Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads is the coastal cosmopolitan town situated on the southern shore of Laguna Bay and on the far western side of Noosa headland. The permament resident population of Noosa heads is approximately 10 000 with the regions permanent population approximately 35 000. Tourism is the foundation of the local economy with over 250 000 holiday makers each year.

History

The name Noosa came from the Aboriginal word meaning shadows or shade. This is most probably a reference to the relief the tall forests of the area offered from the sun. The Kabi tribe had been visiting the Noosa area for 40 000 years before Europeans first arrived in the 1800s. The tribe lived as the mouth of the Noosa River to the north, Redcliffe to the south and Cooroy and Nambour to the west. The region was a sacred retreat used by Aborigines for celebrations such as the annual Bunya nut festival.

In 1828, David Bracefell was the first white man to visit the area. Nicknamed, Wandi, he had a reputation for regularly escaping his bondage at Moreton Bay and treking north to Noosa. The Europeans arrived throughout the 19th century to log the area, with the first timber cutters arriving circa 1865.

Andrew Petrie and Henry Russell guided their whale boat up the Noosa River in search of timber and sheep grazing country in 1842. These men became some of the first white settlers to explore the region thoroughly. Later than century, with the prospect of finding gold at nearby Gympie, settlers began finding their way to Noosa this time as holiday makers.

In 1879 the Noosa Headland was declared Town Reserve. This tract of green forest has remained untouched and is now one of Noosa's most important natural assets, Noosa National Park. The land was gazetted as National Park in 1930, thus, guranteeing its protection in the future. A decade later the town began to develop swiftly gaining popularity as a breif holiday destination as well as a picturesque place to live.

Facts, Stats and Demographics

Hastings Street is a hive of activity with inumerable places to stay and eat. Clothing and sovenir shops line the street offering a haven from the midday sun. Noosa Heads Main Beach offers a safe environment for swimmers, whilst, to the north past the groyne the surf is suitable for beginner and experienced surfers. The Noosa National Park boast a beautiful walk up through the park nto the headland stopping at Hells Kitchen. Walkers can enjoy views of the ocean, surfers, dolphins and turtles.

Geography

The Noosa headlands is situated at the northern end of Alexandria Bay, forming the north eastern most tip of the Noosa National Park. The Noosa River, which once flowed through to the Coral Sea at the north western end of Main Beach is now limited by a groyne that was built in 1978. The town is 160kms north of Brisbane and 20kms east of the Bruce Highway.

Climate

Residents and visitors can enjoy a sub-tropical climate tempered by the ocean - therefore, it is never blazingly hot and rarely freezingly cold. Tropical lighting storms are common in the summer month and the average rainfall is 1709mm. The temperature range from 170C to 280C in the height of Summer and 70C to 220C in Winter.

Getting There

Noosa Heads is 160km from Brisbane and 250km from the Gold Coast, travelling time is 1.5 hours and 3 hours respectively. The Bruce Highway will take drivers to Cooroy from here, there is a 20km (15 minute) drive east to the coastal town.

Bus and Coach Services

Several coach services pass through Cooroy on the Bruce Highway with connecting busses travelling on to Noosa. Some coaches service to the bus stop in Noosa Heads itself, others operate between Cooroy, Tewantin and Maroochydore. The bus trop from Brisbane lasts approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

Train

Cooroy offers the closest train station to Noosa and is around 15 minutes drive west from Noosa. A 30 minute drive to the town Nambour offers more frequent train services. Regular bus services operate between both train stations and Noosa.

Air

The Sunshine Coast Airport located at Maroochydore is the closest jet airport to Noosa at only a 30 minute drive south. With direct flights from Brisbane (30 minutes), Sydney (1.25 hrs) and Melbourne (2.25 hrs).

Noosa Heads

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