Blog By Noosa

New Year's resolution: be pampered!

Talking of being kind to yourself, Noosa and Coolum have a wealth of spa and wellness options for some pampering, relaxation or re-setting of the system for the New Year.

It's not just for women, either. One of Noosa's best-known spas, Ikatan, has a 'ManSPAce' special for men at the moment, in case you blokes need a bit of convincing!

Ikatan is worth visiting for its location if nothing else; it is in the Noosa hinterland and has beautiful tropical gardens complete with gazebos where you can relax or spend some time with a group of friends. They do lots of 'spartys' and hen's days combining spa treatments with 'high tea' and champagne, and it's a genuine 'Noosa' experience.

Noosa Queensland, Coolum Queensland

A better use for golf balls

Because I can't even pretend to be interested in golf, I thought I'd share a different angle on the Australian PGA Championship, which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Coolum next week.

In honour of the annual influx of top golfers and golf fans, the resort's spa has launched a 'Quirogolf' massage, where you get massaged by golf balls. It's supposed to provide great release, through the rolling action of the balls -and it's got to be more enjoyable than chasing them around a golf course.

The spa is also bringing in an 'oxygen bubble', which will only be available next week. The dome-style structure apparently allows you to have a facial or body treatment while breathing in 99.99 per cent pure air, free of any pollutants, bacteria or allergens.

So, there you go, everything you ever wanted to know about golf!

Noosa Qld, Coolum Qld

Skydive Coolum Beach

Congratulations to Skydive Ramblers on the opening of your new club house at Sunshine Coast Airport.

The facility, which officially opened on Monday, is another step up for what is already a very successful skydiving business based at Coolum Beach (where they do landings on the beach, so cool).

I did a jump with them a couple of years ago - you can click here if you want to subject yourself to the video! - and it was absolutely amazing. The views and the feeling up there are very hard to match.

Noosa Queensland, Coolum Beach Queensland, Eumundi Queensland

The African plains of Australia Zoo

For a long time now, we've been watching the development of a huge African Savannah area at Australia Zoo - and finally it's ready to open.

The African area, which will be home to animals including zebra, rhinos and giraffe, will open on September 17, just in time for the school holidays in Queensland. Zoo visitors will be driven around the area in a safari shuttle, which will be included in the normal zoo entry price, and one of the star attractions will be the baby rhino in this picture. Isn't he absolutely adorable??

Noosa Queensland

Noosa's best restaurants

Noosa has put in another stellar showing in the annual Gourmet Traveller Australian Restaurant Guide, with no less than 12 restaurants featured.

Restaurants that weren't in the previous guide but have made the cut for the 2012 edition are Embassy XO in Sunshine Beach, Pitchfork at Peregian Beach, Rickys at Noosa Sound, River Cottage in Noosaville and Thomas Corner Eatery in Noosaville.

They join the veterans Berardo's, Blue Angel, Gusto, Humid, Sails, Season and Wasabi, the latter of which was impressively named best restaurant in regional Queensland.

In addition to being spoiled by all those restaurants (and more) in Noosa, we have another guide veteran, Spirit House, only about 20 minutes away in Yandina. We really are incredibly well served for eating and drinking.

Noosa Qld

Check out our golf video

Juanita says...

I have to share this with you because Jane just doesn't get golf. It's our new video showing some of the golf courses you can play on in Noosa and Coolum, including the Hyatt Regency Coolum, home of the Australian PGA.

Happy viewing and happy golfing!

 

Noosa - voted 3rd 'best beach in the South Pacific'

Some great news for Noosa and our visitors, Noosa has just been voted the 3rd 'Best beach in the South Pacific' on Trip Advisor. Click here for all the details and for the top activities to do whilst here.

 

Noosa memories captured

Gee it's been a long school term, hasn't it? My kids are really ready for a break. (And they're counting the days until they get chocolate!)

If you're heading to Noosa for the Easter holidays, can I suggest it's a great place to get some family photos done. There are loads of top photographers here and so many beautiful settings, including beaches, parks and hinterland areas.

We had some family photos done by one of the local snappers a while ago and they were mostly taken down at Little Cove, where you have the beach, rocks and views across Laguna Bay. The kids thought it was great fun and the pictures are gorgeous.

Noosa Qld

Seahaven still in business

I was down at the Seahaven Resort on Hastings Street this week and it occurred to me that many people may not realise it's still there. It had a date with the bulldozers last month, as it had been sold to make way for a new development, but the development fell through and the resort is trading as normal again.

It looks a bit abandoned at the moment because the shops underneath it are all empty (those poor folk who moved out for no reason!) but they'll soon fill them again. And Lindoni's Ristorante has just completed a refurbishment, so they're not going anywhere.

Seahaven and Lindoni's are Noosa institutions, so it's nice to see them here to stay. The owners of Seahaven have committed to upgrading the property and it will always have one of the best positions in Noosa - right on the sand at Main Beach. One of the Noosa beachcams is actually located on top of Seahaven, so you can see the view by checking out the webcam footage.

Noosa Queensland

Noosa iPhone App out now

Juanita says...

Everything you need to know about your next Noosa holiday is now at your fingertips 24/7, with today's launch of the ByNoosa iPhone App. And if you download the App before the end of March, you could win an Apple iPad!

No matter where you are, you can receive up-to-the-minute information and inspiration about all locations and villages, from Coolum to Hastings Street, Noosaville, Eumundi and the Noosa North Shore, with categories across accommodation, tours, restaurants and bars, shopping, events, spas, attractions, transport services and more.

You might want to know where to stay, where’s the nearest Italian restaurant, how to book a surf lesson or spa treatment, or who’s playing at the local surf club tonight.

There are even interactive maps with GPS capabilities so you can easily find your way here and find your way around once you’re in the region.

Download the ByNoosa App FREE from www.visitnoosa.com.au before March 31 and register your details for a chance to win one of five Apple iPads.

Noosa Qld