Sometimes the true value of something isn't immediately obvious at a quick glance. But dig a little deeper and you might find all sorts of unexpected beauty.
When we decided to move to Noosa we were excited. Amazing beaches, stunning weather, and chill vibes. How could we not be?
When we actually arrived we were faced with a daunting feeling of regret. The beaches, weather and chill vibes were on point. But where was the local culture? Honestly, it felt like we were the only people who actually lived here and everyone else was a tourist.
What had we gotten ourselves into? Had we moved to the most beautiful yet boring town on earth?
Coming from Melbourne, one of the culture capitals of the world, it was a shock to the system when we realized that, in Noosa, not many people stay up later than 9pm, and almost everyone gets up by 6am. Its almost impossible to get dinner after 8pm. And the local trivia nights aren't like the ones in Brunswick - theres a much lower alcohol consumption level and a much higher average age.
Needless to say, we were worried.
In Melbourne, we were so used to having culture and good vibes blatantly available that we'd lost our ability to spot the hidden gems. But as the weeks, months and years ticked by our eyes opened and our list of cool places to eat, hang, drink and explore grew longer.
Abby Rose
This local lass is killing it in the swimwear scene. As her website explains, her swimwear pieces not only look good but also do good.
The Lycra they use in their collections is made from 100% regenerated pre and post-consumer waste, including discarded fishing nets, carpet, clothing and fabric scraps - insane! Her beautiful wee store has recently celebrated one year being open, and you'll find it in Noosa Junction, right next to Paradise Arcade.
Land and Sea, Noosa's first craft brewery, opened their doors in early 2018 and the locals couldn't be happier! In their words, they create products that are inspired by, celebrate and compliment the area we live in. The space is huge, well designed and perfect for a Sunday session or arvo lunch.
You can even grab a 'Growler' on your way out. After discovering your favourite beer from the Land and Sea selection, the Growler (pictured) is an economical, handy and eco friendly way to enjoy it at home. How could you not love that?!
Its crazy to think that this hidden beauty is only metres away from the top end of Sunshine Beach. It's not sign posted, and its rarely promoted as a place to visit, as it can be pretty tricky to get to. But if you're keen to check it out, go when the next low tide hits and be prepared to do a bit of scaling down some rocks. If its between May and November you may even be lucky enough to spot a whale off the shore too.
Paradise Arcade is a Mexican inspired restaurant and cocktail bar located in the heart of Noosa Junction, and quite possibly my fav dinner spot in the area.
