Quick answer: If you’re short on time in Noosa or coming up for a day trip from Brisbane, JOEY’s picks are coffee and breakfast at The Coffee Noosa, a morning dip and walk at Noosa Main Beach, lunch at the Yah Man Sushi train, the Buderim Waterfalls day trip with JOEY on Wednesday afternoons, and dinner at New York Minute Burgers.
Noosa is one of those spots where a day trip from Brisbane never quite feels like enough, but if that’s all the time you’ve got, here’s how to make the most of it. This is just a few of JOEY’s favourite things to do.
Whether you’re up from Brisbane for the day or just tight on time, this is the run down.
Kick things off at The Coffee Noosa in Noosa Junction. It’s a proper local coffee window with a house blend built for smooth, low acid sipping, plus a solid breakfast to set you up for the day ahead. Grab it to go if you’re on a tight schedule, or sit in and take your time if you can spare it.
Next, head down to Noosa Main Beach for a swim and a walk along the sand. It’s the most central beach in town, calm and family friendly, and the perfect way to shake off the travel and get into holiday mode before the rest of the day kicks off.
For lunch, JOEY’s fav sushi spot is the sushi train at Yah Man Sushi in Noosa Junction. It’s an izakaya style spot with a laid back reggae vibe, fresh sashimi, nigiri, and sushi rolling past on the train, plus tempura, gyoza, and karaage if you want something hot. The sushi train area doesn’t take bookings, so just walk in and grab a seat.
If your day trip lands on a Wednesday, jump on JOEY’s Buderim Waterfalls day trip in the afternoon. It’s a scenic run into the Sunshine Coast hinterland to a genuine waterfall, with a stop at the Peregian Beach Hotel for a complimentary drink along the way. It’s a nice change of pace from the beach and one of the easiest ways to see more of the region without needing your own car.
Round out the day with dinner at New York Minute Burgers in Noosa Junction. Think gourmet burgers made with Wagyu and grass fed beef, crispy chicken, loaded fries, and a lively bar atmosphere with live music most nights. It’s one of Noosa’s favourite burger spots for a reason, and a great way to finish a big day.
If you’re looking to stay longer than a day, we highly recommend Bounce Noosa for your accommodation.
The JOEY bus departs daily from Byron Bay up to Rainbow Beach, stopping at the Gold Coast and Brisbane on the way, and departs daily from Noosa heading back down to Byron. Jump on and coast with JOEY.
Check out all of our JOEY routes here.
Coffee and breakfast at The Coffee Noosa, a morning swim and walk at Noosa Main Beach, lunch at the Yah Man Sushi train, a Wednesday afternoon Buderim Waterfalls day trip, and dinner at New York Minute Burgers covers a great day in Noosa.
Check out our Noosa destination guide for more inspiration
Yes, plenty of visitors do Noosa as a day trip from Brisbane, though most agree a day only scratches the surface, so staying a night or two lets you see a lot more.
See our Brisbane to Noosa route or check out all of our route options here.
JOEY runs the Buderim Waterfalls day trip on Wednesday afternoons, including a stop at the Peregian Beach Hotel for a complimentary drink.
Book your Waterfalls trip now.
JOEY highly recommends Bounce Noosa for anyone wanting to stay longer than 24 hours and see more of what the region has to offer. If you want to stay in the heart of the action Halse Lodge is a great hostel just off Hastings Street in Noosa.
Yes. The JOEY bus departs daily from Byron Bay up to Rainbow Beach, stopping at the Gold Coast and Brisbane on the way, and departs daily from Noosa heading back down to Byron.
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