2023/24 - 7 Days: A Winter Break in Noosa

Special Rates and a Special Place - RACV Noosa Resort

Noosa has been a favourite Queensland Holiday destination for 3 generations of southern Australians. With its beautiful north facing beaches, its famous Hastings Street shopping & café precinct and the stunning National Park that borders the town, Noosa is a gem. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a winter break.

Our accommodation, for 6 nights, is at the RACV Noosa Resort.

This elegant and spacious Resort overlooks the Weyba Creek and Keyser Island Conservation Park. Our one bedroom apartment accommodation is beautifully appointed with contemporary furnishings, a separate living area, beautiful bathrooms with walk-in showers and a private terrace or balcony. This will be our base for 7 days as we explore the coast, travel inland to the villages of Eumundi and Montville and have some free time to enjoy the Resort, the shops, the beaches and the boardwalks around Noosa.

Tour Highlights

• 6 nights at the RACV Noosa Resort (6 breakfasts/4 dinners)

• Airport transfers and non-stop return flights to the Sunshine Coast

• Lots of leisure time for Hastings Street and the Noosa National park

• Noosa Everglades “Serenity” Cruise

• Australia Zoo

• Eumundi Markets & The Yandina Ginger Factory

• The Blackall Range – Maleny and Montville

• Mary Cairncross Reserve – Interpretative Centre & Rainforest Walk

Day 1 (D): Heading to Noosa (Sunday)

A short transfer to Melbourne Airport for our flight to the Sunshine Coast (Virgin Australia Flight VA1035 Departs Melbourne at 10.30am/Arrives Sunshine Coast at 12.50pm) – TO BE CONFIRMED). The Sunshine Coast Airport, at Maroochydore  is just 20 minutes from the RACV Resort – and what a Resort it is! Apart from the beautifully appointed accommodation, there is a heated lagoon pool, a day spa (additional cost) a gymnasium and a reading lounge. There is also a free shuttle service that operates regularly to Noosa Junction and to Hastings Street – the bustling beachside strip that is home to an exciting range of fashion labels, unique jewellery, home wares, art & beauty products. It is the perfect destination for shoppers!! Make sure you bring your walking shoes on any visit to Noosa. The Boardwalk around to the Noosa National Park at the end of Hastings Street features some spectacular coastal scenery. (Welcome dinner in the Resort)

RACV Noosa Resort. Noosa Heads 07 53416300 – 6 nights

Day 2 (BD): Noosa & The Everglades (Monday)

We have a free morning to enjoy the resort or take the hourly shuttle service into Hastings Street where there are a multitude of cafes and restaurants dotted along the boardwalk. There is also the Award Winning Surf Club overlooking Laguna Bay and a boardwalk through to the National Park. Early afternoon we have planned a cruise on the Noosa River – a unique system as its entire upper catchment is protected in National Park. We will see an abundance of wildlife in their natural habitat.

Over 44% of all Australia’s bird species reside within this spectacular region - which is more than Kakadu National Park - in an area 25 times smaller. This unspoilt part of Noosa - Australia’s Everglades is pristine water full of life. We will be back at the Resort just after 5pm. (Full Breakfast/Resort dinner)

 Day 3 (BD): Australia Zoo (Tuesday)

Today we are off to Australia Zoo. Australia Zoo is home, of course, to the late Steve Irwin, the “Crocodile Hunter”. Australia Zoo has a reputation for conservation work, due mainly to the popularity of the documentary series “The Crocodile Hunter”. Many millions of dollars have been invested in the park so that it is an ever changing and growing attraction.

We’ll arrive early enough to take a stroll, maybe to see the cheeky otters and their cute antics at their 10 o’clock feeding, or perhaps learn about the Galapagos Land Tortoises as they munch through their breakfast using serrated jaws. We can hand feed the elephants before taking our seats in the “Crocoseum” for all the action in the centre stage. First of all there’s “Snakes Alive”, followed by the free flying bird show - watch as Kookaburras, Wedge-tail Eagles, Owls, Falcons and the beautiful South American Macaws free-fly around the Crocoseum. We can learn more about these magnificent birds as they swoop and soar right over our heads! Next – the Crocs!

The keepers will bring them out into the clear water so we can see them as they would hunt in the wild…doing their best to get the “big piece of meat” (the croc team that is!). There are many other scheduled demonstrations during the day along with the chance to be photographed with a giant python. A people mover is available to access the various parts of the park. (Full Breakfast and resort dinner included)

Day 4 (B): The Eumundi Markets (Wednesday)

We’re lucky enough to be here on a Wednesday so, after breakfast, we’ll head off to the famous Eumundi Markets. The twice weekly street markets, held in the small village of Eumundi, are as popular with the locals as they are with visitors to the Sunshine Coast.

