Blog By Noosa

They're giving away money on Hastings St

If you’re heading to Noosa between now and the end of August, restaurants and retailers in Hastings Street are giving away ‘Hastings Street Dollars’ that you can use at other businesses along the famous strip. You get $5 if you spend $45, $10 if you spend $95 and so on, and you can use the ‘money’ towards a purchase at another participating eatery or shop.

 

If you’re staying in accommodation on Hastings Street, you’ll be given $100 Hastings Street Dollars when you check in and the Westpac on Hastings Street is also giving away free Hastings Street notes. The Hastings Street traders have also managed to convince the council to extend parking on the street from one hour to three hours, so you won’t get a ticket while you’re out spending.

 

Hang on, this is starting to sound a bit like an April Fool’s joke. Banks giving away money and councils giving away parking revenue? That's ridiculous.

 

Noosa Queensland

Big wow factor at Outrigger

I've just returned from checking out Noosa's newest resort, the five-star Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa Noosa, which has opened a few weeks ahead of schedule (the builders will surely be thrown out of the industry for that!)

Noosa has gone from one five-star resort to three over the course of this year (the other two being the Sheraton and Quay West), so travellers in that market are really spoilt for choice now.

The Outrigger will take a lot of beating, with its location on the hill above Hastings Street, its quality accommodation and its spectacular views over Laguna Bay. It sits next to the national park and it's been designed so it really blends into its surrounds - you'd hardly know it was there until you drive in and many of the rooms look out into the trees.

The accommodation includes one and two-bedroom suites as well as larger villas that would be perfect for extended families or friends travelling together, and you have kitchen facilities as well as the resort restaurant - and dozens more restaurants if you go down the boardwalk to Hastings Street.

The resort also has extensive conference facilities, beautiful spots for weddings and a first-class spa - stay tuned for a review of that.

Noosa Qld

Recommended: XO Sunshine Beach

We had a great night out with friends at the new XO Bistro Wine Bar in Sunshine Beach the other night.

We started in the bar with cocktails (try the Margarita Lemoni, it's divine!), wandered into the cellars to choose some wine, sat down for a casual but good quality dinner and then meandered back to the bar for some more drinks. It was such a relaxed way to eat out - nobody rushed us and the staff were super friendly (even when they threw us out because they had to close!)

Some other friends tried the upstairs restaurant, Embassy XO, the other week and they have been raving about the food there, so I'll have to try that one too. The upstairs restaurant is Asian, while downstairs is a bit of a mix of Italian, tapas and other things.

If you're familiar with Sunshine Beach, you'll find the XO restaurants on the corner where Wasabi (which has moved to Noosa Sound) used to be.

Noosa Queensland

Noosa wedding opportunity

Brad says...

If you're planning a Noosa wedding, The Plantation retreat in the Noosa hinterland is hosting a 'Luxury Wedding Soiree' on July 18, from 10am to 3pm.

It will be unlike your typical wedding expo, in that you get to just relax in the beautiful surrounds of the retreat and get a taste of the food, music, styling and other aspects you could choose for your wedding.

The Plantation is near Cooroy, about 20 minutes from Noosa Heads, and caters for weddings of up to 150 people, with accommodation for up to 16. If you want to go along on July 18, send an email with your name, contact number, preferred wedding date and approximate number of guests to enquiries@theplantation.com.au.

Noosa Qld