Six of the best places to stay on the Sunshine Coast

Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort

In the swim with a huge pool and a stroll across the road to Noosa main beach.

Noosa’s only five star, full-service hotel also offers one of the resort town’s best addresses and food offerings. A barefoot stroll from the waves, the 176-room hotel spills out onto Hastings Street with the Noosa River at its back door. Sporting a crisp navy and white palette, swish rooms and poolside cabanas, stays revolve around terrific food, walks in the Noosa National Park and relaxing poolside. Don’t miss onsite restaurant Noosa Beach House now under executive chef Bret Cameron ex Harvest Newrybar with a new farm to table menu. Rooms from $516.
See sofitelnoosapacificresort.com.au

HOLA Eumundi

HOLA – a boutique retreat with Eumundi Markets on the doorstep.

Eumundi’s swishest digs pay homage to the town’s creative roots. HOLA (House of Local Art) is a 15-room boutique retreat split over two levels found behind the iconic Imperial Hotel (and by the same owners). Set across two buildings on either side of a tropical courtyard and pavilion, the contemporary rooms offer a dash of Eumundi’s quirky spirit. Expect timber furniture, natural linens, bamboo throws, local artwork, handmade basins and mini bars stocked with complimentary brews from the hotel’s brewery and distillery. The Eumundi Markets, long lunches at Bask and great coffee at Eumundi Coffee Roasters lie on HOLA’s doorstep. Rooms from $260.
See holaeumundi.com.au

Sixty6 Acres Woombye

Plenty of old school family fun at Sixty6Acres.

Echoing the Sunshine Coast’s rich agricultural legacy, Andrew and Jo Pitcher have transformed a formerly rundown farm, offering six luxe “quarters” surrounding a lake in lush countryside behind Coolum. The self-contained, two-bedroom quarters with stylish interiors by Belle Bright Project feature wood-burning fireplaces, freestanding baths, full kitchens and large verandahs for soaking up the wide open spaces. Old-school family fun is offered in spades. Guests can pat and feed a menagerie of farm animals including miniature English donkeys, belted Galloway steers, baby doll Southdown sheep and fluffy feathered breeds housed in an adorable Chicken Caravan. Kayaking, stand-up paddling, swimming and toasting marshmallows around communal fire pits are also on offer. Rooms from $400 (two night minimum stay). See sixty6acres.com

Maleny Lodge

The former 1900s private home offers seven rooms of various sizes.Credit: Hannah Puechmarin

The bucolic Sunshine Coast hinterland is home to the heritage listed Maleny Lodge. Lucy and Andrew Pink, the duo behind Maroochydore’s hip Loea Boutique Hotel (now sold) transformed the circa 1905 property (formerly a private home then B&B) into contemporary adults-only digs offering seven luxurious rooms of various sizes, a fire pit and a swish magnesium pool. They’ve since sold Maleny Lodge too, but it continues as a boutique hotel cum holiday house. Choose from four spacious ensuite rooms (Freda has its own fireplace) or rent the original house, Rosedale, with three guestrooms (one with ensuite), country kitchen, log fire and wrap-around verandah. Enjoy a cheese platter from Maleny Food Co’s fromagerie and then gather around the communal fire pit for sundowners. Rooms from $280. See malenylodge.com.au

Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort

Lagoon beachfront and just five minutes’ drive from Sunshine Coast Airport.

Flanked by Mudjimba Beach and the Maroochy River, the sprawling 36-hectare Novotel Sunshine Coast Resort unveiled a fresh makeover in 2021, revealing refreshed guest rooms and overwater bungalows, a new Pilates Studio and new resort pool precinct. There are now two elevated accommodation categories – Grand Overwater Bungalows and Deluxe Overwater Bungalows – along with a kids club, lagoon beachfront and choice of watersports a mere five minutes’ drive from Sunshine Coast Airport. Rooms from $210. See novotelsunshinecoast.com.au

Little Red Barn Doonan

A rustic barn style home 15 minutes’ drive from Noosa’s Hastings Street.

Tucked away in the rolling hills behind Noosa, this rustic barn style home is 15 minutes’ drive to Hastings Street. Offering Scandi-industrial style, the three-bedroom property has soaring ceilings, a wood fireplace, barn doors, air conditioning and a vast deck for sundowners. Originally owned and renovated by Rachel Luchetti, one half of Sydney-based architecture and interior design firm Luchetti Krelle (since sold), highlights include an alfresco cast iron bath off the master bedroom and a dreamy pandanus-framed tank pool (heated in winter). Resident wallabies appear at dusk to graze under the mango tree while coffee at Flying West Coffee Roasters nearby is not to be missed. From $580 (minimum two night stay). See airbnb.com/h/littleredbarndoonan

The writer was a guest of Visit Sunshine Coast and Bonza. The low-cost carrier flies to 10 destinations direct from the Sunshine Coast including Cairns, Townsville, Newcastle, Albury, Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Mildura. See visitsunshinecoast.com and flybonza.com