255. Check current prices with the operator.
Things to do from your base
Several listed experiences include pickup from accommodation, which helps if you are staying outside the main strip.
- Noosa Hinterland tour: 7 hours, from AUD 299, with lunch and a wine and cheese tasting.
- Secrets of Noosa tour: 7 hours, from AUD 279, with a Noosa River ferry.
- Private Sunshine Coast and Noosa tour: 1 to 7 hours, from AUD 375.
- Great Beach Drive 4WD charter: 8 hours, from AUD 1295, finishing at Rainbow Beach.
- Fliteboard eFoil lesson: 1h 30m, from AUD 225.
For state-wide planning, Tourism and Events Queensland runs the official site at queensland.com. Background on the shire's history and planning is on Wikipedia: Shire of Noosa.
Frequently asked questions
Are there caravan parks in the Noosa Shire?
Yes. Noosa River Holiday Park is in Noosaville and BIG4 Park Lane Noosa North Shore is at Noosa North Shore. Contact them for current rates and availability.
How far is Noosa from Brisbane?
It is 134 km by road, about 114 minutes.
Are there high-rise buildings in Noosa?
No. The shire has no high-rise buildings, owing to community pressure and council planning action.
