Noosa Heads is a coastal town and suburb in the Shire of Noosa, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It is a popular holiday destination.[4] In the 2021 census, the suburb of Noosa Heads had a population of 5,120 people.[1]
The suburb is bounded to the west by Weyba Creek and the Noosa River and to the north and east by the Coral Sea. The northeast of the locality is within the Noosa National Park. Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Tewantin form a continuous urban area at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast.[5]
There are a number of headlands, lookouts, bays, and other coastal features along the Noosa Heads coastline, many of them on the coastal walking track through the national park, including (from north to south):
It is widely stated that name Noosa is a corruption of the Kabi word nuthuru, meaning a ghost or a shadow.[2] However this is unlikely as a 1870 map of Noosa shows the Noosa River written as Nusa River [17] and a notice to mariners published in 3 September 1873 refers to Nusa Head and the Nusa River in Laguna Bay.[18] Nusa is the Indonesian word for island. The Noosa River contains Makepeace Island, Sheep Island and Goat Island. "Nusa Bay, or as it is better known, Lagoona Bay" appears in a 1866 article
[19] and the locality of Nusa appears in a 1869 article.[20] Laguna Bay was formally known as Nusa Bay and Lagoona Bay.[21]
The beach at Noosa Heads has remained a popular tourist attraction since the 1890s. The Shire's tourism exponentially grew shortly after the Second World War.[22]
In the 1800s, Noosa's early wealth came from the timber and milling industries with tourism developing in the late 1920s. In this decade cafes and tourist accommodation was built along the beachfront.[22] The town has been the site of many tussles between developers and those seeking to preserve the town.[citation needed]
Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club was founded in 1927.
A fatal shark attack of a 22-year-old surfer was recorded at Noosa in 1961.[23]
Since the seventies, people have continued to migrate from southern states.[citation needed]
BCC Cinemas Noosa was opened in December 1985 with two projection screens. Since 1996, it has appended a total of five screens.
The local print newspaper was the Noosa News. Along with many other regional Australian newspapers owned by NewsCorp, the newspaper ceased print editions in June 2020 and became an online-only publication from 26 June 2020.[27]
In May 2021, Noosa was named as the top tourism town in Queensland.[4]
There are no schools in Noosa Heads. The nearest government primary and secondary schools are Sunshine Beach State School and Sunshine Beach State High School in neighbouring Sunshine Beach to the east.[5]
[edit]Hastings Street features boutique shoppingA beach on the headlands hike, coastal trail
Noosa Heads hosts a population of koalas, which are often seen in and around Noosa National Park. The koala population in Noosa is in decline.[32] Native black and grey-headed flying foxes (tree pollinators and seed dispersal agents) can be heard in local trees if they are flowering or fruiting. Micro-bat species are also common and aid in insect control.[citation needed]
Noosa Lions Park is an open, grassed area which used as a staging area for several large community events including the Noosa Triathlon, Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Noosa Winter Festival and Noosa Classic Car Show.[33]
To overcome severe beach erosion at Noosa's main beach a sand pumping system has been built. It operates when necessary during off peak hours, supplying sand via a pipeline built underneath the boardwalk.[34]
Local surfing spot in a cove along the Noosa headlands walk
Noosa Heads' main attraction is its beaches. Its main beach and its small bays around the headland are common surfing locations which are known on world surfing circuits. One of its major surfing contests involves the Noosa Festival of Surfing. This festival attracts large numbers of longboarders.[citation needed]
Noosa Heads is the tourist heart of Noosa district, with many restaurants and hotels. The main street is Hastings Street, which lies directly behind the seashore. Buses to elsewhere in the Sunshine Coast depart from Noosa Heads bus station.[citation needed]
There are dedicated bike lanes throughout the shire. Push bikes are an easy way to get around. Bike racks are provided in all shopping and beach precincts.[citation needed]
Motor scooter is another option. There are scooter parking bays on Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, and on many shopping strips.[citation needed]
There is a taxi rank in Hastings Street and at Noosa Fair shopping centre.[citation needed]