Brisbane to Noosa Road Trip

by Jessica Nguyen

 

This blog post is in partnership with Tourism & Events Queensland and ALL- Accor Live Limitless.


Having never visited Brisbane and Noosa, I finally planned a road trip to check both out via car across 4 days and 3 nights (19th March - 22nd March 2023). Below is a list of all of the places I visited and loved, including   Accor  hotels, apartments and resorts in Brisbane and Noosa. For the duration of the road trip, we hired a car through AVIS  at Brisbane airport (which you can also book through the ALL- Accor Live Limitless program here) to make it easier to get around Brisbane and to drive up to Noosa. 

Brisbane

 

Sofitel Brisbane Central- located in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD within walking distance to the city centre, Eagle Street Pier, Southbank Parklands and the Convention Centre. Sofitel Brisbane Central offers refined French luxury rooms and suites thoughtfully designed with comfort in mind, without compromising on elegance or style. The rooms are large and spacious and offer a beautiful view of the city.  I loved ordering their room service breakfast in the morning for a bit of indulgence. 

 

Mantra South Bank Brisbane- This is a great Brisbane family accommodation option in the heart of the art’s precinct, within walking distance to  the Convention & Exhibition Centre, the Queensland Performing Arts Complex, State Art Gallery and Museum as well as South Bank Parklands and the river. Mantra South Bank Brisbane offers a variety of  rooms, studios, and self-contained one and two bedroom apartments, which are great for families and friends, especially if you’re looking to self cater and  cook your own meals. They also have an onsite restaurant, Ovello that does a great breakfast.

 

James St, Fortitude Valley- A great spot to spend a few hours shopping and walking around.


Agnes Bakery- I loved stopping in here for a pastry. It’s at the top end of James Street, so once you’ve done enough shopping, pop in here for a pastry ‘pick me up’. I loved the roast garlic and cheddar knot and the custard and almond kouign amann.

 

Howard Smith Wharves- A great spot along the river lined with a plethora of bars, restaurants and breweries for you to eat, drink, and play. A good place to come by on a sunny afternoon for lunch, drinks or dinner.


Stanley- A lovely Chinese & Cantonese restaurant located on the waterfront of Howard Smith Wharves. They do Yum Cha on Sundays and have an extensive a la carte menu.  If you’re feeling extra hungry, opt for their banquet menu. 


Queensland Art Gallery- GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art)- These two riverside galleries are situated in South Bank and are open daily. A great place to roam and immerse yourself in some art for a few hours. Entry is free but some exhibitions like the current Air exhibition that I saw are ticketed.

Milani Minus Eight Degrees Gelato- I discovered  this business recently from attending the Australian Dairy Awards where Milani were awarded grand champions for the best dairy product and gelato in Australia for their Crème brûlée  gelato and after trying their gelato at the event, I had to make a pit stop into the Sunnybank shop whilst in Brisbane to try their other flavours. Mr Yue Lin is the owner and maker and prides himself on beautifully churned and silky smooth gelato in a range of traditional and unique  flavours. I picked the black sesame and white peach flavour and loved both! Further to this, if you end up checking out this place, stay for a meal and walk around Sunnybank Market Square where you’ll find alleys and countless strips of Asian restaurants and stalls. You could easily spend hours here sampling as many things as you can. If I had more time, I would come here for dinner and try one of everything!

 


River to Bay Champagne & Oyster Tour- This is a fun tour if you’re looking for a nice way to spend an afternoon cruising along the Brisbane River and seeing Moreton Bay, plus there’s obviously oysters and champagne involved.



Noosa

 

Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas- I loved staying here. It’s nestled in Noosa’s National Park and you feel like you’re staying in the treetops. Whilst it’s situated in-land, it’s only a short walk to the main strip of Noosa and they also offer  complementary  buggy pick up and drop off to and from the resort .If you’re staying in one of the Deluxe Villas, you get access to the private Brooke’s Pool which has views all the way to Noosa Beach. 


Noosa Main Beach - If you come to Noosa, you’re here for the beach. Whilst you could spend a whole day lazing here, I loved waking up early in the morning and going for a sunrise  swim. It’s the perfect way to start the day in Noosa. The water is warm, crystal clear and you can even see fish swimming around  you in  waist-deep water.


Aqua Day Spa- If you’re in need of some R&R, Aqua Day Spa which is part of Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is a great spa to book into. There’s a range s of gorgeous treatments available from facials to massages and there’s also aqua therapy pools warmed to 37 degrees and a steam room that you can enjoy post-treatment.


Noosa Beach House- The best dinner I had on this trip! The restaurant is part of Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort and has a new chef, Bret Cameron at the helm cooking a lovely fresh and seafood inspired  menu. It’s a great place for a special dinner in Noosa. The crispy Moreton Bay Bug buns were a highlight for the starters and the grilled Mooloolaba prawns with miso butter and finger lime were incredibly tasty. We were also lucky enough to try the rock lobster which was a special that night, cooked on the half shell in a confit garlic butter sauce.


Bistro C- A good restaurant for lunch or dinner with the best Noosa beach views.  Tip: The best seats are the ones outside on the deck overlooking the beach and boardwalk.


Eumundi Markets- On every Wednesday and Saturday is a great artisan market filled with  local artisans, growers, bakers and makers. It’s worth checking out if you’re in Noosa and spending a few hours at.


Rick’s Artisan Pies & Sourdough- This is a great bakery in Noosaville and worth stopping into, especially if you’re heading to Eumundi Markets as it’s on the way. The pies, bread and pastries here are great and whilst it’s a very unassuming bakery next to a petrol station, it’s the real deal. 



About ‘ALL – Accor Live Limitless’ Loyalty Program: All of the hotels and resorts I stayed at are part of ALL- Accor Live Limitless, so if you’re a member of ALL you can earn points for your stay, which you could put  towards your next stay at over 4,000 hotels, apartments and resorts globally . For the uninitiated,  ALL – Accor Live Limitless is a free lifestyle loyalty programme and booking platform that allows you to live limitless with spectacular destinations and rewards all in one place. As a member of ALL, you can experience exclusive privileges, spanning entertainment, dining, and other premium rewards.

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