There’s more to Noosa than Hastings Street, says Kaye Fallick
The Hastings Street beat of cafes, restaurants and luxury apartments is familiar territory to many Australians – but restricting a visit to Noosa to Hastings Street is to forgo a much more diverse holiday experience. New day spa facilities at Sheraton Noosa Resort and Hyatt Coolum can provide the very best start to a relaxed break and a reinvigorated you, while a visit to the hinterlands can offer a slower-paced, more private Sunshine Coast experience.
Invigorate, Reflect, Relax
Established in 1989 at Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the name Hyatt Coolum has long been synonymous with a luxury golf resort.
Yes, the manicured greens still surround the resort, but a new multi- million-dollar feature of the Hyatt will encourage future guests to reassess their holiday plans.
Five guest suites in the main spa complex have been created to provide the ultimate in cleansing, massage and relaxation.
Led by manager Nikki Wood, from Hyatt Aruba in the Caribbean, a team of fifteen therapists are waiting to escort you to your suite at the end of a pristine walkway. By the time you reach your guest suite, you are ready to surrender to the sensual surrounds as your sun spa commences.
Spas fall into one of three main categories: Sunrise (invigoration), Sunday (reflective) and Sunset (relaxation). Scrubs and lotions are matched to the mood. For the Sunrise spa The Scrub is ground Buderim coffee and Yandina ginger in a base of shea butter and sweet almond oil. This is complemented by a mask of pineapple and paw paw.
Each spa room leads onto a private courtyard with deep baths for relaxation after your massage and scrub. The courtyards feature an Oriental arrangement of gravel, clivia, violets, water and stone, and provide a magic glimpse of the trees and a sky at sunset.
Gym activities, golf, swimming and personal fitness can be organised for guests, along with a personally tailored diet suggested/prepared by the in-house nutritionist.
Director of Recreation, Damien Godfrey, hastens to assure that Hyatt Coolum is not about health regimes or the old "no pain, no gain" mantra. Rather he sees the lush tropical surrounds and native vegetation as a soothing balm for jangled nerves. The ?exercise’ he suggests guests might try at the outset is a sound sleep-in and botanical and beach walks to maximise feelings of well-being.
Contact: Ph 07 5446 1234
Email coolum@hyatt.com.au
Web www.coolum.hyatt.comPampering in progress
The Aqua Day Spa at Sheraton Noosa Resort opened with a splash in March 2001. Previously a formal dining room, management decided to supplement the luxurious tropical surrounds of the resort with an equally indulgent haven from the hustle of Hastings Street. Seven multi-purpose treatment rooms, as well as a Vichy shower, hydrotherapy bath, steam room and solarium, offer a range of experiences. The Aqua Therapy centre is located in a private outdoor courtyard with a range of hydro or resistance pressure treatments. Thalgo cosmetics are used exclusively to maximise skincare benefits. If you really want to treat yourself, try the Ultimate Indulgence Package which delivers four hours of personal treatment beginning with total body exfoliation, immersion in a sea of marine algae in the hydrotherapy spa bath, and underwater massage. Relaxation, herbal tea and fresh fruit, then a toning body wrap and an hour of aromatherapy massage follow. Facial treatments and a hand and foot treatment complete the indulgence. Short on time? Just ask – all spa experiences can be tailored to an individual’s budget and availability.
Contact: Ph 07 5449 4888
Email Noosa.reservations@sheraton.com
Web www.sheraton.com/noosaHinterland Hideaways
Refugees from southern states have a habit of heading north to join the hospitality on offer in Queensland. David and Jenny Mathers and Sebastian and Fiona Falzon are two couples who are offering immaculate food and accommodation in the Noosa hinterland. Take at least three days to immerse yourself in the special brand of relaxation they provide.
Villa Alba
Located at Doonan, 15 minutes from Noosa, Villa Alba’s self-contained boutique villas sit on the ridge of a natural amphitheatre, providing a lush tropical aspect from every spot. Join other guests at a communal table overlooking the pool and share the culinary secrets of Sebastian’s Maltese and Italian heritage. A stay at Villa Alba is pure indulgence – with personally prepared coffee, hand-pressed sheets, and private massage treatments by arrangement.
Contact: Villa Alba, Doonan,
Ph 07 5449 1900
Email info@villaalba.net
Web www.villaalba.netCudgerie Homestead B&B
Just 25 minutes west of Noosa and set in six acres of sloping gardens, Cudgerie Homestead was once the main residence of Mandaley Downs, a 600-acre dairy and beef property. This traditional Queenslander offers accommodation in four guest bedrooms, with ensuite facilities. French doors open onto a timber-floored verandah which is the perfect spot to watch the sun rise or set as you enjoy host David Mather’s culinary delights.
Contact: Cudgerie Homestead B&B Ph 07 5442 6681,
Email cudgerie@hotmail.com,
Web www.cudgerie.comEating coast and beyond
Trios on the River
Located on Noosa Harbour, a memorable location to watch flying fish as you enjoy the fresh catch of the day. Oysters and Moreton Bay Bugs are specialities.
Noosa Harbour, Memorial Drive, Tewantin
Ph 07 5474 4799
Email trios@ozemail.com.auThe Terrace Seafood Restaurant
Winner of the Best Restaurant in Australian in the 2000 Tourism Awards, the seafood, combined with the view, is simply unbeatable. Try the seafood chowder and the Captain’s Platter.
Mary Cairncross Corner, Maleny
Ph. 07 5494 3700
Visit Noosa Council for:
Heritage and Discovery Map – provides information, locations and historic sites.
Access Friendly Noosa – a guide to shopping, dining, accommodation and sightseeing for those 25% of Australian who have a disability (this information is also available on the council website listed below).
Keeping in Touch – information on services and facilities for senior residents of the Caloundra, Maroochy and Noosa region.
Noosa Regional Gallery – ongoing exhibitions and festivals (located one floor beneath council chambers).
Noosa Council, Pelican Street, Tewantin
Ph 07 54495 297
Web www.noosa.qld.gov.auKaye Fallick travelled as a guest of Tourism Queensland
These article and many more,
were in the
(15th edition) of Your
Retirement, Your Life.
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