Every Saturday and Wednesday, this sleepy town transforms into a vibrant mecca for shoppers looking for something different. We step into a world of original design of jewellery, homewares, clothing and sculptures. Take a break from shopping, grab yourself a gourmet delight and listen to one of the entertaining buskers. There’s certainly something to please everyone here!

We will spend the morning at the markets and have some free time to explore the Eumundi village before making our way to the little village of Yandina – home to the world’s largest Ginger Factory ! We have arranged a guided tour here. We’ll learn how ginger is grown, harvested and processed and then take the tour through lush subtropical gardens on the beloved historic train, Moreton. Now about 120 years old, Moreton was a sugar cane train working at the Moreton Sugar Mill in Nambour, and now spends his days taking visitors through the Ginger Factory grounds. We finish our tour with delicious tastings. Packed full of nutrients, ginger purportedly relieves morning and motion sickness. We then make our way back to the Resort. (Full Breakfast included today)

Day 5 (BD): The Blackall Range (Thursday)

We have a fabulous day in store today as we travel up to The Blackall Range. Our first stop for the day is at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve on the southern edge of the Blackall Range, overlooking the unique formations of the Glasshouse Mountains – spectacular – don’t forget to bring the camera! We also stop in Maleny at the magnificent rainforest of the Maleny Botanic Gardens. The gardens cover 14 acres (5.7 hectares) in area but are continuously expanding.

We’ll have spectacular views of the Glasshouse Mountains whilst meandering along paths with different plants including some of the rarest cycads in the world. From here we make our way north along the range to Montville, taking in the beautiful vistas along the way. Montville is probably the most well-known village along the range and was first established in 1887. Today it is a place to step back in time and enjoy the tranquillity of village life in a streetscape unique to any other tourist centre in Australia.

We will have free time here to browse the many arts and crafts shops – our coach will drop us at the top of the village and we can walk downhill! We then continue to the northern end of the Range and stop at Dulong Lookout for the last of the breathtaking views out to the coastline. After a great day’s sightseeing we return to the resort. (Resort Breakfast & dinner included)

Day 6 (B): Noosa at Leisure (Friday)

No arrangements – day at leisure! The shuttle bus will be operating regularly into Noosa Junction and Hastings Street. (Resort breakfast included)

Day 7 (B): Heading Home (Saturday)

Is that the week already?? Time to head south again to Melbourne. (Virgin Australia Flight VA1036 Departs Sunshine Coast at 12.25pm/Arrives Melbourne at 2.55pm – TO BE CONFIRMED).Our private transfer returns us to our Club to complete a sensational week in the sun – at world famous Noosa Heads! (Resort breakfast included)

Tour Price

$1,960 per person (sharing a twin or double room)

Plus Air
Melbourne/Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast/Melbourne

The tour price is dependent on a minimum of 40 paying customers. Should the number of bookings not reach the minimum of 40 the following prices apply –

• Minimum 35 - $1,985 per person

• Minimum 30 - $2,020 per person

• Minimum 25 - $2,070 per person

• Minimum 20 - $2,140 per person

Add $760 for a guaranteed single room

Tour Price is subject to availability. Personal Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.

Tour Inclusions

Tour Price includes accommodation as per the itinerary, meals as indicated (B= Cooked breakfast, L= Light or packed lunch, D = limited choice dinner), deluxe touring coach with seatbelts, attractions/entries as noted & return airport transfers.

Next Steps

To arrange a tour for your club simply contact Alex Corones from Australian Road Journeys on 0488 117 682 with your preferred date of travel – he will do the rest! When everything is confirmed, ARJ will provide printed itineraries for distribution to interested club members.

Read some testimonials from past groups here.

Tour Conditions

A deposit of $350 per person is required to secure your booking. This deposit is fully refundable until 60 days prior to the day of departure. Final payment is required 45 days prior to the day of departure. Bookings cancelled within 14 days prior to the day of departure are non-refundable. No additional cancellation fees apply.

Personal Travel Insurance is strongly recommended.

The Itinerary may be subject to change without notice. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, Australian Road Journey’s reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour.  Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. Australian Road Journey’s will not be held responsible for weather based cancellations or those closures made at the venue’s discretion. All itineraries are subject to change due to occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc.